Five years had passed since Gabriel first entered the Celestial Haven Sect.
The frightened eight-year-old boy who had once awakened in an unfamiliar room had changed considerably.
At thirteen years old, Gabriel stood in the center of the sect's training field, a wooden sword firmly gripped in his hands.
Morning sunlight poured over the enormous courtyard.
Dozens of training platforms surrounded the field, while ancient spiritual trees swayed gently in the mountain breeze. Beyond the courtyard rose magnificent peaks covered in mist, their cliffs disappearing into the clouds.
Gabriel paid none of it any attention.
His entire world had narrowed to the sword in his hands.
His light brown skin was covered in a thin layer of sweat. His thick, curly black hair was tied loosely behind his head, with several curls hanging around his face.
"Again."
His violet eyes were sharp and focused on the source of the voice.
Standing several meters away was his eldest senior sister, Seraphina. She was like a goddess she had Long silver-white hair, pale white skin, tantalizing curves, golden eyes, and an elegant appearance that would send many into a daze.
"I said again Gabriel stop daydreaming."
Gabriel shook his head and nodded.
"Yes ma'am."
He slowly lowered his center of gravity.
His right foot moved forward.
His left foot turned slightly outward.
His knees bent.
The wooden sword rested beside his hip.
Seraphina's golden eyes narrowed.
"Your stance."
Gabriel immediately froze.
"What about it?"
"Your weight is too far forward."
Gabriel looked down.
He adjusted his stance.
"How about now?"
"Much better."
Seraphina walked around him.
"The sword isn't merely an extension of your arm. Your entire body must move with it. Your feet determine your balance. Your waist determines your rotation. Your shoulders determine the direction of your force."
She tapped his shoulder.
"Relax."
Gabriel loosened his shoulder.
She then tapped his wrist.
"Don't grip the sword so tightly."
Gabriel loosened his fingers.
"You are trying to force the sword to obey you."
Seraphina stepped back.
"Instead, let your body guide it."
Gabriel took a slow breath, then closed his eyes.
Inhale.
Exhale.
His breathing gradually became steady.
The spiritual qi within his body circulated through his meridians.
Qi Condensation Level Eight
Gabriel has been putting his all into cultivation over the years. His spiritual qi was already considerably denser than it had been when he first started cultivating.
Seraphina watched quietly.
"Now."
Gabriel opened his eyes.
His wooden sword sliced through the air.
He stepped forward. Slash!
His right foot planted firmly.
His waist rotated.
The sword swept horizontally to the right.
He immediately reversed his movement and swept his sword to the left.
Gabriel pivoted on his heel, he spun and raised the sword above his head with both hands. The right hand firmly grasping the hilt while the left acts as support. His black curls bounced with the motion as he brought the wooden sword down.
The blade struck the wooden training post with a thud.
A small crack appeared in its surface.
Gabriel pulled the sword back.
He didn't stop.
His movements continued.
His breathing remained synchronized with every attack.
Seraphina watched his feet.
"Don't rush."
Gabriel slowed.
"Your sword is fast enough. Your transitions are the problem."
Gabriel adjusted his movement, he stepped forward with more purpose. His sword traveled in a smooth arc.
Instead of stopping after the strike, he allowed the momentum to carry him into the next movement.
The sword circled around his body.
Then came forward.
THRUST!
The wooden sword struck the center of the training post. The impact caused the post to shake.
Seraphina's expression softened slightly.
"Better."
Gabriel smiled.
But instead of continuing to praise him, Seraphina immediately shouted.
"Again."
His smile disappeared.
"Again?"
"You still have much to improve upon."
Gabriel sighed.
"Yes, Senior Sister."
He returned to his starting position.
For the next hour, Gabriel repeated the same sequence. Hundreds of times, his arms gradually became heavier. Sweat ran down his forehead and cheeks.
His breathing became rougher.
His legs began to ache.
But he refused to stop.
Seraphina didn't tell him to continue, She didn't need to.
Gabriel had already learned that cultivation required an unwavering will.
The sword wasn't something he could master simply because he possessed exceptional spiritual roots. It required repetition, discipline, And countless hours of practice.
Gabriel raised his sword again.
His arms trembled slightly.
"One more time."
He stepped forward.
Slash! His sword cut through the air.
Followed by a Thrust!
He rotated his body bringing along a sweep of his sword. His foot landed slightly wrong, Gabriel stumbled.
Seraphina immediately spoke.
"Stop."
Gabriel froze.
"You almost fell."
"I can continue."
"I know."
Seraphina walked toward him.
"But continuing while exhausted will be more loss than gain."
Gabriel looked down at his sword.
Seraphina reached out and gently pushed the blade downward.
"Strength isn't the only thing that matters."
She pointed toward his feet.
"Your foundation."
Then his waist.
"Your control."
Then his sword.
"And your understanding."
She looked into his violet eyes.
"A sword cultivator must eventually make all three become one. Understood!"
Gabriel nodded.
"Good."
Seraphina stepped away.
"Now show me the first form without using your qi."
Gabriel blinked.
"Without qi?"
"Yes."
Gabriel nodded.
He raised the sword.
This time, he didn't circulate his energy. He relied entirely on his physical body and technique.
His first slash was slower.
But cleaner.
His second attack flowed naturally from the first.
His third followed without hesitation.
He stepped and turned to the right.
The wooden sword traveled through the air like a flowing stream.
Seraphina nodded with approval.
"That's it."
Gabriel continued.
His movements became increasingly smooth. There was no wasted motion, No unnecessary tension.
His feet remained firmly planted.
His waist rotated naturally.
His arms followed his body's movement.
Finally, Gabriel performed the final technique.
He stepped forward and thrust the sword straight toward the center of the training post.
THUD!
The sword stopped only an inch from the wood. Gabriel held the position, silence filled the training field.
Then Seraphina nodded.
"Excellent."
Gabriel's eyes immediately brightened.
"Really?"
"Yes."
He grinned.
Seraphina rarely praised him, that single word meant more to Gabriel than a dozen compliments from anyone else.
"You've practiced this basic sequence for three years," Seraphina said. "You finally understand the principle behind it."
Gabriel looked at his sword.
"So what's next?"
Seraphina smiled faintly.
"Now we make it faster."
Gabriel's face fell.
"Faster?"
"Much faster."
She drew her own sword. The moment it left its sheath, the atmosphere around her changed. Her calm expression remained unchanged, but a faint sword intent filled the air.
Gabriel's violet eyes widened, he could barely breathe. Seraphina's sword seemed to disappear.
A streak of silver flashed before his eyes.
BOOM!
The training post behind Gabriel suddenly split cleanly in two.
Gabriel stared.
Seraphina lowered her sword.
"That is what you're working toward."
Gabriel swallowed.
"How long did it take you to become that strong?"
"Many years."
Gabriel looked at the destroyed training post, then at his own wooden sword.
His hands tightened around the grip.
"Then I'll practice until I can do it too."
Seraphina smiled.
"I expected nothing less."