Lu Mo exited the Simulated Reincarnation.
After a sudden surge of spatial fracturing and conscious distortion, she opened her eyes once again in the real world. A massive flood of memory fragments poured into her mind at that moment.
However, having experienced this several times before, she had gradually grown accustomed to the sensation of her brain being instantaneously filled to capacity.
She lay on the bed, staring up at the familiar ceiling, and whispered, ‘Returned.’
‘But I’m so tired —’
Recalling everything she had experienced during those eight years in the Simulated Reincarnation, she murmured, ‘It’s like I’ve gone through nine thousand university physical fitness tests.’
The system was to blame for giving her such an insane mission — requiring her to personally kill the Demon King of that era.
Still, working so hard in the Simulated Reincarnation had not been without its benefits.
Her comprehension had been put to full use. She had pored over almost every sword manual in the Kalis Family that was unrelated to holy power. Whether it was her breadth of knowledge or her swordsmanship attainment, everything had been greatly enhanced.
Not to mention her later experiences visiting the geniuses of various families and fighting against the God-descendants.
Afterward, she had studied by the side of the “Undying Sword,” integrating all the swordsmanship and techniques she had learned over those eight years into a cohesive whole.
Lu Mo murmured softly, ‘Sword techniques… Fusion Sublimation Power… technique and power…’
Every time those two paths were mentioned, she would think of strange things. But in the end, she had forged a path of swordsmanship that belonged uniquely to her.
During those years of apprenticing under Audenary in the Simulated Reincarnation, she had even accidentally called her master “Sea Emperor” several times.
If Master Audenary could truly stand up from his wheelchair and personally teach her the “Xiao Li” technique, that would have been wonderful as well.
And then she could develop a Demon Back…
She was getting a bit sidetracked.
‘My personal sword technique and the Fusion Sublimation Power can both be used in the real world.’
Unlike the secret arts of the Shadow Moon Hall, which were powerful but had harsh cultivation requirements, her sword techniques and the Fusion Sublimation Power were skills she had practiced countless times in the Simulated Reincarnation.
They were not fixed spells or formulas but paths filled with infinite possibilities.
As long as one stepped onto the path, the power could be utilized.
As her realm continued to rise and she traveled further along the paths of swordsmanship and Fusion Sublimation, the power of both would become increasingly terrifying.
And if one day she truly completed that strike — that strike that fell between the mountains and the sky…
‘That journey was the limit of what I could achieve in the Simulated Reincarnation…’
‘So, was what I did enough?’
After a long time, Lu Mo asked herself once more.
In the Simulated Reincarnation, during the Talent Determination Ceremony, she had been absolutely confident in her ability to defeat Solaris.
However, after Solaris walked out of the Artifact Hall wielding the “Extinguishing Sword: Sky Crown Cleansing Dust,” everything seemed to become uncertain again.
In that moment, she had felt the terrifying divine intent contained within that artifact.
Even though that divine intent had been severely worn down and had fallen into a deep slumber, it was still like a scorching sun in the sky, incinerating every bit of her perception that tried to approach it.
Lu Mo couldn’t help but think of the book, *The Saintess’s Sacrifice*.
Would such a sword one day pierce Cecilia’s heart, devouring her soul and life, only to wake up and reveal the authority and majesty of a god to the entire world?
Would it destroy the Demon King?
Would she… be able to save the world?
And when that time came, what would she do?
The image of Cecilia’s somewhat silly yet incomparably brilliant smile surfaced in her mind once again.
Lu Mo couldn’t help but smile as well.
Perhaps she already had the answer in her heart the moment she asked those questions.
***
The next day.
The sun rose, and Lu Mo woke up early.
She didn’t go to wake Afu. That “cowardly little maid” was likely still asleep; even if Lu Mo woke her, she would probably just repeat yesterday’s scene.
As per her routine, Lu Mo practiced her sword in the courtyard.
This time, she performed the movements in a single, fluid sequence from start to finish.
Her swordsmanship attainment had reached a startling level of improvement in reality as well. Because she had spent years researching sword techniques in the Simulated Reincarnation, she performed them in reality without any hesitation, moving like flowing water.
As she thrust out the final strike, a faint burst of sword intent erupted from the wooden sword —
In the next second, the wooden sword shattered instantly.
“Oh?”
Lu Mo was startled by the sudden turn of events.
‘Is it because I’ve become stronger? Or… is the quality of the wooden sword too poor?’
*Clap, clap, clap —*
Just then, a round of applause sounded from outside the courtyard.
Lu Mo looked over and saw a young girl standing outside, smiling and clapping her hands.
“As expected of Miss Lu Mo. In just one day, you’ve practiced this sword technique to such a degree.”
She praised Lu Mo and then offered a greeting. “Good morning, Miss Lu Mo.”
“Good… Good morning,” Lu Mo replied, feeling a bit awkward.
She still didn’t know the girl’s name.
Although the girl had said she would find out soon, enough time had passed that she still knew nothing.
It was strange; only one day had passed in reality, but it felt like dozens of chapters had gone by.
It was likely because she had spent so much time in the Simulated Reincarnation that her perception of time had become distorted.
But then again, why had the girl appeared again today?
Was it another “chance encounter”?
While thinking this, Lu Mo opened the gate and let Elia inside.
Elia quickly explained her reason for coming.
With a smile, she retrieved a sword manual from her spatial ring.
“This is?”
Lu Mo was slightly stunned.
“I originally wanted to invite Miss Lu Mo to my place to look at it together, but after thinking about it, I decided it was better to just bring it to you,” Elia said with a smile. “This is my family’s sword technique, the one I mentioned to you before.”
In truth, she had indeed wanted to “trick” Lu Mo into coming to her home.
But she wanted to see Lu Mo far too much.
So, she had stayed up all night to compile a sword manual and showed up the very next day under the pretext of “gifting a family sword technique.”
“Thank… Thank you.”
Lu Mo felt a bit embarrassed instead.
“But this is your family’s sword technique after all. Is it really okay to give it to an outsider like this?”
“Well, if we become family, then it won’t matter, right?” Elia said with a smile.
“Eh?”
“Just kidding.” She laughed softly. “It’s only a basic sword technique; I still have that much authority.”
“So, should I teach it to you once, just like yesterday?”
Elia looked at her expectantly.
Lu Mo initially wanted to refuse, thinking she could just practice on her own.
But when she saw the light sparkling in Elia’s eyes, she suddenly found herself unable to bear it.
That look seemed to say — *Please, let me teach you one more time, or I’m really going to cry.*
In the end, she nodded.
“Internal… then I’ll have to trouble you.”
She clearly saw Elia’s eyes light up instantly.
“Alright, here I come, Miss Lu Mo!”
Elia stepped behind her, gently supporting her hands and waist to help her adjust her posture.
This scene gave Lu Mo a sense of déjà vu.
However, it wasn’t because someone had done this to her; rather, it was because she had once taught someone else this way.
“Relax, Miss Lu Mo. You can do it.”
Elia whispered words of encouragement in her ear. Feeling Lu Mo’s warmth and pulse, Elia felt as though she had returned to the time when she was the one being patiently taught, over and over again.
She whispered softly, “I will teach you over and over, just like how you once taught me.”
—
The wooden sword was completely ruined.
Lu Mo hadn’t expected this to happen on her second day at the academy.
The spare wooden swords were with Afu, and Afu was still asleep.
‘I should have woken her up,’ Lu Mo grumbled to herself.
After thinking it over, she had no choice but to take out her own family sword.
“I’ll practice with this sword for now,” she said.
“This sword…” Elia stared at the blade, momentarily dazed.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing. It won’t affect anything.”
‘Did she recognize the family crest?’ Lu Mo wondered.
‘Does her family have some sort of grudge against the Thrassyll Family?’
Meanwhile, Elia was scoffing inwardly.
‘The Thrassyll Family actually lets Sister Lu Mo use such trash? They dare call this a sword? Who gave them the courage?’
In anyone else’s eyes, the quality of the sword was decent.
But in her view, such a blade was unworthy of being held by Lu Mo’s hand.
Maybe she should give her a sword later.
A brand-new sword, custom-made specifically for her.
Elia guided her through one round of the sword technique.
Afterward, Lu Mo practiced it herself while Elia watched from the side.
Her learning speed was startlingly fast.
After being taught only once, she had mastered it completely without any pauses. Her state was even better than when she was being guided.
Elia faintly sensed that Lu Mo’s swordsmanship attainment was more than twice as strong as it had been yesterday.
But was such a thing truly possible?
***
The practice session ended.
Lu Mo sheathed her sword, and the two sat in the courtyard to chat.
This morning, Cecilia hadn’t appeared to interrupt them, which put Elia in a very good mood.
“To be honest, I feel that Miss Lu Mo’s sword… doesn’t quite suit you,” Elia remarked.
“Yes, a bit,” Lu Mo nodded, not hiding the truth.
“Then, in a while, I’ll give you a gift.”
Elia gave a mysterious smile.
“A gift?”
Before Lu Mo could refuse, Elia had already stood up and started walking toward the exit of the courtyard.
“Until next time, Miss Lu Mo.”
“Uh… see you next time.”
Lu Mo responded blankly, watching her leave.
‘A gift?’
‘Is it normal to give a gift when we’ve only met twice?’
‘What would she even give?’
***
On the way back, Elia took out a communication crystal from her spatial ring.
She tapped on a name, and the connection was quickly established.
She smiled slightly and said softly:
“It looks like I’ll have to trouble you again… Liz.”