The sun had barely risen when Zhou Yu and Ling, his new spirit wolf companion, began their journey back to the Heavenly Sword Sect. Mist clung to the forest floor, curling around gnarled roots and low-hanging branches.
The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of wet earth and spiritual energy from Moon-Shadow Forest.
Zhou Yu's body still hummed from his first successful Qi Condensation circulation. Even though his strength was far from that of a true disciple of the sect, he could feel his muscles responding, bones reinforced by his careful cultivation, and his dantian beginning to store energy.
The experience in the forest had not only taught him the basics of controlling Qi but also the importance of patience, observation, and respect for mystical beasts.
As the ruined peaks of the sect came into view, Zhou Yu paused. The scene of desolation stretched before him: broken towers, shattered pavilions, and debris scattered across the courtyard.
Yet even among the decay, he noticed something new — small shoots of Heavenly Heart Lotus and Thousand-Leaf Green Jade Grass pushing through cracks in the stones. It seemed the sect's residual spiritual energy was enough to nourish these rare herbs, even after centuries of neglect.
Zhou Yu stepped cautiously into the main hall. Dust and fallen debris crunched under his feet, but a faint glow still emanated from the cracked altar. He knelt and focused his mind, channeling the small amount of Qi now circulating in his body.
He extended his senses into the fractured Sword Dao Stele. To his amazement, a faint resonance answered him.
It was weak, fragmented — almost like a child trying to speak — but undeniably alive. Pieces of the sect's lost legacy whispered through the air, urging him to act. Zhou Yu's heart raced. "This… this is the start," he murmured. "The sect can be rebuilt. I just need time, strength, and… allies."
Ling padded silently beside him, ears twitching at the faint stirrings of spiritual energy. Zhou Yu began to explore the ruined hallways, looking for any hidden artifacts or fragments that might survive the centuries.
Behind a collapsed wall, he discovered a small, dust-covered chest. Its surface was carved with faint sword symbols, glowing softly with residual energy.
With a careful push, he opened it. Inside lay three items:
A Fragmented Sword Spirit Scroll — The paper was ancient and brittle, but the runes glowed faintly. It contained the initial techniques of the Heavenly Sword Sect, including basic sword strikes infused with Qi.
A Small Pouch of Star-Essence Iron Dust — Rare ore used to forge weapons capable of holding spiritual energy.
A Tiny Jade Pendant — Smooth and cool to the touch, it thrummed faintly, as if alive. Zhou Yu could feel a sliver of sword energy responding to it.
"These… these could be the foundation," Zhou Yu whispered. He tucked the items safely into his satchel, feeling the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders.
No sooner had he begun examining the relics than a distant clamor reached his ears.
From the valley below, the sound of horses and shouting echoed — scouts, perhaps from a local bandit group, or worse, agents of the Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect, who were rumored to be expanding their influence in the Eastern Sky Continent.
Zhou Yu's pulse quickened. Ling growled low in the shadows. He had never faced a real opponent beyond the Spirit Wolf in Moon-Shadow Forest, yet he sensed that this would be the first test of his fledgling sword abilities.
From the ridge, three figures appeared, their forms partially concealed by the mist. The closest drew a crude iron sword, its blade catching the morning light. The other two carried short blades and crude talismans that flickered with weak demonic energy.
Zhou Yu's grip tightened on his simple iron sword. The faint Sword Qi he had awakened earlier seemed to respond, curling around his hand like a living stream. He took a deep breath, centering himself.
"This… this is my first real fight," he murmured. "No backing down."
The first figure lunged, and Zhou Yu reacted instinctively. He moved with the momentum of his body cultivation and the faint Qi circulating through him, deflecting the crude strike with a swing of his iron sword.
Sparks danced at the contact point, far weaker than the legendary sword techniques of the sect, but enough to give him a glimmer of hope.
Ling leapt forward, fangs bared, intercepting one of the attackers and throwing them off balance. Zhou Yu seized the opening, striking with precision. The attackers faltered, retreating as quickly as they had appeared.
As the dust settled, Zhou Yu's heart pounded in triumph. Though the fight had been brief and the opponents weak, it was proof that his training in Moon-Shadow Forest and his nascent Qi control were effective. He had taken his first step toward becoming a true swordsman, protector, and heir of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
After the encounter, Zhou Yu returned to the main hall and placed the relics on the cracked altar. He knelt and closed his eyes, extending his senses to the Sword Dao Stele. For the first time, the faint whispers responded more clearly, as if recognizing his resolve.
And then, carried on the wind, a voice — cold, distant, yet filled with intent — drifted into the ruins:
"He stirs… the heir awakens. Soon, all who oppose the Sword will learn its wrath."
Zhou Yu's eyes snapped open. Though he did not yet understand the voice, he sensed that it was not entirely hostile. It was a warning, a challenge, and perhaps… a promise.
He looked at Ling, who padded to his side, eyes gleaming. Together, they would begin the long path of cultivation, revival, and destiny.
The ruins of the Heavenly Sword Sect were no longer just a graveyard of the past. They were a battleground, a training ground, and a seed of future glory. And Zhou Yu, the orphan from Skywind City, had taken his first true step toward reclaiming the sword legacy that had been lost for centuries.