The scattered sound of shock and a few isolated cheers still hung in the air of the outer courtyard. The dust raised by the defeated Liu Qiming swirled in lazy, chaotic spirals as Shen Liang stood, his breathing deep and even, a look of profound, calm satisfaction on his face. Liu Qiming had been decisively beaten, sprawled on the ground with dirt in every crevice, while murmurs of awe and disbelief rippled through the onlookers.
Shen Liang yawned, twirling the broom. "Well… that was fun. And educational. Who knew humility came in the shape of a broom?"
The System window pulsed at the edge of his vision:
[Quest Completed: Defeat Rival Liu Qiming][Reward: +200 XP, Weapon Mastery (Broom) Lv.6 → Lv.7, Hidden Sword Path – Fully Unlocked][Main Quest Progress: Rebuild the Falling Sword Sect 5/10]
He glanced down at the broom. The wood gleamed faintly, and a golden aura shimmered along its length. The broom wasn't just a tool anymore — it was an extension of his qi, a weapon with potential rivaling that of ordinary disciples' swords.
"Blade of the Laborer… huh? Sounds fancy. Maybe I should carve a plaque for it," Shen Liang muttered, stroking the handle.
From the side, Zhao Fei clapped enthusiastically. "Old man, that was incredible! I didn't think anyone could survive Liu Qiming's final strike… let alone turn it into a circus of dust and pebbles."
Shen Liang gave a small bow. "All in a day's sweeping, young man. You should try it sometime — it builds character and wrist strength."
Zhao Fei laughed. "You've officially made a name for yourself. But… you know the elders will notice this now. The Outer Sect Tournament isn't just about showing off. They'll be watching closely."
Shen Liang merely shrugged, continuing his sweeping routine on a completely spotless patch of stone. "Let them watch," he replied, the challenge clear. "Perhaps they'll finally learn that diligence and ingenuity are forms of power."
Meanwhile, Elder Yuan and Su Qinglan observed from the pavilion above, quietly discussing.
"Elder Yuan, the laborer…" Su Qinglan said softly, "he is no longer just a laborer. His foundation is stable, his reflexes extraordinary, and… his creativity in combat is unlike anything I've seen in outer disciples."
Elder Yuan nodded slowly, though his frown remained. "I didn't expect this. But if he continues at this rate, he could become the backbone of the sect once more. Or… the thorn in the side of everyone else."
By midday, Shen Liang had been called to the registration desk once more — this time to officially enter the Outer Sect Tournament's ranking system. A large bronze tablet listed the outer disciples' names and match results, and now, under the category of "Exceptional Performance," Shen Liang's name glimmered faintly.
[Outer Sect Tournament – Rank: 12 / Target: Top 50]
"Top 12?" Shen Liang murmured, raising an eyebrow. "Not bad for a broom-wielding janitor. But if I want to rebuild the sect, I'll need to reach… at least the top five. Maybe top three if I want to embarrass a few elders along the way."
The System buzzed softly:
[Hidden Quest Triggered: Cultivate the Blade of the Laborer to Unlock Sword Path Techniques][Objective: Survive Tournament / Experiment with Sword Path / Creativity Bonus]
Shen Liang chuckled. "Experiment, eh? Well, who better than a janitor with nothing to lose?"
That afternoon, as the tournament continued, Shen Liang began testing subtle manipulations of qi through his broom. He discovered that by combining Duststorm Sweep with concentrated Sword Qi, he could form a slashing gust that mimicked a real sword strike. Small leaves and debris danced in a curved line, slicing through empty air as though a blade had materialized.
[Skill Activated: Blade Sweep – Combines Duststorm Sweep + Sword Qi / Damage + Moderate / XP +25]
His audience didn't notice yet, but a few disciples began whispering nervously. "Is he… turning a broom into a sword?" one asked.
Shen Liang twirled the broom above his head, sending a wide arc of swirling dust toward a pair of outer disciples sparring nearby. They stumbled and fell, barely avoiding the cyclone. Shen Liang suppressed a laugh. "All in the name of art… and XP."
By evening, the final matches concluded. Shen Liang stood among the top eight, his broom glinting faintly in the sunset. The system pulsed one last time for the day:
[Main Quest Update: Rebuild the Falling Sword Sect 6/10][Level Up Available: Qi Condensation Stage 4 → Stage 5][Hidden Sword Path Techniques Unlocked: Blade Sweep Lv.1 → Lv.2]
Shen Liang stretched, leaning on the broom. "Qi Condensation Stage 5… not bad for a guy who spent half his life scrubbing latrines."
He looked toward the distant inner sect halls. Sword techniques, alchemy, formations — all waiting for him. But for now, he allowed himself a rare, triumphant smile.
"Tomorrow," he whispered to the broom, "we sweep higher… and harder."
And far above, Su Qinglan observed silently, her jade eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Perhaps… this laborer isn't just rebuilding himself. He may very well rebuild the sect."
The wind rustled through the mountains, carrying dust, leaves, and the faint laughter of a janitor who had just begun to climb toward destiny.