"Ding! Detected that the host has taken the Empress as a disciple. Reward amplification: 100x!
"Congratulations, Host, you have received the Ziwei Divine Sword!"
"Congratulations, Host, you have received Grandmaster Level Sword Intent!"
"Congratulations, Host, you have received an Emperor Level Martial Arts: Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique!"
"Congratulations, Host, you have received fifty years of Cultivation!"
The next moment, an overwhelming torrent of reward notifications echoed in his ears.
'This damn system finally dropped the good stuff! What a huge score, this feels great!'
Watching the panels that kept popping up before him, Qin Yang felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him, his heart thrumming with excitement.
All those days and nights spent lying in wait for her to become his disciple had finally paid off.
All that time spent tailing her wasn't for nothing; in the end, it was an effortless victory!
'All thanks to my dear apprentice,' he thought.
Qin Yang glanced at Li Zixuan with satisfaction. She was currently in the process of comprehending the Sword Dao, her face flushed, her breathing shallow. Strands of hair, damp with fragrant sweat, clung to her skin.
The more he looked at her like this, the more pleasing she was to his eye.
'Not bad. Truly worthy of the future Empress. The rewards she drops are just magnificent!'
Seeing that Li Zixuan was deep in her comprehension, Qin Yang decided not to disturb her. Since he had also received his rewards, he used a Body Technique and quietly left Broken Peak Mountain.
He made his way to a more distant valley.
Secluded and deep.
The perfect place to inspect his rewards!
'Alright, let's see what kind of goodies I got.'
Qin Yang focused his thoughts, his mind concentrating.
The next moment.
BZZZZ!
A clear sword cry rang out as the starlight of Ziwei shot into the sky, coalescing into a longsword three feet and six inches long.
Its hilt was entwined with dragons and phoenixes, and its entire body radiated a lustrous glow. Bathed in the moonlight piercing through the clouds, it reflected a sky full of violet light that served as its own sword gleam!
"A fine sword!"
Qin Yang gazed at the Ziwei Divine Sword, then ran two fingers along its blade.
In that instant, the sword hummed in a joyous, lively response.
It had undoubtedly gained sentience, transcended from Extraordinary to Saint, and reached the pinnacle of Top Grade Divine Weapons!
The birth of such a Divine Sword was naturally accompanied by a celestial phenomenon.
Qin Yang looked up at the night sky. A vast, rosy glow had erupted, completely eclipsing the moon and stars and forming a magnificent, grand celestial display!
...
In the city center, neon lights flashed and traffic flowed endlessly.
Passersby stopped in their tracks, staring toward the suburban night sky. They were all dumbfounded, quickly pulling out their phones to take pictures.
"Holy shit! Honey, look over there! Are those actual gods?!"
"Don't tell me it's that Innate Realm master from last time again?!"
"Hey! Driver, stop going forward! Head toward the light! A treasure must have appeared!"
In an instant, the entire city was in an uproar!
The clamor of voices, the blaring of horns, the shocked screams of the crowd—the entire downtown area descended into chaos. Traffic instantly became a tangled, gridlocked mess!
The once-empty main road to the suburbs was now congested to a complete standstill.
SWISH! SWISH!
Just then, the people heard the sound of clothing cutting through the wind above them as dark figures flickered past.
They looked up.
Several powerful Star Martial Artists were using exquisite Body Technique Martial Arts. Moving as fast as lightning, they sped past, bypassing the congested roads.
Many of Jianghai City's experts were spurred into action by the phenomenon, all rushing toward the secluded valley.
"Elder Li, you are worldly and wise. Have you ever seen such an abnormal celestial event?"
The Library's Hall Master used his Body Technique, his form like that of a falcon, while making sure to converse with Elder Li beside him.
The Cultivation of these two was already at the Innate Realm, so they were far ahead of the other Cultivators rushing to the scene.
"This phenomenon looks more like the appearance of some kind of Exotic Treasure."
Elder Li sped along shoulder-to-shoulder with the Hall Master, his white beard fluttering in the wind.
"My thoughts are the same as yours, Elder."
The Hall Master nodded in agreement. "An ancient text once said, 'If a violet aura appears between the stars Dou and Niu, it is the essence of a treasured sword, reaching up to the heavens.'"
"Hall Master, you mean to say... this is the birth of a Divine Sword?"
Elder Li raised his white eyebrows, his voice a mixture of shock and uncertainty.
"Correct. A violet aura phenomenon also appeared in ancient times. And in the earth beneath that celestial sign, the two treasured swords Longquan and Ta'e were unearthed!"
The Hall Master gazed at the glowing celestial phenomenon in the distance and speculated, "Now that such a sign has appeared in our time, we certainly cannot stand by and do nothing."
"Naturally."
Elder Li nodded, then, as if suddenly remembering something, looked toward the valley. "That girl Xiaoxuan is nearby, comprehending the Sword Dao. I hope she isn't affected..."
...
「Meanwhile.」
On Broken Peak Mountain, Li Zixuan slowly opened her eyes, a sliver of sword light flashing within them.
Then, as if a sword being returned to its sheath, it vanished without a trace.
"I finally did it."
She lightly licked her lips. Comprehending 'One Sword Opens the Celestial Gate' had taken a great deal of mental effort. By now, she was drenched in fragrant sweat, her whole body soaked.
Her thin, form-fitting shirt clung tightly to her skin, clearly outlining the developing curves of her waist.
'Ah, I'm all wet.'
Li Zixuan suddenly remembered her master was still there, and a blush immediately crept up her fair neck.
However, at that moment, the surrounding silence brought her back to her senses.
"Huh? Where's Master?"
Li Zixuan looked around in confusion and suddenly noticed the rosy glow on a nearby mountain peak.
The glow that shot into the sky obscured the night, leaving her momentarily dazed.
"So beautiful... Did Master do this?"
Li Zixuan gazed at the rosy light, wishing she could rush over there immediately.
But before she could see her master...
First,
she had to change out of these soaking wet clothes...
...
Meanwhile, the culprit behind the city-wide commotion, Qin Yang, was lying on the grass, enjoying the rosy glow with a look of pure bliss.
The Ziwei Divine Sword lay beside him, casually tossed in the weeds. If any of those other Practitioners knew a Divine Artifact was being treated this way, they'd probably die of apoplectic rage on the spot.
'Not bad, not bad. This glow is actually quite beautiful. Almost like the aurora borealis.'
Qin Yang yawned, put away the Ziwei Divine Sword, and already felt bored with the spectacle.
'Time to accept the next wave of rewards.'
He opened his panel and checked the information.
The reward after the Ziwei Sword was the Grandmaster Level Sword Intent.
'Huh? It gave me Grandmaster Level right off the bat?'
The corner of Qin Yang's mouth twitched. He was baffled by this reward.
As far as he knew, the levels of Sword Intent in this world were roughly divided into five major Realms: Preliminary Form, Minor Success, Great Success, Perfection, and Grandmaster.
But now, just from taking the Empress as his disciple, the system had maxed it out in one go!
'Yes, yes, yes! This 100x reward multiplier is fucking awesome!'
'If I'd followed the normal process for taking a disciple, the damn system probably would have just given me the 'Preliminary Form' realm and made me grind the upgrades slowly.'
Like hell I'm going to grind!
Overjoyed, Qin Yang focused his will and directly fused with the Grandmaster Sword Intent.
The next moment.
A vast Sword Intent erupted from him. With him at the center, it crushed the grass, trees, and rocky ground for several meters around.
BOOM! BOOM!
The terrifying Sword Intent gradually spread.
Before long, it had covered the entire mountain, forming an insurmountable cage of oppressive might!
SWISH! SWISH!
Outside the mountain, the sounds of rustling clothes crisscrossed as the many experts who had rushed from Jianghai City came to a halt. Terrified, none of them dared to advance another inch.
"Don't get any closer! This pressure from this Sword Intent is terrifying! There must be a Grandmaster Level expert in the valley!"
"Could it be a master fighting a Star Beast?"
"A Star Beast trying to steal a treasure? Could it be that same expert from last time, the one of 'One Sword Breaks the Peak'?!"
They threw out one guess after another, but none came close to the truth.
Only Li Zixuan, who was on her way, sensed the Sword Intent and instantly understood everything. A flicker of excitement shone in her beautiful eyes.
"Master! This must be Master's Sword Intent!"