The imperial capital sprawled like a jeweled web of stone and golden roofs, buzzing with cultivators, envoys, and scholars from every corner of the Eastern Divine Continent. The air was thick with anticipation and incense, mostly because the palace chefs were experimenting with some questionable "imperial aroma."
Shen Liang leaned against his broom atop the Falling Sword Sect's transport cart, legs crossed. A few outer disciples struggled to maintain formation beneath him, but he ignored them. "Ah… nothing like the smell of a capital in chaos. Don't you just love it, Zhao Fei?"
Zhao Fei muttered, adjusting the scrolls under her arm. "I don't know if I love it or want to vomit quietly. The whole sect is… treated like a joke."
Shen Liang squinted at the parade lineup. Golden Flame Sect, Iron Sky Pavilion, Flowing River Hall… all marching with flags fluttering, drums pounding, and perfectly synchronized formations. And at the very end, like a forgotten broomstick behind a pile of swords, the Falling Sword Sect. A single banner read: "Falling Sword Sect – Broom Special Unit."
"Ha!" Shen Liang grinned. "Last place, huh? That's perfect. Everyone remembers the last… much harder to forget than the middle."
One disciple whispered, "Master… aren't they mocking us?"
Shen Liang tapped his broom against his chin. "Mockery is just applause in disguise. Watch and learn, little ones. First impression: indifferent charm. Second impression: controlled chaos. Third impression: awe… hopefully."
As the parade commenced, the spectators snickered, whispering, "A broom sect? Really?"
Unbeknownst to most, Luo Yan had quietly slipped into the imperial bureaucracy earlier that morning. With subtle connections, she ensured that the Falling Sword Sect's carts were granted prime access into the central Grand Plaza, bypassing countless regulations. Only a few mid-level envoys knew her intervention, and she stayed in the shadows, observing with mild curiosity.
Shen Liang, spotting the side glances, pretended to yawn. "Ah… whispers and mockery… they're already practicing fear. Excellent." He twirled the broom lazily, spinning it like a baton. "Remember, Zhao Fei… elegance in chaos. Humor in despair. And always, always sweep the doubters off balance."
The Imperial Sword Academy envoys, seated prominently near the emperor's dais, huffed in disapproval. A tall, severe man leaned over to his neighbor: "These… broom folk… are a disgrace. How dare the sects of the empire parade with such… irreverence?"
Shen Liang caught their gaze and, without missing a beat, bowed theatrically. "Greetings, esteemed scribes of the pedantic. May your teeth stay sharp, and your robes… wrinkle-free."
The disciples giggled behind him, unable to suppress their laughter, but Shen Liang raised a finger: "Quiet! Discipline before comedy… then chaos!"
As the parade reached the center of the plaza, Shen Liang hopped off the cart, broom twirling, dust glittering faintly in arcs like sword qi. Every step he took synced with an invisible rhythm only he could hear—a harmony of flow, discipline, and playful mischief.
The System pulsed with anticipation.
[**Hidden Class Progress: Sword Laborer of Heaven – Awakening 99% → 100%]
[Hidden Class Unlocked: Mythic Tier – Sword Laborer of Heaven (Mythic Class)]
[XP +1080 | Foundation Realm – Mid Stage → Mid-Late Stage Stabilizing]
[Skill Passive: Flow of Discipline → Mythic Enhancement Active: "Eternal Sweep" – Converts humor, chaos, and labor into invisible sword resonance]
Shen Liang twirled, letting the golden aura of his broom flare briefly, cutting arcs of sparkling light across the plaza. Courtiers gasped. Children pointed. The Imperial Sword Academy envoy's jaw slackened.
"Impossible," he muttered. "That… broom… has… sword intent?"
Shen Liang paused, hands on his hips, looking around like he had no idea what was happening. "Oh, this? Just a little trick I picked up from sweeping floors… and the occasional minor catastrophe. No big deal."
Zhao Fei whispered, "Master… you're officially a mythic class now. Did you know?"
Shen Liang yawned, stretching his arms. "Mythic… hm. Sounds fancy. Might add it to my business card. 'Janitor Saint – Mythic Class.' Catchy, isn't it?"
The spectators couldn't decide whether to laugh, bow, or faint. And somewhere on the imperial dais, Luo Yan leaned back in her chair, faintly smiling. "So… the rumors were true. And yet… he is strangely… unshakable."
The parade continued, and every step of the Falling Sword Sect—deliberately chaotic, yet rhythmically flawless—left a trail of golden qi arcs that whispered to onlookers: discipline and genius can come in any form… even a broom.
By the time they reached the final dais, even the emperor had leaned forward slightly, curiosity piqued, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Shen Liang bowed one last time. "Thank you, thank you. We shall now sweep the empire's doubts away… one joke at a time."
The disciples collapsed in giggles behind him, exhausted, exhilarated, and slightly terrified.
The empire had underestimated them. Again.
And Shen Liang? He casually twirled his broom, whispering to Ling Xiao in his mind:"Ah… the world finally notices. Now… let's see how much dust we can stir."
The imperial capital sprawled like a jeweled web of stone and golden roofs, buzzing with cultivators, envoys, and scholars from every corner of the Eastern Divine Continent. The air was thick with anticipation—and incense, mostly because the palace chefs were experimenting with some questionable "imperial aroma."
Shen Liang leaned against his broom atop the Falling Sword Sect's transport cart, legs crossed. A few outer disciples struggled to maintain formation beneath him, but he ignored them. "Ah… nothing like the smell of a capital in chaos. Don't you just love it, Zhao Fei?"
Zhao Fei muttered, adjusting the scrolls under her arm. "I don't know if I love it or want to vomit quietly. The whole sect is… treated like a joke."
Shen Liang squinted at the parade lineup. Golden Flame Sect, Iron Sky Pavilion, Flowing River Hall… all marching with flags fluttering, drums pounding, and perfectly synchronized formations. And at the very end, like a forgotten broomstick behind a pile of swords, the Falling Sword Sect. A single banner read: "Falling Sword Sect – Broom Special Unit."
"Ha!" Shen Liang grinned. "Last place, huh? That's perfect. Everyone remembers the last… much harder to forget than the middle."
One disciple whispered, "Master… aren't they mocking us?"
Shen Liang tapped his broom against his chin. "Mockery is just applause in disguise. Watch and learn, little ones. First impression: indifferent charm. Second impression: controlled chaos. Third impression: awe… hopefully."
As the parade commenced, the spectators snickered, whispering, "A broom sect? Really?"
Unbeknownst to most, Luo Yan had quietly slipped into the imperial bureaucracy earlier that morning. With subtle connections, she ensured that the Falling Sword Sect's carts were granted prime access into the central Grand Plaza, bypassing countless regulations. Only a few mid-level envoys knew her intervention, and she stayed in the shadows, observing with mild curiosity.
Shen Liang, spotting the side glances, pretended to yawn. "Ah… whispers and mockery… they're already practicing fear. Excellent." He twirled the broom lazily, spinning it like a baton. "Remember, Zhao Fei… elegance in chaos. Humor in despair. And always, always sweep the doubters off balance."
The Imperial Sword Academy envoys, seated prominently near the emperor's dais, huffed in disapproval. A tall, severe man leaned over to his neighbor: "These… broom folk… are a disgrace. How dare the sects of the empire parade with such… irreverence?"
Shen Liang caught their gaze and, without missing a beat, bowed theatrically. "Greetings, esteemed scribes of the pedantic. May your teeth stay sharp, and your robes… wrinkle-free."
The disciples giggled behind him, unable to suppress their laughter, but Shen Liang raised a finger: "Quiet! Discipline before comedy… then chaos!"
As the parade reached the center of the plaza, Shen Liang hopped off the cart, broom twirling, dust glittering faintly in arcs like sword qi. Every step he took synced with an invisible rhythm only he could hear—a harmony of flow, discipline, and playful mischief.
The System pulsed with anticipation.[**Hidden Class Progress: Sword Laborer of Heaven – Awakening 99% → 100%][Hidden Class Unlocked: Mythic Tier – Sword Laborer of Heaven (Mythic Class)][XP +1080 | Foundation Realm – Mid Stage → Mid-Late Stage Stabilizing][Skill Passive: Flow of Discipline → Mythic Enhancement Active: "Eternal Sweep" – Converts humor, chaos, and labor into invisible sword resonance]
Shen Liang twirled, letting the golden aura of his broom flare briefly, cutting arcs of sparkling light across the plaza. Courtiers gasped. Children pointed. The Imperial Sword Academy envoy's jaw slackened.
"Impossible," he muttered. "That… broom… has… sword intent?"
Shen Liang paused, hands on his hips, looking around like he had no idea what was happening. "Oh, this? Just a little trick I picked up from sweeping floors… and the occasional minor catastrophe. No big deal."
Zhao Fei whispered, "Master… you're officially a mythic class now. Did you know?"
Shen Liang yawned, stretching his arms. "Mythic… hm. Sounds fancy. Might add it to my business card. 'Janitor Saint – Mythic Class.' Catchy, isn't it?"
The spectators couldn't decide whether to laugh, bow, or faint. And somewhere on the imperial dais, Luo Yan leaned back in her chair, faintly smiling. "So… the rumors were true. And yet… he is strangely… unshakable."
The parade continued, and every step of the Falling Sword Sect—deliberately chaotic, yet rhythmically flawless—left a trail of golden qi arcs that whispered to onlookers: discipline and genius can come in any form… even a broom.
By the time they reached the final dais, even the emperor had leaned forward slightly, curiosity piqued, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Shen Liang bowed one last time. "Thank you, thank you. We shall now sweep the empire's doubts away… one joke at a time."
The disciples collapsed in giggles behind him, exhausted, exhilarated, and slightly terrified.
The empire had underestimated them. Again.
And Shen Liang? He casually twirled his broom, whispering to Ling Xiao in his mind:"Ah… the world finally notices. Now… let's see how much dust we can stir."
[Hidden Quest Progress: "Prove the Dao Beyond Form – Stage 3: Impress the Empire"][Sect Reputation +15% | Morale +12% | Imperial Attention +5%]