The morning sun painted the Falling Sword Sect in molten gold, and for once, the courtyard smelled less like dust and more like… impending legend.
Shen Liang's disciples stood in perfect rows, brooms gripped tightly, their motions synced like clockwork. Every sweep radiated a faint glimmer of sword aura, and even the stone tiles beneath their feet seemed hesitant to move, as if respecting the rhythm.
"Remember!" Shen Liang shouted, spinning his broom with a flourish. "Your broom is not just wood! It's your will, your heart, your patience… and, occasionally, your sense of humor."
A disciple muttered, "Master… we're about to split rocks with… brooms?"
"Not just rocks, little grasshopper," Shen Liang replied with a grin. "We split the boundaries of expectation!"
Zhao Fei, standing to the side with a scroll, rolled her eyes. "You have a way with words… that sometimes makes the courtyard sound like a circus."
Shen Liang smirked. "Then let's make it a circus worth remembering. Observe!"
He raised his broom, the sunlight catching on its faintly glowing runes. With a single swing, he traced an arc that cut through the morning mist. The wind sang, stones cracked faintly, and a golden wave of sword aura spread across the courtyard.
"Whoa…" a disciple whispered. "The broom… it's glowing…"
Shen Liang's eyes sparkled. "Glowing? That's just the tip of the broom! Behold—the Broom Sword Aura!"
He twirled and leapt, each movement forming invisible arcs of sword qi that danced and shimmered, slashing through the air, leaving faint traces on the stone floor. Dust scattered in swirling currents, and yet, every disciple mirrored his rhythm perfectly.
Zhao Fei couldn't suppress a laugh. "Master… the entire courtyard is… sparkling?"
Shen Liang winked. "Sparkle? That's called style and spiritual resonance. Now, focus, or you'll be sweeping dust for eternity… without sword intent."
Even from the Inner Sect pavilion, the elders could sense the difference. Elder Su Qinglan's lips curved into a faint smile. Elder Zhou's frown deepened—but even he could not deny the sword aura flowing in perfect rhythm. Elder Yuan's hands twitched, itching to forge again in the inspiration of the courtyard's energy.
High above, Sect Master Liang Feng leaned forward, his eyes sharp like lightning. "Interesting… a broom producing sword aura, and yet… it resonates with the Sword Sect's core principles."
Grand Elder Wu, stroking his long white beard, chuckled softly. "He reminds me of the First Patriarch. Humility begins with a broom, and greatness… grows from patience and rhythm."
Back in the courtyard, Shen Liang's broom moved faster, each sweep sharper, each motion more precise. A faint golden blade of qi shimmered at the tip, cutting through the morning mist like a whispering storm. Sword Soul Ling Xiao stirred within him, humming in delight.
"Finally… some excitement. Don't waste it, master."
[Skill Progress: Sword Tempering Lv.6 → Lv.7][Hidden Class Progress: Sword Laborer of Heaven – Awakening 80% → 85%][XP +420 | Foundation Realm – Early Stage → Mid Stage Breakthrough Imminent (2520 / 4000 XP)][Hidden Quest: Rebuild the Falling Sword Sect – Stage 3: Restore the Sect's Honor Across the Empire 2/10]
Shen Liang twirled the broom once more. The disciples followed, and the courtyard erupted into synchronized arcs of golden sword light. Dust, dirt, and leftover grime all spiraled into a unified storm of qi.
"Who knew sweeping could be so… deadly?" one disciple murmured.
"Deadly? Ha! You'll see," Shen Liang said, spinning on his heel. "A broom is just the beginning. Sword intent flows where discipline dares to sweep!"
At that moment, the system pulsed.
[Sect Level Progress: Falling Sword Sect Level 10 → 9][Sect Morale +8% | Outer Sect Reputation +7%][Technique Created: Broom Sword Aura (Heaven-Rank – Incomplete Form)][New Passive: Sword Resonance Efficiency +15%]
Zhao Fei blinked at the display. "Level 9… already?"
Shen Liang laughed. "Leveling up a sect is like sweeping a courtyard—step by step, brush by brush. And a little flair helps."
Beyond the mountains, travelers paused mid-step, merchants dropped carts, and minor sect disciples whispered tales of the broom that could wield sword intent. Some laughed in disbelief; others squinted toward the distant peaks, curiosity gnawing at their pride.
"Looks like our broom has just announced itself to the empire," Shen Liang said, twirling the broom one final time. Sword Soul Ling Xiao hummed softly, syncing perfectly with his rhythm.
The path to revival was long but with each sweep, the Falling Sword Sect had already begun to reclaim its forgotten glory.