The once-crowded arena now felt more solemn than ever before. From four hundred, only fifty participants remained. These remaining youths, all aged six, were now considered true prodigies in the eyes of onlookers, and every single one of them had already caught the attention of sect recruiters. Even if they didn't win the tournament, they would walk away with invitations.
The major sects present were:
Sky-Reaching Sword Sect :Known for their sharp insights and sword arts.
Divine Flame Pavilion : Famous for aggressive fire-based cultivation techniques.
Emerald Spirit Valley : Focused on spiritual herbs and beast taming.
Thousand Pillar Sect : Specialists in body cultivation and formations.
Darkmoon Sect : An elusive sect reputed for shadow techniques and assassination.
Mystic Thunder Hall : Dominant in thunder based elemental arts.
Thousands illusion pavilion : Masters of formations and mind illusions.
Yunlan Spirit Valley : Alchemy and supportive arts combined with their Soul cultivation.
Some more sects had arrived in competition venue.
It's not that these sects only recruit disciples and cultivate only their specialized paths. Just as Yunlan Spirit Valley also cultivates their own Spirit medicines and Emerald Spirit Valley also practices alchemy for being self sufficient.
Sword cultivators also focuses on elemental arts and body cultivation.
It's just that the alchemy sect's inheritance is more favoured towards alchemy just as body cultivators to cultivate their bodies and unearthing their bodies potential, and sword cultivators path of dominating with sword dao.
All had representatives watching closely.
Among the most anticipated matches was:
> Li Qingyun (Qi Gathering 4th Stage) vs Zhao Yunhai (Qi Gathering 4th Stage)
At least, that's what the public believed.
In truth, Li Qingyun had already reached the 8th Stage, but no one knew. He had deliberately suppressed his cultivation, masking his true strength to temper his foundation and seek meaningful combat experience.
Zhao Yunhai, on the other hand, was truly at the 4th stage, but was far from ordinary. A rare dual-affinity cultivator—Wind and Thunder—he had pushed his Stormbreak Fist Technique, a Rank 1 Supreme Grade martial art, to Major Completion, a level few his age could reach. His fists were wrapped in metallic thundersteel gloves that crackled faintly with contained power.
They were both six. And yet the arena buzzed with tension as if two seasoned fighters were about to duel.
Li Qingyun stood in simple black robes, hands calmly resting at his sides, his sheathed sword hanging lightly at his waist. His face was serene, but his black eyes shimmered faintly with a battle-born edge.
Across from him stood Zhao Yunhai, lean and sharp-eyed, hair rustling slightly even in the still air—he carried the scent of lightning and wind, a child who had already walked through more fights than most adults. His fists were wrapped in tight, thundersteel gloves that faintly crackled and pulsed with restrained arcs of blue.
The referee elder raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Zhao Yunhai vanished in a burst of compressed wind, boots thundering against the stone. The first punch came like a hammer from the heavens—fast, brutal, and howling with elemental force.
Boom!
Li Qingyun dodged and slid back a full meter, his hand gripping his sword's hilt.But he was not unscathed as a red line appeared on his cheek—barely a scratch, but it's still showed Zhao Yunhai's battle prowess at this age.
His lips curved slightly. "You're not slow at all."
"You're still standing," Zhao Yunhai muttered, eyes narrowing. "Let's change that."
Another punch came—this one feinted left, then struck from above. Qingyun parried with a smooth shift of his body, his movement so refined it was as if he floated between breaths.
Crack! His forearm blocked a thunder-infused elbow. His jaw clenched.
(He's strong... His control over wind and thunder is excellent.)
Their bodies became blurs of motion. The crowd could barely follow as fists, elbows, and palms traded space. Every movement Zhao Yunhai made brought with it gales of air pressure and sudden sparks. His technique, the Stormbreak Fist, was clearly at major completion.
Li Qingyun finally stepped back, drawing his sword with a clear, metallic ring. The air around the blade trembled faintly.
Zhao Yunhai's brow twitched. "You brought a sword?"
"I thought and decided to experience battle," Qingyun replied, voice calm as ever, "not waste it."
He stepped forward, a Phantom Step blurring his form as afterimages spun behind him.
Clang!
His blade met Zhao Yunhai's glove in mid-strike, sparks flying from the clash. The tremor traveled up Qingyun's wrist. His breath hitched.
Zhao Yunhai grinned. "Thought that sword would be enough?"
"No," Qingyun murmured, "but this is enough."
His next movement carried a subtle shift. It was hard to see—but the sword intent was no longer a vague pressure. It danced faintly along the blade's edge, like moonlight distilled into motion.
Voidcleave.
He didn't shout it. He didn't need to. The Voidcleave Sword Manual, now at perfect stage, had long ceased needing declarations.
The blade cut not at Zhao Yunhai's body—but the path of his next strike.
Zhao Yunhai flinched mid-motion, forced to twist unnaturally. The sword carved a shallow wound across his shoulder—blood misting the air.
"Damn—" Zhao's breath came harsh, sweat beading on his brow. "That was…"
Li Qingyun was silent, eyes sharp but breathing heavy. His arms ached. His sword was trembling. His muscles burned from each impact, and his ribs have a slight itch from an earlier grazing punch.
But his smile remained.
"You're the strongest I've fought," he said genuinely. "Thank you."
Zhao Yunhai exhaled heavily, wiping blood from his chin. "Likewise. But I'm not done."
He burst forward again, even faster. His movements became erratic, crackling with power, like a storm that had broken free of restraint.
But Qingyun's Phantom Step Art, enhanced his reaction time and agility, allowing him to dance around the blows, parrying and slashing with increasing clarity. His embryonic sword intent was slowly sharpening, molded by the pressure.
Even though he was hit a few times earlier that was due to his inexperience in fighting and his negligence but slowly he began to adapt and began counter attacking.
The final exchange came when Qingyun stepped aside a wind-laced punch and brought his blade down—not with force, but with absolute timing.
Cling—boom!
Zhao Yunhai's shoulder was struck again he thought to block it by bringing his other arm in front of sword but he underestimated the power of the sword , and the thundersteel gloves flew off, clattering across the stage.
He dropped to one knee.
"Enough!" the referee elder called. "Victory: Li Qingyun!"
---
After the Match
The crowd erupted, but Li Qingyun didn't celebrate. He quietly approached Zhao Yunhai and offered a hand.
"I enjoyed the battle, you are good. Let's battle again sometime," he said.
Zhao Yunhai chuckled breathlessly and accepted the help. "Sure but next time I will not lose and I will train harder to surpass you even though my talent is not as good as yours."
Even though Li Qingyun was not arrogant, he still knows that dreams and reality are two different realms altogether. A five meridians wind-thunder dual affinity, how can it compare with Nine meridians Primal Chaos Vessel Physique? But he did not said it out loud.
They walked off the stage together, their rivalry just beginning.
––––
Li Qingyun returned home in silence. His parents greeted him warmly, but he excused himself early and went to his private chamber.
At Night after bathing and eating, Li Qingyun sat in quiet meditation. The moonlight spilled over the courtyard.
He summoned his system interface.
---
[System Interface]
[Host: Li Qingyun]
[Realm: Qi Gathering (8th Stage)]
[Physique: Primal Chaos Vessel Physique]
[Slots: 2 (1 in Use, 1 available)(3rd slot requires 100 points to unlock)]
[Techniques:
Jade Body Tempering Scripture — Perfect( Transcendent stage requires 100 points)
Ninefold Essence Sutra — Perfect
Voidcleave Sword Manual — Perfect(Sword Intent: Budding Edge)
Phantom Step Art — Perfect]
[Energy: 0 Points]
After a quick review he closed the system and laid down.
His sword intent is growing from it's early embryonic form, maybe after some more battles and insight he will truly grasp his sword intent.
He summarized today's battle and felt exhilarating.
His muscles ached. His bones throbbed. His sword hand was blistered.
And yet…
He had never felt so alive.