The mountain forest slept—but Li Yun did not.
Pain ripped through his body as if invisible blades were carving paths beneath his skin. His veins burned. His bones trembled. The Jade Blade Manual, etched into his memory by his father years ago, surged alive inside his mind.
Circulate Qi through the Twelve Meridians.
Break the blockage—or die trying.
Li Yun sat cross-legged inside a damp cave, shirt soaked with sweat and blood. He had no spirit stones. No elixirs. No master.
Only hatred.
He forced his breathing steady and dragged the thin thread of Qi from his dantian upward. The first meridian resisted violently—like pushing a sword through solid stone.
Crack.
Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
But then—
BOOM.
Qi exploded through the blockage. His vision flashed white as raw energy flooded his limbs. Muscles tightened. Senses sharpened. He could hear insects outside… even the slow drip of water on stone.
First Realm: Body Tempering — Initial Stage.
Li Yun laughed hoarsely.
"So this is cultivation…"
Suddenly—
Swish.
An arrow slammed into the cave wall inches from his head.
"Found him," a cold voice said.
Three figures stepped into the cave entrance, cloaked in black, faces hidden. Each wore the unmistakable Black Crane insignia on their sleeves.
Li Yun's heart pounded—but not with fear.
With fury.
"You survived," sneered the tallest man. "Good. Sect Elder wanted your corpse intact."
Li Yun rose slowly, broken sword in hand. The blade was half-length—but heavy with intent.
"You killed my father."
The men laughed.
"You think a Body Tempering rat can—"
Li Yun moved.
His foot shattered the stone floor as Qi surged through his legs. In a blink, he closed the distance, sword howling through the air.
Clang!
Steel met steel. Sparks exploded.
The assassin staggered back, eyes wide.
"Impossible—his Qi is unstable but violent!"
Li Yun didn't stop.
He slashed again—horizontal, ruthless, unrefined. Pure killing intent. The broken blade tore through the man's throat.
Blood sprayed the cave wall.
The second attacker unleashed a palm strike, Qi roaring like thunder. Li Yun took it head-on.
CRACK.
Ribs fractured—but Li Yun twisted, enduring the pain, and drove his sword into the man's chest.
The third assassin tried to flee.
He didn't make it five steps.
Li Yun hurled the broken sword like a spear. It pierced the man's spine and pinned him to a tree outside the cave.
Silence returned.
Li Yun stood among corpses, chest heaving, blood dripping from his hands.
His cultivation pulsed violently—on the brink of collapse.
Yet in the dead man's robe, he found something that made his breath stop.
A jade token.
Engraved with three words:
Outer Disciple Trial – Black Crane Sect
Li Yun clenched the token until it cracked.
"So… you're recruiting."
A dangerous smile spread across his bloodied face.
"Good."
"I'll enter your sect—
and bury it from the inside."