The first days at Duskwind Academy swept over Li Yun like a storm. Each lesson unveiled a world he had only imagined through folklore and ancient scrolls—arts of channeling spiritual energy, meridian techniques, and the secrets of body cultivation.
But not everyone welcomed him with open arms.
"You think passing the entrance test puts you on our level?" sneered a student named Fang Lie, a descendant of the Fang Clan—one of the minor clans allied with the Yan Clan. "A beggar from a dead clan thinks he belongs at the nobles' table? That's rich."
Li Yun ignored him. He knew better than to respond with words. Besides, Tian Luo had warned him:
"Don't waste breath on barking dogs. Let your strength speak."
And that chance came sooner than expected.
Three days after lessons began, Duskwind Academy announced the Basic Trials—an open tournament for new students to determine their initial rankings and potential.
"This is not a formality," explained their main instructor, Elder Qiu, a sharp-eyed old man. "Those who place highest will gain access to the Spirit Room, where cultivation is three times faster. Those at the bottom... will remain there."
When Li Yun's name appeared on the pairing list, most of the students laughed. He had been matched against Fang Lie.
The day of the trial arrived. The academy's open arena was packed with students eager for a show. Circular stones formed the stage for combatants, surrounded by stone tribunes where students and teachers watched.
"First match: Fang Lie versus Li Yun!"
Cheers erupted instantly.
Li Yun stepped into the arena without emotion. Across from him, Fang Lie wore a crooked grin.
"I'll make sure you can't walk for a week."
Li Yun didn't reply. Instead, he recited the energy formation inside his body, following Tian Luo's instructions.
"Use the Flame Origin Step, then strike the third point on his shoulder. The Fang Clan relies on speed, but their upper-body defense is weak."
Suddenly, the bell rang—signaling the start of the match.
Fang Lie vanished from sight—his clan's signature speed. In a flash, he reappeared on Li Yun's right, swinging a palm wrapped in red spiritual energy.
BOOM!
Li Yun staggered back two steps, but he remained standing. He hadn't crumpled, as many had expected.
"Well, you didn't drop immediately," Fang Lie sneered.
But in the next moment, Li Yun moved. His footwork changed, following a spiraling pattern taught by Tian Luo the night before.
Flame Origin Step.
With a circling motion, he closed in from behind Fang Lie. His right hand struck his opponent's shoulder—precisely at the meridian point Tian Luo had advised.
Fang Lie stumbled, eyes widening.
"How did y—"
Before he could finish, a second strike landed—an open palm to the chest. Li Yun's inner force surged, cutting off his opponent's spiritual flow.
Fang Lie collapsed, unconscious.
Silence.
The entire arena fell still.
Then, after a few seconds, the crowd erupted—shocked, stunned, or even angry.
Elder Qiu rose from his seat. "Winner: Li Yun!"
Li Yun gave a small bow, then left the arena without a word.
That night, Li Yun sat cross-legged in his room. The black pendant at his neck glowed faintly, and Tian Luo's voice emerged once more.
"You're beginning to understand. But this is only the beginning. The strong… will start noticing you."
Li Yun opened his eyes.
"The Fang Clan has old ties with the Yan Clan. If I defeat one, the others may soon act."
"Good. You're starting to think like a true cultivator. This world is a grand chessboard. If you wish to revive the Li Clan, you must be prepared to stand against every great clan."
Li Yun looked at his hand—the same hand that had struck Fang Lie that afternoon.
"I will become strong… not just for revenge, but so that no one can ever disgrace my family name again."
Somewhere far from the arena…
Within a sky pavilion of white stone, a young woman in a flowing white dress sat before a pool of spiritual water.
Her long white hair draped down, and her serene face held eyes of breathtaking depth.
A female attendant whispered in her ear.
"A student named Li Yun defeated Fang Lie..."
The girl's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Li Yun… from that clan?"
She turned her gaze eastward, as if she could see the distant arena.
"Interesting."
Her name was Yan Zhiya.
And for the first time in her life, someone had caught her curiosity.