Chapter 18: If I'm Being Arrogant, Come and Fight Me If You Dare

“I never expected I’d have a special constitution...” Li Wudao felt a surge of excitement.

It was known that the Sacred Constitution surpassed the Spiritual and even the King Constitution in strength, rendering one nearly invincible among peers.

Even if one’s innate talent and comprehension were average, possessing the Sacred Constitution guaranteed remarkable future achievements.

Moments later, Li Wudao sensed an invisible energy from the heavens and earth rushing toward him. Inside, it was as if a furnace had ignited; his blood surged, and an unbearable heat consumed him.

Suddenly, his skin glowed crimson, far more intense than a fever. His robe and hair emitted faint wisps of white smoke, as if on the verge of combustion.

Such an unusual phenomenon caught Xia Gucheng’s attention.

He sat up in surprise and hurried over to Li Wudao, scrutinizing him closely with a grave expression.

After a while, the elder exhaled in relief.

He had initially feared Li Wudao had made a mistake in his cultivation, but seeing his steady breathing, it seemed unlikely he was suffering from a spiritual disorder.

“Master, what are you doing?” Li Wudao opened his eyes to find Xia Gucheng standing before him, filled with suspicion.

“Don’t move.”

Seeing him conscious, the elder approached, grasped his arm, and examined his back and shoulders, his face shifting with concern.

“What’s wrong, Master? Is something wrong?” Li Wudao murmured, wondering if the old man had detected something.

“Do you feel any discomfort?” Xia Gucheng asked.

Li Wudao shook his head.

“You ate the fish on the table, didn’t you?”

The elder nodded, gave him a deep look, then returned to his reclining chair.

“Thank you, Master,” Li Wudao replied.

Having just obtained the Pure Yang Sacred Constitution, he felt his body brimming with power, yet also a wave of weakness, urgently craving nourishment.

After devouring the second Earth Spirit Fish, the restless blood energy within him calmed somewhat.

“Master, I’m going back to my room to cultivate first.”

Li Wudao headed toward a row of bamboo huts.

Xia Gucheng opened his eyes and gazed at the boy’s retreating figure, his eyes flickering with a strange light as he muttered to himself:

“Strange... He clearly didn’t have a special constitution before, so how did he suddenly awaken the Pure Yang Sacred Constitution? Such a constitution is heaven-sent; awakening it postnatally is nearly impossible...”

Inside the room, Li Wudao rested briefly before taking out the “Gengjin Sword Manual” Xia Gucheng had given him and began to study it.

From the title alone, it was clear this was a swordsmanship manual.

“Geng Metal carries killing intent, the heaviest murderous qi among the Five Elements, governing slaughter and strength. A swordsman who masters this ruthless nature wields infinite sharpness, breaking through all obstacles...”

Li Wudao was slightly startled.

This was just the outline, yet the murderous aura was palpable.

He could only imagine how fierce and ruthless the actual sword techniques would be.

The deeper he delved, the more he realized this manual was no ordinary text and aligned well with the traits of the Pure Yang Sacred Constitution.

If mastered, it would surely become a formidable killing technique.

After burning an incense stick’s worth of time, Li Wudao stood tall and stepped out of the room.

He had comprehended the first layer of the Sword Manual; now he only needed to practice and verify what he had learned.

He came to the waterfall within the valley, a spacious and serene place ideal for cultivation.

“Hmm?”

From his reclining chair, Xia Gucheng cast a puzzled glance.

The boy had said he was going to cultivate, but after just an incense stick’s time indoors, why was he out again?

Seeing Li Wudao draw a long sword, Xia Gucheng’s confusion deepened.

“Could this boy be trying to practice the Gengjin Sword Manual?”

The thought barely formed before Xia Gucheng shook his head.

Impossible. It was absolutely impossible.

In such a short time, the boy likely hadn’t even understood the first layer of sword moves, let alone practiced them.

Meanwhile, Li Wudao had already assumed a stance, gripping the Autumn Water Sword granted as an entry reward, slowly performing sword techniques.

At first, his movements were slow and clumsy, barely faster than a crawling turtle.

But after a few strokes, he grew accustomed; the sword’s swings became swifter.

His body no longer confined to one spot, he floated like a delicate butterfly, light and agile, the cold gleam of his blade stirring the wind.

“This is... how is this possible...” Xia Gucheng watched intently, astonishment crossing his aged face.

He had never expected Li Wudao’s sword aptitude to be so extraordinary—to master the first layer of sword moves within the span of a single incense stick.

For reference, it had taken him a whole month to reach this level, and he was already hailed as a once-in-a-century sword genius.

He suspected that Li Wudao had cultivated swordsmanship before and at a level no lower than the Gengjin Sword Manual. Such a foundation was too profound for a novice.

If the elder knew this was Li Wudao’s first time practicing the sword, he might have dropped his jaw in shock.

At this moment, Li Wudao seemed to enter a special state, completely absorbed, his mind focused solely on himself and the sword in his hand.

His swordplay danced like a phantom, moving from the waterfall to the edge of the bamboo grove.

As the sword wind swirled, several bamboo leaves fluttered and fell.

“Clang—”

The sword’s hum rang out; a white streak flashed as the tip pierced three bamboo leaves.

At this, Li Wudao stopped.

The first layer of the Gengjin Sword Manual was mastered.

“Master, I’ve completed it,” Li Wudao called out from a distance.

“Hm.”

Xia Gucheng merely responded with a grunt, saying nothing more.

Li Wudao was surprised.

The old man’s reaction was too calm.

He had expected astonishment, maybe even lavish praise.

Instead, it was as calm and indifferent as witnessing a second world war.

“Forget it, it is what it is. I’ll get some sleep first,” Li Wudao sighed.

Turning back to his room, the Pure Yang Sacred Constitution still needed time to adapt, and he required rest to relax his body.

Tonight, he would sleep deeply; cultivation could wait a while.

The long night passed, and Li Wudao slept soundly.

Outside, Xia Gucheng stood by a small lake, hands behind his back, sleepless for a long time.

“In just one hour, he has reached the ‘Subtle’ level with an imperial-grade sword technique. I have truly taken on an extraordinary disciple...” the elder lamented, then vanished in a streak of rainbow light.

The next day, with daylight bright, Li Wudao leisurely rose.

“Where did you go so early?” he said, stepping outside to find his humble master seemingly gone.

After a quick wash, he left the Misty Peak.

Today, he was headed to the Internal Affairs Hall to receive his identity token and attire.

...

The Xuanyuan Sect’s territory was vast.

The Internal Affairs Hall stood amid the seven main peaks, responsible for logistics and related matters.

When Li Wudao arrived, long queues had already formed.

Over a thousand new disciples waited in line.

After half an hour, it was finally his turn.

After careful verification, the elder of the Internal Affairs Hall smiled warmly and handed him the token and robes.

“These are your True Transmission Token and Robes. The token proves your identity and records contribution points.

You can accept sect missions at the Mission Hall. Completing them earns contribution points, which can be exchanged for advanced techniques and elixirs.”

The elder was enthusiastic, his attitude far superior to that shown to Outer or Inner Sect disciples.

“By the way, new disciples may collect cultivation manuals at the Scripture Pavilion. Outer Sect disciples may take one, Inner Sect two, but as a True Transmission disciple, you may take three manuals...”

The elder patiently explained, perhaps fearing Li Wudao might not understand.

“Got it. Thank you for your guidance, Elder,” Li Wudao replied with a bow, smiling as he left.

He felt deeply that although he was only a newly promoted True Transmission disciple, the elders dared not underestimate him, instead treating him with caution.

This was the influence of status and identity.

“Since I have some free time, might as well visit the Scripture Pavilion,” Li Wudao decided, asking for directions instead of returning to Misty Peak.

Before long, he arrived at the Scripture Pavilion—a magnificent structure crafted from precious nanmu wood, adorned with intricate carvings, exuding an ancient fragrance and aura.

The pavilion was larger than most taverns, spanning six floors.

The first floor was for Outer Sect disciples.

The second for Inner Sect.

The third and fourth were reserved for True Transmission disciples.

Floors above the fifth were off-limits to outsiders, said to be accessible only to the sect leader and those who had made great contributions.

Li Wudao surveyed the place for a moment, preparing to enter.

Just then, a man and a woman approached, arm in arm, their expressions intimate.

“Li Wudao? It’s you... How do I keep running into you everywhere? What bad luck!” Sun Qian frowned deeply, her tone filled with disdain.

She clung to Ruan Fei, glaring at Li Wudao.

“So that’s who it was. You two lovebirds... No wonder the air felt foul just now,” Li Wudao shot them a sidelong glance, casual in posture.

Sun Qian and Ruan Fei’s faces instantly darkened.

“Don’t think becoming a True Transmission disciple makes you superior. You’re just waiting here to make me regret it? Dream on!” Sun Qian crossed her arms, sneering bitterly.

“In this life, even if I die or get expelled from the sect, I will never regret it. You might as well give up,” she taunted.

“Where did you get that confidence? You’re an ugly toad playing dress-up. Your thoughts are delusional,” Li Wudao said, utterly speechless to encounter such a shallow woman.

“You’re such a lowlife, even if you grovel at my feet now, I wouldn’t want you. Maybe only the guy beside you is suitable...” he laughed, half amused by his own words.

Indeed, when utterly speechless, people sometimes laughed.

Sun Qian’s face turned icy, her whole body trembling. Hands on her hips, she pointed at him, furious and cursing.

“If it weren’t for sect rules, I’d beat you up again today. Know your place, you lowly worm!” she spat.

Li Wudao’s eyes turned cold, tempted to strike but ultimately held back.

The time wasn’t right; he mustn’t reveal any weakness unless absolutely necessary.

“You brat, don’t get too arrogant or you might fall into the gutter!” Ruan Fei clenched his fists, gritting his teeth.

“Heh, I’m arrogant then. So what... is arrogance illegal? Which sect rule says disciples can’t be arrogant? Come on, try and fight me...” Li Wudao smirked coldly.