223: Uncle-Master, please stop repairing it! The scabbard can't hold it down anymore!

On the Martial Arts Field, heat waves surged.

The queue in front of Shen Nanxi had not only failed to shrink but had extended outside the mountain gate.

“Junior Martial Uncle! It's my turn!”

Yue Qinghan held the chipped “Grand Yin Immortal Slaying Sword,” and a hint of an almost imperceptible blush appeared on her usually cold face.

It was due to excitement.

Xiao Zhan's “physical immunity” battle armor from earlier was truly enviable.

“Niece Yue.”

Shen Nanxi wiped away the sweat that had run into his eyes, his wrists trembling slightly.

He was just a Mortal.

Continuously drawing talismans with high-intensity “micro-control” consumed not Spiritual Power, but rather his vital essence, Qi, and spirit.

His face was pale and his lips were cracked, but looking at Yue Qinghan's hopeful eyes, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.

“What's wrong with the sword?”

“It's not sharp enough.”

Yue Qinghan handed the sword over, her tone sincere.

“Revered Master taught me the Sword of Guardianship, but if it can't even break the enemy's armor, how can I protect anything?”

“I want it to... cut through everything.”

Cut through everything.

Shen Nanxi took the sword.

The blade was ice cold, and the chip was ugly.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and forcibly suppressed the dizziness in his mind.

In his vision, the concept of this sword's “sharpness” was a sporadic gray line.

It wasn't pure enough.

It wasn't extreme enough.

“Then... define it.”

Shen Nanxi raised the spirit fox brush.

The tip of the brush trembled, but the moment it descended, it became as steady as Mount Tai.

“Repair.”

“Definition: Absolute Sharpness, severing all obstacles.”

This time, he did not use golden talisman ink.

Instead, he bit the tip of his tongue and spat a mouthful of vital blood essence onto the brush tip.

Using blood as the guide and soul as the ink.

Buzz—!

A sharp sword cry suddenly burst forth.

There was no great golden light or manifold phenomena.

The sword just lay quietly on the table.

The chip was gone.

The blade became even thinner, thin as a cicada's wing, almost transparent.

“It's done.”

Shen Nanxi gave a weak smile and handed the sword back.

“Be careful not to cut your hand.”

Yue Qinghan received it with both hands, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.

It looked... like nothing had changed?

Subconsciously, she tried to slide the sword back into the scabbard.

Chh.

A soft sound.

The incomparably hard, high-grade scabbard, forged from ten-thousand-year cold iron, was sliced open like tofu the instant it touched the sword tip.

There was no resistance.

The blade passed through the scabbard without hindrance, then through the jade belt around Yue Qinghan's waist, and finally... Chh.

The sword tip sank into the bluestone ground beneath her feet.

Right up to the hilt.

It was like a red-hot iron needle dropped into lard.

Yue Qinghan froze.

Holding the sword with only the hilt exposed, she was utterly bewildered.

“This...”

She tried to pull the sword out.

With a gentle lift.

Chh.

As the blade sliced through the air, it actually produced a sound like tearing silk.

The spatial barrier far away developed a subtle black line as the sword edge passed by.

Space itself was cut open!

“Holy crap!”

Xiao Zhan, who was queuing nearby, jumped back in fright, clutching his Black Gold Battle Armor.

“Senior Sister! Stay away from me!”

“Although my armor is physically immune, your sword seems to be cutting through 'physical rules' themselves!”

Yue Qinghan's hands, holding the sword, were trembling.

It was too sharp.

So sharp that it couldn't be contained by a scabbard, nor tolerated by the air.

How was she supposed to carry this now?

Did she have to hold it all the time?

“Junior Martial Uncle...”

Yue Qinghan looked at Shen Nanxi, her expression complex.

There was both wild joy and deep distress.

“Did you... overuse your strength again?”

Shen Nanxi was just about to explain.

Suddenly.

A wave of vertigo hit him.

The world before his eyes instantly went dark.

Plop.

The spirit fox brush in his hand fell to the ground, and he collapsed straight backward.

“Junior Martial Uncle!!!”

“Junior Brother Shen!”

Exclamations rose all around.

Several figures instantly teleported over.

Ye Chenfeng was the fastest.

He caught Shen Nanxi's frail body, placed a finger on his pulse, and his expression instantly changed.

“Depleted Qi and blood, exhausted Divine Soul.”

“He is overdrawing his life force to draw talismans!”

The surroundings fell into a deathly silence.

Xiao Zhan, Yue Qinghan, and the others looked at the paper-pale Shen Nanxi, immense guilt rising in their hearts.

They had only focused on acquiring divine equipment.

But they had forgotten.

This Junior Martial Uncle, who could rewrite rules, had a Physical Body that was merely that of a Mortal who hadn't even reached the Qi Refinement Stage.

He was risking his life to repair their Magic Treasures.

“Move aside!”

A green shadow flashed past.

Gongsun Yan pushed through the crowd, silver needles flying like rain, instantly sealing the major acupoints around Shen Nanxi's body.

She pulled out a Medicinal Pill radiating a rich medicinal fragrance from her robe, placed it in Shen Nanxi's mouth, then pressed her palm against his back, carefully infusing gentle wood-element Spiritual Qi.

“How is he?”

Wang Duojin was sweating profusely with anxiety, clutching a handful of high-grade Immortal Stones, wishing he could stuff them directly into his Junior Brother's mouth.

“His life is safe.”

Gongsun Yan sighed in relief, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

“But his body is too weak; it cannot bear such powerful Talisman Dao intent.”

“It's like using a paper lantern to hold True Sun Fire.”

“If this continues, he will burn himself to ashes sooner or later.”

Everyone fell silent.

An indescribable bitterness spread through their hearts.

This was their Junior Martial Uncle.

Although he was the weakest, he provided them with the strongest protection... The Sect Master's courtyard.

Chu Xuanjin's figure appeared out of thin air.

He observed the unconscious Shen Nanxi with his Divine Thought, a flicker of distress in his eyes, but more so, gratification.

“This silly boy.”

“Doesn't he know how to refuse?”

He sighed and waved his long sleeve.

“Bring him inside.”

Inside the room.

A massive bath barrel had been prepared.

The liquid inside the barrel was dark red, rolling with astonishing heat waves and emitting an ancient, vast aura.

That was the medicinal liquid made from the diluted Chaos Origin Blood rewarded by the System.

It was specifically used to reshape the Foundation and forge the Physique of gods and devils.

“Put him in.”

Chu Xuanjin instructed.

Ye Chenfeng carefully placed Shen Nanxi into the barrel.

Sizzle—

The moment he entered the water, Shen Nanxi's previously pale skin instantly turned bright red. In his coma, he let out a muffled groan of pain, his features twisting together.

Pain.

Bone-deep pain.

It was like being thrown into a millstone, where every inch of bone was crushed and then regrown.

“Revered Master...”

Su Linger couldn't bear to watch and turned her head away.

“He who wants to wear the crown must bear its weight.”

Chu Xuanjin's expression was calm, but his voice carried undeniable majesty.

“His Talisman Dao is too overbearing.”

“A Mortal Physical Body can draw Mortal Talismans. But to draw Divine Talismans and alter heavenly laws, he must have a matching Physique.”

“This is a trial he must pass.”

The Disciples were solemn.

They knew that Revered Master was changing the fate of their Junior Brother against the heavens... That night.

No one on Myriad Dao Divine Mountain slept.

Shen Nanxi soaked in the medicinal barrel for the entire night. Although his painful screams were blocked by the Formation, the heart-stopping fluctuations of vital Qi and blood made the Disciples waiting outside the door feel anxious.

As for the trivial matters down the mountain.

Wang Duojin simply tossed a token to the Heavenly Sword Sacred Master.

“You manage the Eastern Barrens from now on. Pay rent annually, and if you miss a single Spirit Stone, I'll skin you alive.”

“Scram.”

Wealth God Wang, who usually saw money in everything, was in a very bad mood today.

Anyone who dared to court disaster at this time was asking for death.

The thirty-six Old Ancestors were so terrified that they scrambled back to their respective Sects overnight, swearing to treat the Myriad Dao Divine Sect like their own ancestors... The next morning.

The first ray of sunlight shone into the courtyard.

The dark red medicinal liquid in the bath barrel had turned into clear water.

Shen Nanxi slowly opened his eyes.

“I... didn't die?”

Subconsciously, he clenched his fist.

Crackle, crackle, crackle.

A series of crisp sounds like popping beans.

A sense of unprecedented power filled his entire body.

He looked down.

His previously thin, stick-like arms now had smooth lines and tight muscles, with faint golden light flashing beneath the skin.

Not only that.

His senses had become exceptionally sharp.

The sound of falling leaves outside the window, the breathing of Disciples a thousand meters away, and even the trajectory of Spiritual Qi movement in the air.

All clearly audible.

“Awake?”

Chu Xuanjin sat by the window, holding the Ten Thousand Talismans Reaching Heaven Scripture.

“Revered Master!”

Shen Nanxi tried to get up to salute, but realized he was naked, instantly blushing crimson and shrinking back into the water.

“Thank you, Revered Master, for saving my life!”

“Put on your clothes and come out.”

Chu Xuanjin pointed to the nearby stool, where a brand new purple-gold Disciple robe lay.

A moment later.

The refreshed Shen Nanxi stood in the courtyard.

Although he still looked like the same handsome youth, the air of frailty was completely gone.

It was replaced by an introverted, mountain-like steadiness.

[Name: Shen Nanxi]

[Physique: Innate Talisman Source Body (Awakening Stage Two) + Primordial Chaos Physique (Pseudo)]

[Realm: Body Refining - Golden Body Realm (Physical Body comparable to Nascent Soul Perfection)]

Chu Xuanjin nodded in satisfaction.

Although the Chaos Origin Blood was only a diluted version, it was enough to completely transform this boy.

Now, even without using talismans, he could shatter a mountain with a single punch.

“How do you feel?”

“I feel... filled with power.”

Shen Nanxi looked at his hands, his eyes full of disbelief.

“That's right.”

Chu Xuanjin stood up and walked toward him, gently patting his shoulder.

“Though the brush handle is light, the hand that holds it must be hard.”

“Nanxi, you must remember.”

“Your talismans are used to define the world.”

“If you cannot stand firm yourself, how can you set the rules?”

Shen Nanxi trembled all over.

Only by standing firm can one set the rules.

“Disciple, I will firmly remember Revered Master's teachings!”

...Walking out of the Sect Master's courtyard.

The moment Shen Nanxi showed his face.

Whoosh—

A large crowd surrounded him.

“Junior Martial Uncle! Are you alright?!”

“Junior Brother! You scared your Senior Brother to death!”

Ye Chenfeng, Su Linger, Wang Duojin, Zhao Wuyou... and the group of third-generation Disciples like Xiao Zhan and Yue Qinghan.

Looking at these faces filled with concern, Shen Nanxi felt a pang of emotion.

Back in the village, he was redundant.

He was a jinx.

But here.

He was a Junior Brother, a Junior Martial Uncle, and family.

“I'm fine.”

Shen Nanxi flashed a brilliant smile; his teeth gleamed white in the sunlight.

“My body is great, and everything tastes delicious.”

“That's good! That's excellent!”

Wang Duojin wrapped an arm around his neck, laughing so hard the flesh on his face was shaking.

“Since you're better, shouldn't we talk about business?”

He pulled out a thick ledger from his robe.

“After you fainted yesterday, another eight hundred Sects requested your 'God's Hand'.”

“Your Senior Brother has arranged the numbers for you.”

“This time, we won't do it for free. We're charging! High prices!”

“With the money we earn, your Senior Brother will buy you supplements and nourish you until you're as strong as an ox!”

Shen Nanxi looked at the thick stack of orders. Instead of feeling tired, fierce fighting spirit ignited in his eyes.

“Alright!”

“Accept them all!”

“I want to arm the entire Myriad Dao Divine Sect to the teeth!”