Adam fell into deep thought. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Right! How could I forget Senior Desolate Sword?"

"Lately, that senior has been staying in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. If Cecilia could be taken in as Senior Desolate Sword’s disciple and stay in the Sword Sect, it would be much better than staying in the Vernal Manor."

"With Cecilia’s natural aptitude, she would definitely be highly valued in the Sword Sect."

As dusk fell and the bright moon hung high in the sky, Adam leapt up and vanished into the veil of night.

Flying through the air, he arrived at the entrance of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

The pavilion was located exactly halfway between Inkwood Academy and the Vernal Manor. For over a month, Desolate Sword had been staying there. Every day when Adam passed by, he would see Desolate Sword sitting by the window, drinking wine.

With a sword step, Adam had just arrived outside the second-floor window when a free and easy voice, carrying a hint of tipsiness, rang out from inside.

"In the dead of night, for Your Excellency to act like this seems a bit too presumptuous, does it not?"

Adam looked in the direction of the voice.

At an Eight Immortals table, a refined and free-spirited swordsman was holding a jade jug, drinking wildly. His face showed a bit of intoxication, but his sword-like eyes were exceptionally clear.

Since he had already been spotted, Adam did not act secretive. He walked up to Desolate Sword, respectfully cupped his hands in greeting, and then sat down freely, like an old friend.

"I am Adam. Greetings, Senior Desolate Sword."

"You little brat, you actually suit my temperament quite well."

Seeing Adam act so freely, sitting down and helping himself to food and drink like a friend of many years without caring about secular rules, a trace of curiosity flashed in Desolate Sword’s eyes.

Desolate Sword picked up the wine jug, filled the cup in front of Adam, and asked. "Little brat, coming here late at night, what important matter do you have with me?"

Adam downed the fine wine in one gulp, then spoke. "Senior Desolate Sword, you are a great talent of the Sword Dao renowned throughout Silver Willow. If you have no one to inherit your mantle, it would truly be a pity."

"I have a maidservant at home whose Sword Dao talent is passable. She could inherit Senior Desolate Sword’s legacy."

A trace of astonishment flashed in Desolate Sword’s eyes. He had not expected Adam to come here late at night for this matter, and he could not help but joke.

"Since you know I am renowned throughout Silver Willow, you should also know that not just any Sword Dao genius can catch my eye."

Adam did not doubt Cecilia’s talent in the slightest. Since the founding of Silver Willow, not a single person had possessed an aptitude that could rival hers.

It was only because he possessed the system and constantly awakened his God-Tier Comprehension System that he could steadily suppress Cecilia by a few levels.

"Senior Desolate Sword, if an Innate Dao Body still cannot catch Senior’s eye, then I can only admit defeat."

"What did you say? An Innate Dao Body?"

Hearing Adam’s words, Desolate Sword’s heart trembled, and the fine wine in his hand almost spilled from the cup.

He gave Adam a deep look and feigned calmness. "Little brat, you actually know about the Innate Dao Body! You cannot spout nonsense about this."

Adam knew that even a free-spirited person like Desolate Sword would find it hard to believe such words immediately. To dispel his doubts, a streak of Innate Sword Qi, practically tangible, appeared at Adam’s fingertip. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Senior Desolate Sword, look at this and tell me if I was spouting nonsense just now."

"Innate Sword Qi! It is actually condensed to such an extent! Just where did you learn the Thirteen Heaven-Shattering Swords?"

Desolate Sword lost every shred of his composure. His expression changed drastically as he abruptly stood up, his eyes filled with absolute disbelief as he looked at Adam.

Innate Sword Qi was the unspoken secret of the Sword Sect. Since the founding of the sect, it had only been passed down to core disciples and had never been leaked to outsiders.

The youth before him had not only learned the Thirteen Heaven-Shattering Swords but had reached such a profound realm. Desolate Sword truly found it difficult to understand.

"Little Brother Adam, where did you learn this Innate Sword Qi? I wonder if you could clear up this old man’s confusion?"

Desolate Sword actually held no sectarian biases, his lifelong wish was that all sword cultivators in the world could inherit the Sword Sect’s Dao of the Sword.

However, within the Sword Sect, sectarian views were deeply rooted. Although he was one of the Seven Sons, his words were not absolute law within the sect.

Asking Adam about the Thirteen Heaven-Shattering Swords was simply out of a trace of curiosity rising in his heart.

Before coming here, Adam had already prepared to reveal the Thirteen Heaven-Shattering Swords. Now that Desolate Sword asked, he had a countermeasure ready.

"Senior Desolate Sword, I had a fortuitous encounter in my youth. A crazy old Daoist said I had exceptional bone structure and wanted to pass on his peerless sword arts to me."

"These Thirteen Heaven-Shattering Swords were taught to me by him back then."

Crazy old Daoist! Desolate Sword muttered under his breath. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he pressed further. "Little Brother Adam, where is that crazy old Daoist now?"

"Senior Desolate Sword, after that crazy old Daoist taught me these sword stances, he drifted away, and his whereabouts are unknown."

"What is wrong, Senior? Do you know that crazy old Daoist?"

To put on a full act, the more realistic the better.

Seeing that Desolate Sword cared very much about this crazy old Daoist, Adam spoke with a face full of concern, as if such a person truly existed.

A trace of absent-mindedness appeared on Desolate Sword’s face. He sighed. "This old man suspects that the crazy old Daoist is my Second Senior Brother, Sword Sovereign, who has been missing for a century."

This crazy old Daoist was nothing more than a character Adam had casually made up.

He had not expected Desolate Sword to actually link him to a real person.

Adam did not expose the lie and simply played along.