Lin Wei's body ached like it had been shattered and reforged. Every muscle screamed, every nerve burned, and yet… the Heavenly Primordial Sword remained firm in his hands, pulsing as if it were alive.
The last black-robed cultivator hovered above him, his aura dark and oppressive. "You… dare wield the Primordial Sword?" he hissed. "Even gods tremble at this blade. You are nothing!"
Lin Wei's vision blurred, but he remembered the sword's silent whisper: "Every cut you take, every ripple you create… I will guide you."
"Then I may be nothing now," Lin Wei said, voice trembling, "but I will grow stronger. You will see!"
The cultivator sneered and lunged. Lin Wei gripped the sword tighter. He had learned one thing in the previous encounter: the blade fights through you, but it also punishes you. Pain radiated through his body as the sword responded. A thin line of silver light tore through the cultivator's chest—not a slash, but a cut through existence itself.
The enemy vanished, leaving only a shadow in the air. Lin Wei collapsed onto his knees, gasping for breath. His body was pushed to the limits of mortal endurance.
A new presence appeared—not the cultivator, but something else. A silver interface shimmered before his eyes.
[Dao Sword System Interface Activated]
Current Wielder: Lin Wei
Sword: Heavenly Primordial Sword
Techniques Acquired: Void Slash (Layer 1, Tier 1)
System Feedback: Reality Strain – 73%
[Recommendation: Begin Training to Stabilize Blade Connection]
Lin Wei blinked. Train? How can I train like this? I can barely stand!
A soft voice—ethereal and musical—spoke in his mind.
"I am the Dao Sword System. Every action you take that cuts, that protects, or that breaks barriers will generate Sword Points. Points can unlock Dao Sword Techniques or Abilities. Warning: Overexertion may fracture mortal body."
Lin Wei shivered, the sword still glowing faintly in his hands. I… have a system?
"Yes," the voice continued. "But remember: the blade does not forgive weakness. Only those who endure the feedback can progress. Begin by mastering your first technique: Void Slash. Cut not only with force, but with intent."
He lifted the blade shakily. The cultivator had vanished, but his own reflection in a pool of water trembled. His weak body felt like it was made of paper, yet the sword demanded reality-altering precision.
He swung. Nothing. The sword responded sluggishly. His arms ached. The system prompted:
[Error: Void Slash Failed – Reality Feedback Increased by 15%]
Lin Wei groaned. I can't even swing properly…
Hours passed. Or maybe it was days—he could not tell. He trained, sweat soaking his clothes, arms trembling, body screaming. Each failure brought pain; each small success brought a flash of insight. Slowly, the sword's pulse became less punishing, almost like it was acknowledging his resolve.
Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, he executed a clean Void Slash. A ripple of silver light tore the air in front of him. Not enough to kill a god, but enough to cut a fallen tree into two perfectly balanced halves.
[Technique Mastered: Void Slash – Layer 1, Tier 1]
[Reward: Sword Point +15]
[System Message: Body Stabilized – Reality Feedback Reduced to 42%]
Lin Wei collapsed on the grass, chest heaving. His arms shook, but his heart raced—not from pain, but from triumph.
It was then he heard a soft voice calling.
"Are… you okay?"
Lin Wei lifted his head. A girl stood by the village entrance. Her hair shimmered like midnight silk, and her eyes held a strange mixture of concern and curiosity. She looked like she had been watching him train—or surviving the attack.
"I… I'm fine," Lin Wei stammered, hiding the sword behind his back.
The girl smiled faintly. "You wield a strange sword. I've never seen anything like it. But… you're reckless."
Lin Wei froze. Reckless? Maybe. But if I want to survive… if I want to protect… I have no choice.
The girl's presence made something stir in his chest—a warmth he hadn't felt before. She didn't speak like a cultivator of immense power, but her calm gaze made him feel… accountable.
The Dao Sword System whispered faintly: "Fate threads detected. Interpersonal bonds can enhance cultivation efficiency by minor amounts. Guard them wisely."
Lin Wei clenched the hilt. He didn't understand it yet, but he felt something familiar in that guidance. It was more than a sword. It was a journey, a trial, and perhaps… a future.
Above the mountains, the clouds swirled as though anticipating what was to come. Lin Wei, a weak mortal, had awakened the Heavenly Primordial Sword. And with the system by his side—and a mysterious girl watching—his first step into a path from mortal to god had begun.