Morning came with the sound of bells.
Deep, resonant chimes rolled across the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, echoing from peak to peak like waves striking ancient cliffs. Lin Yuan opened his eyes slowly, instinctively scanning his surroundings before he even remembered where he was.
Wooden beams. Stone floor. A faint scent of incense and mountain dew.
Not a dream.
He sat up, clenched his fist—and felt it.
Power.
Not explosive, not overflowing, but condensed. His muscles felt tighter, his bones heavier, as if lightning had been woven into his marrow and then wrapped in chains.
A translucent interface flickered into existence.
Level: 2
EXP: 35 / 200
Strength: 10
Agility: 11
Vitality: 12
Spirit: 14
Status: Qi Condensation (Lv 2)
Lin Yuan exhaled slowly.
So killing really is the shortcut.
The Thunder Tribulation Spirit Root lay dormant, hidden beneath the system's concealment. To anyone else, he was still just another mid-tier thunder cultivator—slightly above average, barely worth a second glance.
Which was good.
Very good.
Outside, footsteps echoed. A sharp knock landed on his door.
"New disciple! Report to the main plaza immediately!"
Lin Yuan rose, smoothed his robe, and stepped outside.
The plaza was already crowded.
Those who had passed yesterday's selection stood in loose formations, eyes shining with excitement or fear. Elders hovered above on swords, their gazes sharp and assessing.
A familiar stone tablet stood at the center—this one inscribed with sect laws.
An elder with silver eyebrows stepped forward. "From this moment onward, you are disciples of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect. Your halls will now be assigned."
A ripple of anticipation spread through the crowd.
"Sword Hall."
At the words, several disciples straightened unconsciously.
Everyone knew the Sword Hall.
The strongest combat hall.
The most dangerous training.
The least number of disciples.
And the most terrifying elder.
"Lin Yuan," the silver-browed elder called.
He stepped forward.
"For you—Sword Hall."
The plaza fell silent.
Then—
"What?"
"Did he say Sword Hall?"
"That guy? Mid-tier thunder root?"
"Isn't Sword Hall Elder notoriously picky?"
Lin Yuan's heartbeat quickened, though his expression remained calm.
He felt it then.
A gaze.
Lazy. Sharp. Heavy as a mountain.
From the highest peak, a figure lounged atop a massive stone sword embedded into the mountain itself. White hair spilled loosely down his back, robes half-open, wine gourd dangling from his fingers.
The Sword Hall Elder.
The man took a long sip of wine, eyes half-lidded.
"…Mm. Feels right."
That was it.
No explanation. No test.
The elder vanished.
The silver-browed elder coughed awkwardly. "Sword Hall disciples, follow the talisman."
A floating sword-shaped talisman ignited in the air. Lin Yuan and a handful of others followed it upward, ascending through mist and cloud until the temperature dropped and the wind sharpened.
The Sword Hall peak was bare.
No grand palaces. No ornate formations.
Only stone platforms, sword marks carved deep into the mountain, and a pressure in the air that made weaker disciples instinctively hold their breath.
Five figures waited.
The moment Lin Yuan stepped onto the platform, five gazes locked onto him.
One was a tall man with a scar running from eyebrow to jaw, arms crossed, aura sharp enough to cut.
Another was a lazy-looking youth chewing on a blade of grass, eyes half-closed.
A woman in dark robes leaned against a sword, gaze cool and calculating.
Beside her stood a smiling man with gentle eyes and bloodstained sleeves.
The last was a girl barely older than Lin Yuan, sword nearly as tall as she was, glaring at him openly.
"…Another one?" the scarred man said flatly.
The girl scoffed. "He looks weak."
Lin Yuan said nothing.
The lazy youth cracked an eye open. "Thunder root? Huh."
The smiling man stepped forward. "Welcome. I'm Shen Rui. Looks like you're our junior brother."
Before Lin Yuan could respond, the air distorted.
The Sword Hall Elder appeared between them, wine gourd in hand.
"Listen up," he said, voice casual. "This is your sixth junior. If he dies, that's his problem. If he survives—he's family."
The scarred man snorted. "Elder, are you sure?"
The elder glanced at him.
The mountain creaked.
"…Yes."
That was the end of the discussion.
The elder tossed Lin Yuan a jade slip. "Sword Hall rules. Break them, I won't save you."
Then he was gone.
Silence followed.
The girl finally spoke. "I'm Lu Yan. Don't slow us down."
Lin Yuan bowed. "Lin Yuan."
Shen Rui laughed softly. "You'll get used to her."
The scarred man turned away. "Training starts at dawn. If you're late, don't bother showing up."
As they dispersed, Lin Yuan remained standing, gaze drifting toward the training grounds etched with countless sword marks.
His system chimed quietly.
[New Environment Detected: Sword Hall]
[Passive Unlocking…]
[Basic Sword Proficiency: Activated]
Information flooded his mind.
Grip. Stance. Breath. Momentum.
Not mastery—but a foundation no beginner should possess.
Lin Yuan clenched his hand.
Far above, clouds rolled slowly across the sky.
For a brief instant, lightning flickered within them—silent, restrained.
And somewhere unseen, Heaven adjusted its gaze.
Unaware that the Sword Hall had just accepted something it was never meant to contain.