“Grand Elder, are you serious?”
Bai Tianheng’s expression was one of disbelief, like he had just heard the biggest joke of the decade.
Grand Elder Bai Ren had reported what he saw and wanted to discuss Bai Zihan’s hidden strength with Bai Tianheng.
Bai Ren initially believed that Bai Tianheng should know about Bai Zihan’s strength and assumed he was involved in hiding it for some kind of scheme.
But looking at Bai Tianheng’s confused expression, Bai Ren quickly realized that even Bai Zihan’s father didn’t know about his true power.
“Do you think I would lie?”
Bai Ren asked, his voice calm but firm.
“Of course not. But what you’re saying is… quite absurd!”
Bai Tianheng corrected himself.
Late Golden Core Stage? Minor Mastery over Nine Shadows Flowing Light Sword? And finally… Sword Intent?
Sword Intent?
He had never even seen Bai Zihan practice with his sword for more than an hour that too when forced.
And now Grand Elder wanted him to believe that this same son had somehow gained Sword Intent?
If it were his daughter, he would have believed it happily. But Bai Zihan?
There was no way he could easily accept this, even coming from the Grand Elder’s mouth.
“So you really had no idea about this?”
Bai Ren asked again, narrowing his eyes.
Bai Tianheng shook his head.
“Then has Bai Zihan also hid his strength from you?”
Bai Ren was quite confused about how Bai Zihan got such strength.
“I know my son quite well. There is no way he has been hiding his strength all these years. I don’t believe he could have hidden his power from his birth.”
Bai Tianheng continued.
“I know for sure that before going to the Heaven Sword Sect, Zihan’er has only been at the Core Condensation Stage.”
Bai Tianheng made it clear that Bai Zihan’s reputation as a waste all these years wasn’t just some rumor—it was the truth.
“So, you’re telling me he achieved all of this after going to the Heaven Sword Sect?”
Bai Ren found that even harder to believe.
He would rather believe Bai Zihan had been hiding his true strength all along than accept that he had made such rapid progress in such a short time.
“That can only be the explanation!”
Bai Tianheng nodded.
Although he also found it hard to believe, he was certain that all these changes Grand Elder Bai Ren mentioned must have been achieved after Bai Zihan reached the Heaven Sword Sect.
“This brat… I only wanted him to learn to fend for himself. I never thought he would turn out like this. Perhaps he found some opportunity we don’t know about in Heaven Sword Sect.”
Nonetheless, despite his shock, Bai Tianheng was relieved and happy to know that his son had achieved so much.
Perhaps he thought that he would need to worry less about constantly being concerned about what kind of trouble he would cause.
***
After returning to Bai Clan, Bai Zihan immediately went to his courtyard.
Bai Zihan began training, practicing with his Sword Intent.
His attacks using sword techniques were nearly ten times stronger with Sword Intent than without it.
Such a massive increase in power was beyond what he had expected, not to mention the other perks—like being able to grasp sword techniques with much greater ease.
He was also able to adjust his power according to his will which was surprisingly easy.
However, Bai Zihan wasn’t planning to stay in the Bai Clan for long. He had already decided to return to the Heaven Sword Sect the next day.
Before that, though, there was one thing that he wanted to check and that is the Eternal Spirit Sword he had taken (aka stolen) from dead Mo Yichen.
He took out the sword from his storage ring and admired its beauty.
Unlike before, when the sword seemed to resist him, now it was perfectly compliant.
It even felt eager, like it was willing to serve him as its master.
(Probably because of my Sword Intent.)
With Sword Intent, it was as if he was proving his qualifications to wield it, and the Eternal Spirit Sword seemed to recognize that.
Well, that saved him some effort to tame the Eternal Spirit Sword. All that was needed now was to test its power.
Swish! Swish!
He swung the sword lightly, and silver arcs danced around the blade, each one radiating a sharp, lethal edge.
With a thought, he channeled his Intermediate Sword Intent into the blade.
Hum!
The sword’s glow intensified, the silver light becoming almost blinding.
Swish! Swish!
Bai Zihan nodded in satisfaction. The sword felt like an extension of his own will, perfectly responding to his thoughts.
The sword was excellent, but it was still just a Profound-Grade weapon.
His current sword was technically better. But of course, Bai Zihan knew that this sword could be upgraded further—potentially without limit.
Heaven Grade and above—just thinking about that, Bai Zihan couldn’t imagine just how powerful it would become.
“But I don’t even know what materials are needed for the next upgrade.”
Bai Zihan muttered as he closely examined the sword.
Well, he gave up as soon as he started as he knew that it was futile.
But just as he was about to continue testing it—
Ding!
A faint, almost inaudible chime echoed in his mind.
Bai Zihan’s eyes narrowed.
(Hmm?)
Suddenly, a series of images and words flooded his consciousness—a list of rare herbs, minerals, and monster cores, each one glowing faintly.
(These are… materials?)
It didn’t take him long to understand.
(Eternal Spirit Sword… it’s actually telling me how to upgrade it?)
Bai Zihan couldn’t help but chuckle.
(Such cheap materials? And that idiot Mo Yichen couldn’t even get them?)
Well, he understood why. For someone like Mo Yichen without a powerful background, obtaining these materials would be a nightmare.
But for him? They were nothing more than pocket change.
“I should probably have someone start collecting these for me.”
He muttered, turning to leave his room.
Just as he stepped out, he saw Luo Qing standing there, waiting for him.
“Nice timing, Luo Qing. I have something for you to do.”
“Yes, Young Master?”
Luo Qing asked, bowing slightly.
Bai Zihan handed her a list of the materials he needed.
“Take this list and make arrangements to collect everything. I need them as soon as possible.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
Luo Qing replied, her voice respectful.
Watching her rush off, Bai Zihan chuckled.
“There is no need to rush, you know!”
***
The next morning it dawned crisp and clear over Bai Clan’s Estate.
Bai Zihan was waiting for his carriage to arrive so he could return to the Heaven Sword Sect.
Beside him, Bai Tianheng’s normally stern face bore a rare, proud smile as he watched his son prepare to depart.
Bai Zihan thought he would be bombarded with questions from his father, who should have known by now that he had reached the Late Golden Core Stage and other details.
But surprisingly, Bai Tianheng hadn’t asked anything and remained silent, even as Bai Zihan was about to depart.
Bai Zihan even began to doubt whether his father had heard about those things at all or not.
“Be careful on the way!”
Bai Tianheng rumbled, placing a firm hand on Bai Zihan’s shoulder.
“No matter what opportunity you’ve gained, make sure to cherish it and work hard!”
(It seems like Father thinks I got some kind of opportunity at the Heaven Sword Sect.)
Thinking about it, that’s probably the most likely explanation for my sudden increase in power.
Bai Zihan nodded.
“Don’t worry, I will!”
He didn’t think that it was necessary for him to tell the truth. Because the truth is much more unbelievable than what his father thought.
“This brat… Sigh! Don’t make too much trouble at Heaven Sword Sect.”
Bai Tianheng, no matter how talented Bai Zihan has become, can’t help but be worried due to his attitude.
In the few months that he has been to Heaven Sword Sect, he has already stirred up so many big things including taking out Elder Shen, Shen Liang and finally the Mei Clan.
And those were only things big enough for Bai Tianheng to really worry about. He knew that there should be many other small problems that he should have made that he wasn’t aware of.
Well, although he knew that, he wasn’t going to stop Bai Zihan’s from going back to Heaven Sword Sect.
After all, whether Bai Zihan was at Heaven Sword Sect or Bai Clan, he could stir up trouble.
So, rather than being his problem, he liked it better when it became some other people’s problem.
Specifically, Heaven Sword Sect Leader!
Tian Yuheng has been constantly complaining about Bai Zihan and demanded compensation for handling all those problems.
Well, he has been ignoring all those messages though.
“Then I will be leaving!”
Bai ZIhan said as he got inside his carriage and soared upward, cutting through the morning mists as he headed back toward the Heaven Sword Sect.