The golden light of dawn spilled over Clear Sky Peak, casting long, sharp shadows across the mist-veiled terraces. Cranes glided across the air silently, as though respecting the quiet stillness that wrapped around the mountain.
Li Qingyun stepped out from his courtyard residence, his white robes fluttering slightly in the wind. With a serene expression, he looked up toward the horizon. The mountain's spiritual energy was abundant—every breath seemed to thrum with vitality.
It was time to explore what the sect had to offer.
______
Outer Sect Resource Hall
The Resource Hall stood near the base of a smaller hill near the southern ridge. Unlike the more ancient, jade-carved structures of the inner peaks, this hall was simpler, yet still imposing in its own right. Guarding the wide stone stairway were two sword-shaped statues, each at least three meters tall, carved from obsidian.
Inside, the scent of aged wood and medicinal herbs filled the air.
Rows of wooden counters extended deep into the hall. Behind them, outer sect elders and logistics disciples managed tall shelves laden with sealed boxes, crystal vials, and scroll containers. A long line of disciples waited their turn, most holding their sword-tokens tightly.
Li Qingyun approached calmly. The moment he reached the front, the elder behind the desk looked up from his ledger.
"Token?"
Li Qingyun held it out. The token glimmered faintly, and the elder's eyes twitched slightly when he saw the "Clear Sky" inscription. His attitude immediately shifted.
"Ah, so you're one of the special assignments this year."
"Is that so?" Li Qingyun's tone was calm.
The elder smiled lightly and tapped the token against a crystal orb embedded in the counter. After a moment, spiritual light pulsed and a faint humming sound echoed from the stone walls.
"Standard outer sect resource distribution is minimal, but for Clear Sky Peak disciples, we were instructed to prepare a higher allocation."
With a smooth motion, the elder opened a compartment and retrieved a small, spatial pouch. As he handed it over, he explained:
High-grade spirit stones × 50 – "For cultivation and formation activation."
Qi Refining Recovery Pill (Advanced) × 20 – "Restores spiritual energy rapidly during battle."
Foundation Condensing Pill × 5 – "Helps solidify your realm, after breakthrough in further stages."
Minor Sword Qi Tempering Pill × 10 – "Refines sword cultivators' internal sword intent."
Origin Nourishment Pill × 3 – "Rare. Strengthens vitality, meridians, and sea of consciousness."
Li Qingyun accepted the pouch and gave a courteous nod. "Thank you."
"Don't forget," the elder added, "Clear Sky Peak disciples are entitled to monthly submissions from the inner sect as well. You'll be notified when that arrives. Next!"
_____
Sword Library Pavilion
After leaving the hall, Li Qingyun made his way toward the eastern part of the outer sect. There, on a wide hill flanked by steep cliffs, stood a grand pavilion—its walls covered in engraved sword characters and its roof shaped like a coiled dragon with blades for wings.
Guards stood outside, both wearing outer sect disciples robes.
Li Qingyun stepped through the heavy wooden doors. Inside, the scent of ancient scrolls and sword qi hung in the air like incense.
Near the center, a raised desk made of darkwood stood under a hanging lantern, and behind it sat an old man with snow-white hair tied into a topknot. His long sleeves hung past his hands as he flipped slowly through a book, unmoved by Qingyun's approach.
Qingyun stopped respectfully in front of the desk and cupped his fists. "Disciple Li Qingyun greets Elder."
"State your peak and intent."
"Clear Sky Peak. First visit."
The elder's eyes flickered. "Enter. First floor is open to all outer sect disciples. Upper floors require merit or special permission."
"Many thanks for your advice."
Massive shelves stretched into the distance, categorized by sword intent types—Sharp Edge, Heavy Pressure, Swift Gale, Piercing Light, Illusory Flow, and more. Each technique bore detailed labels, descriptions, and notes.
He passed rows of techniques, briefly scanning:
Crimson Severing Sword Art – Rank 2 high grade– focused on sweeping arcs and mid-range power.
Twilight Mist Sword Technique – Rank 2 mid grade– paired well with movement techniques, elegant and elusive.
Heaven-Crushing Sword Style – Rank 3 low grade– brutal, straightforward, incredibly consuming.
But none of these drew his attention.
Instead, he moved toward a smaller, quieter section tucked into the back, labeled: Mental Sword and Soul Tempering Arts.
These were not particularly popular among the general disciples. Cultivators favored immediate power or mobility. But Li Qingyun knew—mental strength and soul stability were the foundations of future comprehension and battle resilience.
His gaze settled on a scroll tagged:
Tranquil Void Heart Scripture—Rank 3 – Mid Grade.
Focus: Soul Tempering, Mental Clarity.
Description: A meditative sword visualization method that tempers the practitioner's soul and sea of consciousness.
A small inscription at the bottom read: "Often overlooked, but the cornerstone of many famed sword dao ancestors."
Li Qingyun pulled the scroll free.
"Picking that one?" came a voice behind him.
He turned slightly. A short, lean girl with a Falling Leaf Peak emblem on her robes raised a brow. "Most people skip those. It's not flashy."
Li Qingyun answered calmly. "It's not about flash."
The girl blinked. "You're from Clear Sky Peak, aren't you? Everyone's talking about the two prodigies sent there this year."
Li Qingyun didn't respond to the label. He simply said, "Sword intent doesn't begin with cutting. It begins with seeing."
"…Well. Huh. Good luck with that." She offered a smirk. "I'm Yin Rou."
"Li Qingyun."
She walked off toward the heavy pressure sword shelf. He turned back to the scroll in his hand.
'Tranquil Void Heart Scripture'... it would do.
_______
Later, as the sun began to dip beyond the distant peaks, Li Qingyun had returned to his residence atop Clear Sky Peak. The resources he'd received were already sorted within his storage pouch. Several of the sword techniques had sparked ideas in his mind, not for replacement, but integration.
The day had yielded more than enough.
He entered the meditation chamber, lit a stick of Clear Spirit incense, and laid out the Tranquil Void Heart Scripture on a stone platform beside his seat.
Unlike combat-focused manuals that began with stances or force circulation diagrams, this one opened with a single verse:
"In stillness, the sword takes form. In the void, the heart becomes edge."
Li Qingyun's eyes glinted faintly.
He sat down, crossed his legs, and activated the technique.
A quiet breath. Then another. Then fifty more.
Soon, the chaotic waves of his spiritual sense—already sharper than most after refining his mind through battle and his prior cultivation—began to settle. The first phase of the scripture involved mental visualization, but with an unfamiliar focus.
Not his sword.
Not his inner qi.
Not his body.
But a single droplet of water suspended in an empty space.
He immersed himself in it.
The scripture guided him gently.
Visualize the droplet falling… striking a still surface… vanishing without ripples.
At first, it seemed absurd. How could this help a swordsman?
But slowly, he began to understand.
As time passed, Li Qingyun's mind entered a state of refined tranquility. His soul—the foundation of all perception and will—began to shift. His sea of consciousness, once vast and hazy like a foggy lake, slowly cleared. The technique was drawing his spirit into a deeper, structured awareness.
Then came the second phase: Tempering the Void Blade.
A spiritual sword formed at the center of his mind—a blade without edge, weight, or form. The scripture called it the Conceptual Sword. It was not meant for killing, but for focus. The more he tempered it, the stronger his mental resilience and clarity became.
The incense stick burned halfway down before he opened his eyes.
He exhaled. Then smiled faintly.
He had only cultivated the first level for half an hour, but the effects were clear.
[System Notification]
[Tranquil Void Heart Scripture – Beginner stage achieved.]
[Soul Sea Clarity increased.]
[Mental resistance to external illusions and divine sense pressure increased slightly.]
_____
He stood up and walked to the edge of the peak, where the clouds thinned just enough for him to see the forest stretching across the lower mountains.
He drew Shadowfang, his spirit-grade sword, and slowly began performing a few light strikes—not to practice forms, but to feel.
To sense how his soul responded now.
To sense the subtle weightlessness behind each movement.
To sense how sword and soul could align in quiet harmony.
And he did.
For the first time since entering the sect, he felt his foundation growing beyond what numbers and pills could reflect.
The edges of thought had become sharper. The noise in his mind—less chaotic.
The sword in his soul had begun to awaken.
_____
[System Interface]
[Host:] Li Qingyun
[Realm:] Foundation Establishment Realm – 1st Stage
[Physique:] Primal Chaos Vessel Physique
[Slots:]
Slot 1: Voidcleave Sword Manual — Transcendent
Slot 2: Ninefold Essence Sutra — Perfect
Slot 3: Cloudveil Sword Control Method — Proficient
Slot 4: Unoccupied
[Techniques:]
Jade Body Tempering Scripture — Transcendent (Unshakable Core)
Ninefold Essence Sutra — Perfect
Voidcleave Sword Manual — Transcendent (Sword Intent: True Edge)
Phantom Step Art — Perfect
Cloudveil Sword Control Method — Proficient
↳ Cloudveil Flight Method — Major Completion
Tranquil Void Heart Scripture — Beginner stage
[Bound Weapon:] Shadowfang — Spirit Grade
[Weapon Traits:] Adaptive resonance, enhances Sword Intent, evolves with usage
[Energy:] 223 points
____
Tomorrow, he would begin using some of the pills and spirit stones from the Resource Hall to further temper his body and qi.
But tonight, he would refine his mind again.
It was the least visible path, but one that shaped the sharpest edge.
And Li Qingyun intended to cut far deeper than anyone expected.