The moon hung faintly over Moonridge Hill, its silver glow struggling against the rising mist. The air carried the heavy scent of iron and blood. Li Shen stood amidst the carnage — the remains of the Coiled Beast lay still, its scaled body split open from crown to tail, its life snuffed out by the final stroke of the Verdant Blade Form. His chest heaved, each breath ragged and shallow. The trembling of his arms revealed that even victory came at a price.
He gazed at his Iron Spirit Blade — the once smooth edge now etched with faint cracks, faintly shimmering with verdant hue. The Verdant Blade Form… so this is its true power when executed flawlessly, he thought. It was a blade form meant not merely to slay but to embody life — movement as growth, qi as the wind that nourished, and death as the cycle's completion.
And yet, before he could savor the hard-fought triumph, a presence descended from the heavens.
The fog around him scattered as if frightened. A gale tore through the forest, bending trees and making leaves dance in reverence. Then — a figure appeared in midair, robes billowing like the clouds themselves. Li Shen's eyes widened in disbelief. Flying?
The man hovered above the ground, hands clasped behind his back. His hair was silvery white, but his face looked no older than forty. His eyes were deep pools of jade light, each glance carrying the weight of a thousand storms. Li Shen, felt the overwhelming density of qi pressing upon his lungs.
A cultivator capable of flight — such a being could only exist in the Core Formation Realm, or perhaps even higher.
The man's gaze swept across the broken snake corpse, then to Li Shen's trembling form.
His voice was neither harsh nor soft — it carried the calm of one accustomed to power.
"To defeat a Coiled Beast alone while still in Body Tempering… either you are reckless beyond saving or talented beyond measure."
Li Shen immediately knelt, pressing his fist to his chest in the traditional salute.
"Disciple Li Shen greets Elder!"
The man descended slowly, his feet touching the ground without sound. He studied Li Shen like a craftsman examining an uncut jade.
"Verdant Blade Form," the elder murmured. "A technique even inner disciples rarely grasp past the Third Form… yet you executed the Verdant Blade Form, Complete Flow — seamlessly. Tell me, who taught you this art?"
Li Shen bowed lower. "I… learned it from a jade slip I obtained in the library, Elder. I merely followed what was written."
For a moment, silence reigned. The elder's eyes flickered with a faint trace of amusement, though behind it was deep contemplation.
"Merely followed…?" he repeated softly. "Then perhaps Heaven itself guided your comprehension."
Li Shen's heart pounded. He didn't dare raise his head.
Then, the elder's tone shifted — from curious to resolute.
"I am Zhang Rui, one of the five Grand Elders of Verdant Cloud Sect. You may call me Elder Zhang. No… from this day forth, you may call me Master."
Li Shen froze. His ears rang. Master? He thought he misheard, yet the elder's eyes held no jest.
"Your understanding of sword rhythm, your instinct for flow — they are raw, but real. In all my years, few have drawn my attention. You are the first in decades. Would you accept me as your teacher, Li Shen?"
Li Shen's mind blanked. The boy who once labored in the Ironwood Forest, who merely dreamed of advancement, was now being offered the guidance of a Grand Elder. It felt unreal. His heart swelled with disbelief and gratitude all at once.
He bowed so low his forehead touched the dirt.
"Disciple Li Shen greets Master Zhang Rui!"
Elder Zhang's lips curved slightly — the faintest sign of satisfaction.
"Good. From this day forward, you are my first disciple. Remember — I can open the path before you, but you must walk it with your own blade."
A single wave of his hand, and the ground beneath them trembled. The world blurred — the trees, mist, and moonlight twisted into streaks of light. A pressure like the weight of the heavens wrapped around Li Shen's body, and in the blink of an eye —
Boom!
They landed atop a vast mountain peak cloaked in drifting clouds. The air was crisp, thick with qi so pure that every breath felt like drinking spring water. Below them, the entire Verdant Cloud Sect stretched in silent majesty — rows of peaks like dragon spines, pavilions glimmering in starlight.
"This is Azure Veil Peak," Elder Zhang said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the horizon. "My personal cultivation ground. From today, you will reside here."
Li Shen looked around — marble walkways, flowing waterfalls of jade-green water, and cranes gliding through the mist. It was a place fit for immortals.
Elder Zhang gestured toward a courtyard built from pale stone and verdant wood. "That will be your residence. You may return to your old quarters tomorrow to retrieve your belongings. Rest well tonight."
He flicked his sleeve, and a folded bundle appeared in Li Shen's arms — new robes woven from light-blue silk, embroidered with faint green leaf motifs.
"Those are disciple robes of Azure Veil Peak. Wear them with dignity."
Li Shen could only bow deeply, overwhelmed.
"Disciple thanks Master!"
Elder Zhang gave a small nod. "Tomorrow, come to my courtyard. There are things you must learn before you can walk the path of cultivation properly. Rest now — your body is injured, your qi unstable. The blade that cuts too soon dulls too quickly."
Then, without another word, the elder rose once more — and with a soft hum, his body blurred into light and vanished into the sky.
Li Shen stood frozen for a long while. The wind whispered through the bamboo groves, carrying the faint echo of his master's departing qi. He finally exhaled. Everything… happened so fast.
Hours ago, he was an outer disciple swinging an axe in the forest. Now, he stood at the peak of one of the sect's holy mountains — a personal disciple of a Grand Elder. It all felt like a dream carved from mist.
He entered the courtyard — the doors opened with a soft creak. Inside was simple yet elegant: a wooden bed with white sheets, a meditation mat, a table of polished jade, and incense already lit, its fragrance calming his weary mind.
Just as he was about to lie down, a gentle knock came from the door.
"Come in," he said.
A young female attendant entered, carrying a tray of food — fragrant rice, steamed greens, and a bowl of restorative broth glowing faintly with spiritual energy. Behind her, an elderly healer followed, his hands aglow with pale light.
"This one was ordered by Elder Zhang to tend to your wounds," the healer said, his tone respectful despite Li Shen's simple status. "Please, sit."
As the healer's qi entered his meridians, warmth spread through Li Shen's limbs. The pain in his muscles faded; the exhaustion of battle melted like snow.
The attendant gently placed the food before him. "Eat well, young master. You'll need your strength for tomorrow."
When they left, silence returned to the room. Li Shen stared at the meal for a long time before whispering to himself:
"Master Zhang Rui… Azure Veil Peak… First disciple…"
A faint smile touched his lips — part disbelief, part quiet determination.
Then, closing his eyes, he whispered softly,
"No matter how high the clouds, the blade that seeks the sky must never falter."
And beneath the gentle moonlight of Azure Veil Peak, Li Shen — the once nameless laborer — drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep