C3 Stoneshattering Sword Aura

Su Jiuming was somewhat confused.

Observing Lee Daoquan's stern demeanor, he noticed a newfound respect in his eyes, a look of admiration that made Su Jiuming feel unexpectedly intimidated. "I was merely toying around with it," Su Jiuming protested. "There's no need for such reverence. Please, Senior Brother, rise."

Since his arrival, Lee Daoquan had never shown him any warmth; his glances were dismissive, as if Su Jiuming were no more than trash. But now, Lee Daoquan's respect was unmistakable. Something felt off, very off.

Lee Daoquan, lips pursed, stood and contemplated Su Jiuming. With such talent at his disposal, why had he not revealed it sooner? Was it as their master had said, that true masters do not flaunt their prowess?

Considering that Su Jiuming was his peer in age, Lee Daoquan felt a twinge of insecurity. Even as a prodigy, he had not managed to harness sword qi, much less wield it with ease. Yet, Su Jiuming had mastered the art of becoming one with the sword, an ability to triumph without a blade.

Despite his formidable skills, Su Jiuming downplayed his prowess, claiming it was just a casual display. His humility was genuine, without a trace of smugness. This was the mark of someone truly dedicated to the pursuit of the Dao.

Lee Daoquan was humbled and his respect for Su Jiuming deepened. He even stepped aside to invite Su Jiuming out of the cave to explore, offering to accompany him. Su Jiuming accepted with pleasure, and together they toured the Veiled Moon Sect.

As they walked and talked, Su Jiuming's modesty only heightened Lee Daoquan's sense of self-reflection. He realized that the adulation he had enjoyed had gone to his head, and his cultivation had strayed from its true purpose.

The disciples around them had touted Lee Daoquan as the rightful head of the sect, and he had begun to believe it. But now, faced with Su Jiuming's example, he recognized his own narrow-mindedness and mercenary ambitions.

True geniuses, he realized, do not seek the spotlight. And with that revelation, how could he continue to bask in the glow of his lesser achievements with any sense of pride?

The disciples within the sect were taken aback to find their esteemed eldest senior brother, renowned for his devout Daoist pursuits, not sequestered in his own blessed land for cultivation. Instead, he was respectfully escorting Su Jiuming on a tour of the Veiled Moon.

Moreover, Lee Daoquan set aside his ego and proactively greeted his fellow disciples.

He even went out of his way to approach the new disciples whose names he couldn't recall, asking for their names and making a mental note of them.

Today, nearly every disciple had the pleasure of receiving Senior Brother Lee Daoquan's warm greeting:

"If you ever have any questions about your cultivation, don't hesitate to ask me. It's by working together that our sect can progress, and that's the hallmark of a great sect."

Lee Daoquan's words inspired the sect's disciples, deeply moving them. Each one dove into their cultivation with renewed vigor.

"Has our Eldest Senior Brother had an epiphany? Or has the sun risen in the west today?"

"Who knows? Maybe he's delirious from practicing some intense cultivation technique. I just hope he stays this way."

"I heard that ever since he met with the Chief, Eldest Senior Brother has undergone a complete change of heart. He shows the Chief utmost respect, even more so than he does the Sect Master."

The rumor mill was churning, and the Outer Sect disciples of the Veiled Moon were abuzz with this topic, even amidst their cultivation routines.

Su Jiuming, too, was the subject of their awe-inspiring tales, portrayed as a figure of near-unlimited power.

[Ding! Mission completed. The Stone-Shattering Sword Aura reward has been issued in advance.]

Upon Su Jiuming's return to Misty Cliff, the long-silent system finally re-emerged, immediately presenting him with an unexpected revelation.

What? Stone-Shattering Sword Aura?

Su Jiuming, a well-read and stylish aficionado of web novels, had never come across the Stone-Shattering Sword Aura.

And what did they mean by "issued in advance"? He hadn't felt a thing.

"System, could you clarify where this Stone-Shattering Sword Aura reward was sent?"

[The host has already utilized the Stone-Shattering Sword Aura to split the stone door.]

Hearing the system's response, Su Jiuming turned to gaze at the stone door, now broken into chunks, his face a picture of astonishment.

On a distant cliff outside the door, there was a sword mark as long as a person, neither deep nor shallow.

"Damn!"

It was only then that Su Jiuming realized what had happened, and he couldn't help but swear, standing in front of the shattered stone door, his face filled with shock.

At that moment, Su Jiuming felt as though a stampede of ten thousand alpacas was running through his heart.

He had thought Lee Daoquan was joking when he said he had split the stone door. Who could have imagined that it was actually true?

Examining the stone door, Su Jiuming marveled inwardly at his newfound, formidable skill, only to be immediately doused with a reality check by the system:

[Stone-Shattering Sword Aura: Immensely powerful against stone but ineffective against living beings. Suitable for mining and quarrying.]

What? Is this skill really that limited?

Su Jiuming was at a loss for words. He had believed he'd acquired an incredible, game-changing ability that would set him on the path to success, only to discover that the sword aura was harmless to people.

So it was just like a tool for making a living? Was this system just toying with him?

Su Jiuming grumbled to himself, but he had to concede that having something was better than nothing. He remained grateful.

The following day, Bai Yifeng got wind of the situation and hurried to Misty Cliff, worried that Su Jiuming, the chosen one, might have fled.

Upon seeing Su Jiuming still there and apparently thriving, Bai Yifeng's concerns about him running off were alleviated. He relaxed and took the opportunity to have a proper conversation with Su Jiuming.

And so, Su Jiuming, the sect's chief disciple, finally began to receive the treatment befitting his status.

Bai Yifeng allocated all the peaks and several smaller cliffs surrounding Misty Cliff to Su Jiuming, encouraging him to accelerate his cultivation.

Su Jiuming readily accepted, and with that, he regained his freedom, no longer confined to Misty Cliff.

Did Su Jiuming still want to escape? Of course, he did.

But he was at a loss. Lee Daoquan had shown him all around the Veiled Moon, a place riddled with cliffs and precipices. As a mere mortal, without guidance, Su Jiuming knew he would never find his way back.

Moreover, rumors abound of numerous venomous snakes and ferocious beasts in the area, all of which are spirit animals capable of devouring Su Jiuming whole. For the sake of his survival, he had no choice but to remain within the confines of the Veiled Moon.

Thankfully, due to the system's blessings, Su Jiuming had mastered the art of gardening and farming. He was quite adept at tending to the fields and could easily sustain himself.

Once he had established his domain, Lee Daoquan would frequently visit him at Misty Peak. With some promotion from the Outer Sect disciples, Su Jiuming was finally able to hold his own. Despite the pressure from his peers' requests, Su Jiuming even conducted a "class" in public, leading them through a series of broadcast exercises.

Luckily, Su Jiuming stumbled upon success, much like a blind cat finding a dead rat. With Lee Daoquan at his side to offer explanations (and perhaps a bit of boasting), Su Jiuming's "teaching" session was well-received.

This not only dispelled some earlier misunderstandings about his arrival but also strengthened his bonds with Bai Yifeng's direct disciples, ensuring that Su Jiuming's solitary life was not overly lonely.

The disciples of the Veiled Moon began to spontaneously perform broadcast exercises each morning, circulating their Qi to kickstart their day. Although they had yet to make a name for themselves in swordsmanship, the practice of Body Forging and Gather Qi showed significant results.

"Junior brother, there's a martial arts contest at the sect in a couple of days. Would you like to check it out?"