The back mountain.

Atop the Stone Sword, a young figure remained seated cross-legged, continuously absorbing the spiritual energy from the surroundings.

Whoosh!

However, his quiet cultivation did not last long before an urgent sound of rushing wind suddenly approached from behind, causing him to frown.

"Second Brother!"

Before he could reprimand, a figure already appeared in front of him, speaking hastily.

"What is it this time?"

Ling Yuxuan glanced at the anxiously arriving Ling Feng from the corner of his eye, yet his tone remained calm without much fluctuation.

Ling Feng caught his breath and said, "The one I mentioned last time, Ling Yu, hasn't he entered the Sword Pool?"

"And then?"

Ling Yuxuan could guess what Ling Feng was about to say next, even he felt a bit curious.

"That guy has been at the bottom of the Sword Pool for seven days now!"

Ling Feng's face was full of jealousy.

"Oh?"

Ling Yuxuan, who had maintained his composure, was finally moved at this moment. He looked up somewhat surprised and said, "This guy actually persisted for seven days?"

As someone who also experienced the body-tempering in the Sword Pool, Ling Yuxuan was very aware of the terrifying pressure at the bottom of the pool. Back then, even he, at his full strength, could only last for seven days—a record that was the best among the young generation of the Ling Family. Unexpectedly, today, there was someone else who could achieve the same feat.

"This Ling Yu does seem to have some skills."

A glint of brilliance flashed in Ling Yuxuan's eyes. Even when he heard Ling Chen had tested for the Supreme Sword Saint Bloodline last time, he hadn't paid this much attention.

"Someone like him could never compare to Second Brother."

Ling Feng held deep disdain for Ling Chen, but the threat Ling Chen posed was indeed too great. He had previously even boasted publicly that he would kick Ling Chen out of the Ling Family within seven days, which now seemed like a joke.

"Does the kid show any signs of coming out?" Ling Yuxuan asked with a slightly serious expression.

"No, many direct lineral descendants of the Ling Family are watching the Sword Pool's activity. I've observed it for two days now, and indeed, the kid is still shrinking at the bottom of the Sword Pool with no signs of coming out." Although Ling Feng didn't want to admit it, he spoke truthfully. He found it hard to imagine that the guy he initially dismissed could perform so astonishingly in the Sword Pool.

"Then he indeed has some capability."

Ling Yuxuan narrowed his eyes, seemingly sensing a threat from Ling Chen.

"Second Brother, you lasted the longest in the Sword Pool among the Ling Family's younger generation. How could that kid surpass you? I suspect he might have died in there."

Ling Feng said viciously.

"The Family Head and the Third Elder are surely watching Ling Yu closely. How could they let him die inside?"

Ling Yuxuan shook his head, but the light in his eyes grew stronger, "Seven days is indeed an astounding duration, but it's not the highest record in this Sword Pool."

"Once, there was a person named Ling Tianyu who lasted nine days in the Sword Pool and eventually cultivated a perfect Sword Spirit Physique before swaggering out of the pool. This person truly was a monstrous genius, a rare talent."

"Ling Tianyu, is that the guy who was expelled from the family?"

Ling Feng had heard the name, and so had everyone in the Ling Family. But he snorted coldly, dismissively, "No matter how monstrous a genius, being a discarded son of the Ling Family without the family's support will also become a third-rate nobody."

"Besides, Ling Tianyu was touted as an unparalleled genius in the Ling Family for centuries. How could this Ling Yu ever compare to him?"

"In that aspect, you're right. Ling Tianyu was a genius. To compare one's achievements with him is no small feat. Even if Ling Yu can absorb all the Sword Spirit Qi at the bottom of the Sword Pool, there is still an immeasurable gap—at least wait until he learns the Sky-breaking Sword Technique to speak of this." Ling Yuxuan's eyes were indifferent.

"Moreover, whether he can truly, like Ling Tianyu, fully absorb the Sword Spirit Qi in this Sword Pool is probably still quite improbable."

"However, this matter should soon reach a conclusion."

With that, Ling Yuxuan also stood up, looking toward the direction of the Sword Pool with sharp intent in his eyes. He too wanted to see how much capability this branch family boy, who caused quite a stir as soon as he entered the Ling Family, truly possessed.

When he persisted until the seventh day, he was already at his limit. Although he did not condense a Perfect Sword Spirit Physique, he did cultivate the Sword Spirit Body.

But by the evening of the seventh day, his body could not withstand the pressure. If he stayed any longer, he would undoubtedly die in there.

He didn't believe that a branch family disciple could survive more than eight days in the Sword Pool.

The possibility was too small.

In the distance, the Sword Pool was currently the most bustling place in the Ling Family. Often, the sound of breaking wind echoed above, and figures stood on the surrounding mountain peaks and pavilions, all eyes fixed on one direction: the Sword Pool, from which sword qi was continually emitting and shooting in all directions.

The fact that Ling Chen persisted at the bottom of the Sword Pool for seven days was now well-known within the Ling Family. Even some of the old antiquities had heard of it and were quite attentive, for among the current young generation of the Ling Family, only Ling Yuxuan had achieved this.

Though the Ling Family often compared Ling Chen to Ling Yuxuan, not many truly believed Ling Chen had the capability to catch up to Ling Yuxuan. But now, they had begun to believe it.

Perhaps this branch family disciple named Ling Yu could indeed emerge and grow into a major force among the young generation!

However, most critically, even after persisting for seven days, Lin Dong had yet to show signs of appearing. This scene left many older members of the Ling Family in a daze, for more than twenty years ago, a similar occurrence had happened. The person who caused such a sensation then was called Ling Tianyu.

Ling Tianyu's reputation was especially prominent among their generation.

Ling Tianyu was once the first at the Heavenly Sword Tournament, the grandest stage for young martial competition among the Saint Families. Securing first place at the Heavenly Sword Tournament was an unrivaled glory for the young generation, meaning that in his era, Ling Tianyu deserved the title of King.

However, Ling Tianyu later committed an act that shamed the family and harmed its interests, leading to his expulsion from the Ling Family, a fact many whispered about with regret.

Some of the more senior Ling Family experts gazed distantly in the direction of the Sword Pool, murmuring, "Could our Ling Family produce another Ling Tianyu?"