Silence settled over the training hall like a heavy blanket.
Leng Wu caught his breath while staring down at the wooden sword in his hand. The same person who'd been running for his life just moments ago—was that really him? His body felt impossibly light now.
This is... the Cooldown Constitution...
One absolute strike, followed by fatal vulnerability.
It was a double-edged sword. No, maybe it was a sword with only one edge. Five minutes was an eternity in real combat—far too long and dangerous.
The system window materialized again.
[Status Screen]
Name: Leng Wu (冷無) Level: 1 Constitution: Cooldown Constitution (Awakened) Martial Arts: Flash Strike (一閃) Lv.1 [Flash Strike Info] - Proficiency: 1/100 - Power: Supreme - Cooldown: 5 minutes 00 seconds - Special Effect: 2-second delayed manifestation
Proficiency 1...
This was just the beginning. So what would happen when proficiency increased? Would the cooldown decrease? Or would the power grow even stronger?
"Ugh... urgh..."
A groan made Leng Wu turn his head. Wang Tian lay there bleeding but alive. Fortunately, Flash Strike had automatically avoided vital points.
Leng Wu approached Wang Tian.
Once, this person had seemed as unreachable as the heavens themselves.
For three years, he'd been the architect of Leng Wu's nightmares.
And now that same person lay defeated at his feet.
"Leng... Leng Wu..."
Terror filled Wang Tian's eyes completely. Seeing that expression, Leng Wu felt a complex mix of emotions.
The satisfaction of revenge? No, it wasn't that. It felt more like... emptiness.
Is this what I wanted?
He'd wanted to become strong. He was tired of being nothing but a punching bag. But now that he was strong, he wasn't sure what to do with that strength.
That's when it started.
"What's going on here?!"
"Wang Tian's down?"
"Who did this?"
Commotion erupted from the training hall entrance. Wang Tian's lackeys had spread the word while fleeing.
Soon, people began flooding in. Students, instructors, and then...
"What is the meaning of this?"
An authoritative voice cut through the crowd as a figure pushed through.
Instructor Jin Wusheng, head of the advanced class and Wang Tian's direct master—a man with real power at the academy.
Jin Wusheng's sharp eyes swept the scene. Wang Tian on the ground, and Leng Wu standing over him.
"You... did this?"
"...Yes."
There was no point lying. There were witnesses anyway.
Jin Wusheng's gaze turned ice-cold.
"A bottom-tier failure took down the top advanced student?"
His expression screamed disbelief. Understandably so—the gap between their supposed skill levels was like heaven and earth.
"What trick did you use? Poison?"
"No sir. We fought fair and square."
"Fought?"
Jin Wusheng let out a cold laugh.
"Someone like you thinks you can fight Wang Tian? And win?"
In that moment, someone from the crowd shouted out.
"I-I saw it! One strike... really just one strike!"
"That's right! There was this silver-white flash and Wang Tian just..."
Witness testimonies poured in. But the more they spoke, the more vicious Jin Wusheng's expression became.
"One strike?"
His gaze moved to the wooden sword in Leng Wu's hand. An ordinary practice weapon. They were claiming this thing had taken down an advanced swordsman in a single blow.
"Interesting."
Jin Wusheng slowly drew his own sword.
"Then show me this 'one strike' of yours."
Killing intent radiated from him. An instructor was seriously drawing his blade against a student.
Cold sweat ran down Leng Wu's back.
This is bad.
Every instinct screamed danger. Jin Wusheng was on a completely different level from Wang Tian. Even if Flash Strike could work, he had no confidence in surviving the five minutes afterward.
Besides...
[Flash Strike Cooldown: 4 minutes 32 seconds remaining]
The cooldown wasn't even finished yet.
"Why so quiet? Don't tell me that was a one-time use?"
Jin Wusheng stepped closer. The pressure was suffocating.
Just then...
"Enough!"
A clear voice rang out. Simultaneously, a strand of sword qi sliced between Jin Wusheng and Leng Wu.
"Who dares... Ah, Elder."
Jin Wusheng stepped back and bowed his head.
An old man stood atop the training hall roof. White hair, white beard—he looked like an immortal sage. This was Grand Elder Heavenly Sword, the academy's ultimate authority.
"Instructor Jin, when a student wins in legitimate combat, is it proper for the teacher to intervene?"
"But Elder, this is completely unreasonable..."
"Unreasonable?"
Heavenly Sword Elder leaped down lightly, landing like a feather. When his gaze fell upon Leng Wu, the boy felt like he couldn't breathe. Those eyes seemed to see through everything.
"Hmm..."
The Elder stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"Flash Strike... it's been a long time since I've seen that."
"Elder, you recognize this technique?"
Jin Wusheng asked in surprise.
Heavenly Sword Elder didn't answer directly. Instead, he addressed Leng Wu.
"Boy, where did you learn that technique?"
"Well..."
Leng Wu stammered. Would anyone believe he learned it from a book found in a garbage pile?
But Heavenly Sword Elder didn't press for details.
"Never mind. Everyone has their own destiny."
He raised his hand, addressing the crowd.
"Everyone disperse. Take Wang Tian to the medical hall."
"But Elder..."
"Instructor Jin."
The Elder's voice turned cold.
"The duel is decided. Isn't that sufficient?"
Jin Wusheng gritted his teeth but couldn't argue further. Heavenly Sword Elder's authority was absolute.
"...Understood."
Jin Wusheng carried off Wang Tian, and the other spectators gradually dispersed.
Soon, only Leng Wu and Heavenly Sword Elder remained in the training hall.
"Cooldown Constitution."
The Elder said quietly.
"A constitution I've only read about in 300-year-old texts. I never imagined it would appear again."
Leng Wu's eyes widened.
"You... know about my constitution?"
"Indeed. One absolute strike, followed by complete paralysis. Am I correct?"
Exactly right. Heavenly Sword Elder definitely knew about it.
"Let me give you some advice."
The Elder approached Leng Wu.
"That constitution is a double-edged sword. Master it, and you could become invincible. Use it wrongly, and you'll destroy yourself."
"Destroy myself..."
"Five minutes of vulnerability is lethal in real combat. Especially when facing multiple enemies."
Leng Wu nodded grimly. He'd just experienced that firsthand.
"But don't give up."
Heavenly Sword Elder smiled faintly.
"Legend says that one who masters the Cooldown Constitution to its limits can cut down even the heavens themselves."
Cut down the heavens.
It was probably an exaggeration, but Leng Wu's heart raced anyway.
"Is that possible?"
"That depends entirely on you."
Heavenly Sword Elder turned to leave.
"Oh, and starting tomorrow, you'll advance to the intermediate class. You've proven your ability."
"What? But I'm still..."
"Weak meridians? Insufficient internal energy?"
The Elder looked back with a smile.
"You've already transcended such limitations. Flash Strike is proof of that."
With those words, Heavenly Sword Elder vanished—disappearing from sight so quickly that Leng Wu was reminded once again of the profound depths of the martial world.
Alone now, Leng Wu opened his system window again.
[Notice: First Combat Victory!][Rewards: +100 EXP, Flash Strike Proficiency +1][Level Up!]
Name: Leng Wu (冷無)
Level: 2 Constitution: Cooldown Constitution (Awakened)
Martial Arts: Flash Strike (一閃) Lv.1
[Flash Strike Info] - Proficiency: 2/100 - Power: Supreme - Cooldown: 4 minutes 59 seconds - Special Effect: 2-second delayed manifestation
The cooldown... decreased by one second?
It was a tiny change, but definitely real. There was hope.
"AHHHHH! He's a monster!"
A sudden scream made Leng Wu turn toward the medical hall. Wang Tian must have woken up.
"That guy's a monster! One strike... just one strike...!"
Wang Tian's cries echoed throughout the entire academy.
By tomorrow, everyone would know. The bottom-tier failure Leng Wu had taken down the advanced class leader in a single blow.
"A monster, huh..."
Leng Wu smiled bitterly.
For three years he'd been ignored and trampled on, and now they called him a monster.
But strangely, it didn't feel bad.
Fine, let them call me a monster.
He was stronger now. That was enough.
Of course, there was still a long road ahead. The five-minute cooldown remained a fatal weakness, and Flash Strike alone had its limits.
But as they said, starting was half the battle.
Today, he'd taken his first step.
Leng Wu picked up his wooden sword and left the training hall. The sun was setting, painting the sky in brilliant red.
It was the first beautiful sunset he'd seen in three years. Or maybe it was the first time he'd ever really looked. Until now, he'd never had the luxury of looking up at the sky.
What would tomorrow bring?
What kind of people would he meet in the intermediate class?
And just how far could this Cooldown Constitution grow?
Everything filled him with curiosity. And anticipation.
"One strike is enough."
Leng Wu murmured quietly.
"Even with five minutes of vulnerability... one strike is enough."
That would be his martial way.
In the distance, a bell tolled—marking the end of the day.
But to Leng Wu, it sounded like the beginning.
Cooldown Cultivator, Leng Wu.
His legend was just beginning.