Chapter 57: True Disciple

After Curator Zhang had elevated his own strength to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, his battles with Li Zhen became evenly matched.

In terms of swordsmanship, both Curator Zhang and Li Zhen were on the same level. However, Curator Zhang had the advantage in battle experience.

On the other hand, Li Zhen’s reaction speed and the force carried by his sword surpassed what would be expected from Curator Zhang’s mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation, demonstrating superior physical prowess.

Of course, Curator Zhang’s abilities extended beyond close-quarters swordplay alone. If he were to draw back and employ his flying swords, Li Zhen’s advanced sword techniques would become largely ineffective.

“A satisfactory match!” Li Zhen exclaimed with a roar.

Under Curator Zhang’s full demonstration of swordsmanship, Li Zhen gleaned invaluable insights from this duel.

Joy was plain on Curator Zhang’s face; the Going Beyond Swordplay would soon boast another prodigious sword talent—an immense stroke of fortune.

He already had plans to approach Han Clan officials for increased benefits for Li Zhen.

Currently, Li Zhen received support merely as an investment in an outsider, with limited resources at his disposal.

Only because Li Zhen’s cultivation level was still low did the current sponsorship seem substantial. With his innate swordsmanship talent, he deserved far greater recognition.

“Let’s call it a day!” Curator Zhang declared, sweeping his sword aside as he retreated.

Li Zhen sheathed his blade and bowed to Curator Zhang, expressing his gratitude for the sparring session.

“Li Zhen, how has your swordsmanship improved so quickly?” Curator Zhang asked, his curiosity piqued. But he immediately added, “Never mind, I shouldn’t have asked!”

If Li Zhen’s talent were average, Curator Zhang’s inquiry about his cultivation wouldn’t have been a big deal. However, given Li Zhen’s clearly extraordinary rate of progress, such a question would be equivalent to challenging their relationship.

No cultivator would ever reveal their unique experiences, which were closely guarded secrets between a cultivator and their mentor.

Li Zhen was considering how to respond when he heard Curator Zhang change the subject. He smiled and decided to say nothing further.

No matter how I try to make up a story, there will always be weak points, he thought. It’s best not to say anything at all.

“The Go Beyond Swordplay dojo has no one who can further teach you,” Curator Zhang said, steering the conversation. “At your level of swordsmanship, the only way to improve is through constant combat!”

“But where am I supposed to find battles to join?” Li Zhen asked, shaking his head.

“I’ll give you two suggestions: one safe method to improve, and one dangerous one,” Curator Zhang said, looking directly into Li Zhen’s eyes.

“Please enlighten me, O Curator!” Li Zhen bowed respectfully.

“The safe method is to participate in the school’s challenge tournaments. Represent our school in battles against students from all across the continent. With powerful cultivators acting as referees, there are no safety concerns.”

“The dangerous way to level up is by venturing outside the city to hunt monsters,” Curator Zhang suggested.

Li Zhen accessed the school challenge information through his identity bracelet. The challenge began each year in March, with students from various schools being selected in advance. The competition started at the county level, then progressed to the municipal level, with the final stage being the gathering of victorious students from each region on Dongli Continent.

As a newly promoted student in the cultivator class, he now possessed the status of a cultivator. Ordinary individuals were unable to participate or even observe this prestigious school challenge event, which explained why he previously had no knowledge of it.

After reviewing the details, he realized it was the most important competition for secondary schools across Dongli Continent.

Winning a place in the rankings not only brought fame to one’s school but also influenced future resource allocation for the school and even the entire county. The rewards for students were also exceedingly generous.

What enticed Li Zhen the most, however, was the enhancement of his own status and safety upon achieving a ranking. If he truly secured one of the top spots in the Dongli Continent’s school challenge, even the county’s highest officials might rush to his aid when he triggered a distress signal.

As for venturing outside the city to fight, Li Zhen needed to carefully consider that option.

Li Zhen had ample tricks up his sleeve and wasn’t worried about dealing with large numbers of monsters either. As long as the Cataclysm Cultivators weren’t in the late stages of Qi Refining, he wouldn’t be troubled by them.

“Although few first-year students typically participate in the Inter-School Competition, your mastery of the Great Achievement Sword Technique makes you a prime candidate for Second High School’s selection. Honestly, based on your demonstrated close-quarters combat ability, even high school students in the middle stages of Qi Refining wouldn’t stand a chance against you!” Curator Zhang remarked.

“I’ll give it serious consideration!” Li Zhen nodded emphatically.

“Come with me!” Curator Zhang decided after a moment’s thought.

He led Li Zhen to his office, opened the virtual screen on his desk, and began tapping away with his fingers.

“From now on, you are a true disciple of the Going Beyond Swordplay. You’ll have free access to all facilities within the sword hall, unlimited use of our entire library, and a boundless supply of basic nutritional supplements!” Curator Zhang announced, pausing his work.

Li Zhen had heard about the true disciples of the Going Beyond Swordplay. It was said that such positions were rarely bestowed, with only one or two being chosen every few years. These true disciples rarely appeared in public, making their status more of an honor than anything else.

In fact, no true disciple of the Going Beyond Swordplay had ever been as young as Li Zhen. Typically, one had to be a high school student before even being considered for such a position.

This high school prodigy would soon ace the college entrance exams, leaving the small town of Yunxi County behind. For someone like this, being a true disciple of the Going Beyond Swordplay genuinely meant only a tenuous connection to their hometown.

Li Zhen’s identity bracelet beeped with a message from the academy. Through his retina interface, he accessed the electronic versions of the academy’s secret manuals, now all available for him to read.

“Thank you, Director Zhang!” he expressed his gratitude once again.

This time, he had received tangible benefits—basic nutrient supplements were highly valuable. Consuming them would allow him to quickly recover his strength, effectively extending his sword practice time. The academy also had a ‘Pill Toxin Detector’, ‘Cultivation Simulator’, and first-class cultivation rooms, all crucial resources to aid his training.

In particular, the first-class cultivation rooms were something he had never been qualified to use before. As he left the director’s office, Li Zhen spotted Han Wenqin waiting outside his dedicated practice room.

“Congratulations on becoming a true disciple of the Going Beyond Swordplay,” Han Wenqin said, even though she had already received the notice.

Her reaction wasn’t unfounded; Li Zhen was indeed the only one who had achieved such status in the first year. In fact, becoming a true disciple during middle school years was unheard of within the past hundred years.

If she didn’t know Curator Zhang’s character so well, she might have suspected he’d received some sort of kickback to make such an incredibly unusual decision.

“The curator has great favor on you!” Li Zhen replied with a smile.

“Once the official announcement is made, you’ll have to face challenges from other cultivators at Going Beyond Swordplay!” Han Wenqin reminded him continuously.

“What’s going on?” Li Zhen asked, puzzled.

“As a true disciple in Going Beyond Swordplay, you’ll be the head disciple, a position even higher than that of a coach. Naturally, many will be dissatisfied!” Han Wenqin explained.

If Li Zhen were older, with a higher cultivation level and greater renown, he could have commanded respect, she thought. But as it is, he’s virtually unknown, and only in his first year of middle school. How can so many cultivators in Going Beyond Swordplay accept him?

She couldn’t fathom Curator Zhang’s decision. While being a true disciple was indeed an honor, it came with no small amount of trouble.

On his way home from Going Beyond Swordplay, he found five bottles of beginner-grade nutrition supplements in his backpack. He hadn’t taken them willingly; Curator Zhang had ordered them to be given to him.

From now on, after each training session, he’d receive five bottles of these supplements to take home. This would help him recover his strength during home practice, a clear benefit of becoming a true disciple.

Upon returning home, Li Zhen dined with his parents before heading to the cultivation room for an hour of practice.

He hadn’t stayed at the Going Beyond Swordplay Club; opting not to cultivate in their first-rate room. If he were to practice the ‘Seventeenth Edition Foundation Qi Refining Technique’ at the club, he’d either have to cut down his sword training time or extend his stay at the club.

His current cultivation pace was sufficient, and he saw no need to reduce his sword practice to make more time for cultivation techniques.

As for extending his time at the club, that would push his home arrival an hour later, disrupting his parents’ routine and causing them undue worry.

While the spiritual energy in his home cultivation room was only inferior first-rate, it represented his parents’ love. Li Zhen made sure to deplete the room’s spiritual energy completely every day.

He understood that once he advanced to the intermediate stage of Qi Refinement, the effectiveness of this low-grade spiritual energy would diminish significantly, and his parents would no longer be able to provide this thoughtful gesture.

Returning to his bedroom, Li Zhen began planning his cultivation schedule. With so much to do now, he needed to carefully manage his time.