From Sword to Slaughter: Evolution

"Understood, Master," Lin San replied with a slight nod.

To be honest, he had never had any real interest in Zhao Xiaoling. Seeing Lin San's nonchalant attitude, as if he didn't care about the matter at all, Zhao Xiaoling's expression darkened. He must be pretending!

"Good, then," Zhang Tiansha said. "The sect's grand competition is starting, and the living quarters will be reassigned. Get your things together. I'll make sure you get priority for a decent spot at the foot of the mountain."

Zhang Tiansha patted Lin San on the shoulder.

"Understood," Lin San responded calmly, though internally, he couldn't help but scoff. When he was strong, the attitude towards him had been completely different. Over the past four years, he had grown accustomed to the fickle nature of people, so he said nothing more.

"Alright, I'll be going now," Zhang Tiansha said, signaling Zhao Xiaoling to leave with him. "Make sure to get everything in order."

"How pitiful," Ye Fan remarked, watching the scene unfold. "But also quite fortunate to have stumbled upon me. Things are about to get interesting." Ye Fan chuckled to himself. Now that Lin San's strength was returning, he was eager to see the reactions of those around him.

"Life as a sword is often so simple, dull, and uneventful," Ye Fan mused, as Lin San returned to his cultivation. Lin San was determined to push his power to the limit before the sect's grand competition.

In the following days, Lin San not only resumed his intense training but also began to uncover the secrets of the [Phantom Dance] sword technique embedded within the Demon Slayer Sword. The discovery of a sword technique hidden within the blade left him both shocked and thrilled. With each passing day, Lin San grew more and more impressed with the sword's capabilities.

"This guy has been practicing basic sword techniques for years, even though he couldn't advance in rank. Yet, he's managed to perfect his skills to an impressive level," Ye Fan thought, watching Lin San practice. "He's the first sword master who can fully utilize my power."

Time flew by, and soon, there were only five days left until the sect's grand competition.

"I should get a new scabbard," Lin San said to himself one morning after completing a set of sword forms. He looked at the Demon Slayer Sword in his hand, then at the shattered scabbard on the ground, and smiled wryly. He had tried to make do with his old scabbard, but it simply wasn't up to the task. The sword's eerie aura had quickly caused cracks and eventually shattered the scabbard entirely.

"A divine sword requires a special scabbard, not just any ordinary one. I'll go down the mountain and have one made," Lin San decided, heading toward the base of the mountain.

…

"Zhang Xiaoming should be dead by now, but where is his sword? Why hasn't it been found?" Zhang Shan muttered to himself as he swept leaves at the mountain's base. That sword was anything but ordinary. He had checked the weapons retrieved from the competition, but the distinctive black sword was nowhere to be found.

"Damn it, could someone have picked it up…?"

Just then, Zhang Shan noticed a figure approaching.

"Good day, Brother Lin," Zhang Shan greeted with a smile as Lin San walked past.

"Mm," Lin San responded with a slight nod before continuing on his way.

"Hmph, what a loser," Zhang Shan muttered as Lin San walked away, his expression turning cold. Everyone in the sect knew Lin San's story. The outer disciples only refrained from speaking ill of him to his face due to his status as an inner disciple, but that didn't stop them from talking behind his back.

At that moment, Zhang Shan's eyes fell on the sword in Lin San's hand. That unmistakable black sword!

"That sword… it looks just like Zhang Xiaoming's!" Zhang Shan's eyes narrowed. There was no mistaking it—the sword was too distinctive. How could he forget?

"So it ended up in Lin San's hands," Zhang Shan thought, his expression shifting. What should he do now? He knew Lin San's strength was around the peak of the second rank, similar to his own, but Lin San had years of experience that gave him an edge. Even so, Zhang Shan coveted the sword.

"I have no choice… I must have it," Zhang Shan resolved, his eyes glinting with a dangerous light.

…

Lin San had already descended the mountain and was heading toward Star City. Located behind the Heaven's Peak Sect, Star City was even more prosperous than Sky Wolf City. The overall strength of the martial artists there was also higher. In Sky Wolf City, second-rank warriors were a rarity, but in Star City, they were plentiful.

"I hope 100 gold coins will be enough," Lin San thought as he walked. He sighed, feeling a bit helpless. Over the past few years, he hadn't been able to save much money.

"Maybe I'll hunt some beasts along the way and sell their beast cores," he mused.

"This world is truly vast," Ye Fan remarked, observing the landscape as Lin San walked toward Star City. The trees were taller, the grasses were thicker, and everything felt more expansive than anything Ye Fan had known in his previous life.

"Hmm?" After walking for a short while, Lin San suddenly sensed something. He looked up at a nearby tree.

"Found you," he whispered. With a swift movement, he leaped up the tree, displaying a light and agile movement technique. In one powerful slash, he brought the Demon Slayer Sword down.

Whoosh!

The tree was split in half, and a bird-like beast perched on the branches was cut cleanly in two.

[You have killed a second-rank Firebird, gaining 200 evolution points.]

"Impressive," Ye Fan remarked, pleased. Lin San was clearly making good use of the enhancements provided by the [All Attribute Amplification]. His heightened senses had allowed him to detect the beast hiding in the tree.

"Hmm?" Just as Lin San was about to extract the beast core from the carcass, he sensed several presences approaching.