Chapter 6: The Sleeping Dragon Awakens
The training grounds remained silent after Jian Feng's display of Sword Qi, the air thick with disbelief.
For years, he had been a joke—the weakest disciple, mocked for his lack of talent.
Now, before their eyes, he had split a massive boulder with a single invisible strike.
A disciple stepped forward, trying to rationalize what they had just seen.
"That was… that was probably a trick," he stammered. "There's no way someone like Jian Feng could—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Jian Feng's cold gaze met his own, sending a shiver down his spine.
There was no arrogance in those eyes. No need to prove himself to anyone.
Only absolute confidence.
It made the disciple instinctively step back.
Others began whispering among themselves.
"Maybe it wasn't a trick…"
"Has Jian Feng been hiding his strength all this time?"
"If he can use Sword Qi, then in the tournament…"
Doubt and fear spread through the disciples.
Jian Feng ignored them.
His goal was not to impress them. His goal was victory.
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
He had three days left before the tournament.
And he still wasn't satisfied with his power.
---
That night, Jian Feng returned to his private training chamber and pushed himself even harder.
With every sword strike, he refined his Sword Qi, forcing it to become sharper and faster.
He no longer just practiced techniques—he visualized battles.
He imagined facing Xu Tian.
Every possible attack. Every possible defense.
He replayed the battle over and over in his mind, searching for weaknesses.
In his past life, he had lost in ten moves.
This time, he would not lose at all.
On the final night before the tournament, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
His body ached. His meridians burned.
But his will remained unshaken.
He was ready.
---
The next morning, as the Sect Tournament began, the arena was packed with spectators.
Thousands of disciples, elders, and guests from allied sects had gathered to watch.
At the highest seat, Elder Zhao, one of the sect's highest-ranked figures, stood up.
He raised his hand, his voice booming across the arena.
"The Sect Tournament shall now begin!"
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Jian Feng stood among the competitors, his expression calm.
This was it.
The first battlefield in his path to reclaiming his power.
His eyes slowly lifted to the VIP platform—where Xu Tian sat, watching from above.
Soon.
But first, he had to clear the obstacles before him.
---
Trivia:
Visualization Training (心剑修行): High-level sword cultivators often visualize battles in their minds, simulating countless scenarios to prepare for real combat.
Sword Domain (剑域): A rare mastery where a cultivator's intent can create an invisible space where they hold absolute control over sword techniques.