That same morning, within one of the male disciple quarters, a sixteen-year-old youth was rinsing his face in a water basin after finishing his daily sword practice. Once he dried himself with a clean towel, his gaze lingered on the bronze mirror before him. A few faint scars marked his face—subtle, almost unnoticeable, yet proof of hardships endured.
As he studied his reflection, he realized his black hair was changing as well. What was once styled with a sharp, almost anime-like neatness had begun to shift into something different—long strands falling unevenly, some shorter, some longer, giving his appearance the untamed bearing of a solitary wanderer.
After changing his clothes and putting on his sect robe, he stepped outside to meet his partner in front of the mission hall. While walking through the hallway of the male quarters toward the exit, he came across two disciples conversing about a technique they had purchased from the Contribution Exchange Pavilion.
_____
"I didn't expect that a mid-grade technique would cost so many sect points," one of them complained.
His companion countered,
"It's still more convenient compared to buying outside the sect. Out there, you'd need hundreds of gold coins—or worse, mid-grade techniques can only be bought with spiritual stones."
Upon hearing this, the young man could only agree silently in his heart, "That's true."
_____
"What could be happening today?" Madara wondered to himself, having just returned from a mission the previous day. As the mission hall came into view in the distance, a voice spoke from his left.
"Morning."
Turning slightly, he saw that it was his partner, Luo Feiyan.
He responded to her greeting, and the two of them continued toward the mission hall. However, upon arriving, they found it still closed. Madara's gaze drifted toward the distance, where several disciples were heading toward the Contribution Exchange Pavilion. Luo Feiyan also noticed this and spoke up.
"How about we head to the Sect Points Pavilion first? I heard some new techniques and pills have been added there. What do you think, Madara?"
Her words reminded him of the conversation between the two disciples he had overheard earlier in the hallway. "Alright," he replied. "The mission hall isn't open yet anyway."
Upon reaching the Contribution Exchange Pavilion, Madara and Luo Feiyan were met with a long line of disciples stretching from its entrance. From the far end of the queue, he inquired about the commotion. The disciple he asked explained that the line was for those waiting to enter the pavilion. After learning this, the two quietly joined the crowd and waited in silence.
When they finally stepped inside, Madara immediately made his way toward the shelves where the newly released techniques were displayed. He hoped to find a sword technique that he could use, since in the Narutoverse there were hardly any proper sword techniques—most of them were tied to the unique design of their blade/sword.
After searching through the shelves, Madara was disappointed to find no suitable sword technique. Instead, his eyes landed upon a mid-grade Qi Absorption Technique. Yet when he examined the price, the contribution points required were far beyond what he currently possessed. With a faint sigh, he returned the book to its original place.
...
Not far from the Contribution Exchange Pavilion, Luo Feiyan waited while leaning against a nearby tree. Her thoughts drifted back to what Madara had told her about sword intent. "I never thought he would be right. Even though he didn't explain why he spoke those words, I'm still grateful for his guidance."
When she lifted her head to glance at the pavilion once more, she found Madara standing there, his gaze fixed on her.
...
When he stepped out of the Pavilion, his gaze immediately fell on his partner, who was leaning against a tree with her head slightly bowed. The soft morning light filtered through the leaves, casting a gentle glow over her figure.
The moment he approached, Luo Feiyan lifted her head, and their eyes met. For an instant, the world seemed to fall silent. The breeze of dawn stirred their sect robes and hair, carrying with it a sense of quiet elegance and unspoken understanding.
Closing the distance, Madara invited her to walk with him toward the Mission Hall. After several minutes of waiting in line amidst the gathered disciples, the two finally received their Task Medallion. Their mission is to collect at least one Dawn Dew Orchid.
---Dawn Dew Orchid: A mid-grade spiritual flower that only blooms once each month at the very first light of dawn. Its petals shimmer with the essence of morning dew, carrying a fresh fragrance that clears the mind. Alchemists prize it for elixirs that enhance mental clarity, perception, and comprehension during cultivation. ---
As they made their way toward the place where the spiritual flower was said to bloom, Luo Feiyan spoke while running at Madara's side.
"We may encounter disciples of the Thunder God Sect—their territory lies close to where the Dawn Dew Orchid grows."
Madara's reply was calm, almost casual.
"Most likely so."
After several days of travel, the morning sun finally revealed the prairie where the orchid could be found. Hours slipped by as they searched until at last, their eyes fell upon it—nestled amidst the grass stood a slender stalk of jade-green, crowned with three pale-blue petals veined in silver. Each petal shimmered faintly, as though forever kissed by morning dew. With a single glance, both Madara and Luo Feiyan knew they had found the Dawn Dew Orchid.
But just as they stepped forward, both instinctively froze. In the next breath, they sprang backward as a crescent arc of lightning tore through the very spot they had been about to enter, splitting the earth with a sharp crack.
The instant they landed, a mocking voice drifted from their right, the source of the attack.
"Well, well… looks like the two of you have strayed into the wrong place."
Turning their gaze, Madara and Luo Feiyan saw two figures standing amidst the prairie. Both were clad in indigo-black robes traced with golden lightning patterns that flickered faintly with qi. Upon their chests gleamed the insignia of a thunderbolt, while belts of thunder beast hide cinched their waists. One of them gripped a blade in his right hand, arcs of residual lightning faintly dancing along its edge. From their attire alone, it was undeniable—these men were disciples of the Thunder God Sect.
Luo Feiyan lowered her head slightly, her hands cupped in courtesy as she spoke with calm restraint.
"Honored disciples of the Thunder God Sect, we have come here only for the Dawn Dew Orchid. If it is possible, please allow us to take it."
The disciple with a high topknot let out a cold laugh, his voice laced with disdain.
"And if we refuse? We, too, require the orchid. Tell me—what can you possibly do then?"
At his words, silence descended over the prairie. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath, carrying only the soft rustle of grass beneath the midday sun.
From within that stillness, the blade-wielding disciple with a low ponytail finally spoke, his tone sharp as steel.
"It seems the two of you have yet to learn how to yield."
The instant the words fell, his figure blurred. Without warning, he vanished in a burst of crackling radiance, his Storm Flash Step splitting the air with arcs of lightning. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared a mere breath away, blade raised high, its edge blazing with the fierce glow of condensed lightning qi.
---Storm Flash Step: Uses a short burst of lightning qi to propel the user forward for rapid closing distance or dodging. ---
"Thunder Edge Slash!" the disciple roared, his voice crackling like thunder as his blade descended in a blinding arc. Lightning flared violently along its edge, weaving a dazzling crescent of destructive power. In the blink of an eye, the strike cut through the air, aimed straight at Madara's ribs with lethal speed.
---Thunder Edge Slash: Infuses the blade with a thin layer of lightning qi before striking.---
In an instant, Madara drew his jian sword from his storage ring, its cold steel gleaming as he infused it with a layer of silver sword intent. The sword hummed faintly, its aura sharp and resolute.
As the enemy's lightning-wreathed blade came crashing down toward his ribs, Madara's eyes narrowed. His sword flicked upward with flawless precision—clang! The sound reverberated like a temple bell, scattering sparks of sword qi and lightning in every direction.
Before the weapon cultivator could recover from the deflection, Madara's figure blurred. With the Body Flicker Technique, he vanished from sight, reappearing a breath later just beyond the reach of the enemy's strike.
_____
Not far away, with a sharp clap, the body cultivator vanished in a blur of Storm Flash Step, reappearing at Luo Feiyan's left. He swung his fist with explosive force. Luo Feiyan reacted instantly, raising her sword to block. The impact scattered sparks of lightning and wind into the air.
She shifted her stance, using Wind Cutter Step to evade his second strike, and countered with Gentle Breeze Slash. A sharp blade of wind cut forward, forcing the body cultivator to duck—yet not before it sliced the fabric of his sect robe and left a shallow cut on his shoulder.
The body cultivator grinned despite the pain, lightning qi flickering around his body.
"Not bad."
He advanced again, combining Storm Flash Step with a sudden palm strike. Electric palm numbness surged toward Luo Feiyan's chest, but at the last moment, her sword thrust forward with precise timing. The tip grazed his forearm, forcing him to twist his body mid-motion to avoid further injury.
---Electric Palm Numbness: Channels minor currents through the palm to numb an opponent's muscles on contact. ---