Chapter Thirty-Three: Wang the Broadsword

In the Baiyang Sect, becoming a personal disciple of an elder was the highest position an inner disciple could reach. But if one were content with that, their future achievements were fated to be limited. After all, though Baiyang Sect was the most powerful sect in the southern borderlands, in the end, it was only a two-star sect. Above it were three-star, four-star sects, all the way up to nine-star and ten-star sects. One could imagine how insignificant Baiyang Sect was in the grand scheme of the entire Tianfeng Continent.

Liu Pan, despite having become the personal disciple of an elder, was clearly not satisfied. He aspired to join even greater sects. However, entering a stronger sect was not so simple—one needed both the qualifications and the ability. At present, Liu Pan obviously lacked both.

Browsing through books about spiritual herbs and medicinal plants, Liu Pan felt his eyes opened to a whole new world. Although he was the creator of this world, there were still many things he did not know. More so, considering he had transmigrated from Earth—a place entirely devoid of the fantastical and bizarre elements of this realm.

Throughout the night, Liu Pan read through all the books Elder Lin had given him. Ever since his spiritual power had been "activated," his memory had become extraordinary—reading ten lines at a glance, remembering everything perfectly was now a trivial matter. As such, these books were now firmly imprinted in his mind, impossible to forget in the short term.

After rubbing his eyes, sore from a night of reading, Liu Pan nonetheless felt energetic, not the least bit weary from staying up. He opened the door; the morning sun had just risen, the fresh air rushed in, and everything seemed beautiful. Yet at that moment, Liu Pan suddenly felt a sense of confusion—or rather, he realized he did not know what to do next.

In the novel, after Liu Kuang entered Baiyang Sect, members of the Liu clan immediately set their sights on him, making trouble at every turn. There was always some plot unfolding—even when Liu Kuang went on a mission to hunt spirit beasts, there were those who sought to kill him. In short, Liu Kuang’s time in Baiyang Sect was filled with action and purpose.

However, Liu Pan was not Liu Kuang. Now, having become Elder Lin’s personal disciple, who in Baiyang Sect would still dare to harm him? With no troublemakers, there was naturally less excitement.

He recalled that in the novel, it was only half a year after Liu Kuang joined the sect that a four-star sect would arrive to select outstanding disciples. Half a year? Did he really have to spend six months living "peacefully" like this? Liu Pan felt he could not endure such monotony. Even though he would study alchemy with Elder Lin and could spend the rest of his time cultivating, the thought of repeating the same routine every day was unbearable.

He even thought of those strictly managed boarding schools on Earth—classes by day, sleep by night, with only black and white monotony except during holidays. Though what awaited him was not exactly the same, Liu Pan nonetheless found the prospect hard to accept. After all, if life lost its passion, what difference was there between him and a salted fish?

Just as Liu Pan was lost in thought, wondering how he might inject some passion into his days, a voice suddenly called him back to reality.

"Hey, junior brother, what are you thinking about? Want to join us for breakfast at Grandleaf Peak?"

Looking up at the sound, Liu Pan saw two figures at the courtyard gate. One of them was waving to him—it was none other than his second senior brother, Zhu Jiangyang. Beside him stood another man, thin and slightly shorter, with a long blade strapped to his back, giving off a sharp, imposing aura. From what Liu Pan had heard from Zhu yesterday, he instantly recognized the newcomer as his third senior brother, Wang Broadsword.

"Sure," Liu Pan replied, stepping out of the courtyard.

"This is your third senior brother, Wang Broadsword," Zhu Jiangyang introduced as Liu Pan approached.

"Senior Brother Broadsword," Liu Pan greeted with a bow.

"Hmm," Wang Broadsword nodded. Yet at that very moment, his blade flashed from its sheath, coming down at Liu Pan with sudden force.

The attack was abrupt, but Liu Pan did not panic. He stepped forward, and before the blade fell, he intercepted Wang’s wrist with his elbow.

The blade never struck.

Both Wang Broadsword and Zhu Jiangyang were briefly stunned by this outcome. Liu Pan, frowning, asked, "Senior Brother Broadsword, what is the meaning of this?"

As if awakening from a trance, Wang Broadsword smiled, a glimmer of sharpness in his eyes. "No wonder the sect leader and elders praise you as the outer disciple with the deepest understanding of martial arts. Your alertness is impressive."

As he spoke, Wang Broadsword’s wrist still rested against Liu Pan’s elbow, and the air between them grew tense.

At this, Zhu Jiangyang finally snapped out of it. A flash of sharpness crossed his eyes before he frowned and barked, "Wang Broadsword! What are you doing? Put your blade away!"

Wang Broadsword’s expression showed a hint of displeasure, but he eventually smiled and slid the blade back into its sheath. "It’s nothing. I was just eager to test our junior brother’s skills, since he’s been recognized by the sect leader and elders as the new disciple with the deepest grasp of martial arts."

With Wang Broadsword withdrawing, Liu Pan also relaxed, lowering his elbow and easing his stance.

"Junior brother, are you all right?" Zhu Jiangyang asked, grabbing Liu Pan’s arms as if to check for injuries.

Slightly furrowing his brow, Liu Pan then smiled, "Don’t worry, Brother Jiangyang, I’m fine. I must thank Senior Brother Broadsword for going easy on me."

"As long as you’re all right," Zhu Jiangyang sighed in relief, then turned to Wang Broadsword with a frown. "Broadsword, I know your cultivation is high, but junior brother only just broke into the Martial Disciple realm. If you want to spar, wait until he’s stronger. What if you hurt him? And if Master finds out, you—"

Zhu Jiangyang’s words tumbled out, but Wang Broadsword suddenly scowled and strode off, not toward the foot of the mountain—clearly, he had lost his appetite for breakfast.

Seeing Wang Broadsword leave, Zhu Jiangyang could only stop. He frowned, then turned to Liu Pan, offering comfort, "Junior brother, don’t take it to heart. That’s just the way Broadsword is—whenever he sees—"

"It’s all right, Brother Jiangyang, I’m fine. No need to comfort me—I understand Senior Brother Broadsword," Liu Pan replied with a smile, though a cold glint flickered deep in his eyes.

As for Wang Broadsword, Liu Pan thought, if he truly attacked out of mere eagerness, then so be it. But what if that wasn’t his real motive?

Ever since his spiritual sense had been "activated," Liu Pan’s perception of his surroundings had grown sharper. As soon as he approached Wang Broadsword, he sensed an inexplicable aura locking onto him. It was not a spiritual or divine sense, but a more primal locking of vital energy—a universal instinct.

Feeling targeted, Liu Pan had immediately tensed, entering a state of high vigilance. As expected, Wang Broadsword struck soon after. Fortunately, Liu Pan was prepared and suffered no loss. In fact, he could tell that Wang Broadsword hadn’t used his full strength.

Liu Pan could have simply retreated to avoid the strike, but at the moment Wang drew his blade, he sensed a trace of true danger beyond the aura. So, instead of retreating, he chose to step forward and block Wang’s wrist.

As for the reason—well, that was clear enough.

After accompanying Zhu Jiangyang to the dining hall atop Grandleaf Peak for breakfast, Liu Pan could not help but note the vast difference between the meals of inner and outer disciples. The outer disciples ate only ordinary fare, while the inner disciples’ food was cultivated by Yuan Zhi Master himself.

After breakfast, Liu Pan and Zhu Jiangyang returned to Medicine Peak and parted ways. Liu Pan went back to his small courtyard.

Inside a room of a small courtyard on Medicine Peak, a scene unfolded that would have surprised Liu Pan if he had seen it. Two men stood inside—both familiar to him. One was polishing a long broadsword; the other stood by, somewhat respectfully.

It was Wang Broadsword and Zhu Jiangyang.

Wang Broadsword polished his blade, then made a few test swings, a dark look on his face. "This Liu Pan is not as simple as he seems."

"Why do you say that, Senior Brother?" Zhu Jiangyang asked, puzzled and deferential.

"Earlier, he blocked my blade—" Wang began, but fell silent mid-sentence, glancing down at his wrist, where a faint glint flickered in his eyes.

"That’s only because you didn’t use your full strength. Had you done so, there’s no way Liu Pan could have blocked your strike," Zhu Jiangyang replied, flattering him.

Wang Broadsword frowned at this, but the glint in his eyes only grew brighter. After a moment, he suddenly said, "No, it’s not that simple—"