To Ling Qiumei, the Sword Fairy’s simple slash felt as though the space itself had been cleanly bisected.

The residual wind from the strike blew past them and separated perfectly, flowing around Jiang Jianxin in absolute submission.

"The [Sky-Rending Sword Manual] is fundamentally a technique of division," Jiang Jianxin’s voice echoed in the stillness, her movements flowing smoothly into a vertical downward chop. "You must think you have to strike a thousand times in the hopes of overwhelming the opponent with accumulation. But the true essence is the ’Sky-Rending’."

She thrust the blade forward. The air popped like it had been torn open. Perhaps if she used her sword qi, she could cut through the spatial fabric of the Fractured Plane.

"You do not need a thousand drops of rain to break a stone. You only need one strike, perfectly aligned with the grain of reality, to rend the sky. Focus your inner energy not on speed, but on absolute and uncompromising focus. The blade is not an extension of your arm. It is your medium to touch upon the boundary between life and death. And you dictate where that boundary lies."

The Sword Fairy then moved through nine basic stances, fully showcasing the profoundness of the Silent Sword Sect’s legacy sword manual.

"First Form - Severing the Droplet."

The blade moved with agonizing slowness, yet it arrived precisely where it needed to be.

"This isn’t about cutting the water," Jiang Jianxin’s ethereal voice drifted to their ears, "but about finding the space between the water. You separate the intent of the rain from the earth it seeks to strike."

She shifted her stance, her feet gliding silently over the wooden floorboards.

"Second Form - Parting the Mist."

Another horizontal sweep, but it was so perfectly leveled it seemed to rest on an invisible plane of glass. The ambient martial qi of the plane that naturally settled in the courtyard was split cleanly in two, refusing to merge back together for several long seconds.

"Do not let the opponent’s chaotic aggression blind your intent. You need not push the fog away. You must declare that the space before your blade is clear. Your will becomes the absolute law within your reach."

At this point, Ling Qiumei was already trembling from a profound epiphany. She was weeping silent tears.

For years, she had swung her chipped sword, trying to emulate the roaring tigers and crashing cranes of rival sects, believing her sect’s legacy manual was something she would not even be able to see being performed. Her comprehension was just too lacking that she settled into the basic sword manual, hoping to master it first before attempting the legacy manual.

"Third Form - Cleaving the Gale."

Jiang Jianxin stepped into a phantom wind, her blade angling upwards to intercept a force that wasn’t there. Yet, the air popped audibly.

"Momentum is an illusion of mass and speed. Find the core of their attack. A perfectly placed needle can derail a charging boulder."

She moved fluidly through the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth forms, her body turning into a silver phantom.

"Seventh Form... Eighth Form..."

The training hall became dead silent, save for the rhythmic, breath-taking swish of the mortal-grade steel cutting the fabric of reality. Even Lin Mo was taking in everything to refine his [Flowing Star Combat Style].

Finally, Jiang Jianxin stopped. She stood perfectly still, the sword held loosely at her side. She closed her eyes.

"And the Ninth Form. The culmination. The Sky-Rending Strike."

The Sword Fairy stayed still. For a full ten seconds, she stood like a statue.

Then, she flicked her wrist upward.

The wind didn’t roar or rip and there was no flash of her blade. It looked like she just moved slightly.

Yet, the ceiling above had been blown away and up in the sky, a wispy cloud that had drifted into the purple sky of the Fractured Plane suddenly split into two perfect halves, as if a god had drawn a line through the heavens with a ruler.

THUD.

Ling Qiumei collapsed onto her knees, her forehead touching the floor. She was gasping for air as her mind became overloaded by the magnitude of the martial truth she had just witnessed.

The bottleneck in her mind, the barrier preventing her from opening her 5th Gate, got pulverized into dust.

She felt the ambient martial qi rushing into her newly expanded meridians, her inner energy churning and refining itself.

"I... I see it," Ling Qiumei wept, her voice seemingly choked with awe. "The silence... The division... Senior Sword Fairy, you have given the Silent Rain Sect its soul back."

Jiang Jianxin gracefully tossed the mortal-grade sword. It spun in the air and landed perfectly on its scabbard, resting on Ling Qiumei’s hip with a soft clack.

"I merely dusted off a mirror, Ling Qiumei," Jiang Jianxin said, her eyes radiating a serene, unshakeable confidence. Her own aura had stabilized completely.

The chaotic fragments of the [Sky-Rending Sword Manual] had acted as the perfect whetstone, allowing her to catch a glimpse and start comprehending the immortal-grade [Heaven-Rending Sword Scripture].

Ten minutes later, Lin Mo and the Sword Fairy returned to the private room inside the Pavilion of Drifting Clouds.

Jiang Jianxin started meditating while Lin Mo studied the report more closely.

That same as his previous visits, their time was limited. In less than thirty minutes, they’ll have to return to the Realm of Nine Heavens.

As for how to extend that, it would cost not only Dimension Essence but also exploration rate. Even though he had been in the Fractured Plane five times now, he’d been in the same city for the last three visits. The map that the Divine System Interface recorded was not even 1% of the total area of the Martial World.

To prolong a plane traveler’s time limit, they needed to leave behind more ’Plane Markers’ in certain locations or establish more Distribution Hubs that would serve as the system’s eyes and expand the system’s influence. Just sitting in Sleeping Dragon City and playing corporate overlord was profitable, but it was inefficient for exploration.

"Let’s see. The store is about to reach its next tier. Perhaps, it’ll have something new that I can implement in this plane. But for now, its current state is optimal."

He’s not aiming to conquer the whole Martial World with ’convenience’ because no matter how enticing the store products were, they would still encroach upon the interests of other leaders of the Fractured Plane.

And with the origin of the product being so mysterious, many would become wary of it.

"If I can continue funneling more armor sets here, it might turn this place more chaotic. What should be done on top of getting the unique resource of the Martial World is to cultivate individuals who can be sent to the Realm of Nine Heavens and vice versa. After all, that [Sky-Rending Sword Manual] alone could probably rival a Nascent Soul Stage sword manual."

Lin Mo started noting his plans for this place. Furthermore, with the future of other towers being conquered, he also had to prepare for the other Fractured Planes.

Twenty minutes later, Jiang Jianxin opened her eyes.

"I have gained a lot from this trip, Shopkeeper. You have my gratitude." She said.

"Mhm. I’m glad this trip helped you with your troubles." Lin Mo smiled as he turned to her, checking her out.

Although she still looked as beautiful as before, the aura radiating from her could probably cut him in half if she willed it. Her Sword Intent had been honed a bit even though she only comprehended Ling Qiumei’s legacy sword manual.

"You must return to the Jade Hollow Conduit Tower, Shopkeeper. Climb up to Floor 10 and complete its challenge before you form your core." Jiang Jianxin suggested.

Having mentioned that, Lin Mo winced a bit as he truly forgot about climbing the Jade Hollow Conduit Tower again. He stopped after completing Floor 5, after all.

Liu Xiaoyu also received immortal-grade items when she conquered it. Still, they’re not like the immortal-grade artifacts that would draw Heaven’s Will’s attention. Furthermore, his prodigious assistant still hasn’t used those items.

"Indeed. I must return. Its entry limit is Foundation Establishment Stage, although it’s possible to loosen its restriction, it’s ultimately a Tower for cultivators of lower stages before Core Formation Stage."

Jiang Jianxin nodded as her lips stretched into a mesmerizing smile. "I look forward to your continued rise, Shopkeeper."

"Oh, please, dear customer. You and Xiaoyu are the favored children of this era. I’m a simple merchant. Nothing much." Lin Mo waved a hand dismissively, though his heart beat just a fraction faster. The Sword Fairy’s rare smiles were always dangerously enchanting. "But I will take your advice. Clearing the Jade Hollow Tower is on the itinerary."

He checked the time remaining. Two minutes.

"It’s time to clock out," Lin Mo announced, standing up and brushing off dust from his green and white uniform. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Miss Luo," Lin Mo addressed the young merchant, his tone returning to his usual professional cadence. "We will be taking our leave. Continue stabilizing the market and trading for the Star-Forged Iron. Do not provoke the other major factions, but if they provoke you... use the armor. Show them that the Divine Convenience Store’s offer includes complimentary beatdowns."

"We will hold the fort, Shopkeeper," Luo Lanyi and the others bowed deeply with their eyes gleaming with hope and ambition.