After being reborn, all I want to do is run away.

Chapter 4 Cultivation Talent

On the True Origin Continent, any family with some strength will test the cultivation talent of their newborns at birth. Talent is divided into five levels: Heaven, Earth, Human, Mortal, and the legendary God. Each level is further divided into upper, middle, and lower grades, making it a very strict hierarchy.

A person's innate talents at birth largely determine their future achievements.

The vast majority of people on the True Origin Continent possess mortal-level talent, while most cultivation techniques require at least human-level talent. This means that most people don't have many opportunities to come into contact with the path of cultivation.

Shen Xu's talent is at the upper level of the human level, which is considered very good talent in the Green Bamboo Sword Sect, but once he leaves the Green Bamboo Mountain Range, he doesn't have much of an advantage.

Moreover, each breakthrough in a realm requires cultivation talent. The higher the talent, the lower the difficulty of breaking through realms, the faster the cultivation speed, and even the greater the capacity of the dantian for vital energy, which can be described as having many benefits.

Those two crazy women who tormented him to the point of despair both possessed cultivation talents that were almost at the heavenly level. How could he possibly have the right to resist? Therefore, running away was the best solution for him.

"If I can't afford to offend you, can't I at least avoid you?"

After descending the mountain, Shen Xu dragged his weary steps toward the Outer Sect Affairs Hall. The Qi Nourishing Pills he had painstakingly accumulated were all used up during this breakthrough. Since outer sect disciples could receive a considerable number of Qi Nourishing Pills from the Outer Sect Affairs Hall with each breakthrough, he naturally wouldn't miss out on such a benefit.

Moreover, once an outer disciple breaks through to the fifth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, he can obtain a secret manual from the sect's library. Although Shen Xu has no shortage of sword techniques in his mind, most of them are ruthless and cunning, with every move drawing blood, and their grade is too high to be suitable for him to practice at his current level. Therefore, finding a peaceful and moderate sword technique is an urgent matter for him.

However, before that, he needs to go to the outer sect's steward's hall to obtain a permit allowing him to enter the library.

It was already late at night, and Shen Xu wasn't sure if the Outer Sect's Hall of Affairs would still be open. However, the Hall of Affairs was located in the opposite direction from the Sword Practice Cliff, and he didn't want to make a special trip back tomorrow, so he could only try his luck.

Fortunately, when he arrived at the Hall of Affairs, the lights were still on, and there were many outer disciples coming and going, making it quite lively.

He remembered that since he had been engrossed in cultivation for the past two months since joining the Green Bamboo Sword Sect, the only people he knew were those living in the few wooden houses nearby.

But this is good too; fewer people to know means less trouble.

Shen Xu hates trouble and incredibly stupid people.

"Hey! Look who I see here? Isn't this my motherless idiot?" Shen Xian, who had just come out of the Deacon Hall, smiled and pointed at Shen Xu as he spoke to his companion beside him.

Shen Xu unconsciously clenched his hands, which were hidden in his sleeves, and then relaxed them.

"Brother Shen taking a liking to your sword is giving you face. That sword originally belonged to the clan. But how did you treat Brother Shen? You actually took advantage of Brother Shen's kindness towards his clan to challenge him to a duel. I don't know whether to say you are overestimating yourself or courting death?" Shen Xian walked up to Shen Xu and his gaze fell on the sword tied to his waist.

"If you ask me, we're all of the same clan, why fight and kill each other? Here's what we'll do: give me all the Qi-Nourishing Pills you have, and I'll act as a peacemaker. You can also personally deliver the sword to Brother Shen and kowtow to him three times in front of everyone, and I'll persuade Brother Shen to be magnanimous and not hold it against you, how about that?" Shen Xian said with a smile.

"He's the one who gambled with Shen Guangjian. He's really got guts. I heard Shen Guangjian is almost at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation now!"

"I heard that he was the one who spoke rudely to Shen Guangjian first, and Shen Guangjian had no choice but to agree to the bet with him."

"Who says otherwise? This kid is doomed to lose. I wonder what his final fate will be?"

"But Shen Xian is a real beast. They are from the same clan, yet he forces them like this."

"Keep your voice down! He's not a very petty person."

The surrounding whispers reached Shen Xu and Shen Xian's ears, causing Shen Xian's face to turn ashen.

"You have to give me an answer today, or you can forget about coming over!" Shen Xian said in a gloomy tone.

"A good dog doesn't block the way!" Shen Xu said calmly.

"You're asking for it!!" Shen Xian suddenly threw a punch at Shen Xu's face.

Before he could even touch Shen Xu, Shen Xu appeared behind him. Shen Xian looked at his empty fist in disbelief, then, filled with anger at being tricked, he quickly turned around and threw another punch at Shen Xu. But Shen Xu easily dodged it again, and because he used too much force, he fell heavily to the ground after throwing the punch, getting a mouthful of mud.

"Such speed!" those around exclaimed in astonishment.

"If you want to fight, wait for me here. Don't delay my business," Shen Xu said coldly, looking down at Shen Xian.

Shen Xu didn't want to get entangled with Shen Xian too much. He was afraid that if he wasted too much time, the Hall of Affairs would close down, which would be a loss.

After saying that, he went straight to the outer sect's affairs hall, leaving Shen Xian lying on the ground, looking bewildered, and refusing to get up for a long time.

"How domineering!" Some of the female disciples around were already starry-eyed.

"As far as I know, Shen Xian is already at the fifth level of the Qi Nourishing Realm, yet he is completely powerless against us. It seems that the outer sect competition will be quite interesting. Perhaps he will be able to fight Shen Guangjian."

"Not necessarily. Shen Xu was just a little faster and took advantage of Shen Xian's mental weakness to catch him off guard. Besides, we are sword cultivators. Having a sword and not having a sword are two completely different states. I think if the two of them were to pick up their swords and fight for real, Shen Xian might not necessarily lose."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xian's eyes immediately regained their brilliance. "That's right, I'm a sword cultivator, why should I compete with him in fists and feet? If it's a sword fight, Shen Xu is definitely no match for me."

Thinking of this, Shen Xian stood up, patted the dirt off his body, and stared ferociously in the direction Shen Xu had left.

"Shen Xu, I will repay you a hundredfold for the humiliation you inflicted on me!"

At this moment, his companion Mo Da came to his side and said, "Brother Shen, don't worry, I will help you. People who disrespect their elders should be taught a lesson."

Seeing Shen Xian and the other person's behavior, the surrounding crowd immediately stirred up a commotion.

"This is going to be interesting. Go and tell the others to come and watch the fun."

As the news spread, the story became increasingly outrageous. What started as Shen Xian and his companion trying to cause trouble for Shen Xu was transformed into Shen Guangjian attempting to forcibly seize Shen Xu's sword in front of the outer sect steward.

Upon hearing this news, Shen Guangjian flew into a rage and exclaimed, "Fool! Utterly absurd!!"

"Should I call Shen Xian back?" someone next to him suggested quietly.

"No need! Give this to Shen Xian and tell him that he can only win, not lose. As long as he doesn't kill that kid, he can do anything. I'll clean up the rest for him."

"The Blood Fiend Pill, isn't that too risky? It would be hard to explain if the elders of the sect found out. Besides, he has Mo Da's help, so he shouldn't need this to deal with that kid."

"Better safe than sorry. Tell him not to take it unless absolutely necessary." Shen Guangjian's gaze grew increasingly gloomy.