“The Golden Snake Sword Technique originates from Miaojiang, emphasizing unpredictability. With reverse slashes and oblique thrusts, one can defeat the enemy in an instant, unconstrained by fixed patterns. This move, Golden Light Serpent Shadow, is the most lethal. By splitting sword and blade, it creates the momentum of one person wielding a hundred swords. Watch closely.”

Jack Morgan corrected her posture, released his hands from Grace Carter’s shoulders, and personally drew his sword to demonstrate for her.

As Grace Carter listened to him, her mind automatically filled in the scene with her English teacher’s classic classroom lines: “You must remember this expression. When writing, add inversion and attributive clauses—don’t be limited by fixed usages. By varying sentence structures, you can have several advanced expressions in one essay, and you’ll definitely get a high score.”

So down-to-earth.

The Golden Snake Sword Technique is ever-changing; it’s certainly not something one can master overnight. Fortunately, Jack Morgan had achieved mastery of the sword and was considered the most outstanding teacher among his peers. Grace Carter’s body was also exceptionally gifted, and in less than three days, she was able to grasp the basics.

The most, most, most important thing was—by following her senior brother, she got to eat meat!

That’s right, among the many impoverished sword cultivators, Jack Morgan stood out from the crowd—he was someone who could actually afford to eat in the cafeteria.

“Xuanxu Sword Sect? Poor?”

Jack Morgan chuckled lightly at these words, truly the image of a refined gentleman, his peach blossom eyes shining like a starry river: “Little junior sister, Xuanxu is the number one sword sect. Naturally, it would never skimp on money. It’s not the sect that’s poor, but the people who spend the money—look around, there aren’t many like Master who devote everything in pursuit of the sword.”

Grace Carter tilted her head and thought, that’s true.

Their carefree, sword-obsessed master was always flying around the world, buying any treasured sword or sword manual he saw without a second thought;

The original host was pampered and spent money without restraint, so becoming penniless was inevitable;

The little junior brother was also a big spender, not to mention being a royal who knew nothing of hardship and had been swindled out of who knows how many spirit stones.

As for the senior sister she hadn’t met yet, according to the book, she was a drunkard who lived for the moment, valuing only the sword, wine, and beauty.

So it turned out the whole sword sect wasn’t destitute—just their eccentric direct disciples.

Birds of a feather flock together. A bunch of paupers gathered together—what a sight.

After three days of practicing (and eating) swordsmanship (meat) with Jack Morgan, Grace Carter received a message talisman from her master Skyson, inviting her to his residence to meet the newly accepted little junior brother.

That was the male lead, Henry Clark.

She held the paper crane-shaped message talisman in her hand, gently kneading it. Grace Carter leaned against the doorframe, frowning with a faint smile.

Up until now, it had all been child’s play. The coming plot, however, would not be so friendly to her.

=====

According to Skyson, the mountaintop was desolate, and the foot of the mountain lacked prestige. Building one’s residence halfway up the mountain was the true way to live like an immortal.

The book had never described his residence in detail, so when Grace Carter arrived at the mid-slope of Yuheng Peak, she couldn’t help but pause in surprise.

At first glance, it was a beautiful, garden-style building with carved beams and painted rafters, red pillars and engraved eaves, and jade balustrades. Untamed spiritual plants spiraled upward, their emerald leaves twining around the stone dragon sculptures atop the building, giving it a vibrant, verdant feel.

But on closer inspection, the flaws were easy to spot.

The pearl in the dragon’s eye had been plucked out.

Several exquisite wooden carvings had been pried off.

There were faint marks on the wall where paintings had once hung—as for the paintings themselves, they’d been taken down.

The vast hall was empty, devoid of any furniture, like a butterfly leaving its cocoon, only a huge shell remaining.

Grace Carter: ……

This man was truly poor.

It was said that he had once tried to buy a Shangqing Sword by auctioning off his own house at a high price within the sect, but was stopped by several elders who pooled their money to help him out.

After all, for Elder Skyson of the prestigious Xuanxu Sword Sect to be so poor he had to sell his house—such a thing would be scandalous if it got out.

“Hey, Grace Carter!”

The young man in white easily sensed her presence, turned around, and waved with a grin: “I heard you mastered the Golden Snake Sword Technique in just three days—impressive! It was worth selling my pants back then to bring it back to the sect.”

Who wants to hear about you selling your pants! So did you come back naked that year or what!

Grace Carter felt the entire Golden Snake Sword Technique was now tainted.

Every time she thought of “Golden Light Serpent Shadow,” she couldn’t help but imagine her master flying with the sword manual in hand, his leg hair fluttering wildly in the wind.

That’s the vibe.

“Thank you, Master.”

Grace Carter responded with a smile, looking up to see two others in the hall.

Evan Parker was dressed in blue, his black hair tied behind him. When he saw her, his round, shiny, puppy-like eyes curved as he called out, “Little senior sister.”

It was noon, and golden sunlight poured in through the window. He stood in the shimmering light, even his eyelashes dusted with a layer of gold, looking warm and bright.

Standing on the other side was Henry Clark, completely shrouded in shadow.

He still wore the same indifferent expression as before, a hint of mockery at the corners of his eyes. His black clothes made him look even gloomier in the darkness, and his bloodless face appeared even paler.