Yohan wandered the Long Clan estate, his eyes taking in the sheer opulence surrounding him. Everything was polished marble and intricately carved wood, a world so far removed from the filth and grime of the slums that it felt like an illusion. Yet, despite the grandeur, there was a coldness here—a lack of warmth that mirrored the isolation the former owner of this body had endured.
The memories weren't his, but they settled into his mind like ghosts. Servants who sneered behind his back, relatives who refused to even acknowledge him, and a family that had long written him off as useless.
Yohan's jaw tightened. "This place may be beautiful," he muttered, "but it's just another cage."
As he turned a corner, laughter echoed down the hallway. A group of young clan members loitered near the entrance to the training grounds, their conversation loud and mocking.
"Did you hear? That trash Yohan actually walked into the dining hall this morning. The nerve of him!"
"I'm surprised he didn't trip over his own feet. Isn't that all he's good at?"
The lead voice belonged to a young man a few years older than Yohan, tall and broad-shouldered with a smirk that screamed arrogance. His name, Yohan's borrowed memories supplied, was Long Wei—a distant cousin and one of his most persistent tormentors.
Yohan's steps faltered for a moment before the system's quest flashed in his mind:
---
**Quest:** *Prove Your Worth.*
Defeat a member of the Long Clan in combat.
Rewards:
- Random Basic Combat Techniques Manual.
- 10 Path Tokens
---
The old Yohan would have avoided them, kept his head down and endured the taunts. But he wasn't the old Yohan anymore.
Straightening his back, he strode forward, his footsteps drawing their attention.
"Well, speak of the devil," Long Wei sneered, crossing his arms. "What's this? The trash has finally decided to crawl out of his hole?"
Yohan stopped a few paces away, his red eyes locking onto Long Wei's smug expression. "You talk a lot for someone who's never been challenged."
A collective gasp echoed from the group. Long Wei's smirk faltered for a moment before turning into a scowl. "What did you say?"
"You heard me," Yohan said, his voice steady. "Let's settle it. A sparring match. Unless you're afraid of losing to 'trash.'"
The words hung in the air, and for a moment, there was only silence. Then Long Wei barked out a laugh. "You? Challenge me? This'll be over in seconds."
The group quickly made their way to the training grounds, their jeers and laughter drawing more onlookers. By the time Yohan and Long Wei faced each other, a small crowd had gathered, whispering and pointing.
"Has Yohan lost his mind?"
"This'll be fun to watch. He won't last two moves."
Long Wei stepped into the circle, cracking his knuckles. "I'll go easy on you, cousin. Wouldn't want to break the family disgrace."
Yohan didn't reply. Instead, he focused on the system, willing it to assist him.
*"Scanning opponent... Analysis complete. Weakness: Overconfidence leads to predictable moves."*
The words flashed briefly in his mind, and Yohan smirked. "Let's begin."
Long Wei charged, his movements fast and practiced. Yohan barely managed to dodge the first strike, his body moving on instinct. The second blow grazed his shoulder, sending him stumbling back.
"Already on the ropes?" Long Wei sneered, pressing the attack.
Yohan gritted his teeth, his mind racing. The system's words repeated in his head. Overconfidence. Predictable moves.
The next time Long Wei lunged, Yohan sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the punch. He countered with an awkward but effective shove, sending Long Wei off balance.
The crowd murmured in surprise.
Long Wei growled, his face red with anger. "You're dead!"
He charged again, his attacks more reckless this time. Yohan ducked, weaved, and finally saw his opening—a brief lapse in Long Wei's guard. Summoning every ounce of strength, he delivered a punch to Long Wei's gut, sending him sprawling to the ground.
The crowd fell silent, their disbelief palpable.
Yohan stood over his fallen opponent, his chest heaving. "Not so easy, is it?" he muttered.
*"Quest Complete. Reward: **Longshadow Blade Art**:
**"Longshadow Blade Art"**
combines speed, precision, and overwhelming force. This technique is designed for cultivators who wish to dominate their opponents with swift and decisive strikes. The manual is said to have been crafted by a warrior who mastered the art of blending shadows and steel, striking so quickly that only the opponent's shadow remains.
### Key Features:
1. **Shadow Step**: A movement technique that allows the user to blur their figure, making it difficult for enemies to track their movements.
2. **Phantom Slash**: A rapid, multi-directional attack that confuses and overwhelms the opponent, appearing as though the blade strikes from the shadows themselves.
3. **Draconic Resonance**: Channels energy into the blade, creating a roaring shadow dragon effect that intimidates and crushes weaker opponents.
4. **Lingering Strike**: Leaves behind an afterimage of the attack, forcing enemies to react to phantom blows.
5. **Final Form - Eclipse Cut**: A devastating, single-target attack that gathers all available energy into one overwhelming slash, capable of cutting through spiritual defenses.
The manual emphasizes fluidity and adaptability, allowing the user to switch seamlessly between offense and defense. While the technique is highly effective, it requires immense focus and energy control to fully master.
The system's notification was a quiet triumph in his mind.
Before he could savor the moment, an older voice cut through the murmurs. "Impressive, but don't get ahead of yourself."
Yohan turned to see a senior clan member—one of the elders—watching him with a stern expression.
"Power is only the first step," the elder said, his tone cold. "In this clan, strength alone won't keep you alive."
The warning lingered as the crowd dispersed, leaving Yohan alone with his thoughts.
"This is just the beginning," he whispered to himself. "I'll prove them all wrong. One step at a time."
Yohan returned to his room, his thoughts racing. The events of the day had been overwhelming, but the promise of his newfound power was enough to keep his exhaustion at bay. He closed the door behind him and took a deep breath.
"System," he said, his voice steady. "Show me my rewards."
The translucent status screen appeared before him, displaying his new rewards:
- **10 Path Tokens**
- **Longshadow Blade Art (Combat Manual)**
Curious, Yohan reached for the combat manual. As he opened it, the text inside glowed faintly, and a diagram depicting a figure performing intricate blade movements materialized in the air. He noticed that only one feature, **Shadow Step**, was lit up in a vivid glow. The other techniques—**Phantom Slash, Draconic Resonance, Lingering Strike, and Eclipse Cut**—remained dim, their edges outlined but inactive.
Frowning, he asked, "System, why are the other features locked?"
The system's cold, mechanical voice responded:
**"The features of the Longshadow Blade Art are locked until you reach a certain level of perfection with the preceding technique. Shadow Step is the foundation of this art. Only by mastering it and achieving sufficient proficiency can the next feature be unlocked. Your progress depends on your dedication and effort in refining the skill."**
Yohan stared at the glowing Shadow Step feature. "Perfection, huh? So, I'm stuck with this until I master it. No shortcuts?"
**"Correct. Progression in this combat art is determined solely by your effort. The manual was designed to ensure mastery of each stage before advancing. Sloppy or incomplete training will result in stagnation."**
He couldn't help but smile. "So, hard work and focus, then. That's nothing new to me."
Yohan closed the manual, his resolve hardening. "Fine. I'll make Shadow Step my own. And when I've mastered it, I'll unlock the rest."
As the status screen faded, Yohan clenched his fists, feeling a spark of excitement for the first time in years. He wasn't just going to survive—he was going to thrive.