In the Demon Realm, inside the Dragon Palace, the night was quiet. In one of the chambers, a young boy sat, his mind still lingering on what he had heard earlier in the grand hall. Beside him was a small earth dragon, which scratched its cheek with its claw, its gaze fixed on the boy.
"Long Zai," the boy finally broke the silence, "do you think Sister Gan Ling hasn't visited me all these years because something happened to her? And what about Brother Dark Night? Why did he tell Brother Situ that Brother Dongfang is alone in the Beast Realm? What about Dun and Sister Gan Ling? Are they okay?"
Faced with his master's questions, the little earth dragon could only respond with a soft "woof," unable to provide any real answers. A sudden knock at the door startled the boy, pulling him out of his thoughts. Rising quickly, he went to open it, and standing there was a youth in black robes adorned with intricate patterns—none other than the current Demon Lord, Situ Juekong.
"Luo, why didn't you come to greet me when I returned?" Situ Juekong's voice was calm yet tinged with inquiry.
The boy blinked in surprise, then replied, "I didn't know you'd be back today, Brother. I was in the stone forest practicing Phantom Step with Long Zai."
"Oh? You're practicing Phantom Step? Who taught you? How's your progress?" Situ Juekong's eyes lit up at this revelation. After all, Luo had always been frail and showed little interest in training. Hearing that he was practicing such an advanced technique filled Situ Juekong with excitement. What he didn't know was that this Luo was no longer the same person as the boy from six years ago.
"It was Sister Xuan Wu who taught me," Luo answered hesitantly. "But since my Qi hasn't reached the third tier yet, I can only produce two clones at most."
Situ Juekong raised an eyebrow. "Xuan Wu may be good at her own training, but teaching others isn't her forte. Tomorrow, I'll have Dark Night coach you. And I'll also ask the Fire Guildmaster for some pills to boost your cultivation so you can reach the third tier as soon as possible."
Luo nodded in agreement, giving a soft "mm," though his thoughts remained fixated on what he'd overheard earlier in the hall.
"Rest well tonight," Situ Juekong said before turning to leave. "Dark Night will guide you tomorrow." The room was once again quiet, save for the boy and his little earth dragon.
That night, Luo lay awake, thoughts consumed by the image of a white-clad youth wielding a long sword. Abruptly, he sat up, determination flashing in his eyes. "No," he whispered to himself, "I must find Brother Dongfang."
---
The next day, in the ominous Dragon Forest, a boy stood among the trees, clutching a short blade. A small earth dragon perched on his shoulder. Beside him stood a masked figure.
"Young Master," the masked figure began, "in your opinion, what is the purpose of Phantom Step?"
Luo pondered for a moment before answering, "Phantom Step is a mystical movement technique of the Demon Realm. It consists of two parts: Phantom and Shadow. Phantom moves unpredictably, making it hard for enemies to track your true position. Shadow creates clones using internal Qi to confuse the enemy. Its main use... is escaping, of course."
"What? Escaping?" The masked youth—none other than Dark Night—was visibly startled. Phantom Step was his own creation from years ago. At the time, as a fourth-tier warrior, he had defeated a sixth-tier opponent using this very technique to secure his position as Dragon Guard Captain. "Young Master, you understand the essence of Phantom Step well, but its greatest value isn't in escaping—it's in killing."
"Killing?" Luo exclaimed in astonishment.
"Yes, killing," Dark Night affirmed. "Phantom makes you unpredictable, allowing you to strike when your enemy is defenseless. Shadow confuses your opponent, making it impossible for them to identify the real you, leaving them vulnerable. That's how Phantom Step is a deadly weapon, not just a tool for escape."
Hearing this, Luo was enlightened. He had underestimated the technique's potential, thinking it was merely a means of fleeing. "I was so ignorant," he thought to himself.
"However," Dark Night added, "Phantom Step alone isn't enough without an accompanying offensive skill. That's what we'll learn today."
"Really?" Luo's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Dark Night nodded. "This skill is called Swift Blade Slash. I created it alongside Phantom Step. Combined, it's an incredibly powerful close-combat technique, especially effective during the early stages of cultivation."
With that, Dark Night placed a finger on Luo's forehead. A surge of energy rippled through the air as a faint trace of Qi flowed from Dark Night into Luo's mind. Luo felt his consciousness stir as an image appeared in his mind—a figure wielding a short blade, demonstrating precise and fluid movements.
When the demonstration concluded, Dark Night withdrew his finger. "I've imprinted the technique into your mind," he explained. "Now it's up to you to practice and master it. Your current ability to create two clones with Phantom Step is already impressive, so focus on integrating the two techniques. But remember, enhancing your strength is what truly matters. Skills and techniques are only tools. Against absolute power, they are meaningless."
"Understood!" Luo nodded earnestly. He knew his priority was to raise his cultivation level. Without sufficient strength, even the best techniques would be futile. If he wanted to leave Dragon Palace and find Brother Dongfang, he needed to grow stronger.
The rest of the day was spent practicing under Dark Night's guidance. By evening, Dark Night was astonished at Luo's rapid progress. Within just one day, the boy had seamlessly combined Phantom Step and Swift Blade Slash. His innate talent, Dark Night thought, was on par with the Demon Lord himself. He was confident that, given time, this boy would one day stand atop the Four Realms.
That night, back in his chamber, Luo held a small bottle of pills that had been delivered by a servant.
"These pills from the Sacrificial Island... What miraculous effects do they have?" He uncorked the bottle, sniffing the contents. "Smells pretty good." He poured out two pills and swallowed them, then sat cross-legged to circulate his Qi according to the techniques Situ Juekong had taught him. Strangely, they bore a striking resemblance to the methods Brother Dongfang had once shown him. Perhaps their masters shared a lineage.
As the pills dissolved in his stomach, Luo felt a warm current rush to his Qi Sea. His Qi began absorbing external energy at an astonishing rate. Unable to handle the influx, the excess energy started overflowing into his limbs, making his blood feel like it was boiling. Just as he feared he might burst, the dragon-shaped mark on his chest flickered. A small wisp of black flame emerged, incinerating the surging Qi in his Qi Sea. Exhausted, Luo collapsed onto his bed, unconscious.
When he awoke, Luo felt invigorated, his body stronger than ever. Checking his Qi Sea, he was astonished to find it not only full but also significantly expanded.
"Have I broken through to the third tier?" he wondered aloud. A determined glint flashed in his eyes. "Brother Dongfang, I'm coming to find you."