From Sword to Slaughter: Evolution

Lin San, an inner disciple, lived on the mountainside, close to the peak.

He had won an important competition in the past, granting him the right to reside on this cliffside. The energy density in the air here was far superior to other areas.

"Have you heard? Elder Zhang and his group are all dead!"

"They perished along with that giant serpent..."

As Lin San made his way back, he overheard some of the sect disciples whispering.

Zhang Laosan is dead?

Lin San raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Zhang Laosan, a peak fifth-rank warrior, to die. But then again, the Red-Eyed Serpent in the Mad Python Forest was a sixth-rank beast. Those guys must have been courting death by trying to hunt it.

"Oh? They're talking about that Red-Eyed Serpent," Ye Fan chuckled upon hearing the whispers.

That serpent had swallowed both Zhang Xiaoming and him whole. And somehow, after Ye Fan pierced its belly, the serpent ended up dead.

"Zhang Xiaoming is missing, and many people perished in that serpent's venom. Even their bodies were dissolved beyond recognition."

At the same time, Zhang San and others received the latest news.

"Zhang Xiaoming is probably dead," Qian Haowen said. He had planned to confront Zhang Xiaoming upon his return, but this unexpected turn of events had changed everything.

"Were the weapons recovered?" Qian Haowen asked, recalling how the sword Zhang Xiaoming wielded had seemed extraordinary. It might have been the reason for his sudden surge in strength.

"I'm not sure. The items were handled by other inner disciples," Zhang San replied, feeling a bit helpless. He had his eye on that sword too, but now...

Zhang San sighed deeply.

Little did anyone know that this very sword had fortuitously fallen into Lin San's hands.

Lin San stretched as he returned to his residence. His home was perched on the edge of a cliff, overlooking what seemed like an endless abyss. Despite the danger, the air here was incredibly fresh, and the energy in the atmosphere was abundant.

"At this pace, I'll definitely break through to the third rank within half a month," Lin San thought, plucking some fruit from a nearby tree to eat. Then, he sat down cross-legged and continued his cultivation.

The [Golden Crow Scorching Sun Technique] was a demanding technique that consumed vast amounts of energy to temper the body. Lin San had chosen it because, with his blocked meridians, he had no other viable option.

But now that his energy absorption rate had increased, the technique was finally viable.

Cultivate!

With a focused mind, he activated the technique, drawing vast amounts of energy into his body. The energy surged through his meridians, pushing against the blockages and loosening them.

Though the pain in his meridians was intense, it was something Lin San could endure.

...

Time flew by, and seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

Pffft—

Lin San, who had been sitting cross-legged, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Hahaha!" Instead of showing any signs of distress, Lin San burst into laughter.

"I did it! I broke through!"

For seven days, he had relentlessly absorbed energy, forcing it through his blocked meridians until they finally cleared!

It felt incredible!

"Four years..."

Lin San stood up, relishing the newfound sense of freedom in his body. He closed his eyes and let the gentle breeze wash over him.

"Thank you, divine sword," he said, looking at the Yaoclan Sword in his hand, a smile playing on his lips.

Swish, swish—

Holding the sword, Lin San began to practice his swordsmanship. His movements were sharp and precise, each slash accompanied by a flurry of afterimages and the sound of cutting wind.

"Yo? Master Lin San is still practicing his swordsmanship, I see."

A mocking voice came from behind him.

"Feng Wutian, what do you want?" Lin San asked calmly, halting his movements and turning to face the newcomer.

Behind Feng Wutian were several other disciples, all looking at Lin San with disdain.

Four years ago, Lin San had been a prodigy, but now he was a second-rank warrior who had made no progress. In contrast, Feng Wutian had reached the third rank, and now even he looked down on Lin San.

"We're taking back this residence," Feng Wutian said coldly.

According to the rules, Lin San had won the right to this prime location four years ago during a major competition. But now, half a month before the sect's annual competition, Feng Wutian was already trying to seize his home.

"Taking it back?" Lin San raised an eyebrow.

"The next residence distribution isn't until the sect's annual competition in half a month."

The sect's annual competition was an event only for inner disciples. Four years ago, Lin San had been the youngest to reach the peak of the second rank within a year of starting his cultivation, earning him the right to live here.

But now, Feng Wutian was dismissing the rules entirely.

"Half a month, now, what's the difference?"

"Do you still think you're the genius from four years ago? Even the outer disciples at the foot of the mountain have reached the second rank."

"Your village mate, Lin Qiang, is now the top outer disciple at the third rank!"

"Though, that fool died in the Beast Hunting Competition."

The disciples behind Feng Wutian sneered, their words full of mockery.

Hearing this, Lin San raised an eyebrow. These were the very people he had once guided when they first entered the sect.

Yet now, they were the first to turn against him.

Did they really think they had surpassed him?

"This feels like one of those 'waste turned hero' stories," Ye Fan mused. "Lin San, if he hadn't found me, might have had a tough time."

"But now, what will he do?" Ye Fan was curious to see how Lin San would respond. This sword master seemed different from the others.