C13 Holy Martial Institute's Heritage

"Sink your energy to your dantian, and center your spirit."

In his bedroom, Xiao Ling, with a pallid complexion, formed an unusual hand seal, drawing in the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi. Channeling it through his meridians to his dantian, he cultivated, solidifying his realm.

After weeks of convalescence, the vitality in his body began to return.

Since his life-and-death duel with Lin Wu, the news had swept through the Holy Martial Institute like a whirlwind.

The one deemed worthless, silent for thirteen years, had once again unleashed his innate brilliance.

In just one month, he had awakened his martial soul, advanced to an Eight-star Martial Cultivator, and slain Lin Wu, a Martial Master. Each event had sent shockwaves through every disciple at the Institute.

The once unparalleled prodigy had made a formidable comeback!

Xiao Ling rose from his bed and swung open the door. The day's first sunlight bathed his face, casting a radiant glow.

He strode with ease toward the training field, a place both familiar and foreign to him.

"Good morning, Brother Xiao!"

"Brother Xiao, you've healed from your injuries? That puts my mind at ease."

"I always knew Brother Xiao was incredibly strong. Such a minor injury is nothing to you."

"Brother Xiao, Sister Yun is already at the training field."

As Xiao Ling entered the training field, the disciples looked on with awe, some with fawning admiration, showering him with endless praise.

A slight smile played on Xiao Ling's lips as he brushed past them, heading toward where Yun Xi was practicing.

"Brother Xiao truly cuts a dashing figure—a hero in every sense."

The disciples watched his lean, solitary silhouette with eyes full of respect.

"Xi'er."

Gazing at the stunning figure wielding a sword nearby, Xiao Ling's eyes softened, and he called out gently.

Awoo!

A golden figure bounded onto Xiao Ling, frantically licking his face and howling with delight.

"Xiaojin, settle down. Brother Ling's wounds are still healing."

Yun Xi paused her swordplay, her smile beaming at Xiao Ling's flustered expression. She trotted over and chided, "I told you to rest and heal. What are you doing up and about?"

"Didn't I say your injuries were nearly mended? Your bones must be getting rusty, so I thought it was time for some fresh air."

Xiao Ling cradled Xiao Jin and smacked his lips, commenting, "This little one's been eating well lately, getting quite chubby."

Awoo.

Xiao Jin seemed to take offense at being called fat, voicing its displeasure with a cry.

Puchi.

Yun Xi giggled behind her hand, her eyes gleaming with pride. "Well, Xiaojin's plumpness is my doing. Without my rapport with the kitchen staff, how could he have feasted to such a state?"

"Good job."

Xiao Ling grinned and playfully flicked Yun Xi's nose, eliciting a pout from her.

"I've been cooped up in the bedroom healing, but now my wounds are nearly healed."

Xiao Ling went on, "So I thought you might join me for some practice, to get the blood flowing and benefit my health."

Yun Xi's smile deepened at Xiao Ling's earnest look, and she nodded in agreement.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Xiao Ling, gripping the Edgeless Sword, sparred with Yun Xi, her silver sword clashing against his. Their duel drew the eyes of many Holy Martial Institute disciples.

Xiao Ling's swordplay was solid and straightforward, while Yun Xi's was quick and sharp. Their exchange was a valuable lesson for the watching disciples.

"A heavy sword needs no edge, and true skill requires no flourish."

Having recuperated for some time, Xiao Ling's insight into this philosophy had deepened. With each swing of his sword, the sense of unyielding strength grew more pronounced, an unstoppable force to those who witnessed it.

Then, Xiao Ling stood motionless, the Edgeless Sword in hand, eyes closed.

Yun Xi sheathed her sword, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Xiao Ling was clearly in the midst of a revelation!

"What's Senior Brother Xiao doing? Why are his eyes closed?"

"I'm not sure. The ways of someone as extraordinary as Senior Brother Xiao are beyond our understanding."

The onlookers wore expressions of curiosity, gazing at Xiao Ling's slender silhouette.

Boom!

In that instant, a powerful sword intent burst forth from Xiao Ling, the robust energy radiating outward, overwhelming the disciples. Their cheeks flushed, they felt as if a massive peak bore down upon them, leaving them breathless.

"Someone has grasped the essence of sword intent!"

At that moment, the venerable members of the Holy Martial Institute turned their gaze towards the training field, their eyes wide with astonishment.

Sword intent was a profound understanding that only the strongest warriors, those endowed with a sword martial soul, could achieve.

It was well-known that within the Holy Martial Institute, only a handful of Martial Cultivators had ever grasped sword intent; it was a feat reserved for the most esteemed and powerful among them.

Yet now, the sword intent emanating from the training field was unlike anything they had ever experienced—immensely dense, it bore down on them like an immense peak.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

A flurry of whistling sounds filled the air as figures hastened towards the training field.

"It has to be Ling."

Jiang Ya, upon sensing the sword intent, was brimming with excitement. He swiftly made his way to the training field.

There, Xiao Ling stood with a slender frame that belied his frail appearance, exuding an overwhelming presence that made him seem unapproachable.

Xiao Ling's dark eyes snapped open, and a sharp glint burst forth. With a fierce cry, he wielded the Edgeless Sword and struck it down upon a nearby boulder with full force.

Boom!

The robust sword intent erupted, slamming into the rock face. A thunderous echo followed, and the rock wall, now webbed with cracks, crumbled into dust before the astonished onlookers.

"Exquisite sword intent!"

Several elders approached with measured steps, their usually stoic faces softened by smiles.

"Well done, Ling."

A man strode confidently to Xiao Ling's side, clapping him on the shoulder with a look of pride.

"Father."

Xiao Ling turned to Jiang Ya, his youthful face lit with a smile.

"To have comprehended sword intent at sixteen, you stand among the rare few of your generation across the Fiery Emperor Continent!"

Jiang Ya chuckled, "What sort of sword intent have you mastered?"

"Gravity sword intent," Xiao Ling pondered briefly before responding. "My sword intent was inspired by the Edgeless Sword. It's the essence of a heavy blade without an edge—unadorned yet formidable, with an unstoppable force."

"What a masterful display of the heavy sword, seamless in its execution—truly, great skill lies in simplicity."

Jiang Ya's face beamed with pride. Whatever sword intent Xiao Ling had grasped, it was all a manifestation of his understanding of the sword.

Moreover, despite not possessing a sword martial soul, Xiao Ling's ability to comprehend sword intent was a testament to his exceptional talent.

"Ling, I want to show you a place."

Jiang Ya clapped Xiao Ling on the shoulder, then turned to Yun Xi, "Xi'er, why don't you join us?"

Under the watchful eyes of their envious peers, Xiao Ling, with Yun Xi cradling Xiaojin, followed Jiang Ya as they departed.

As they walked, Jiang Ya shared the storied past of the Holy Martial Institute.

"Founded millennia ago, the Holy Martial Institute once stood as a paragon of strength, its influence as rare and precious as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns across the Myriad Country Territory."

"At its zenith, the Holy Martial Institute's reach extended across empires, nurturing tens of thousands of disciples. Those were the days of its greatest glory."

"However, following its era of prosperity, the institute faced an inevitable decline."

"A millennium ago, a mysterious calamity ravaged the Holy Martial Institute, leaving it unable to recover. It has since dwindled, retreating to this last bastion within the Flame Yellow Empire."

Jiang Ya sighed deeply, "When my master departed, he entrusted me with leading the institute, charging me to carry on its legacy. Alas, I have only managed to keep it afloat."

"Yet, Ling, your emergence has rekindled my hope. I am convinced that under your stewardship, the Holy Martial Institute will once again thrive."

Jiang Ya's gaze upon Xiao Ling was filled with an earnestness never seen before. Having advanced to an Eight-star in just a month, Xiao Ling was on a trajectory that could very well restore the Holy Martial Institute to its former grandeur.

"Father, have no concerns."

Xiao Ling's eyes shone with resolve as he declared, "As long as I draw breath, I will spare no effort to help you realize this cherished dream!"

"Ling, I am grateful to you."

With another pat on Xiao Ling's shoulder, Jiang Ya revealed, "In a short while, I intend to bestow upon you the mantle of principal of the Holy Martial Institute."

"Absolutely not, my son," Xiao Ling hastily interjected. "A loner like me isn't cut out for such complex affairs."

"Silly boy," Jiang Ya said, wrapping an arm around Xiao Ling's head. "As a man, you might not excel at everything, but you've got to give it a shot. That's how you forge your character."

"True, dealing with these worldly tasks might eat into my training time, but it's also a way to hone my martial spirit."

"And when you're reluctant to handle matters, remember, I'm here to help."

Scratching his head, Xiao Ling conceded, "Alright, I'll give it my all."

"That's the spirit," Jiang Ya affirmed with a nod, then turned his gaze to a nearby stone door. "Here we are. This is the Holy Martial Institute's forbidden zone, accessible only to the headmaster and a select few venerable elders."

"Father, why bring us to this place?" Xiao Ling asked, puzzled.

"To show you the depth of the Holy Martial Institute's heritage," Jiang Ya replied with a smile. "Our institute may seem modest now, but the legacy of our predecessors is unparalleled, even in the Myriad Country Territory."

With that, Jiang Ya pushed open the stone door, leading Xiao Ling and Yun Xi inside.

Beyond the door lay a vast space filled with an impressive collection of books and scrolls that stretched before Xiao Ling and Yun Xi.

"Truly remarkable," Xiao Ling marveled, his expectations far exceeded by the hidden expanse before him, brimming with countless tomes and advanced Martial Skills.

"Father, with these treasures, our Holy Martial Institute is poised for greatness!"

Excitedly, Xiao Ling thumbed through the volumes, finding an abundance of Martial Skills of Yellow, Profound, and even Earth Ranks.

Armed with such wealth, he could propel the Flame Yellow Empire to new heights, establishing it as a formidable power.

"Ling, it's not as straightforward as you think," Jiang Ya cautioned, his back to the wall, his expression etched with the weight of experience. "On the Divine Martial Continent, strength reigns supreme. If we flaunt resources that outstrip our power, what do you think will come our way?"

"The entire clan will be wiped out!"