Time slipped away quietly, and five years passed in the blink of an eye.
For these five years, Li Xuan had not cultivated at all. Except for the three days each month required to tend the medicinal garden, he had spent almost all his time in the library.
Besides the Four Books and Five Classics, Li Xuan had also finished reading all the other books in the library.
"Will you come again tomorrow?" As Li Xuan closed the book and walked to the door, Zeng Shan's heart stirred, and he looked at Li Xuan and asked.
Li Xuan paused, thought for a moment, and then said, "If there are any new books, I will definitely come. As for now, it's better to first ponder the principles within these books."
Zeng Shan nodded slightly, "Learning without thinking is futile; thinking without learning is perilous. Since you understand this, it seems you have truly absorbed the content of these books. Alright, you may go now. Within the academy, it's not only the library where you can learn things."
"I am enlightened," Li Xuan said, bowing to Zeng Shan before leaving.
Weeding the medicinal garden, meditating. In this manner, a year quietly passed.
In the following time, Li Xuan wandered throughout the academy.
The Way of Tea, the Way of Chess, whatever courses were taught in the academy, Li Xuan attended them all.
Boom!
One day, a loud booming sound caught Li Xuan's attention. Li Xuan followed the sound and soon saw a martial arts stage. Around the stage, many students had already gathered.
"A martial arts challenge, it's been a while since I've seen people fight," a hint of surprise flashed in Li Xuan's eyes, and he then seamlessly blended into the crowd to watch.
On the stage, two men had already begun their duel.
Li Xuan took a glance; both of them were at the Great Emperor of Time and Space realm. It was evident that both had chosen the path of sword cultivation.
However, the sword energy that flew and flashed all around made Li Xuan shake his head repeatedly.
"To have reached the Great Emperor of Time and Space realm and still be so flashy, all style and no substance," Li Xuan sighed softly and murmured.
Silence.
The moment Li Xuan's words fell, everyone in the crowd instantly turned their gazes towards him. In their eyes, there was a hint of anger.
Even the two combatants on the stage stopped their fight and their gazes fell directly on Li Xuan.
Li Xuan was taken aback, then let out a wry smile and shook his head. When did these people's hearing become so acute?
"Who are you? We don't seem to have seen you in our sword path," said a man standing closer, his voice filled with indignation.
"I am just passing by, please continue," Li Xuan said, too lazy to bother with them, and turned to leave.
Swoosh!
The next moment, a sword hum resounded. And before Li Xuan, two spiritual swords appeared.
"Since you say we are all style and no substance, you must possess some true skill. If that's the case, please enlighten us on what exactly our sword path should be," Li Xuan stopped, and the voice from the stage reached his ears at that moment.
"Indeed! Senior Brother Four and Senior Brother Five broke through to the Great Emperor of Time and Space realm at such a young age; I don't believe this person can be compared to them!"
"You can't say that either. Perhaps this person is also a sword cultivator. Perhaps he has some strength, but is merely seeking attention."
"..."
"Kid, do you dare to spar with my two senior brothers? If not, how about you spar with me?"
The surrounding onlookers also began to speak, their words shifting from indignation to mockery.
"The Way of the Sword does not require such flashy moves."
Li Xuan smiled, then looked at the two on stage and said, "A sword cultivator determines life and death with a single strike. Even in a spar, there should be the aura of actual combat. You two have reached the Great Emperor of Time and Space realm; you should understand this principle."
"All talk. Sir, why don't we settle this with our hands?" the man on the left sneered, then moved and struck Li Xuan with his sword.
"You refuse to heed advice and don't even know the meaning behind drawing your sword. This strike of yours is too weak," Li Xuan said, shaking his head slightly. With a flick of his sleeve, he sent the man's sword flying away.
"Holy crap, this guy seems a bit strong!" someone from the crowd exclaimed upon seeing this.
"My two junior brothers have made you look bad, but can you enlighten them? This way, they'll know that there are always people better than you," at this moment, a graceful figure appeared before Li Xuan and nodded.
Li Xuan glanced at the woman and nodded slightly. The next moment, his gaze fell on the spiritual sword in the man's hand, "Lend me your sword."
Hum.
As Li Xuan spoke, the spiritual sword in the man's hand instantly broke free from his grasp and flew before Li Xuan.
"Go."
Li Xuan waved his hand, and the spiritual sword shot straight towards the sky.
Boom!
Terrifying sword intent rippled, actually tearing through the sky. The massive rift left everyone present dumbfounded.
"The ancients said 'once, twice, and thrice, then the spirit is exhausted,' referring to morale. However, sword cultivators need to advance relentlessly. A sword is a weapon for killing, and being flashy or overly concerned with aesthetics is the most fatal flaw."
"When a sword cultivator doesn't draw their sword, they don't draw it; but when they do, it's at its peak!"
Li Xuan finished speaking, tossed the spiritual sword back to the man, and then walked away with his hands behind his back.
"Holy crap, this is a master. And what he said seems to make a lot of sense."
"Hey, you, didn't you just say you wanted to spar with him?"
"..."
"That sword strike was truly terrifying."
As Li Xuan departed, the crowd around them began to discuss animatedly.
"Senior Disciple Sister, who exactly is this person? We haven't heard of him in our sword lineage," the man standing beside the woman asked, looking at Li Xuan's retreating back.
The woman shook her head and replied, "I don't know, but his sword mastery might even surpass Master's."
"Even surpass Master?!" The man was shocked, his eyes filled with disbelief.
"Alright, it is your fortune to have received guidance from such a senior. From now on, you must not be so arrogant," the woman nodded and said sternly to everyone.
"We will strictly obey Senior Disciple Sister's admonition!" Everyone responded in unison.
As the crowd dispersed, the woman stood there in contemplation for a moment before moving in the direction Li Xuan had left.
A few minutes later, the woman arrived outside the medicinal garden.
Upon seeing Li Xuan weeding the garden, the woman was taken aback.
"Someone who rivals Master is actually weeding here?"