Chapter 3: The First Step

Li Feng Yun sat in silence, gazing at the night sky. A single moon hung above, its pale glow casting a cold silver light across the sect.

He had gained too much knowledge at once—his mind overflowed with information from this world, the sect, the cultivation system, and the memories of his alternate self. Even with his formidable soul, it took time to process everything.

So, he simply sat there, allowing his mind to sift through the influx of details until the first light of dawn crept over the horizon.

As the sun slowly rose, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange and gold, Li Feng Yun exhaled deeply. The air was fresh, crisp, and invigorating. Today, he would explore this sect properly.

The Heavenly Sword Sect was vast. Towering peaks surrounded the sect grounds, their summits hidden behind drifting clouds. Roads paved with polished stone stretched between the buildings, and disciples clad in blue robes moved about with purpose. In the distance, cascading waterfalls glistened under the morning sun, their mist creating faint rainbows.

"A respectable environment," Li Feng Yun mused, his hands folded behind his back. "Still, it lacks a statue of me."

He chuckled at his own thoughts and continued strolling. Despite being an outer sect disciple, he could appreciate the grandeur of the sect. The architecture was elegant yet imposing, exuding the presence of a true powerhouse in the cultivation world.

After some time, he reached a particular area bustling with activity—the outer sect quest hall.

A large wooden board stood at the entrance of the hall, covered in neatly arranged slips of paper. Each slip represented a different task—chores, errands, or minor beast exterminations. In return, disciples would receive Qi Crystals, the currency of the sect.

"Qi Crystals," Li Feng Yun murmured, recalling the information from his memories. "Low, Medium, and High quality. The stronger the Qi contained within, the more valuable."

As an outer sect disciple, he was required to complete minor tasks every day to earn his keep. Additionally, the sect provided a small monthly allowance of low-quality Qi Crystals to sustain cultivation.

"Truly the life of a mortal," he sighed dramatically. "Forced to labor for mere scraps."

Of course, he understood the purpose of this system. It ensured that only the truly dedicated would rise through the ranks. And rise he would.

As he examined the various quests, snippets of conversation from nearby disciples reached his ears.

"Did you hear? The sect tournament is coming up soon."

"Of course! Only the top 500 outer sect disciples will be promoted to the inner sect."

"Hah, good luck with that. The competition is ruthless. Only those with real talent will make it."

Li Feng Yun's eyes narrowed slightly. A tournament?

Based on his memories, the Heavenly Sword Sect held a tournament every few years to select promising outer sect disciples and elevate them to the inner sect. This was a chance to rise in status and resources.

"Interesting..." he thought. "With my abilities, securing a spot should be effortless."

His lips curled into a confident smirk, but before he could dwell on it further, a voice called out his name.

"Li Sheng Yun!"

Li Feng Yun turned, recognizing the speaker immediately. A young man with sharp eyes and a confident stance approached. His memories quickly provided a name—Zhou Wei.

Not a friend. Just an acquaintance the former Li Sheng Yun had spoken to for information.

"You're out early," Zhou Wei remarked. "Not sulking in your room like usual?"

Li Feng Yun raised an eyebrow. "Sulking? Was my alternate self so pitiful?"

Zhou Wei smirked. "You were always gloomy, acting like the world owed you something. And impulsive when it came to respect. If someone disrespected you, you'd lash out without thinking."

Outwardly, he simply smiled. "People change."

Zhou Wei gave him a curious look before continuing. "Anyway, I assume you heard about the tournament?"

"I did."

"Then you should know—the inner sect disciples oversee the event. They evaluate our fights and determine who is truly worthy of promotion."

Li Feng Yun nodded. This aligned with what his memories told him. The inner sect disciples were leagues above outer sect disciples. Only those who had surpassed the foundational stages of cultivation could enter their ranks.

Zhou Wei leaned in slightly. "The real ones to watch, however, are the top-ranking outer sect disciples. The big shots. They're already strong enough to challenge lower-ranked inner sect members. They have a massive advantage in the tournament."

Li Feng Yun listened without much change in expression. "Who are they?"

Zhou Wei smirked. "There are a few names everyone talks about." He held up his fingers one by one as he listed them.

"First, there's Bai Liang. Ruthless and efficient, a true monster in combat. Some say he's already on the verge of breaking into the Core Formation realm, which is unheard of for an outer sect disciple."

"Then we have Jiang Mei, the Ice Lotus. A genius with terrifying control over ice-type techniques. She rarely speaks, but when she does, it's usually to announce someone's defeat."

"Third is Xu Gang. He's built like a war god and fights like one too. Pure brute strength, but he makes it work. No one lasts more than a few exchanges against him."

"Lastly, there's Wu Fei. He's the most mysterious. No one knows the full extent of his strength because he never fights unless necessary, but when he does, his opponents disappear from the rankings overnight."

Li Feng Yun absorbed the names before asking, "Where do they usually stay?"

Zhou Wei chuckled. "Hunting for competition already?"

Li Feng Yun remained silent.

Seeing that, Zhou Wei shrugged. "They all come from strong families. Unlike most of us who joined the sect through sheer effort, they were personally recruited last year. The sect deemed them the best talents of their generation, and since then, they've been nurtured under individual masters."

Li Feng Yun narrowed his eyes. "Masters?"

Zhou Wei nodded. "Of course. When true geniuses enter the sect, they don't live the same life as the rest of us. The elders immediately took them in as direct disciples. They don't waste time doing outer sect chores or menial training like we do. They cultivate under guidance, access high-grade techniques, and receive resources far beyond what we could ever dream of."

Li Feng Yun's fingers tapped against his sleeve. "And their talent levels?"

Zhou Wei sighed. "Bai Liang and Jiang Mei are both Purple-Level talents. It's why the sect treasures them so much. As for Wu Fei… no one knows his exact talent level, but the fact that he was chosen for personal guidance speaks for itself."

"As for Xu Gang?"

"He's strong, but his talent is slightly lower than theirs. Still, his battle instincts make up for it. He's not someone you want to underestimate."

Zhou Wei crossed his arms and smirked. "You, on the other hand, have been here for a decade. Everyone acknowledges you as a solid cultivator, but… compared to them? You weren't considered a true genius. Those four have already reached your cultivation realm in just one year."

Li Feng Yun smiled faintly. "Is that so?"

Zhou Wei laughed. "Are you thinking of challenging them? Hah! Well, I won't stop you, but don't blame me if you get crushed."

Zhou Wei crossed his arms and smirked. "But still, you have the talent to aim for the top 500. You may not be on their level, but securing a spot as an inner sect disciple isn't out of reach for you."

He stretched lazily. "Anyway, I'm participating in the tournament too. Best of luck, Feng Yun." With a casual wave, he turned and walked off toward the quest board, likely to pick up his daily task.

Feng Yun, however, remained where he stood. His gaze was distant, his thoughts churning.

As Zhou Wei walked away, Li Feng Yun remained where he stood, his expression unreadable.

His gaze drifted to the towering peaks in the distance, where the true prodigies cultivated under the personal guidance of sect elders. The so-called geniuses—Bai Liang, Jiang Mei, Xu Gang, and the elusive Wu Fei.

"Purple-level talents, nurtured under direct masters, granted endless resources… and they reached my realm in just a year?"

A chuckle escaped his lips, low and amused.

"They must feel proud of themselves."

Li Feng Yun slowly curled his fingers into a fist. His cultivation realm was the result of ten years of effort—of enduring, of struggling, of clawing his way forward with nothing but determination. But these 'chosen ones' had reached the same level in a fraction of the time, treated like treasures while the rest of the outer sect slaved away for mere Qi Crystals.

Unfair?

Perhaps.

But cultivation was never fair.

He had seen enough in his past life to understand—power dictated everything. If you were strong, the world bent around you. If you were weak, you were forgotten, trampled underfoot.

And now, he stood at a crossroad.

Would he be content securing a spot in the inner sect like Zhou Wei suggested? To rise, but only as a mediocre figure beneath the true monsters of his generation?

…The mere thought was disgusting.

Li Feng Yun raised his hand and examined his palm. He could feel it—his soul, his power, the sheer potential coursing within him. The system, his unique abilities, his very existence in this world—none of it was ordinary.

Those so-called geniuses?

They were nothing but stepping stones.

His lips curled into a slow, arrogant smirk.

"The best talents of last year?" His voice was barely a whisper. "How unfortunate… for them."

He turned away from the quest board, his white outer sect robe fluttering slightly as he began walking. There was no rush. Let them bask in their titles for now.

Soon enough, they would understand.

This world didn't belong to the so-called chosen. It belonged to the ones who seized it with their own hands.

After a quiet stroll through the sect, Li Feng Yun returned to his cave dwelling. It was a simple, barren space—stone walls, a wooden bed, and a single candle providing dim light. Compared to the luxurious courtyards of inner sect disciples, this was nothing more than a shelter.

Li Feng Yun took a deep breath, his gaze locked onto the metal sword resting against the cave wall.

"Last night, I was too preoccupied with processing my new existence," he mused, stepping forward. "But now… now I should see the extent of my abilities."

He stretched out his hand, fingers slightly curled as he willed the sword to move.

At first, there was nothing. Just silence.

Then—

A faint vibration stirred in the air, like a ripple in still water. The sword trembled, its metallic surface quivering under his influence. Slowly, ever so slowly, it lifted from the ground, floating unsteadily in midair.

Li Feng Yun's breath hitched. The sensation was unlike anything he had ever felt. It wasn't mere strength or exertion—it was an extension of his will, a power that flowed from his very soul. It felt natural, yet foreign, like discovering a limb he had never known existed.

He tightened his focus. The sword shot forward in an instant, slicing through the air with eerie precision before halting just a hair's breadth from the cave wall.

"Incredible."

He smirked, twisting his fingers ever so slightly. The sword responded, twirling effortlessly in the air, its sharp edge gleaming in the dim cave light. It was crude, unrefined—like a newborn beast learning to hunt. But even in this early stage, the potential was undeniable.

He willed the sword to move, and it obeyed, but only within a ten-meter range. Any further, and the connection grew weak, slipping from his grasp.

"Limited, but upgradable," he noted, his mind already calculating how to enhance it with system points.

A smirk tugged at his lips. He twisted his fingers, and the sword twirled in midair before gliding smoothly back to the ground.

Li Feng Yun's eyes flickered with excitement. If Metal Manipulator felt like an extension of his will, then his second ability—Teleport—promised something even greater.

"Instant movement... true freedom."

His gaze swept across the cave, settling on a jagged rock formation near the entrance. Roughly five meters away. A trivial distance, but enough for a test.

Taking a deep breath, he activated the ability.

In an instant, space twisted around him. A strange pulling sensation gripped his entire being—not painful, but deeply unsettling, like his body was being yanked forward by an invisible force. Before he could fully process it, he was already there.

Standing beside the rock.

He blinked. The transition had been seamless, as if he had never moved at all. There was no lag, no in-between moment—just the sudden shift from one place to another.

But then—

A dull wave of fatigue washed over him. Not enough to weaken him, but noticeable. And then, as if responding to his thoughts, a message flashed in his mind.

[Teleport: 1/1 Usage Consumed. Recharge in 24 hours.]

"A single use per day... and only within my line of sight, up to 500 meters."

He frowned slightly. Useful, but the limitations were clear. He needed more uses, greater range.

"Upgradable," he reminded himself, his lips curling into a smirk.

Despite its restrictions, this ability was invaluable. In battle, it could mean the difference between life and death. In the sect tournament, it could be a trump card.

His excitement grew.

"I need to train these abilities. Refine them. Master them."

With that resolve, he exhaled slowly and stepped deeper into the cave, his mind already planning his next steps.

"If I stay in the outer sect, I'll never reach my full potential," he muttered. "Resources, techniques, experience—everything I need lies within the inner sect."

In the outer sect, he was nothing more than one among thousands. But the inner sect? That was where true power was cultivated. Even among them, he would only be a small fish at first.

But not for long.

"The sect tournament is in ten days," he recalled. "That's plenty of time."

He sat on his bed, exhaling deeply, and summoned his Status Panel.

A transparent screen materialized before Li Feng Yun, displaying various tabs. His gaze settled on one in particular—Cultivation.

He tapped it.

A new window unfolded, revealing three techniques stored within:

[Iron Bone Tempering Manual] (Mortal Rank - High)

[Cloud Piercing Sword Art] (Profound Rank - Mid)

[Flowing Jade Breathing Technique] (Earth Rank - High)

His eyes narrowed at the Flowing Jade Breathing Technique.

An Earth Rank - High breathing technique? That was practically unheard of for an outer sect disciple.

Breathing techniques were the foundation of cultivation, dictating how efficiently one absorbed and refined Qi. The higher the rank, the greater one's potential. Even inner sect disciples would struggle to obtain an Earth Rank technique, let alone someone from the outer sect.

"Where did this come from?"

Unlike the other techniques, this one hadn't been obtained from the sect. It was given to him by an unknown person.

His memories of the past were fragmented. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall anything before the age of five. He had no idea who his family was, who his parents were, or where he had come from. His life only began at five years old, when he first arrived at the Heavenly Sword Sect.

For years, he had accepted this. But now? Now that he had been reborn into this body, he had to know the truth.

"System, who am I? Who are my parents?"