The seventh day. For Han Xiao, it was the final day of his rest, but for the entire Azure Heaven Sect, it was a day the mountains would never forget.
Before the sun had even breached the horizon, strange omens appeared in the sky. Clouds swirled like soaring dragons, and the spiritual energy (Qi) in the atmosphere became ten times more intense than usual. To the disciples, this was a sign that someone was about to ascend to a "God-like" stage of cultivation.
But Han Xiao simply woke up on his wooden bed. He dressed as he always did—in his tattered servant's robes.
[System Notification]
[Day 7 of Rest: The Completion.]
[Task: Rediscovering the Self.]
Han Xiao stepped out of his shack and walked toward the center of the sect: the Sword Monument. This stone pillar was planted by the Sect Founder thousands of years ago. No one dared to get close to it because the "Sword Intent" radiating from the stone was sharp enough to slice a man into pieces.
When he arrived, he found a massive crowd of elite disciples and elders gathered around.
"Look! The Monument is vibrating!" a disciple shouted. "Our genius, Lin Mei, must be on the verge of unlocking its secret!"
Lin Mei sat cross-legged before the stone, deep in meditation. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and her face was pale. She was trying to force the Sword Intent to submit to her will, but the stone only grew more violent in response.
Han Xiao pushed through the crowd quietly. He stood beside Lin Mei and looked at the ancient stone.
"You are forcing it too much," Han Xiao said softly.
Lin Mei snapped her eyes open. She recognized him—the boy who had been eating plums the other day. "You? Why are you here? This isn't a place for a low-level servant! Get back, the Sword Intent will kill you!"
Han Xiao smiled. "A sword isn't just for killing. A sword is a path. You are trying to carve a new road by force, but you've forgotten how to simply walk on the one that is already there."
He reached out his hand and placed a single finger on the vibrating monument.
BOOM.
The entire sect trembled. The terrifying Sword Intent that had been lashing out suddenly turned into a gentle hum. All that violent energy rushed toward Han Xiao's fingertip and went silent. It was as if the wild energy had finally found its master and calmed down like a loyal hound.
"This... this is impossible!" The elders nearby were speechless.
Han Xiao used his sleeve to wipe some dust off the stone. "It's so dusty. Doesn't anyone clean this?"
As he wiped the stone, golden characters began to glow beneath the grime. It was the "Supreme Technique" left behind by the Founder. To everyone else, these were divine secrets. To Han Xiao, they looked no different from the stroke patterns he made with his broom every morning.
"Lin Mei... do you see?" Han Xiao asked. "The sword isn't in your hand. It's in your heart. If your heart is at peace, the sword is at peace. If your heart is filled with the desire to kill, the sword will eventually kill you."
In that moment, Lin Mei achieved Enlightenment. The blockages in her meridians shattered, and her cultivation level soared instantly.
Han Xiao didn't wait to watch her breakthrough. He turned and walked away. His seven days of rest were officially over.
As the sun began to set, Han Xiao stood before his shack. His old bamboo broom was leaning against the wall.
[System Notification]
[Rest Period Over.]
[New Title: The All-Seeing Servant.]
[Reward: The Power of Nothingness.]
Han Xiao picked up the broom. As his hand touched the wood, he felt as though he were holding the entire universe.
"Well... back to work."