Shen Fu walked beside Liu Xilan, occasionally bringing up matters of martial arts cultivation.
Her words naturally hinted that she hoped Liu Xilan could help her enter the Ninth Grade of the martial path.
"Little sister, it's true that the path of martial arts requires external assistance, but ultimately, one still needs to study diligently and cultivate with a serene mind.
As your elder sister, I can give you some pointers, but it's hard to directly help you improve."
Liu Xilan's words were already quite clear.
Yet Shen Fu still pouted slightly, clearly unhappy.
"Sister Liu, you were able to help Shen Han ascend to the Ninth Grade, why can't you help me too....."
"When did I ever help him ascend to the Ninth Grade?"
Liu Xilan was a bit confused, as she had only learned today that Shen Han had ascended to the Ninth Grade.
How had it become that she helped him ascend in Shen Fu's words?
"We all know that the first time Sister Liu came to Yun'an City, Shen Han consumed a Bone Tempering Pill—it's because Sister Liu gave him a mysterious pill, that's how he got through it..."
Liu Xilan felt a little helpless. She had explained many times that the pill was just to alleviate some pain and had no other effects.
Yet it seems others were unwilling to believe it.
"And afterwards, Shen Han picked up some leftover medicinal dregs used by others to make a medicinal bath, and he suddenly advanced to the Ninth Grade.
If Sister Liu hadn't given him that pill before, how could he have succeeded in advancing with such a medicinal bath?"
Shen Fu's small mouth pouted high, showing her displeasure.
But Liu Xilan only heard about Shen Han picking up others' used medicinal dregs.
Her eyebrows slightly furrowed as she looked at Shen Fu.
"The Shen Family is a dignified Family of Generals and Marquis, yet for a junior of the family to need a medicinal bath, they still have to pick up used medicinal dregs from others.
Is it just because Shen Han was granted a marriage to Jinyu by the Imperial Family that he is treated this way?"
Hearing Liu Xilan's somewhat displeased tone, Shen Fu quietly lowered her head.
"This can only be blamed on Shen Han himself...
Who told his birth mother to disgrace our Shen Family, and the Old Dowager doesn't like him, there's nothing we can do..."
Liu Xilan stopped speaking, feeling a bit unsettled inside.
Luckily she wasn't born in such a mansion, if she had fallen into such a predicament, her mindset might not remain clear.
Liu Xilan declined Shen Fu's invitation and did not rest at the Shen Mansion that night.
Instead, she went to the Yun'an Tavern by herself.
On an autumn night, she raised her head to see the bright moon.
Liu Xilan sat alone under the eaves, thinking about all the things Shen Fu said today.
Using those medicinal dregs discarded by others after concocting a medicinal bath.
Relying on these concocted medicinal baths, Shen Han actually advanced to the Ninth Grade.
Liu Xilan felt injustice for Shen Han, and at the same time was a bit amazed at Shen Han's talent.
Configuring a medicinal bath requires strict proportioning and concoction.
Apart from those doctors and alchemists, others wouldn't dare concoct a medicinal bath willy-nilly.
Otherwise, if something went wrong with the bath, not only would they fail to advance, but their body would be a mess.
But Shen Han managed to advance to the Ninth Grade with those leftover medicinal dregs.
Perhaps even heaven wants to help him.
In the east courtyard of the Shen Mansion.
Shen Han sat by the bed, holding that manual, leafing through it.
Soon, small white characters appeared on the manual.
[Extremely difficult to comprehend scripture]
During this time, Shen Han had already gained much understanding of his abilities.
The white phrasings usually indicated basic attributes.
After extracting them, the attributes of the item wouldn't change much.
Shen Han had already prepared a [simple and easy to learn] phrasing early on.
After extracting the white phrasing, he immediately applied the [simple and easy to learn] phrasing.
Upon reopening the swordsmanship manual, everything changed.
Shen Han held a pen in his hand, continuously recording the contents.
After all, he had to return the swordsmanship manual to Senior Sister Liu tomorrow, and it had to be in its original state.
This swordsmanship greatly differed from the Sunset Sword Formulas.
The Sunset Sword Formulas emphasized power and stability.
Whereas this swordsmanship taught a kind of sword intent, referred to in the manual as Misty Sword Intent.
At its core, it was a fusion of the virtual and the real.
With a casual wave, it unleashed over a hundred swords.
Over a hundred swords, yet mixed between virtual and real swords.
If the opponent couldn't discern them, they would have to face the power of a hundred swords.
If one of the hundred were real, dealing with the defense alone would be exhausting enough for the opponent.
Reading these scriptures, Shen Han lost all sleepiness.
This Misty Sword Intent was clearly created for confronting enemies.
As long as the opponent couldn't see through the mixture of reality and semblance, defeat was almost inevitable.
Shen Han became engrossed, even practicing in his mind.
Holding a long sword, with the misty intent, he resisted the Celestial Dao Sword Momentum in his mind.
The celestial sword momentum that entered his mind was also indeed mysterious, not only allowing visualization but also letting him engage in sword combat with it.
Though it didn't feel long, the crowing of roosters already sounded from outside the courtyard.
Shen Han sorted out his notes, returning the original [extremely difficult to comprehend] phrasing once more.
It seemed Liu Xilan had given Shen Han sufficient time to comprehend, as she didn't arrive at the courtyard until noon.
Her jade-like hands carried a food box she had brought from Yun'an Tavern.
She also understood why the first time at Yun'an Tavern, Shen Han had taken so many leftovers back.
The Shen Family was really too harsh on him.
Seeing Liu Xilan arrive, Shen Han immediately handed the manual back to her.
Without waiting for her to ask, he also brought out the annotations he had written down the night before.
"If I haven't comprehended it incorrectly, the core of this swordsmanship is a special sword intent.
The essence of this sword intent lies in the virtual and real, and the book names it as Misty Sword Intent..."
Senior Sister Liu was kind enough to lend him such top-notch scripture to read for a night, so naturally, he couldn't let her down.
And from the mention of virtual and real, Liu Xilan was already somewhat excited.
She could understand part of it—the concept of virtual and real she had some comprehension of, but it was extremely difficult to delve deeper.
Shen Han managed to discern the virtual and real sword intent in one night and even wrote so many annotations.
Liu Xilan didn't understand how such a talented family descendant could be so squandered by the Shen Family.
It had been a long time since autumn set in, and the weather was getting cooler and cooler.
Yet the young man in front of her was still wearing a single-layer garment, and beneath the sleeve, there was even a hint of floral fabric.
Clearly cloth meant for women's clothing.
Thinking of this, Liu Xilan took out a silver ingot from her person.
"If you need a medicinal bath in the future, don't pick up those used medicinal dregs anymore..."
Shen Han was stunned for a moment, not expecting Senior Sister Liu to also know about this.
"Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister Liu, but I'm actually fine, it's not a big issue."
"Once I return to Xiaoyao Peak today, I'll recommend to the Sword Immortal Elders to nominate you to join our Xiaoyao Peak.
If you're able to, you won't have to stay at this Shen Family any longer."
Upon hearing this, Shen Han quickly saluted and expressed his gratitude to Liu Xilan.
If he could leave the Shen Family Mansion, not to mention the future improvements, at least he would be much safer.
After all, Xiaoyao Peak is a Sword Cultivation Holy Land, and becoming a disciple there, the Shen Family would probably not dare to target him with those despicable methods anymore.
"There's also something else—it's a gift from a senior at Xiaoyao Peak in gratitude for resolving his confusion with 'Mountain and River Body Refining Skill.' He wishes to gift you a sword."
Saying this, a long sword appeared in Liu Xilan's hand.
The scabbard glinted with a cold light.
As Shen Han looked at the long sword, small purple characters appeared.
[Extremely sharp long sword]
Just from the phrasing alone, one could see the excellent quality of this long sword.
"The rules of the Shen Mansion dictate that without the permission of the elders, no one can privately possess a weapon.
Accepting this long sword today—if the elders find out, it might be placed in the armory by the afternoon..."
Shen Han showed a gentle smile.
"Please relay my thanks to that senior for the gift, but currently I really can't accept it."
Upon hearing Shen Han's words, Liu Xilan understood that he spoke the truth.
The Old Dowager Shen's treatment of Shen Han was so unfair that such rules were lax for others but strictly enforced for him.
This sword gifted to Shen Han could easily end up in someone else's hands soon.
"In that case, I'll safeguard it for a while. When the time is right, I'll give you the sword."