Dawn at Sword Hall arrived without ceremony.
No bells.
No announcements.
Only the sound of wind scraping against stone and the distant hum of sword intent lingering in the air like an old scar that refused to heal.
Lin Yuan arrived at the training platform before the sky fully brightened.
He was not late.
He had not slept.
Not because he couldn't—but because every time he closed his eyes, he could feel the thunder buried inside him, coiled and patient, as if waiting for permission.
The other Sword Hall disciples were already there.
The scarred man stood barefoot on the stone, sword planted before him, eyes closed. His breathing was slow, deliberate, each exhale sharp enough to cut. The pressure around him made Lin Yuan's skin prickle.
Strong.
The lazy youth lay sprawled on a flat rock, arms behind his head, seemingly asleep. Yet Lin Yuan sensed it—his presence never fully relaxed, like a predator resting with one eye open.
Lu Yan was practicing swings.
Each strike was precise. Brutal. No wasted motion. Her sword howled through the air, leaving shallow grooves in the stone with every arc.
Shen Rui noticed Lin Yuan first and smiled. "Junior's early."
The scarred man opened his eyes.
"Good," he said. "Means you won't waste our time."
Lu Yan stopped swinging and stared at Lin Yuan. "Draw your sword."
Lin Yuan hesitated. "Now?"
"Now," she repeated flatly.
He obeyed.
The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, the system reacted.
[Weapon Detected: Standard Sect Sword]
[Basic Sword Proficiency: Active]
His stance adjusted unconsciously.
Feet spread. Weight lowered. Spine straightened.
Lu Yan's eyes narrowed.
"…Huh."
The scarred man took a step forward. "Name's Gu Shan. If you want to stay in Sword Hall, you fight."
Before Lin Yuan could ask how, Gu Shan moved.
Too fast.
The air cracked as Gu Shan's sword descended—not a killing blow, but not restrained either. Lin Yuan barely reacted in time, raising his blade instinctively.
Clang!
The impact rattled his arms, shock traveling up to his shoulders. He staggered back three steps, boots scraping against stone.
Pain flared.
But so did something else.
[Combat Detected]
[Minor EXP Gained: +2]
Lin Yuan's eyes widened.
Gu Shan didn't give him time to think.
Another strike. Then another.
Each blow forced Lin Yuan to block, retreat, adjust. He didn't have the strength to counter—but the system fed him information with every clash.
Angles. Timing. Openings.
Not enough to win.
Enough to survive.
After the tenth exchange, Gu Shan halted.
"Hmph."
He sheathed his sword. "You won't die today."
Lu Yan clicked her tongue. "Barely."
Shen Rui laughed. "That's practically praise."
The lazy youth finally sat up, yawning. "Name's Mo Yu. If you survive a month, I'll remember you."
Lin Yuan bowed silently, breathing hard.
His arms ached. His palms stung.
But inside—
[EXP: 12 / 200]
He clenched his fist.
Training gives EXP… but killing will give more.
They didn't let him rest.
Sword Hall training was simple and merciless.
Strike. Block. Move. Bleed.
By midday, Lin Yuan's robes were soaked with sweat and faint streaks of blood. Lu Yan corrected his footwork by kicking his legs out from under him. Gu Shan forced him to parry until his wrists trembled. Mo Yu occasionally flicked pebbles at his pressure points when he thought Lin Yuan wasn't paying attention.
Only Shen Rui offered advice.
"Don't fight strength with strength," he said calmly. "Sword Hall survives by precision."
Lin Yuan absorbed everything.
By sunset, he could barely stand.
That was when the Sword Hall Elder appeared.
He materialized atop a stone pillar, wine gourd dangling loosely.
"Training's done," he said lazily. "Time to earn your keep."
Lu Yan stiffened. "Elder… already?"
"Mm." The elder glanced at Lin Yuan. "Especially him."
Lin Yuan felt it immediately.
Opportunity.
Danger.
"Outer mountain," the elder continued. "Low-tier spiritual beasts. You five are bored. He needs blood."
Gu Shan grinned for the first time.
The outer mountain forest was thick with mist and the stench of beasts.
They didn't go far.
They didn't need to.
A horned shadow burst from the underbrush with a shrill screech—its body the size of a wolf, eyes glowing green with hunger.
"A Mist-Horned Beast," Shen Rui said calmly. "Qi Condensation level."
Lu Yan stepped aside.
Gu Shan crossed his arms.
The elder's voice echoed faintly. "Your kill."
The beast lunged.
Lin Yuan's heart pounded—but he didn't retreat.
He moved.
Sword raised. Breath steady.
The world narrowed.
The system pulsed.
[Target Locked]
The beast slashed with its horn.
Lin Yuan sidestepped—barely—and felt fur brush his robe. He slashed back, cutting shallow flesh. The beast shrieked, blood spraying hot against his hand.
Fear vanished.
Clarity replaced it.
They exchanged blows—wild, desperate, brutal.
Then Lin Yuan saw it.
An opening.
He stepped in.
Thrust.
The sword pierced the beast's throat.
Silence followed as the body collapsed at his feet, twitching once before going still.
Blood pooled across the forest floor.
The system chimed.
[You have slain a Spiritual Beast]
[EXP +40]
[Level Up!]
Power surged through him.
His breathing steadied instantly. Fatigue receded.
Lightning flickered briefly along his blade—gone before anyone could notice.
Lu Yan stared.
Mo Yu whistled softly.
Shen Rui smiled wider.
From afar, the Sword Hall Elder took a long drink.
"…Yeah," he murmured. "This one'll do."
Lin Yuan looked down at the corpse, hand tightening around his sword.
This wasn't cultivation.
This was hunting.