Morning sunlight bathed Heavenly Sword Academy in golden hues.
Leng Wu woke earlier than usual and headed toward the intermediate class training grounds. A new place, a new beginning. His heart hammered with anticipation.
Intermediate class...
For three years, this had been nothing but an impossible dream. Advancing from basic to intermediate typically took a minimum of three years—five for most students. And that was only for those with talent.
But he'd made it in just one day.
Thanks to Flash Strike.
The intermediate training hall was on a completely different level from the basic class facility. Twice the size, equipped with high-grade training equipment, and most importantly, the very qi flowing through the air felt different.
"Hey, who are you?"
A sharp voice made Leng Wu turn around.
A red-haired girl stood there, roughly his age but with eyes as keen as sword blades.
"Oh, hello. Starting today I'm in the intermediate class—"
"Wait."
The girl cut him off, her eyes narrowing.
"You... you're the one from those rumors, aren't you?"
"Rumors?"
"About some basic class dropout taking down Wang Tian in one hit."
Word had already spread. Leng Wu cautiously nodded.
"Yes, that was—"
SWOOSH!
Before he could finish, the girl's sword flashed toward him without warning—a complete surprise attack.
Leng Wu instinctively twisted his body. The blade's edge grazed past his ear.
"Oh?"
The girl's expression turned interested.
"Not bad reflexes. But..."
WHISK!
This time three strikes came simultaneously—high, middle, and low attacks targeting him from all angles.
There was no escape. Leng Wu reached for his wooden sword but...
I can't!
He couldn't use Flash Strike here. Using it would leave him helpless for five minutes. He couldn't show that weakness on his very first day.
Instead, Leng Wu decided to defend with his bare hands.
Cross his arms to block high, duck low to avoid middle, lift his leg to evade the low strike.
It was close, but he managed it.
"Huh?"
The girl's eyes sparkled.
"You dodged that with pure reaction speed and judgment, no internal energy? Interesting."
She sheathed her sword and grinned broadly.
"I'm Hong Lian. Ranked 3rd in intermediate class."
"3rd?"
"Yep. And the spot you're taking is 10th place. Dead last."
Leng Wu was caught off guard. He'd known there were rankings in intermediate class, but he hadn't expected to automatically become the lowest ranked.
"Don't make that face. It's only natural."
Hong Lian shrugged.
"No matter how you beat Wang Tian, you're still from basic class, right? If you want recognition, you'll have to officially challenge your way up."
"Challenge?"
"Ranking battles. Held every Friday. You can challenge someone one rank above you."
Just then, more people entered the training hall—other intermediate class students.
"Oh? Is that the new guy?"
"The one who took down Wang Tian in one hit?"
"Doesn't look that strong..."
Whispers filled the air. The looks weren't particularly friendly—half curiosity, half wariness.
Among them all, one gaze was particularly cold.
"So you're the one."
A deep voice accompanied a tall young man's approach.
He was well-built with a face like a carved statue, but his eyes were cold as ice.
"I'm Han Wujin. Ranked 1st in intermediate class."
The strongest student in intermediate class. His appearance silenced the surrounding chatter.
Han Wujin looked Leng Wu up and down.
"Flash Strike... they say you use a legendary technique?"
"...Yes."
"And you can't do anything for five minutes afterward?"
Leng Wu's heart sank. They'd already figured out his cooldown weakness.
"Don't worry. Knowing weaknesses is only natural."
Han Wujin turned away as he spoke.
"But let me warn you. Intermediate class isn't like basic class. Here, five minutes... will feel like eternity."
With those ominous words, he left.
"Whew, scary."
Hong Lian shivered with exaggerated dramatics.
"Senior Han Wujin is always like that—cold and taciturn. But his skill is real."
"How strong is he?"
"Well... he could probably beat lower-ranked advanced class students. Plus..."
Hong Lian lowered her voice.
"They say he's mastered the Frozen Heaven Divine Art. A terrifying technique that can freeze opponents' movements."
Freeze movements. For Leng Wu, who was already immobilized for five minutes, this was the worst possible matchup.
Just then, a bell rang.
"Oh, class is starting!"
Students lined up in formation. Leng Wu hurriedly took his place at the end—the 10th position.
Soon, a middle-aged man entered. Intermediate class head instructor Tie Wuguang.
"Today we have a new student joining us."
Tie Wuguang's gaze fell on Leng Wu.
"Leng Wu. A student specially promoted from basic class."
"Special promotion... it's been three years since the last one."
Someone muttered. It was that rare an occurrence.
"However, rules are rules."
Tie Wuguang spoke solemnly.
"New students must pass an entrance examination. Leng Wu, step forward."
Leng Wu moved to the front, anxiety washing over him. An entrance exam? He hadn't known such a thing existed.
"The test is simple."
Tie Wuguang clapped his hands. Something emerged from one side of the training hall.
Wooden puppets. But these weren't ordinary training dummies—their limbs moved fluidly, behaving like real people.
"Face ten mechanical puppets. Time limit: five minutes."
Five minutes...
Coincidentally, the same duration as Flash Strike's cooldown.
"However, there's a condition."
Tie Wuguang smiled meaningfully.
"You're forbidden from using Flash Strike. Fight without it."
"What?"
Leng Wu was stunned. How could he fight without Flash Strike when it was his only technique?
"The reason is simple. In intermediate class, you must be able to handle various situations. Relying on a single technique won't keep you alive."
It made sense. But...
"Begin!"
There was no time to think. The test had started.
All ten mechanical puppets charged at once, each wielding different weapons—swords, sabers, spears, clubs...
What do I do?
Leng Wu desperately dodged. Three years of taking beatings had honed his evasion skills to perfection.
Rolling, jumping, hiding.
But even that had limits.
THWACK!
A club struck his back. A sword grazed his arm immediately after.
Blood flowed.
"What's this? That's all he's got?"
"Without Flash Strike, he's just basic class trash, isn't he?"
Mocking comments came from the watching students.
Leng Wu gritted his teeth.
This won't work.
He had to do something. But he couldn't use Flash Strike. So then...
Suddenly, something came to mind.
The sensation from yesterday when he'd used Flash Strike.
Perfect stance, perfect timing, perfect trajectory.
If I could recreate those movements...
Of course, he couldn't produce Flash Strike's power. But maybe he could mimic the movements themselves.
Leng Wu scanned his surroundings. Broken training weapons lay scattered about. Among them, he picked up a half-shattered wooden sword.
Then he took the stance.
The basic iaijutsu position. The exact same stance as yesterday.
"Huh?"
Hong Lian's eyes widened.
"That stance..."
Han Wujin's expression changed as well.
Leng Wu closed his eyes and recalled yesterday's sensation.
There was no silver-white flash. No heaven-splitting sword qi.
But...
WHOOSH!
The wooden sword traced a perfect arc, striking precisely at a puppet's core.
Right in the center of its chest—the critical point. When hit there exactly, the puppet stopped functioning.
"Got it!"
The movement itself was a martial art. Though it lacked power, its precision was flawless.
Leng Wu continued with the same approach.
Second puppet, third puppet...
One by one, he brought them down.
Of course, it wasn't easy. Without Flash Strike's power, he couldn't disable them in one hit. He had to attack multiple times, taking counterattacks in the process.
His body became covered in wounds. But he didn't give up.
And finally...
"Time!"
Instructor Tie Wuguang's shout coincided with the last puppet falling.
He'd defeated all ten. Though he was battered and bloody.
"Hah... hah..."
Leng Wu collapsed, gasping for breath.
The training hall fell silent. Students who'd been mocking him moments before closed their mouths.
"...Pass."
Tie Wuguang announced.
"To manage this much without Flash Strike... interesting."
He approached Leng Wu.
"But remember this. Far greater trials await you in intermediate class."
"...Understood."
"And one more thing."
Tie Wuguang smiled meaningfully.
"This afternoon, we have practical sparring. Your first opponent will be..."
His gaze moved to a specific spot.
There stood a man grinning sinisterly—9th rank, Viper Wen Jin.
"Think of it as a welcome party."
A poison specialist opponent. The worst possible first match had been announced.