Dawn broke over the Jade Sword Mountain Range, scattering gold across jagged peaks and the ruins of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Mist curled between the pines like restless spirits, and the distant roar of a waterfall echoed through the valleys.
Zhou Yu opened his eyes, stiff from the long hours spent circulating the faint Sword Qi in the altar's residual energy. His body ached, muscles trembling with exhaustion, but a warm hum pulsed in his dantian — subtle yet unmistakable.
The first circulation of Qi Condensation had taken hold. It was weak, fragile, but it existed.
He rose, brushing dust from his robes, and surveyed the ruined sect once more. The ruins stretched out like a sleeping giant, silent except for the wind and the occasional birdcall. Today, he decided, he would leave the sect temporarily.
Moon-Shadow Forest, a short distance west, awaited. The forest was infamous for its low- to mid-tier mystical beasts and rare spiritual herbs. It was the perfect training ground for a fledgling swordsman like him.
Zhou Yu tightened the strap of his satchel and checked his iron sword. Though it was simple, the hilt hummed faintly as residual Sword Qi responded to his touch. Even ordinary tools could carry fragments of destiny if wielded with intent.
He descended the mountain path cautiously. Loose stones slid underfoot, and the smell of damp pine filled the air. Birds scattered at his approach, their wings slicing through the morning mist.
A few small creatures peeked curiously from behind tree trunks, their eyes reflecting intelligence beyond mere animals — the subtle hint of Spirit Beast ancestry.
Moon-Shadow Forest lived up to its reputation. The canopy was dense, filtering sunlight into fractured beams that danced on the moss-covered ground. Thick roots twisted across the soil, and a faint silver glow indicated hidden spiritual herbs.
Zhou Yu knelt to inspect one — a small patch of Thousand-Leaf Green Jade Grass, known to enhance spiritual perception and Qi absorption. He carefully harvested the herb, tucking it into his satchel.
As he moved deeper into the forest, a rustling drew his attention. A pair of glowing amber eyes watched from behind a tree. Zhou Yu froze. A Spirit Wolf, lean and lithe, stepped into the clearing.
Its fur shimmered faintly under the morning light, and small sparks of energy crackled along its paws. It was observing him, calculating, intelligent.
Zhou Yu drew his sword instinctively. The Spirit Wolf did not attack but circled him cautiously. Its eyes narrowed, and a low growl rumbled in its throat.
Zhou Yu lowered his weapon slowly, remembering what he had read about mystical beasts: they responded to intent and strength, not fear.
"I'm not here to fight," he said softly. "I'm just… passing through."
The wolf hesitated, then tilted its head. The air between them seemed to hum. Zhou Yu felt the faint tug of his Sword Qi, and instinctively extended his hand. To his surprise, the wolf slowly approached, sniffing his palm.
Sparks of Qi flickered, brushing against his skin. A bond had formed — tenuous, but real.
"That's… my first companion," Zhou Yu whispered, a smile breaking across his dusty face. The wolf — whom he would later name Ling, meaning "Spirit" — was a small step toward restoring the sect's former glory.
With Ling at his side, Zhou Yu ventured deeper into Moon-Shadow Forest. The forest was not entirely benign; patches of poisonous mist drifted in certain valleys, and the occasional roar of beasts echoed from hidden cliffs.
Yet every challenge was a lesson. He practiced circulating Qi, refining his body, and moving in rhythm with the Sword Qi that still hummed faintly in the ruined altar.
By mid-afternoon, Zhou Yu came across a hidden glade. Here, the air shimmered with sword energy. Broken fragments of spiritual veins from centuries past had seeped into the soil, allowing faint sword qi residue to linger.
Zhou Yu knelt, closing his eyes, and reached out with his mind. He felt it: fragments of the Primordial Sword Spirit stirring, as if testing him, probing the edges of his potential.
Hours passed, and the sun began to descend. Zhou Yu had harvested enough herbs, gained his first cultivation experience, and formed the bond with Ling. Yet even in this quiet victory, shadows loomed.
A distant howl — deeper, colder than the Spirit Wolf — echoed through the forest. Somewhere in the distance, something larger watched, calculating. Not all mystical beasts were kind. Some guarded treasures, others hunger.
Zhou Yu felt a chill. The Boundless Heaven Domain was vast, and the Eastern Sky Continent was alive with danger and opportunity alike. He looked to Ling, and their eyes met in silent understanding. "We'll get stronger," Zhou Yu murmured. "Together."
As the sun sank behind the peaks of the Jade Sword Mountains, the faint glow of his first Qi Condensation stage lingered in his dantian. It was weak, but it was real. And as the forest darkened, Zhou Yu felt it — a whisper, faint but undeniable, carried by the wind:
"The Sword awakens… the heir grows… the path is long, but destiny waits…"