C12 Advancement!

When Chiang Jin awoke, he was in his own bed, his wounds neatly bandaged, and he was dressed in fresh clothes.

Next to him lay the broken iron sword, once three feet long, now halved, leaving less than two feet including the hilt.

Nine years had passed since Chiang Jin arrived in this world, and as his consciousness merged with that of this realm's Chiang Jin, their memories flooded into one.

The sword, a gift from his grandfather, was a simple iron blade that had been with Chiang Jin for over a decade. The younger Chiang Jin had once proudly shown it off, even performing a blood ritual to claim ownership—a futile act for such a mundane weapon, yet it held a special place in Chiang Jin's heart.

To defeat Lin Juehai, Chiang Jin had exhausted all his talent points, ultimately emerging victorious. He reckoned Lin Juehai's talent would yield about five points.

Summoning the system, he opened the panel:

Host: Chiang Jin

Realm: Postnatal (Minor Achievement)

Cultivation Technique: Wave Falling Spell (Eighteen Waves)

Skills: Light Fixing Sword Technique (Masterful), Body Searching Steps (Masterful), Wave Submitting Sword Technique (Masterful)

Physique: Superior

Insight: Superior

Talent Points: +8

Dispatching Lin Juehai had netted him eight talent points, surpassing the combined total of Lin Fengyu and Qu Xiangfei—a pleasant shock for Chiang Jin.

The system, as far as he knew, could enhance his innate abilities and accelerate his training in martial arts. Yet, he wondered if it harbored undiscovered features, like access to advanced techniques.

Attempts at conversing with the system had been fruitless, save for using points to boost his skills. Chiang Jin had ceased trying, suspecting that further abilities might unlock with increased cultivation.

Even without this, Chiang Jin was confident in his path to becoming an unparalleled master, though he knew he must seek out profound techniques on his own.

Thus, his immediate goal was clear: gain entry into the Roc Essence Sect.

As he sat up, Chiang Jin realized he was bare, save for the bandages. He tenderly wiped down the Broken Sword and stowed it in his wardrobe, feeling a sentimental tug from the host's memories.

Unsure of how long he had been out, and feeling ravenous, Chiang Jin threw on some clothes and was about to search for food when Qin Baizhi entered, carrying a food box.

She paused, seeing him awake, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly.

Without ceremony, Chiang Jin devoured the meal—it was all his favorites.

Qin Baizhi watched in silence, lost in thought, while Chiang Jin remained oblivious.

After polishing off the meal, he looked up at Qin Baizhi, who frowned and left with a huff.

Chiang Jin's gaze lingered on her retreating figure, contemplative. Qin Baizhi, his childhood friend, had always been kind, defending him against all but his grandfather. Yet, with time, she had grown distant, intervening only as the Sword House heiress, much like during Lin Fengyu's incident.

"A toad and a swan," Chiang Jin mused with a wry smile, his resolve hardening, "but from now on, things will change."

He pushed aside further thoughts and stepped outside to catch up on what had transpired during his unconsciousness after the Liucheng Grand Tournament.

Disciples from the Wave Submitting Sword House were gossiping nearby. Spotting Chiang Jin, they approached with respect, "Senior Brother Jiang, congratulations on advancing to the semi-finals."

Chiang Jin then remembered his victories over Chen Song, Mann Jier, and Lin Juehai in the preliminary rounds. He had indeed moved on to the semi-finals.

The six-day competition included two preliminary rounds, semi-finals, eliminations, and the finals, with one match per day. Chiang Jin learned from the disciples that today marked the second preliminary round, and he had been unconscious for nearly a day.

The second round of preliminaries turned out to be a second chance for those who hadn't advanced from the first round—a revival match. The rules were similar, but now contestants had to defeat five opponents instead of three.

With time on his hands, he decided to check out the revival match.

Upon Chiang Jin's arrival, the Lin family members seethed with hatred, practically grinding their teeth. Had the Lin Family Patriarch been there, a confrontation would have been inevitable.

Earlier, disciples from the Wave Submitting Sword House had informed Chiang Jin that assassins sent by the Lin Family had ambushed them while escorting him back the previous day. Qin Qingguang had dispatched them all. The price the Lin Family must have paid to compel such reckless abandon from the assassins was a mystery.

By noon, the competition was more than halfway through.

Mann Jier, who had been bested by Chiang Jin the day before, had managed to defeat five opponents and secure his spot in the semi-finals.

Mann Jier was no slouch. With exceptional talent and as the heir to the Barbarian Essence Blade House, he had ample resources at his disposal. It was just his misfortune to encounter Chiang Jin, who seemed to play by a different set of rules.

The first round had weeded out the weaker contestants, leaving Mann Jier to dispatch his opponents with ease.

Only one disciple from the Yunyue Martial Arts Club, who had been defeated by Qin Baizhi the previous day, managed to last more than a few exchanges with Mann Jier. Using his agility and speed, he engaged in a tense battle, but eventually, Mann Jier exploited a weakness and sent him crashing out of the ring.

After watching for a short time, Chiang Jin considered that if he grew bored, he might as well return to his cultivation.

The system didn't negate the need for effort. While it could enhance his cultivation methods and martial arts, his internal strength required consistent, diligent practice. Against a highly skilled opponent, martial arts alone wouldn't suffice. The system served merely as a supplement.

Chiang Jin had decided to hold onto the eight talent points he'd gained from defeating Lin Juehai. It was uncertain how many points would be needed to further enhance his physique and insight. His current techniques and martial arts had already reached a peak of mastery and weren't particularly advanced, so there was no rush to improve them. He would save the points for the martial arts he would acquire from the Roc Essence Sect.

With his present abilities, Chiang Jin was a formidable contender in Liucheng. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, he was set to join the Roc Essence Sect and begin learning their martial arts. In a world where strength reigned supreme, he knew that only by continuously honing his power could he ensure his survival.