The air was crisp in the early morning, the clouds above the Li Estate dyed in soft hues of amber and rose. Inside a quiet courtyard, a figure danced alone.
Barefoot on dew-slicked grass, Li Qingyun's slender frame moved with quiet rhythm. He gripped a slender wooden sword, each strike cutting through the air with unnatural precision. He was six years old now, his face still tender with youth, yet his presence exuded a serene sharpness—like a blade yet to be unsheathed.
He struck once.
Then twice.
A third time—and the surrounding air trembled faintly, as if sensing something greater beneath each movement.
He paused. The wooden sword lowered.
"The Voidcleave Sword Manual," he whispered, gazing at his weapon, "its energy has started to stir something... deeper. Is this sword intent?"
Sword intent.
The term itself carried weight. It wasn't just technique, nor brute force. It was the manifestation of one's will in the sword. The embryonic stage of it now hovered faintly around him—subtle, elusive, but undeniably there. He could feel it like a whisper in his bones. But it would take time to grow.
---
[Flashback - One Month Ago]
Inside his private chambers, Li Qingyun sat cross-legged before an array of glowing spiritual objects—essence-rich herbs, crystal-clear spirit stones, a small gourd of liquid light that pulsed with vitality.
Each item faded in color and vitality as he reached out, charging them one by one.
[Energy Points Gained: +2]
[+4]
[+6]
[+3]
He had collected and charged nearly a hundred spiritual materials over the past months. All under the pretense of strengthening his cultivation foundation. His parents had happily provided them, unaware of how they truly fueled his system.
As days passed, his energy points accumulated. He poured those points into the two techniques he had long since slotted into the system: the Ninefold Essence Sutra and the Voidcleave Sword Manual.
Both had long reached Proficient, then Minor Completion, Major Completion, and finally—Perfect.
[System Interface]
[Host]: Li Qingyun
[Realm]: Qi Gathering Stage 7
[Physique]: Primal Chaos Vessel Physique
– Cultivates all nine elements: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Metal, Lightning, Wood, Light, Shadow.
– Meridians: Ninefold – stores far more spiritual energy than typical cultivators
[Energy]: 0 Points
[Slots Available]: 2
[Techniques]:
Ninefold Essence Sutra – Perfect (+100% cultivation speed)
Voidcleave Sword Manual – Perfect (+100% attack power, embryonic sword intent manifested)
[Notice: Perfected techniques have been removed from slots. They now circulate automatically and passively strengthen the host.]
---
The perfection of the Ninefold Essence Sutra had brought visible change. With nine elemental attributes—Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Metal, Lightning, Wood, Light, and Shadow—his meridians surged with immense vitality. While other cultivators absorbed and refined spiritual energy from one or two elements, Qingyun harmonized nine simultaneously. His nine meridians expanded constantly, like rivers drawing from the deepest spiritual wellsprings.
Now, his body refined spiritual energy with double the efficiency. He advanced steadily, silently—without any bottlenecks. In truth, he had already reached the 7th Stage of Qi Gathering Realm, but he hadn't told a soul.
There was no need.
---
That day, he sat cross-legged under the old peach tree in his courtyard, eyes closed in meditation.
The Voidcleave Sword Manual has changed too… My sword no longer feels empty. Each swing whispers of intention. It's faint, but it's real.
He opened his eyes and glanced at the wooden sword beside him.
If I can grasp true sword intent, I will no longer be bound to the limitations of forms.
Azure Sky City – City Arena
The day of the long-awaited event had arrived. The entire city was alive with excitement as the City Arena—recently renovated and expanded—prepared to host the grandest competition the younger generation had ever seen.
This was the Azure Youth Competition, jointly sponsored by the major clans and the city's governing council. Every child from six-year-old awakenings across Azure Sky City was eligible to participate. Over the years, the event had become a tradition—an unspoken rite of passage.
This year, it had grown even larger.
Sects from across the region had sent envoys to observe and recruit potential disciples:
Thousand Illusion Pavilion – Masters of formations and mind illusions.
Sky-Reaching Sword Sect – Legendary for their sword path and sharp insight.
Mystic Thunder Hall – Dominant in thunder-based elemental arts.
Yunlan Spirit Valley – Alchemy and supportive arts combined with spiritual harmony.
Darkmoon Sect – Hidden arts, shadow techniques, and unrivaled stealth.
Children from nearly every noble and wealthy family were gathered here. Among them were many whom Li Qingyun had seen at his own awakening ceremony year ago. They had all grown stronger in the intervening years—some proud and arrogant, others nervous but determined.
---
As Li Qingyun stepped onto the field, heads turned.
He was calm, dressed in simple grey robes with a wooden sword strapped to his back. There were no flashy accessories, no clan insignia—yet his silence and unshakable composure drew the eye.
Murmurs filled the crowd as each child stepped forward one by one.
Most were in the 1st or 2nd stage of the Qi Gathering Realm.
One or two talented ones had reached the 3rd.
Then came Li Qingyun.
He placed his hand on the crystal orb used to measure cultivation level.
The orb lit up—
4th Stage Qi Gathering Realm.
The crowd was impressed. For someone his age, the 4th stage was already an exceptional accomplishment. Whispers started among the sects.
"A decent foundation," murmured the elder from Yunlan Spirit Valley.
The sect envoys began noting down names. Among them, the elder from Sky-Reaching Sword Sect narrowed his eyes.
"There's something odd about him. His aura doesn't match a mere fourth stage," he murmured.
The elder from Darkmoon Sect merely smiled. "Some children… hide their fangs."
Qingyun bowed politely and returned to his seat. As he sat, he closed his eyes briefly and smiled inwardly.
But deep inside, his spiritual energy swirled like a storm. With nine meridians pulsing with multi-elemental qi, he was already at 7th stage, yet had deliberately suppressed his cultivation during the test.
There was no reason to expose himself yet. The time wasn't right.
Let others think of him as merely "decent."
---
Back in his courtyard that night, Qingyun sat beneath a peach blossom tree, moonlight bathing his figure in silver.
He had heard the sects might test the children's combat potential tomorrow.
He smiled faintly.
"Let's see how long I can keep hiding…"
And beneath the quiet, the embryonic sword intent began to stir once more.