The sword’s shadow was like a dream, illusory and shifting with the ripples of the pool, bending and twisting, unlike any real object—utterly bizarre.

Edward Grant had just approached the sword when, all of a sudden, the sword’s shadow burst forth with dazzling light. A blinding white beam shot straight into Edward Grant’s brow.

“Ah…”

Edward Grant let out an instinctive cry of surprise, clutching his forehead with both hands, forgetting he was at the bottom of the pool, his body twisting involuntarily.

Strangely, the water didn’t seem to affect Edward Grant’s breathing at all.

At this moment, the oddity of breathing underwater went unnoticed by Edward Grant; all his attention was drawn to that dazzling white light.

The white light entered Edward Grant’s brow, transforming into a tiny sword, about an inch long and as white as jade, suspended at his brow. Suddenly, a powerful force surged from the pristine little sword, instantly enveloping Edward Grant’s entire body.

“What a powerful force!”

In that instant, Edward Grant seemed to see inside his own body, clearly witnessing the pure white sword at his brow radiating a brilliant white glow that flowed into all his meridians, greatly increasing his strength.

In a flash, his bones grew rapidly, their quality changing—becoming lustrous and smooth, like fine jade. His meridians also transformed, becoming tougher and more resilient. Clusters of black impurities were expelled from his pores, his skin became incredibly supple and full of explosive power, and beneath the skin, a new membrane formed—tougher and sturdier than the skin itself.

More importantly, countless streams of vital energy surged from the pristine little sword, flooding into all of Edward Grant’s meridians.

In an instant, Edward Grant’s cultivation soared, breaking through from the fourth to the fifth level of the Martial Artist realm. His meridians expanded by a full circle, filled with vital energy, making him feel as if his whole body brimmed with power.

The pure vital energy pouring from the white sword didn’t stop, continuing to surge forth, washing through every part of Edward Grant’s meridians. As the energy grew ever more abundant, Edward Grant’s meridians expanded again, his strength multiplying several times over, and his cultivation broke through once more.

Martial Artist—Sixth Level!

In just a brief moment, Edward Grant’s cultivation rose two whole levels, from the fourth to the sixth level of the Martial Artist realm.

Moreover, his entire body was reborn—his meridians completely reforged, all previous injuries vanished like clouds, and the power within him surged, no less than that of a seventh-level Martial Artist.

“What… exactly is happening?”

Edward Grant was utterly shocked, suddenly recalling the otherworldly novels he’d read in his previous life, thinking to himself, “Did I just stumble upon a treasure?”

With that thought, all of Edward Grant’s shock turned into delight.

However, before Edward Grant could savor this joy, a violent tremor erupted from his brow, making his whole brain buzz loudly. In an instant, he lost consciousness and fainted.

In a daze, he had no idea how much time had passed.

When Edward Grant finally woke again, it was already daylight. He was back at the sect, lying in his own bed.

“Senior Brother Huang, you’re awake?” A boy of about twelve or thirteen stood by Edward Grant’s bedside and asked.

There were many families with the surname Huang in the Divine Land, but only one with the surname Xuan. Upon joining the Heavenly Sword Sect, Edward Grant used the name ‘David Carter’. In the sect, only his cousin Samuel Carter knew his real name.

This boy was a disciple who had joined the sect alongside Samuel Carter, named John Harris, an average talent, but very close to Samuel Carter.

In the Heavenly Sword Sect, Edward Grant’s strength surpassed many of the outer disciples at the fifth level of the Martial Artist realm. Samuel Carter relied entirely on Edward Grant’s protection to avoid much bullying, and by sticking with Samuel Carter, John Harris also benefited from Edward Grant’s favor, escaping many hardships.

Therefore, John Harris held a deep respect for Edward Grant.

Edward Grant looked at John Harris in confusion and asked, “Why am I here?”

John Harris replied, “Senior Brother Huang, you fainted last night at the Hidden Sword Pool in the back mountain. When the night patrol steward saw you hadn’t returned, he asked Samuel Carter and learned you were practicing swordsmanship in the back mountain. The steward on patrol was the one who brought you back.”

“The back mountain? Hidden Sword Pool…?”

Suddenly, memories of the previous night flashed through Edward Grant’s mind—he had dived to the bottom of the pool, searching for the sword’s shadow.

And then…

The sword’s shadow had entered his brow, releasing a torrent of vital energy that caused his cultivation to skyrocket, advancing two whole levels to the sixth level of the Martial Artist realm.

“Was that all just a dream, or did it really happen?” Edward Grant was filled with astonishment.

He wanted to check again if there was a pristine little sword at his brow, but no matter what he tried, Edward Grant couldn’t achieve the inner vision he’d had the night before, nor see the space at his brow.

Unable to view the space at his brow, Edward Grant could only judge by his cultivation whether everything that happened last night was real.

He circulated his energy, and instantly, Edward Grant was overjoyed.

Martial Artist—Sixth Level!

He had truly reached the sixth level of the Martial Artist realm!

Everything that happened last night was real, not just a dream.

Which meant, the pristine little sword in the space at his brow truly existed. But what exactly was that little sword? How could it enter a person’s brow?