Chapter 4 — The First Sword
The sun had barely risen over the peaks surrounding the Righteous Sky Sect when Arin arrived at the Sword Hall. The wooden structure, massive yet elegant, exhaled the scent of polished oak and the faint metallic tang of countless swords resting along its walls.
Master Lorian's gaze swept over him. "Today, Arin, you will take your first step on the path of the sword."
Arin bowed respectfully. "Yes, Master." His small hands trembled slightly as they hovered over the hilt of his wooden training sword, the same that had once guided him through the Foundation Stance. Now, it felt heavier — as if the energy of his awakened Dantian had begun to infuse even this simple weapon.
Lyra stepped forward, her voice soft but firm. "The sword is not merely a tool of steel. It is a bridge between your body, your mind, and your Qi. Each movement must flow from all three in harmony. Today, you will learn the Silent Crescent, the first of the Four Basic Styles of the Righteous Sky Sect."
Arin's heart raced. "The Silent Crescent?"
"Yes," Lorian said. "It is the foundation of all sword Qi. If you master this, you will understand how energy flows through a weapon and how to extend your Qi through every strike. It is subtle, elegant, but precise. A single motion can unbalance the strongest opponent."
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Lyra guided him to the center of the hall, where light streamed through tall windows, painting long lines across the polished floor. "Observe the form first," she instructed. She drew her sword with a fluid motion. In a series of movements almost too fast to follow, her blade traced a smooth arc through the air, like a silver crescent moon.
"The technique consists of four movements," she explained:
1. Moon's Rise — a vertical upward strike, gathering Qi from your Dantian and sending it through the blade.
2. Silent Arc — a sweeping diagonal slash, designed to redirect an opponent's energy.
3. Hidden Fang — a thrust from a low stance, quick and unexpected, concealing power in subtlety.
4. Lunar Sweep — a spinning strike that ends in a defensive circle, returning Qi back into the body to stabilize energy.
Arin studied her every motion, his blue eyes absorbing not only the form but the philosophy behind it. Each movement was deliberate, each slash a lesson in control, balance, and flow.
"Now, you try," Lyra said, stepping back.
Arin took a deep breath and raised his wooden sword. He mimicked the Moon's Rise, feeling the Qi swirl in his Dantian. The warmth that had once been a gentle pulse now flowed along his arms, through the sword, and into the air. A faint silver shimmer followed the edge of his wooden blade — subtle, but unmistakable.
"Good," Lorian said, stepping closer. "You can feel it. That shimmer is the first sign of Sword Qi. It is not yet refined, but it responds to your intent. The sword moves as you move. If your mind wavers, so will your blade."
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Arin repeated the motions, transitioning into Silent Arc. The air seemed to hum as his Qi extended slightly beyond the wooden sword. The motion was awkward at first; he stumbled slightly, the rhythm off.
"Focus," Lyra whispered. "Your movements must flow like water. Do not think about the strike. Become the strike."
Arin closed his eyes briefly, inhaling deeply. When he opened them, his blade moved again, smoother this time. He could feel the energy traveling — a silver thread connecting his Dantian, his muscles, and the sword. The Silent Crescent began to take form.
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Hours passed as he practiced the technique under the careful watch of his masters. The first thrusts were slow, clumsy, and lacking in subtlety. But gradually, a rhythm developed. The Qi flowed, the movements harmonized, and the sword became an extension of his intent.
By the afternoon, he had completed the Hidden Fang and Lunar Sweep sequences for the first time. Each movement felt alive, connected to the natural rhythm of the hall, the rising sun, and the gentle wind flowing through open windows.
"This is the essence of Sword Qi," Lorian said, watching silently. "It is not strength alone that makes a sword lethal, but the connection between the blade, the Qi, and your spirit. Without intent, without clarity, even the sharpest sword is nothing."
Arin lowered his blade, sweat glistening on his brow. "I can feel it… the sword is alive. Not in the way a sword can move by itself, but as if it… understands me."
Lyra nodded. "Yes. And it will only respond if you respect it, if your heart remains clear and focused."
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The next day, the training grew more intense. Lorian taught Arin how to circulate Qi through each movement, allowing the sword to project subtle energy beyond its physical edge. With each slash, Arin could sense small vibrations in the air, the faintest pressure shifts that indicated the flow of Qi around him.
"Imagine your sword is an extension of your body, your mind, and your Dantian combined," Lorian instructed. "Every strike, every parry, every spin is a conversation with the world. The sword speaks only when you are silent within."
Arin practiced tirelessly, transitioning between the four movements — Moon's Rise, Silent Arc, Hidden Fang, and Lunar Sweep — until they flowed into one continuous motion. The Qi responded with clarity, faint silver currents tracing the path of his blade.
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During a short break, Arin sat by the window, watching the valley below. Taren approached him quietly. "Do you feel it, Arin? The power is not in the strike alone. It is in the understanding. The Qi you project is a reflection of your mind, and your mind… reflects your soul."
Arin looked up. "So, if I am unsure or afraid, the sword will falter?"
Taren smiled faintly. "Exactly. That is why the first sword is always the hardest. It demands honesty. It reveals weakness, it tests patience, it teaches discipline. The blade does not lie. You must learn to become silent before it, to let your intent flow freely through it."
Arin pondered this as he returned to his training. With renewed focus, he moved through the sequences again and again, each repetition strengthening the Qi, sharpening his awareness, and embedding the Silent Crescent into his body's memory.
By evening, Arin's movements were fluid and confident. He could feel the Sword Qi clearly now — a faint, silver light surrounding the wooden blade whenever he focused his intent. The energy was subtle but potent, and the connection to his Dantian was undeniable.
Lorian observed quietly. "Well done. Today you have completed the first stage of the Silent Crescent. This is the foundation. One day, you will combine it with the other styles, and then you will understand the true versatility of the sword."
Lyra added, "Remember, mastery is a path, not a destination. The Qi you feel now will deepen, but only if you continue to refine, to respect the sword, and to cultivate clarity of heart."
Arin bowed, a small smile on his face. "I understand, Masters. I will continue, no matter how long it takes."
The days turned into weeks. Arin practiced relentlessly, perfecting the Silent Crescent, feeling the subtle currents of Sword Qi with every motion. Each breath, each swing, each stance reinforced the connection between his Dantian, his mind, and his sword.
By the end of the month, Arin had not only learned the first sword style but had also achieved a level of harmony with his Qi that few novices attained. The faint silver glow of his Sword Qi now danced along his blade with precision, responding to his thoughts and intent.
He stood in the hall at sunset, the hall bathed in golden light, the valley stretching endlessly beyond. The silver rings in his eyes shimmered faintly as he raised his sword in the Silent Crescent, flowing through all four movements in a seamless, continuous arc. Moon's Rise. Silent Arc. Hidden Fang. Lunar Sweep.
And for the first time, Arin felt truly one with his blade.
The first stage of his journey on the path of the sword was complete — a beginning, humble yet profound. And as he lowered the blade, his heart steady and clear, he knew that the next steps — the other three sword styles — awaited him, each promising new mastery, new challenges, and deeper understanding of the Qi that flowed through all things.
Above him, the moon rose slowly, silver and steady, watching over the boy from Lungshen who was learning to make the sword speak — and to make himself heard through it.
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First Sword Style: Silent Crescent
Movements: Moon's Rise, Silent Arc, Hidden Fang, Lunar Sweep
Qi activation & circulation
Training process, progression, and mastery of first sword Qi