As the sect's annual outer disciple tournament drew near, an air of excitement and tension filled the Embercloud Sect. Banners fluttered atop stone pavilions, sparring rings were swept clean and reinforced, and announcements echoed through the outer peaks, listing categories open for participation: alchemy, talisman crafting, formations, blacksmithing, and, of course, the most anticipated- combat.
Li Yao stood quietly outside his cottage, gazing toward the distant sparring platforms. Despite having cultivated diligently for a year, a wave of doubt swept through him. He had no experience in the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, not even the basics. No formations, no pill refinement, no talisman drawing. He had focused his efforts solely on his body and Qi cultivation.
"I don't even have a proper combat technique," he muttered to himself.
Back when he had broken through to the 3rd stage, he had chosen to cultivate the Diamond Body Tempering Scripture- an auxiliary body refinement art, not an offensive one. He knew that many other disciples from noble clans or prestigious families had already begun practicing their inherited fighting techniques since early childhood. He, in contrast, had none. To acquire one through the sect, he needed either merit points or permission to access the deeper shelves of the Outer Pavilion and both required qualifications he didn't yet meet.
Li Yao knew that to get a new technique from the sect, he had to either reach the late stage of Qi Refining or earn enough merit points. But merit points didn't come easily. Outer disciples weren't allowed to take on dangerous missions outside the sect; those were reserved for inner disciples. It was a rule strictly enforced to ensure the safety of weaker disciples. After all, outside the protection of the sect, even a single Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator could wipe out dozens of unprepared Qi Refining disciples.
Another way to earn merit was through expertise in the Hundred Arts- but he had no such knowledge.
With a quiet sigh, Li Yao made his decision.
"I'll enter the combat competition. Even if I don't have a technique, my body refinement has reached the fourth level. My physical strength alone should give me a chance."
The next morning, he made his way to the resource hall to collect his monthly spirit stones. Now at the sixth stage of Qi Refining, his allocation had increased to thirty-five low-grade spirit stones. He remembered how it had started with just ten stones at the first stage, and rose gradually by five at each level.
Returning to his room, he emptied a small pouch onto the floor and counted his reserves. Twenty-seven low-grade spirit stones. The rest had been consumed by the System or spent on supplies from Ember City.
Staring at the dwindling pile of spirit stones, he suddenly remembered someone who might be able to help.
"Senior Brother Wei," he murmured.
Not long after, Li Yao found Wei Shan tending to a row of Violet Starleaf sprouts in the Herbal Garden.
"Senior Brother," Li Yao said, bowing. "May I ask your advice?"
Wei Shan looked up, smiling warmly. "Of course, Junior Brother. What's troubling you?"
Li Yao hesitated, then told him everything- the tournament, his lack of a combat technique, and his desire to improve. Wei Shan listened patiently, then chuckled softly.
"Junior Brother," he said, "you should have begun practicing a fighting art earlier. Without one, your options in combat will be limited. Qi manipulation and body strength can only take you so far."
"I thought about it," Li Yao admitted, "but I didn't want to ask you for your sect technique. I was hoping there might be a place in Ember City where I could buy one. But I've searched and found nothing."
Wei Shan laughed openly at that, shaking his head. "Junior Brother, you're too honest for your own good. Fighting techniques- real ones- aren't sold in shops. No matter the rank, they are invaluable. You only gain them by joining a sect, being born into a cultivation family, or being accepted as someone's personal disciple."
Li Yao frowned. "So there's no way to get one, then?"
Wei Shan placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "There is. You see, I wasn't always a sect cultivator. I come from Crimsonveil City. I'm the first young lord of the Wei family."
Li Yao's eyes widened in surprise. "Senior Brother… you're from a cultivation clan?"
Wei Shan chuckled again. "Yes, but I left my position behind to cultivate freely and avoid clan politics. I can't inherit the family seat, due to the sect's rules, but I still carry with me the legacy of our clan techniques."
He straightened and spoke firmly. "I cannot share with you a sect technique, but as a brother, I will share with you one of my clan's battle arts. It's not the most profound, but it is dependable. A common yet powerful axe technique that suits someone with a strong body like yours."
Li Yao's eyes widened, but he bowed deeply. "Senior Brother, I didn't come to you to ask for something so precious. But… thank you. I will remember this kindness."
Wei Shan waved him off. "No need for such formality. You returned the Veinroot Herb when you could have hidden it. You've already shown your heart. Rest well- I'll send the technique to you shortly."
Later that evening, while Li Yao was meditating in his cottage, a knock came at the door.
"Junior Brother, I'm here," came Wei Shan's voice.
Li Yao quickly rose and opened the door. Wei Shan stepped inside, handed him a small, wrapped bundle, and smiled. "This is the technique. I won't stay long- study it well. I hope it helps."
With that, he turned and left, his robes fluttering behind him.
Sitting cross-legged by his lantern, Li Yao carefully unwrapped the bundle. Inside was a thick scroll, tied with a crimson ribbon. The cover bore bold characters etched in gold:
"Crimson Cleave: Wei Clan Axe Art"
The characters pulsed faintly with spiritual ink. Just holding the scroll, Li Yao could feel the weight of the heritage and martial wisdom it carried.
After reading through the scroll and carefully committing the forms and qi flow to memory, Li Yao picked up his training axe and stepped outside beneath the moonlit sky. The courtyard behind his cottage was still and quiet, the air crisp with mountain wind.
He took a deep breath, steadied his stance, and began practicing the first movement of Crimson Cleave. The axe felt heavier than usual, but the technique's descriptions seemed to guide his arms and body with surprising familiarity.
Swing after swing, step after step, the art began to flow through him. He repeated the motions over and over, refining the arc of each slash, adjusting his footwork, aligning breath with movement. He lost track of time.
At some point, he no longer noticed the wind or the faint chirping of insects. His entire world had narrowed to the rhythm of his body and the feel of the axe slicing through air. It felt… naturally so.
A shaft of golden light suddenly struck his face as the sun rose over the mountain peaks. The warmth broke his concentration, and he blinked, dazed, as if awakening from a trance.
"What… just happened?" he murmured, lowering the axe.
Still panting, he sat down cross-legged in the grass, sweat clinging to his back. Curious, he opened the System interface and checked the technique screen.
[Technique Mastery: Crimson Cleave – 38% Mastery]
His eyes widened. "Thirty-eight? Already?"
He hadn't activated the [Insight] function- he was sure of that. And yet, during his training, something had clicked. Each movement had felt guided, instinctual, as if the technique had reached into the depths of his body and mind to root itself there.
"It felt like… the System helped me," he muttered. "But I never used any points."
The sensation was different from a normal training session. Not forced, not rushed—but smooth, intuitive, almost as though the technique had been sleeping within him, waiting to awaken.
A thought crossed his mind.
Was this… another passive effect of the Heavenly Observation System?
He didn't know for certain. But as he rose to his feet and looked at the axe in his hand, Li Yao felt something he hadn't felt in days: confidence.
The tournament was coming.And now… he was ready to fight.