The golden morning sun rose over Azure Sky City, illuminating the vast tournament grounds once more. The second day of the Youth Combat Selection was about to begin, and the entire city seemed to buzz with even more excitement than before. Spectators packed the arena stands early, many still discussing the most talked-about match of the first round—Li Qingyun's overwhelming victory over Luo Ji.
Speculations flew wild. Some called it a bluff match. Others claimed it was a psychological tactic. A few cultivators with high enough cultivation tried to explain what had happened.
"It wasn't that he didn't strike," a middle-aged man in a grey scholar's robe explained, sitting among a crowd of younger cultivators. "It's that none of you saw the strike. The moment he said 'Voidcleave,' his sword aura sliced through the air with spatial intent. It passed Luo Ji's guard without making contact… and yet the pressure landed directly on his core. Luo Ji realized then that if he moved even slightly… he would be cut down."
"That's absurd!"
"No one at Qi Gathering should be able to use sword intent!"
"Then explain why Luo Ji collapsed without injury."
That silenced the crowd. The man only gave a knowing smile and looked toward the stage.
---
At the heart of this storm of attention, Li Qingyun stood calmly backstage, dressed once again in a white robe with golden lining, his open hair swaying with wind just falling below his neck. His wooden sword was sheathed by his side as usual. He stood slightly apart from the other contestants, arms folded, eyes closed. To an outsider, he seemed indifferent. But inwardly, his mind was focused. As he waited for his name to be called, he summoned the interface within his mind.
---
[System Interface]
[Host: Li Qingyun]
[Realm: Qi Gathering (7th stage)]
[Physique: Primal Chaos Vessel Physique]
[Slots: 2 (1 in use)]
[Techniques: Jade Body Tempering Scripture (Perfect)
Ninefold Essence Sutra (Perfect)
Voidcleave Sword Manual (Perfect)
Phantom Step Art (Proficient)]
[Energy: 20 points]
---
He nodded slightly. "Plenty of energy left. If needed, I can push Phantom Step further."
The announcement echoed through the arena.
"Second Round, Match Number Eighty-Three—Li Qingyun of the Li Clan versus Feng Kai of the Wind Saber Pavilion! Contestants, please enter the stage!"
A few contestants flinched when his name appeared.The participants from today, yesterday and those who had yet to face him all took notice.
Even his fellow prodigies—Qin Wushuang, Mu Yihan, Xia Shuying, and Zhao Yunhai—glanced up as he passed.
Li Qingyun stepped forward under the scrutiny of countless eyes. As he walked onto the central platform, whispers spread like wildfire.
"That's him—the one with the wooden sword!"
"Looks too calm… did he really beat Luo Ji?"
"He doesn't even have take his opponent seriously!"
The other contestant, Feng Kai, was a tall youth with a lean, muscular build and wind-patterned robes. A curved sabre rested on his back, exuding the sharp presence of a honed weapon. He arched a brow at Li Qingyun.
"No real sword made of black iron or steel? Again?"
Li Qingyun smiled faintly and tapped the wooden sword on his hip.
"Wood doesn't kill. It's safer this way."
Feng Kai grinned. "Don't blame me if you regret that."
"I won't," Li Qingyun said plainly.
The referee gave the signal, and the match began.
---
In an instant, Feng Kai dashed forward, his blade gleaming as wind wrapped around his form. He released his first technique—Gale Fang Slash, a mid-tier sword technique that created a bladed gust of wind tearing toward Li Qingyun.
Whoosh!
The crowd held their breath as the razor-sharp gust cut forward—
But Li Qingyun was already gone.
A shimmer in the air—a flicker.
He reappeared several steps to the left, eyes calm.
Phantom Step Art — Shadow Shift
It was almost as though he glided instead of walked. Not flashy, not teleportation, but perfectly timed and efficient.
"What—?!"
Feng Kai's eyes widened and he pressed forward, releasing another wave of slashes. But everytime the attack misses when it seems like it is about to connect with Li Qingyun.
"Don't dodge!" Feng Kai growled as his frustration began to build.
His wind saber danced, unleashing Twin Gale Scissors, a technique meant to trap and slice an opponent mid-movement.
But every time his blade closed in—
Li Qingyun was gone again.
The crowd began to stir.
"Did he just... vanish?"
"No. He's moving."
"But I can't even see him move!"
Another high-cultivation spectator spoke up. "That's a proficient-grade movement technique. His steps are in rhythm with the wind… he's using minimal energy for maximum movement. It's not speed. It's precision."
On the stage, Feng Kai panted, sweat forming on his brow. His blade spun in his hand, and with a roar, he charged forward one last time.
"This'll cut through anything! Whirling Wind Breaker!"
A tornado of blade light surged outward—spinning in all directions, meant to lock down the entire arena!
Finally, Li Qingyun moved. In that moment he used second move of Phantom Step Art.
With a step so light it barely disturbed the air, he entered the edge of the whirlwind—and vanished.
Phantom Step Art — Veil Step
Appearing behind Feng Kai, sword already drawn—
"Voidcleave."
The wooden sword sliced down.
Not a strike of strength. Just enough pressure.
A clean line of energy sliced downward before stopping a hair's breadth from Feng Kai's neck.
The wind stopped.
Li Qingyun stood with his back to his opponent, sword lowered. His voice was as calm as always.
"You lost. If this was a life and death battle, your head would have separated from your body."
Feng Kai froze.
His sabre dropped with a clatter.
"I- I lost.…"
The referee looked stunned for a breath, but quickly raised his hand.
"Match over! Victory to Li Qingyun!"
The crowd erupted—but not in cheers. In confusion. In awe.
"Again?! No visible strike!"
"Is it… some kind of illusion technique?"
"I didn't even see him move in that final moment!"
The elders and sect observers took detailed notes, and a few narrowed their eyes.
"Voidcleave… space-element sword technique?"
"He's already proficient in a movement art too…"
"If he's really only at the fourth or even fifth stage… then this child is terrifying."
After his match, Li Qingyun said nothing more. He gave a small nod to the referee and left the stage. As he passed Feng Kai, he gave a polite nod.
–––
The elder envoy who came from Sky–Reaching Sword Sect was already very excited, ' Since Li Qingyun uses sword he will definitely join our sect, but even then I have to send message to sect to dispatch someone of high level , in case someone tries to play dirty.'
As he was only a envoy whose work was to recruit disciples for the sect,in fact those who came to watch the competition are all just envoys as real elders are busy cultivating instead of venturing in outside world.
He secretly used a talisman paper used for communication and sent the information regarding the competition and participants especially Xia Shiying who has awakened her Sword Bone Physique and Li Qingyun who was already beginning to show his embryonic sword intent.
After the second round concluded, the final tally stood: 100 contestants remained.
---
Later that evening,Li Qingyun returned home.
His parents, Li Tianyang and Lin Meiyu, welcomed him with warm eyes but didn't press him about the fight. They knew their son wasn't the type to boast, even now that the entire city was whispering about him.
He told them in a lively manner that how he won again and easily advanced to third round, even if he knows that he was a reincarnated person who was already so much older than his current age , still longed for familial affection of his parents and he always will protect them.
Li Qingyun returned to his courtyard once again. He did not linger at the after-match ceremonies or accept congratulations from the elders. He returned to his room, lit a spiritual lamp, and sat silently.
Well technology is not developed in this world so the entertainment in free time is very limited, so he used this time to review his matches and plan for next one.
His mind replayed the match. Feng Kai had been stronger than Luo Ji — sharper, more aggressive — and yet still no match.
"Phantom Step was smooth," he murmured. "But I need to practice linking it directly into Voidcleave more often."
The system responded with a soft glow.
---
[System Interface]
[Host: Li Qingyun]
[Realm: Qi Gathering (7th stage)]
[Physique: Primal chaos vessel physique]
[Slots: 2.
1 occupied, 1 available. ]
[Techniques: Jade Body tempering scripture (perfect), Ninefold essence sutra(perfect), Voidcleave sword manual (perfect), Phantom Step Art: Progress 68% toward Minor Completion]
[Energy Points: 20]
---
He considered spending more points. But ultimately shook his head.
Today after he used Phantom Step Art in the battle he realized that his progress has moved forward, so he decided that he will use every technique in battles as real experience seems to be proving useful in gaining more insights than just passively cultivating them.
"No. Mastery without control is reckless."
Instead, he stood, unsheathed his wooden sword, and began moving through the forms again in the moonlight.
Each step soft. Each movement like flowing water.
And so the silent blade danced beneath the stars once more.