Sorry for the late chapter
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Inside the Sutra Library.
Liu Jian stood quietly, his expression slightly unsettled.
When he had been on the brink of despair, Chu Xun had reached out and pulled him back. That alone filled him with gratitude, the three kowtows he performed were sincere, without the slightest hesitation. What he had never expected was that this seemingly ordinary old man possessed such an extraordinary background.
Elder Chu of the Donglin Sect, the most talked-about senior in the Eastern Region in recent times, had now become his master.
The joy was overwhelming, yet anxiety crept in alongside it. How could someone who had been eliminated by other forces be worthy of becoming the disciple of such a senior?
Chu Xun naturally noticed his unease. He didn't hide anything and said with a gentle smile,
"You have an excellent physique, a sword body. It just hasn't been awakened yet. Go to the Sword River at the back mountain. You may gain something there. When you truly awaken your sword body, you will be my real disciple."
"Sword body!"
Liu Jian's eyes lit up.
Since childhood, he had possessed an unusual affinity for sword cultivation. But after entering the Eastern Region and encountering countless geniuses, he had gradually believed that there was nothing special about him after all.
Yet Elder Chu would not speak without reason.
He cupped his fists respectfully, then withdrew in silence.
All the way.
Straight toward the Sword River at the back mountain of the sect.
This river was famous far and wide, regarded as a sacred land by the sword cultivators of the Donglin Sect. Back when Chu Xun had defended the sect, the Sword River had surged forth from the back mountain, annihilating Zhao Yong of the Zhenwu Sect in one stroke, pushing the river's reputation to its peak.
Now, countless disciples sat along its banks, cross-legged on the ground, comprehending the sword intent within the river like devoted pilgrims.
"So strong…"
Liu Jian stared at the river in shock. This was a sensation he had never experienced anywhere else. Within the hazy sword qi, there were Venerable-level sword intents, and he even sensed traces of Human Emperor sword intent.
Such an opportunity was almost impossible to encounter in the outside world.
Yet within the Donglin Sect, it was merely one of many.
"Hu"
He exhaled slowly, expelling the turbid air from his chest.
The excitement in his eyes faded, replaced by firm resolve. Since Elder Chu said he possessed a sword body, then he would awaken it here. Otherwise, it would be an insult to his master's reputation. How could a peak figure of the Eastern Region accept an unknown nobody as a disciple?
"Buzz!"
He closed his eyes.
The rich sword intent surged.
It poured into his body.
Chi chi!
He was only one step away from awakening the sword body. Bathed in the supreme sword intent of the river, more and more sword qi gathered, cleansing his flesh and bones, sharpening the sword intent within his heart.
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
He felt the change.
His body was like a pure blade.
He could sense it.
Yet he still couldn't grasp it completely.
That final gap left him anxious and confused.
Far away, inside the Sutra Library, Chu Xun glanced over with a strange look, then smiled in relief. Based on Liu Jian's life trajectory, without interference, he would have returned to Tianyun Kingdom at this point, been stimulated by events, and only then awakened his sword body.
He had accumulated for many years. He was only missing one final push.
"Then I'll help you."
"Buzz!"
Chu Xun flicked his finger.
A strand of sword intent shot forth, transforming into a streak of light that plunged into Liu Jian's body.
"Boom!"
Liu Jian trembled violently, as if struck by lightning. A sharper, more domineering sword intent erupted within him.
His cultivation exploded.
Peak of the Second Dharma Realm.
Third Dharma Realm.
Fourth Dharma Realm.
Fifth Dharma Realm.
…
In an instant, accumulation turned into eruption.
He broke through realm after realm, charging straight into the Third Heaven.
The phenomenon alarmed the surrounding cultivators. They opened their eyes and stared in shock.
"Sword body!"
Liu Jian's body was translucent, like a complete blade formed of sword light. What made them even more envious was his cultivation, soaring in an instant, breaking through multiple realms and saving years of bitter cultivation.
As the sword force gradually settled within him, people rushed over with eager smiles.
"Senior brother, may I ask your name? I'm Ding Hongxing, why haven't I seen you before?"
"Senior brother, I'm Hou Junjie. I joined the sect last year!"
"Senior brother, do you have time lately? I'm confused about my cultivation and would like your guidance!"
In just moments, people crowded around him.
They all understood, this young man was about to rise.
A sword body.
One had not appeared in the entire Eastern Region for tens of thousands of years.
Since the founding of the Donglin Sect, no one had ever awakened such a physique. This cold, black-clad youth had done it. As long as he didn't die prematurely, becoming a Human Emperor was almost guaranteed, and even the Saint Realm was not out of reach.
Such a person was worth befriending. Worth flattering.
Liu Jian felt a surge of emotion.
Just days ago, he had been a nobody, someone the elegant man could humiliate at will. Now, disciples who had cultivated in the sect for years were surrounding him with smiles, eager to curry favor.
He knew this wasn't his own merit alone.
Without Elder Chu, he might have sunk into despair, returning to his homeland and never awakening the sword body in his lifetime.
Without that final sword light, he might still be trapped in confusion, unsure how many more days, or years, it would have taken.
He knew who that sword light came from.
His gratitude deepened.
Looking at the smiling faces before him, Liu Jian silently vowed:
Now that the sword body is awakened and my mortal shell shed… I am finally worthy of being Elder Chu's disciple.
…
After some time.
Inside the Sutra Library once more.
Liu Jian stood obediently.
Chu Xun pursed his lips in satisfaction.
"Not bad."
Seven days.
Sword body awakened.
Exactly as expected.
What truly delighted Chu Xun, however, was that the system had granted him a disciple reward the moment Liu Jian mastered the sword body, bestowing upon him the Chaos Sword Body. Even now, he could feel an endless sword intent washing through his own body.
"Go and stabilize your sword body first," Chu Xun said calmly.
"In three days, I'll take you out of the sect."
Liu Jian nodded without question.
Three days passed in a flash.
"Swoosh!"
A streak of light carried Liu Jian out of the Donglin Sect.
Originally, Chu Xun had planned to remain within the sect. But this disciple had brought him such a tremendous opportunity, granting him the Chaos Sword Body. It would be unreasonable not to reward him in return.
Moreover, Liu Jian had not yet turned down the demonic path.
If he were allowed to cultivate in peace for a while, only to later hear that the Demon Sect had been annihilated by the time he returned home… it was unclear how that would affect his state of mind.
Most importantly, according to the life evaluation,
Tianyun Kingdom was about to face catastrophe.
Billions of lives would be sacrificed.
If Chu Xun hadn't known, it would be one thing.
But now that he did, and it was tied directly to Liu Jian,
There was no reason to remain silent any longer.
Here's a tight, clean summary, no fluff, just the core beats: