This left them deeply shocked. William Harper had been stuck at the first level of the Condensing Origin Realm for three years since joining the sect, and only recently had his strength improved, proving that he had just broken through not long ago.

In an extremely short period, his cultivation had advanced from the first to the third level of the Condensing Origin Realm, and today... he broke through to the fourth level!

Isn’t this rate of improvement way too fast? His cultivation is skyrocketing!

When the storm of vital energy subsided and the second floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion returned to calm, William Harper’s cultivation at the fourth level of the Condensing Origin Realm was completely stabilized.

He practiced the Sword Origin Technique with perfect ease, encountering no obstacles at all, mastering it effortlessly.

Then, after spending three hours, he transformed the vital energy in his body into “sword vital energy,” and in the process... naturally broke through the fourth meridian, pushing his cultivation to the fourth level of the Condensing Origin Realm.

The looks the other disciples gave William Harper changed from mockery to astonishment. Thinking back on how they had just ridiculed William Harper, they now felt a bit uncomfortable.

The current William Harper was no longer the so-called loser who had been stuck at the first level of the Condensing Origin Realm for three years, but a sword talent with perfect aptitude who could continue to cultivate.

Only now did they realize that they were in no position to mock William Harper.

When William Harper fell from grace, the more ordinary the disciple’s talent, the harder they trampled on him. In contrast... those with outstanding talent mostly chose to ignore him, as they no longer saw William Harper as a rival.

Now... with William Harper able to continue cultivating and his perfect sword talent beginning to shine, those with outstanding talent felt threatened and started to ostracize him, while the ordinary disciples felt the gap between themselves and William Harper, and began to feel inferior.

David Cooper was highly talented, and among those who ostracized the increasingly brilliant William Harper, he was the most extreme. Seeing William Harper in the spotlight again, he said with a sullen face:

“Three years of accumulation, followed by a rapid breakthrough to the fourth level of the Condensing Origin Realm—this is nothing special... A true genius, after three years of cultivation, would not only break through to the ninth level, but at the very least reach the seventh or higher. The fourth level is still far from what a real genius can achieve!”

After a pause, David Cooper continued, “William Harper, you broke through to the fourth level of the Condensing Origin Realm—did you time it on purpose to show off in the Martial Arts Pavilion? Do you think this will distract people and make them ignore your tricks?

You haven’t actually practiced the ‘Sword Origin Technique’ at all, have you? You’re just holding the manual and putting on a show to attract everyone’s attention, so people will focus on your breakthrough. Heh... do you really find this amusing? Don’t you think it’s childish?”

With David Cooper’s words, the other disciples suddenly realized they had almost forgotten about the ‘Sword Origin Technique.’

According to David Cooper’s explanation, William Harper’s breakthrough to the fourth level of the Condensing Origin Realm was no big deal. Instead, he was deliberately using the ‘Sword Origin Technique’ as a distraction to draw attention to his breakthrough, making it seem like he was just showing off.

As a result, William Harper’s image in the minds of the other disciples plummeted.

William Harper did not respond directly to David Cooper, but instead raised his finger, where a wisp of sword-shaped vital energy danced at his fingertip. He sighed lightly, “Is the Sword Origin Technique really that hard to practice? I don’t think so!”

Seeing the sword-shaped vital energy dancing at William Harper’s fingertip, the second floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion instantly fell silent.

This is... sword vital energy?

Letting vital energy leave the body is only possible after reaching the seventh level of the Condensing Origin Realm. Before that, there’s only one possibility: mastering the ‘Sword Origin Technique.’

Sword vital energy can leave the body even before the seventh level of the Condensing Origin Realm.

David Cooper’s eyes widened, his face instantly drained of color, his heart feeling as if it had been punched hard, and his face as if he’d been slapped!

Chapter 10: I Really Am a Genius

On the second floor of the Martial Arts Pavilion, all the disciples were dumbfounded.

David Cooper had said that William Harper couldn’t possibly master the Sword Origin Technique, that he was just putting on a show and playing tricks, and everyone believed it, even mocking him one after another.

William Harper didn’t argue at all. Now, he simply revealed the ‘sword vital energy,’ giving everyone a slap in the face with his actions.

William Harper not only mastered the ‘Sword Origin Technique,’ but... on his very first attempt, his cultivation broke through an entire level, showing that his mastery of the Sword Origin Technique was perfect and the results outstanding.

The Sword Origin Technique is the strongest technique of the Outer Sect of the Ancient Sword Sect. Countless genius disciples have tried to master it, but in the past hundred years, only the young sect master Raymond Miller has succeeded. Even a genius like Brian Scott failed to master it!

By comparison, it’s clear how extraordinary William Harper’s talent is—at least... in mastering the ‘Sword Origin Technique,’ he is the only one in a hundred years in the Ancient Sword Sect who can stand shoulder to shoulder with Raymond Miller.

Under the shocked gazes of the other disciples, William Harper’s image instantly became grand and imposing, making them feel a sense of inferiority.

Ethan Brooks rushed over to William Harper in three quick steps, his expression shocked: “You... really mastered the Sword Origin Technique?”

At William Harper’s fingertip, the sword-shaped vital energy danced like a tiny sword blade: “I suppose this counts as mastering it!”