First Glimpse of Sharpness

On the open ground of Qingyun Peak, Shen Hao and Li Wei stood facing each other. The biting wind whipped at the hems of their robes, producing a rustling sound. The atmosphere was tense, as if the very air had solidified.

The surrounding Inner Sect Disciples held their breath, their eyes locked on the two figures in the arena, afraid to miss even a single detail. Zhang Shan squeezed his way to the front of the crowd, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, his face taut with anxiety. He lowered his voice and called out urgently, "Senior Brother Shen, be careful! Li Wei's swordsmanship is ruthless!"

Li Wei's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's, fixed intently on Shen Hao. The mid-grade flying sword in his hand hummed with a low tremor, blue Spiritual Energy swirling along its blade, so dense it seemed ready to spill over. He took a deep breath, then stomped his foot hard against the ground. With a dull thud, several fine cracks spiderwebbed across the Green Stone slab beneath him. His body shot forward like an arrow from a bowstring, the flying sword in his hand carrying a fierce, cutting wind as it arced down toward Shen Hao's head with a piercing whistle.

This single overhead strike channeled all the Spiritual Energy of his Early Qi Refining Fourth Layer into the blade. The move was fierce, domineering, and heavy—several times more powerful than the sword techniques of Wang Hu, the Outer Sect Disciple. As the Sword Light flashed, it seemed to split the very air, drawing gasps from the watching disciples.

Shen Hao's gaze remained calm, betraying no panic. Facing this lethal strike, he shifted his feet with subtle precision, executing the Basic Footwork Technique he had honed through observation. His body slid sideways like a ghost, dodging three feet away and narrowly evading the deadly blow. Li Wei's flying sword sliced through empty air past Shen Hao's shoulder and slammed into the ground with a resounding clang. Sparks flew as a trench several inches deep was carved into the earth, sending gravel flying.

"Such fast footwork!" Li Wei's heart jolted. He hadn't expected Shen Hao's steps to be so exquisite. Without a pause, he twisted his wrist, turning the slash into a thrust. The sword tip darted out like a viper's tongue, aiming straight for Shen Hao's throat—lightning fast, giving him no chance to catch his breath.

Shen Hao remained unhurried. With a slight flick of his wrist, his Basic Flying Sword met Li Wei's blade precisely on the spine. A crisp clang of metal rang out, echoing across the entire open ground. Both were pushed back half a step by the force of the collision.

Li Wei felt a surge of dense Spiritual Energy travel through his sword, like a rushing river, numbing his tiger's mouth and making his arm ache. His grip on the sword wavered. Shock and disbelief filled his mind. This Shen Hao was only at Perfected Qi Refining Third Layer, yet his Spiritual Energy was several times denser than that of cultivators at the same stage—almost matching Li Wei's own Early Qi Refining Fourth Layer. It defied all logic.

"Interesting." A flicker of seriousness crossed Li Wei's eyes, and the arrogance on his face vanished. He no longer dared to underestimate this newly promoted Inner Sect Disciple. Taking a deep breath, he adjusted the Spiritual Energy within him and unleashed even fiercer sword techniques—slashing, thrusting, sweeping, flicking—one move after another, flowing seamlessly like water, without a hint of hesitation. The Sword Light wove into an impenetrable net, enveloping Shen Hao and leaving him no room to evade.

The surrounding disciples watched, dumbfounded, unable to hold back bursts of cheers. They had all assumed Shen Hao would lose quickly, but instead, he was holding his own against Li Wei for so long.

Shen Hao responded with ease, his footwork shifting unpredictably, as if strolling through a garden. He weaved through Li Wei's Sword Light, narrowly dodging attack after attack. His own sword moves were unadorned—no flashy techniques, each strike simple and plain—yet they precisely targeted the flaws in Li Wei's attacks, blocking and countering at just the right moments, causing Li Wei's fierce onslaught to miss time and again.

At the same time, he activated the Ziyang Inner Sect Basic Qi Cultivation Art. The dense Spiritual Energy of the inner sect poured into his body from all directions, refined by the Companion Jade Pendant into purer energy, replenishing his consumption. His breathing remained steady and long, showing no sign of disorder.

After dozens of exchanges, Li Wei's breath grew ragged. Beads of sweat as large as beans covered his forehead, rolling down his cheeks and soaking his collar. Though his sword techniques were still fierce, their speed had slowed—clearly, his stamina was waning. The Spiritual Energy reserve of Early Qi Refining Fourth Layer was naturally greater than that of Perfected Qi Refining Third Layer, but his aggressive style consumed far more energy than Shen Hao's. And Shen Hao seemed like a bottomless pit, his Spiritual Energy never showing signs of drying up. This only deepened Li Wei's frustration.

"How is this possible?" Li Wei's mind churned with disbelief. He could clearly sense that Shen Hao's Spiritual Energy seemed inexhaustible. What was going on?

The more agitated Li Wei became, the more flaws appeared in his swordplay. Seizing the moment of Li Wei's distraction, Shen Hao's eyes sharpened. He stomped his foot and surged forward instead of retreating, charging at Li Wei like a hunting leopard. His Basic Flying Sword traced a mysterious arc, bypassing Li Wei's blade and aiming straight for the wrist holding the sword.

Li Wei's pupils contracted. Panic surged through him as he tried to pull his sword back to block, but it was too late.

Pfft!

A soft sound. The flying sword struck Li Wei's wrist precisely. Blood sprayed out instantly, splattering onto the ground and staining a patch of Green Stone red. Li Wei's flying sword clattered to the earth with a sharp clang. He let out a pained grunt, his face turning as pale as paper. Staggering back several steps, he clutched his wounded wrist, his eyes filled with unwillingness but also helplessness.

"I concede!" Li Wei gritted out, his voice trembling—partly from pain, partly from humiliation. He never imagined he would lose to a newly promoted disciple at Perfected Qi Refining Third Layer.

Shen Hao sheathed his sword and bowed to Li Wei, his tone calm: "You yielded."

The surrounding Inner Sect Disciples fell into dead silence, not a sound to be heard. Everyone stared wide-eyed at the young man standing tall in the arena, holding a Basic Flying Sword, their faces etched with shock and disbelief.

A moment later, the open ground erupted with thunderous applause and cheers, deafening in their intensity.

Zhang Shan jumped up in excitement, waving his arms and shouting, "Senior Brother Shen, you're incredible! You actually beat Senior Brother Li, who's at Early Qi Refining Fourth Layer!" His voice brimmed with pride and exhilaration, drawing sidelong glances from the other disciples.

Shen Hao nodded slightly to the crowd, his expression still calm, as if defeating Li Wei was nothing more than a trivial matter. Only he knew that this victory was the fruit of his relentless training day and night, the boost from the Companion Jade Pendant and the Meridian Tempering Art, and the sweat he had poured out step by step.