By the Sword-Washing Pool, Embrace a New Beginning
“What the hell, does that mean I’ve really traveled to another world? And I’ve taken over the body of a boy who has the same name and looks exactly like me?”
Ding Sheng sat by the Spirit Sword Pool, looking down at the worn and rusty black iron sword in his hand. He gazed at the handsome face reflected in the water, remaining dazed for over an hour, still in disbelief.
He clearly remembered that last night, he had gone out with his friends to celebrate their high school graduation, indulging in dreams about their carefree college lives. After a night of revelry and drunkenness, he woke up to find himself in this strange new world.
After a while of confusion, Ding Sheng finally accepted the reality of his situation. Deep down, he felt an inexplicable excitement, as if he had been reborn. With an unexpected calmness, he embraced his new world and identity.
Gradually, he learned that this world was called the Endless Continent, where the strong ruled and numerous sects existed alongside humans and demons. The sect he found himself in, the Sword Inquiry Sect, was an eight-rank sword-cultivating sect located in the Snow State, renowned for its rich history and a plethora of masters. However, Ding Sheng was not a disciple of the Sword Inquiry Sect; instead, he was a member of the massive “Logistics Group,” responsible for cleaning the paths at the foot of the mountain.
He also realized that he had been an orphan since childhood, with no memories before the age of ten, except for a younger sister. Tragically, she was taken away by a mysterious woman in white when he was eleven, leaving him with no trace of her whereabouts.
In this world, where the strong prey on the weak, becoming powerful was every young person’s dream, and Ding Sheng was no exception. He longed to leave the Sword Inquiry Sect and venture into the wilds filled with demons to find his missing sister. Unfortunately, he lacked innate talent; his roots were poor, and his meridians were thin. Despite trying four times from the age of ten to pass the entrance test, he had failed each time, and he was running out of time as the final opportunity approached.
“I only have half a month to prepare…” Ding Sheng thought, feeling an overwhelming sense of urgency. He realized he needed to take immediate action, or he would lose his chance to become a strong warrior forever.
Standing quietly by the Spirit Sword Pool, Ding Sheng pondered for a moment, closed his eyes, and sifted through the memories of sword techniques in his mind. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, as if he had thought of something. The rusty sword in his hand trembled slightly, and he expertly executed a sword technique. This technique was the basic sword art of the Sword Inquiry Sect, which he had secretly practiced. Despite being an entry-level skill, Ding Sheng executed it as if he had performed it thousands of times before.
Especially in the final four moves—Light Split, Ice Break, Cloud Lift, and Wind Chase—Ding Sheng executed them in one breath, the sword light rolling and the moves becoming incredibly fierce. With the final strike, the rusty sword transformed into a streak of red light, soaring through the air.
Ding Sheng stood still after retracting the sword, a look of surprise on his handsome face. “How strange! In my previous memories, the last four moves of this sword art were extremely difficult to master. The former Ding Sheng spent over two years practicing them countless times without fully grasping them. But why did I find it so easy just now? It feels like I can effortlessly perform any move I think of in my mind.”
To his surprise, at that moment, Ding Sheng felt as if a strange force propelled his body, and the sword’s momentum seemed to resonate with his spirit. He gradually began to understand the deeper meaning of the sword techniques, experiencing the power and essence hidden behind each movement. As the sword light flickered, his thoughts soared, as if time had frozen in that instant, leaving only him and the sword in the world.
He started to realize that perhaps the potential of this body was not as poor as he had imagined. Those seemingly ordinary sword moves danced in his hands like the soul in motion, conveying a sense that transcended reason. Ding Sheng felt that he was breaking through some kind of shackles, and an unprecedented confidence surged within him. He understood that he was not just a lowly servant responsible for cleaning; he might hold greater opportunities and powers within him.
“I must make good use of this time and quickly master this set of sword techniques!” he resolved in his heart. The next half month would be the key to changing his fate. He needed to seize this opportunity, not only to pass the entrance test but also to strive to improve his strength and find his missing sister.
Ding Sheng tightened his grip on the sword hilt, a determined expression on his face. He gazed into the distance, filled with fighting spirit. He knew that although the future path was fraught with challenges, he was no longer the helpless boy he once was, but a swordsman with goals and direction. As long as he worked hard, he would certainly find his place in this world where the strong prevailed.At the Spirit Sword Pool, exchanging the old for the new.
Ding Sheng’s heart was stirred as he felt the sword in his hand like a key granted by fate, capable of unlocking the doors to a higher realm. Though he had once been an unnoticed servant in this sect, he now realized there was much more to him than that. Fate had brought him to this strange world, hinting that he had a greater purpose. The pain of his sister being taken by the woman in white had never left him, but now he understood that only by becoming stronger could he face the challenges ahead and find his missing sibling.
In the next half month, he knew he must give it his all, pushing himself beyond his limits. This was not only to pass the sect’s entrance exam but also to fulfill the deep-seated wish in his heart and seize the turning point of his fate. Determination burned in his eyes as each step he took became steadier. He knew that this challenge was not only a test of strength but also of spirit and will. And he was now ready to face it all.