Chapter 2

Qingfeng City is subordinate to the Dongxing Empire, where the gap between nobles and commoners is a vast chasm. Li Chun, having transmigrated without much foresight, did not reincarnate into a noble family. If he wanted to rise to prominence, the only path was through the imperial examinations.

The three imperial examinations—Daoism, martial arts, and magic—all required passing to earn the title of Scholar.

The first examination in Daoism covered the works of ancient sages, cultivation theories, and the eight-legged essays. The foundation of it all was memorization.

All the questions came from the nine ancient Daoist texts passed down from ancient times. If one did not memorize them, they wouldn't even understand the questions.

"…The supreme person, silent and in tune with creation, harmonizes with yin and yang, taking the sun and moon as their measure, moving when it is time to move, and remaining still when it is time to be still. Every movement and every stillness is in perfect timing…"

Under the moonlight, Li Chun swayed his head and recited.

At the beginning of his transmigration, he had thought that with his modern knowledge, even if he couldn't use the precious Luanhuan Jade Pendant immediately, he could still thrive. However, he soon realized that without an official title, he was virtually immobile.

He was just a commoner under the jurisdiction of Qingfeng City, and in most cases, he was not allowed to travel, engage in commerce, or own property.

"Only knowledge can change one's fate!"

Li Chun sighed deeply.

Only by passing the imperial examinations and earning a title could he enjoy true personal freedom and gain the right to compete on equal terms in this world.

Li Chun's father in this world had spent thirty years trying to pass the imperial examinations but never succeeded, dying in despair. He left behind a dilapidated house, a half-house of old books, and a mountain of debt. His mother, overwhelmed with grief, also passed away—these were Li Chun's memories before his transmigration. Now, all that remained were two lonely graves on the hillside.

Li Chun was reluctant to recall the hard times right after his transmigration. He had gritted his teeth and used every trick in the book to survive.

"…Using the principles of Kan and Li as the medicine, one hard and one soft, both return to the center, thus holding the heavenly gate in hand and the earthly axis in heart…"

He really didn't want to memorize these dull and uninteresting things. The nine ancient Daoist texts were widely circulated, and although the official Daoist palace claimed they contained the essence of the Dao and pointed directly to the origin, who would believe such nonsense? No one had ever heard of anyone successfully cultivating the Dao using just these nine texts; it was always through the secret transmissions of various Daoist temples that one could open the path to cultivation.

Li Chun memorized the texts with little enthusiasm, but he had practiced this skill during his university entrance exams, so it wasn't too difficult for him.

—However, he didn't notice that as he recited, the Luanhuan Jade Pendant behind him began to emit a mysterious light, different from its usual state.

In the night, the jade pendant sometimes dimmed and sometimes glowed, as if it were breathing slowly.

"…The sun, completing a cycle in a year, is divided into the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, corresponding to the four elements of wood, fire, metal, and water. Each season has eighteen days of earth's dominance, harmonizing the four symbols. The four seasons' warmth, heat, coolness, and cold, the length of day and night, are the essence of the five elements, thus the sun harmonizes with the five elements…"

Yin and Yang, and the Five Elements, were indeed the foundation of the Dao in this world, and they were similar to the classics Li Chun had read before. Unfortunately, without a method to start, these theories were too abstract. If someone could understand the Dao just from these, they would be a genius among geniuses.

The Luanhuan Jade Pendant seemed to be very excited, its light flashing faster and faster, and even its body began to vibrate, emitting a buzzing sound.

It was only then that the slow-witted Li Chun finally noticed the abnormality above his head.

Overjoyed, he threw the Daoist text aside, jumped up, and turned to face the jade pendant, placing his chin on the stone to align his eyes with the flashing light.

"It's working! It's coming out!"

Li Chun rubbed his hands together, dancing with excitement.

The Luanhuan Jade Pendant was his greatest reliance in this foreign world. The Luanhuan Library contained countless sword techniques, from the basics to the most advanced. As long as he followed the path step by step, even if he couldn't become as powerful as the silver-haired sword saint, he could at least become a master of swordsmanship!

The sword is the king of martial arts!

In the imperial examinations, the most popular martial arts test was swordsmanship. Countless young talents had achieved success through a single set of elegant sword techniques!

Although those old-fashioned and rigid gentlemen always believed that internal cultivation, boxing, or weapons like spears and halberds were the fundamentals of martial arts, the beauty and grandeur of the sword had already captured people's hearts. Even the current emperor was a sword enthusiast.

The world-renowned Bai Qingyi, for example, had performed the "Ode to Wine" in front of the emperor, with its vast and magnificent beauty, earning the emperor's favor and being directly ennobled and appointed as a minister. He was allowed to enter the imperial palace to study secret sword techniques, and within two years, his strength had greatly improved, almost reaching the threshold of becoming a divine sword master. It was truly a meteoric rise.

For Li Chun, the sword techniques hidden in the Luanhuan Jade Pendant were extremely extensive. Just a few exquisite ones would be enough to shock the world, not just to deal with someone like Li Ba from the Thunder Hall.

As long as he didn't draw too much attention and gradually built his reputation, he could surely thrive with these incredible sword techniques.

"I want to learn the Flying Immortal Technique! I want to learn the Nine Swords of Dugu! I want to learn the Six Pulse Sword Technique… Wait, is that even a sword technique?"

Li Chun, delighted, caressed the jade pendant while making plans.

"No… The techniques hidden in the Sword Sect are all for becoming an immortal or a saint. These low-level sword techniques are nothing! I want to learn the Starlight Great Annihilation Sword Technique! I want to learn the Great Mount Sumeru Flying Light Sword Technique! I want to learn the Sword God Technique!"

Regardless of whether these techniques existed in the stories, Li Chun was already excited and disoriented, holding the jade pendant devoutly to his chest, waiting for the miracle he had seen before to happen again.

However, after waiting with wide eyes for a long time, the light from the jade pendant gradually dimmed.

"Really?"

"Jade Brother, are you playing with me?"

Li Chun held the Luanhuan Jade Pendant high, examining it under the moonlight. The entire jade pendant had become transparent, with white threads swirling and rotating inside, looking strange and mysterious.

"It should be about ready…"

He mumbled, bringing the jade pendant close to his eyes and squinting to observe. Suddenly, a dazzling white light flashed before his eyes!

Boom!

Li Chun fell on his butt, feeling dizzy and hearing a loud buzzing in his ears. He gritted his teeth and opened his eyes.

The Luanhuan Jade Pendant flew into the air, spinning continuously, and with a swoosh, it drilled into his forehead!

In his mind, a white light shot up from the center of the jade pendant, and a proud silver-haired man stood holding a sword, coldly looking forward.

"The Sword Saint has finally come out! The jade pendant has finally absorbed enough essence!"

Li Chun did a backflip, excited by the image in his mind. Although he had seen it once before, recalling the scene and hearing the Sword Saint's monologue again made his heart race!

The silver-haired man let out a long cry, purple mist swirling, the white light vibrating, and a deep and resonant voice followed!

"…I began practicing the sword at the age of three, and by seven, I had achieved some success. I challenged the world's top experts and never lost. By chance, I obtained the Luanhuan Jade Pendant and comprehended the world's sword techniques. By sixteen, my sword skills were perfected, and I viewed the world's experts as mere dust. I sought further refinement in the deep mountains, reaching the pinnacle of human cultivation."

"After fourteen years, I understood the principles of heaven and humanity, completed my cultivation, and rejected the divine position offered by the Heavenly Court, living freely and independently, worthy of the title of Sword Immortal."

"A hundred years in the mortal world passed in a flash, and my sword cultivation deepened. One day, I achieved enlightenment."

"Ordinary people cultivate through four stages: human, cultivator, immortal, and saint. Throughout history, only a handful of people have transcended the final stage."

"…Although I am called the Sword Saint, I am still half a step away from the ultimate Dao. What a regret! What a regret!"

The silver-haired man, holding a giant sword, looked sorrowful, standing proudly in the air, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.

Although Li Chun had seen this scene before his transmigration, when the Sword Saint's voice echoed in his ears, he still felt his blood boil and his heart yearn, almost bowing in admiration.

What an incredible attitude, what an incredible experience!

According to his account, only four or five people in history had become saints, and he had almost reached the saint stage in his short life of a hundred years, not to mention his invincibility and the awe-inspiring power of defeating the world's experts.

The first time Li Chun heard it, he felt a sense of "a true man should be like this."

Life is meant to be lived to the fullest, not to be mediocre and blend in with the masses. From that moment on, Li Chun was determined to become a saint of the sword, invincible in the world! After transmigrating to the Mitan world, his resolve only grew stronger.

The Sword Saint, with the Luanhuan Jade Pendant, had reached a higher level, and with the Luanhuan Jade Pendant, Li Chun could also change his fate!

One day, he would wield a sword and laugh at the world!

He was destined to become a Sword Saint!

Bang!

A slight cracking sound snapped Li Chun out of his reverie. The image of the silver-haired man shattered, turning into countless tiny light points that scattered like fireflies in the night sky, gradually disappearing.

"He's gone…"

Li Chun sighed softly. Although he had only seen the silver-haired Sword Saint for a brief moment and knew little about his life, the few words he had spoken left a deep impression on him.

After the Sword Saint's image disappeared, the White Jade Mystic Gate and the Luanhuan Library should reveal themselves.

He took a deep breath, steadied his mind, and prepared to see the thing that could change his fate.

A white jade door slowly rose from the scattered light, with two golden characters shining brightly.

—Luanhuan!

In legend, Luanhuan was the treasure library where the Heavenly Emperor stored books. The Sword Sect named their sword technique collection after it, maintaining its grandeur and adding a touch of heroic spirit.

This was the White Jade Mystic Gate, behind which lay the Luanhuan Library!

"Finally, it's successful!"

Li Chun was overjoyed, taking a step forward and pushing the White Jade Mystic Gate without hesitation.

After the door opened, there should be rows of tall bookshelves, filled with sword techniques that would leave the so-called sword masters of Qingfeng City speechless. Picking any one of them would be enough to shock the world.

The day the door opened would be the beginning of Li Chun's rise to prominence!

—However, the White Jade Mystic Gate did not budge.

"Huh?"

Li Chun withdrew his hand, his expression stiff.

The last time, he hadn't encountered this situation.

After the Sword Saint's monologue, the White Jade Mystic Gate had opened, and he could choose from the exquisite sword techniques. Although he had only sat in the Luanhuan Library for a night, the memory of sitting on a treasure mountain was unforgettable.

But now, it was completely different. The door felt incredibly heavy, and even with all his strength, the White Jade Mystic Gate didn't even wobble.

What was the Luanhuan Jade Pendant up to now?

Li Chun frowned and leaned closer to the White Jade Mystic Gate, noticing a piece of golden paper stuck to it.

The golden paper had a few simple words written on it.

"Heaven and earth have changed, the Luanhuan Library is being organized, and it is temporarily closed."

"Damn!"

Li Chun's eyes widened, almost spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Is this for real?

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