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2025-01-01 16:37:06"Wind Sword Slash!" exclaimed an 8-year-old boy, encouraging himself amid sword practice.
He trains in a mini bamboo forest behind the Wudang Sect.
The little boy was named Eadric Rong.
The mini bamboo forest is part of the territory of the Wudang Sect, one of the strongest sects in the Wriston Kingdom.
Since this morning, Eadric Rong had been engrossed in practicing the sword technique known as the Nine Steps of the Wind Sword, a basic technique that all disciples in the Wudang Sect must master. However, Eadric Rong's physical condition was pitiful.
Since childhood, he never had any power in his body. Eadric Rong was born without the Pearl Core, the energy-gathering source at the center of the human body that is necessary for anyone who wants to pursue the path of cultivation and martial arts.
Without the Pearl Core, even if he had practiced the sword for a thousand years, all those moves would only have looked beautiful but would have been powerless.
Eadric Rong can be said to have been born with a congenital disability and was destined to be an ordinary person for the rest of his life.
By now, the sun was overhead. Sweat had drenched Eadric Rong's body, yet he had not stopped training.
"I have to keep trying. Even if I don't have pure air, at least practicing swordplay like this will have benefits later on!" thought Eadric Rong with determination.
Suddenly, a voice interrupted his training. "You're wasting your time practicing that kind of sword training. You'll only be wasting time swinging your sword, consuming the sect's resources while your body produces no pure air! Your movements are beautiful but meaningless!"
Eadric Rong was startled. He didn't want to look back to find out who was speaking. Without looking, he knew it must be Malakai Yan's voice. Malakai Yan was the only child of the deputy leader of the Wudang Sect, older than Eadric Rong.
Despite being 11 years old, he loved to bully Eadric Rong. In addition to the abuse and ridicule he had been subjected to, Eadric Rong had also been beaten to a pulp several times by Malakai Yan, all because of his inability to gather pure air while practicing martial arts.
Continuing to swing his sword in beautiful movements, Eadric Rong pretended not to care. "Hey, Eadric Rong, are you deaf? I've called you several times, but you pretend not to listen!" shouted Malakai Yan angrily. At this moment, Malakai Yan was sitting on the numerous rocky boulders at the back of the sect.
The Wudang Sect is located in Wudang Mountain, a mountain range on the Western side of the Wriston Kingdom. Seeing the unconcerned Eadric Rong practicing swordplay down there, an 8-year-old girl named Judith Tang heated Malakai Yan.
"Alright, Big Brother Wei, why don't you hit him? This Eadric Rong has no shame, still insisting on practicing swordplay when he doesn't have a Pearl Core. All the sect's resources are just going to waste!"
At that moment, Malakai Yan jumped off the rock he was sitting on, now about ten steps away from where Eadric Rong was practicing the sword. The swishing sound of the wooden sword could still be heard as Eadric Rong swung the wooden sword.
"Alright, let's beat him up as usual!" Another little boy's voice joined in, following the crowd. His name was Teddy Huo, and he was 10 years old. Malakai Yan, Judith Tang, and Teddy Huo were three friends. They loved to bully Eadric Rong.
As Eadric Rong continued to engage in sword practice, there was a sudden whistle, followed by a fist attack from Malakai Yan. "Fool! I'm still insisting on practicing martial arts! Today, I'll break your hand!"
According to the Swallow Striking Technique, Malakai Yan appeared to leap beautifully in a body-lightening motion. His hands formed a fist called the Lightning Fist. Although he was still young, Malakai Yan's fists were already capable of crushing goat-sized rocks.
"Feel the blow!" shouted Judith Tang without pity when she saw Malakai Yan's body flashing with the sound of fists like running water. "He's dead, at least maimed for life!" hissed Teddy Huo with sparkling eyes.
For some reason, this group of three children hated Eadric Rong so much. Eadric Rong had never done anything wrong to them—the desire to oppress the weak seeped into the children's souls.
The principle may have influenced this in the Kingdom of Wriston: "Stay strong and mighty, for the strong will oppress the weak!"
As the four pairs of eyes waited for Eadric Rong to be knocked down by Malakai Yan's Lightning Fist, suddenly, something strange happened. Eadric Rong spun the wooden sword in his hand with an agile and highly nimble movement. The sound of the sword squeaked as if it possessed the power of pure air.
"This - this... how did it happen? Isn't he unable to gather pure air?" cried Judith Tang and Teddy Huo simultaneously.
However, something interesting happened to Malakai Yan. When the tip of Eadric Rong's sword turned, magically like the style of a swordplay expert, Eadric Rong shifted the direction of the wooden blade. Suddenly, the sword's movement locked onto Malakai Yan's chest.
"Wretch! How can he be this strong?" Malakai Yan complained softly.
Boxing and swords are two different techniques. Fists rely on short distances, while swords from longer distances. Of course, before the Lightning Fist struck Eadric Rong, the tip of the wooden sword had first stabbed into Malakai Yan's chest.
Boom!
Malakai Yan was pushed back and fell, rolling over from losing balance. Judith Tang and Teddy Huo were wide-eyed in disbelief. "Could it be that this Eadric Rong has the movement speed of a swordsman who has practiced for decades?"
Continued
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After rolling for six rounds, Malakai Yan stopped as his body hit a rock. He tried to stand up, but his head felt dizzy, and everything in front of his eyes appeared as mere shadows.Although there was no pain from the stab in his chest, the attack left a shocking mark. What's more, he felt incredibly embarrassed. It had never occurred to him that Eadric Rong, who had always been the victim of bullies, had enough sword skills to take him down.With his two best friends, who had always faithfully followed his orders, standing by and witnessing his defeat, Malakai Yan's mind was worried about his reputation being ruined if word got out.In his rage, Malakai Yan pulled out a sword. Unlike the wooden sword Eadric Rong was using, this was a real sword and looked dangerous. The sword's light glittered in the sunlight as Malakai Yan pointed it at Eadric Rong with a trembling voice."It turns out you have a little ability," Malakai Yan said, shivering angrily. His voice rose even higher. "You
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At that crucial moment, when the tip of Malakai Yan's sword seemed about to split Eadric Rong's body in two, there was suddenly a loud noise.KRAK!With unbelievable speed, a pebble bounced off and struck his sword."Ouch!" Malakai Yan winced in pain.When the stone touched his sword, he felt electricity sting his hand, jolting his heartbeat. His sword slipped out and fell, clinking to the ground.A moment later, Malakai Yan raised his head and looked for who did that. "Who dares to stand in my way? Come out and show yourself! We'll fight to the finish!" His voice was full of arrogance.Malakai Yan dared to act as he pleased all this time because he relied on his father, the deputy leader of the Wudang Sect. So, no one dared to challenge him.The atmosphere became quiet, with only the wind rustling.Not long after, a man around thirty-two years old emerged from behind a rock. His face was solemn, and he was wearing the clothes and robes commonly worn by elders in the Wudang Sect.His
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If his actions were reported to his father, then Malakai Yan was sure that his father would not hesitate to expel him from the Wudang Sect."We have to go!" snapped Malakai Yan harshly as he pulled his two friends, Judith Tang and Teddy Huo, to leave the place. The two of them followed Malakai Yan back to the residences of the inner court disciples in the Wudang Sect.Since Elder Juric Teng's arrival, the audience of Wudang Sect's outer court disciples had immediately dispersed. No one dared comment after this stern elder's arrival.After things quietened, Elder Juric Teng flicked his sleeves and disappeared in a light movement.At that moment, Millie Xiao immediately ran towards Eadric Rong, who was still on the ground from the blow. Malakai Yan's sword had almost taken his life."Eadric Rong, are you okay?" the girl asked as she scrutinized Eadric Rong's body, looking for signs of injury."Ah, they're all just minor scratches. They'll heal over time," Eadric Rong replied as he took
The Secret of The Demonic Artifact At the Bottom of the Ravine – PART I.
The sky was dark that night, with black clouds rolling over the horizon. The moonlight failed to penetrate through the gaps in the clouds, leaving silence in the secluded outer courtyard of the student village.However, the silence was interrupted by whispers and the bustle of three small children."Let's drag him to the Bamboo Forest near here. It's impossible to arouse suspicion!" a boy whispered."Shouldn't we wrap him up to avoid suspicion?" a girl's voice was heard."Can't you two shut up? You've been arguing with each other with no action at all! Now, let's drag this cheap kid away. There's no need to wrap him up in anything. It's too much of a waste of resources for a talentless kid who doesn't have a Pearl Core at the center of his life!" snapped the other boy, making the two boys who were previously arguing instantly fall silent.Two boys immediately dragged Eadric Rong's body while the girl swept away the footprints using leaves. Their demeanor looked like that of profession
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He was trying to stand up from the pile of leaves arranged like a mattress, feeling and becoming increasingly convinced that he was indeed at the bottom of the ravine when a voice startled him."Good! You've come to your senses?" the voice said, making Eadric Rong realize he wasn't alone. The voice echoed, sounding close but as if it came from far away.Eadric Rong initially thought he was alone at the bottom of this abyss. From feeling shocked, he now felt happy. "S-who is it?"Silence.The sound of someone coughing was heard next.Uhuk!The coughing sound came from a small crack in the abyss wall. While enduring the pain in his body, Eadric Rong hobbled toward the sound's direction, which was precisely at the cave-shaped rock crevice.The cave was dark and gloomy, probably due to the lack of sunlight entering it. However, Eadric Rong's eyes quickly adapted, and he could see clearly inside the cave.Gasp!An older man sat with his eyes closed. His body was very thin, similar to a liv
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The sound of cackling filled the entire cave, echoing and causing fear. A foul stench came out of the figure's mouth as it brought its head closer to Eadric Rong, only half a meter away from his face."Are you deaf? Didn't you hear my words?" his voice echoed again, sounding like an ancient voice from another world.Eadric Rong naturally shivered with fear.The ugly face, the long and tangled hair. And the most terrifying thing was those empty eyes, as if they were moving and observing him. Eadric Rong felt like he was being interrogated. His mind quickly moved. "No matter what, I have to stay alive! The safest answer is the one I'll use."Subconsciously, still trembling, Eadric Rong replied, "My name is Eadric Rong. An outer court disciple, even if I can be considered a mere worker disciple..."Eadric Rong could feel the figure's hand grip loosening. "He softened when he learned I wasn't a core disciple.""Does Zhang Shi Dao still lead the Wudang Sect?" asked the hideous old figure,
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Seeing the attitude of the little boy who was initially afraid and reluctant to speak, but when he mentioned the opportunity for Eadric Rong to gain strength by manipulating his Energy Pearl, the older man's face visibly changed.If he had looked horrible and cruel before, he would have been laughing aloud this time."Hahaha!"The sound echoed, making the whole cave seem as if it might collapse.Eadric Rong naturally became scared; he stepped back and kept his distance."Elder, please don't laugh. This cave could collapse, and we'll both die," Eadric Rong said in a panic.After laughing and scaring Eadric Rong, the ugly older man said mockingly."Little boy. You're still a child but are already as cunning as a fox. You seemed scared at first, but once you heard that you could restore your ability to cultivate by procuring new Energy Pearls, you suddenly became nice to me. Even calling me Elder!"After speaking, the older man looked at Eadric Rong with two blank eyes. Eadric Rong's fac
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His weapon was an umbrella, an extremely deadly weapon. When the umbrella was opened, thirteen razor-sharp swords would appear, tearing the opponent's body to pieces.Once upon a time, the Umbrella Demon disappeared from the martial world. It was rumored that he was ganged up on by eight straight sect leaders.The Umbrella Demon disappeared, and the leaders of the eight sects never appeared before the people of the martial world again. "It is said that in that unequal battle, the eight sect leaders were injured by the deadly thirteen-eyed demon umbrella weapon!"That's how it was discussed in crowded places, stalls, and taverns and heard over and over again fifty years ago. Unfortunately, today, the story of the Umbrella Demon and the eight white sect leaders is no longer heard.Gradually, people began to realize who the Umbrella Demon was, the much-feared black sect demon kingpin.Back into the cave in the ravine behind the Wudang Sect."Little one... If I told you that I'm a figure
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Millie Xiao's status was quite high in the Wudang Sect as a senior Inner Court disciple, as well as the niece of Elder Juric Teng.Moreover, as a senior disciple at a young age, Millie Xiao's cultivation level was already at the Jade Tiger Swordsman Quasi realm. This was a high tier for a child of her age.So, in Millie Xiao's eyes, the children of that rich man Edmon Ouwyang were like insignificant dust in the face of her high status.With a dissatisfied look on her face, she asked,"Do you want me to drag those four kids along, then have them apologize to you?" asked Millie Xiao, trying to hide her angry expression."No need," Eadric Rong replied, looking calm."I will not be swayed by their provocations. After all, aren't they only briefly able to show off their beautiful and expensive clothes?”“This afternoon, all the new kids have to pick up their sect uniforms and wear them in their daily activities," Eadric Rong replied calmly."Alright then," Millie Xiao replied. For some rea
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"Now, quickly leave here. Before my anger peaks and I decide to slit your throat and take your life. As luck would have it, I only retaliated by breaking your dantian, just like what you were about to do to me last night. Isn't it even?" said Eadric Rong mercilessly. He'd had enough of these cruel kids like Fenn Zhao.At that moment, the sun was directly overhead. The wind blowing in the Bamboo Forest continued to rustle, swaying the bamboo stalks as if they were graceful dancers.The rustling sound of the long leaves created a melody that resembled the strains of a flute, bringing a strange feeling to the heart.Fenn Zhao hobbled along, holding his staff tightly. A stabbing pain coursed through his body, making every step feel like torture.He had suffered two devastating blows. The first blow was his broken sternum, a painful physical injury.However, the second blow was far more severe: damage to his dantian, the spiritual energy center in his body. As a result of that damage, he w
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The clock is set according to Chen Shi's time in the Shichen system, meaning the current time is between 7:00 am and 9:00 am, when the sun has risen and is in the sky. The bright light cast on the Bamboo Forest is mesmerizing.In a decrepit-looking hut, sunlight streamed through the cracks in the window, which was covered with old paper torn in several places. The bright rays exposed Fenn Zhao's eyes to blinding light, making him squint."Where am I?" Fenn Zhao wondered inwardly. He had just woken up from a stupor and tried to get up immediately.However, as soon as he moved, an excruciating pain attacked his chest."Ouch!" he screamed.The pain was so intense that tears fell from his eyes."What happened to me? Did I break my sternum?" Fenn Zhao thought in panic.Then, he began to remember. In the middle of the night, before dawn, he had come to a remote hut at the edge of the Bamboo Forest, where Eadric Rong lived.His intention was to break the boy's dantian. However, unexpectedly,
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He gazed up at the star-filled sky, feeling excited for the future to come.Standing on a cliff that was about two meters high from the narrow street, Eadric Rong jumped lightly.There is a flat section on the cliff, a perfect place for an expert to sit to cultivate while absorbing the gentle Moon's energy."Didn't anyone see me?" muttered Eadric Rong in a low voice.He checked left and right, alert to the possibility of any sect disciples or sect guards who might pass by and see him.His face changed into relief, so he carefully spread his special mat on the flat part of the cliff rock."This is the perfect night to absorb all the moon's energy," he murmured as he looked up at the dark sky. "According to Senior Kyron Mo, it is precisely on a dead moon night like this that the energy I will absorb will be of higher quality!"After that, he sat quietly in the lotus position, and began to meditate with full concentration.As the gloomy and cold moonlight seeped into his body, Eadric Ron
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As a gust of cold wind slapped Edmon Ouwyang's face, he wiped away a drop of tear that fell on his cheek. In the depths of his heart, he vowed to take revenge and make the boy named Eadric Rong regret having stolen the show during the Wudang Sect's recruitment.Until the sun appeared to be leaning over the western horizon, and when the sky had turned a blood-red color, Edmon Ouwyang's anger towards Eadric Rong still had not subsided.Finally, when the Lorien Priest announced that just over half of the candidates had made the cut, Eadric Rong walked back to his hut at the edge of the Bamboo Grove.In the old and humble hut, Rongkuo was lost in deep reverie. He wondered what techniques he should borrow from the library tomorrow.As a disciple, everyone in the outer courtyard was given permission to have one copy of the first-level sword skill and one copy of the zero-level empty-handed palm martial arts skill.The happiness Eadric Rong felt at that moment was overwhelming. His face was
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That afternoon, there was a crowd at the top of Wudang Mountain. A young boy stood on the sect's podium, looking awkward in the crowd of other children. The boy was Eadric Rong, who was asked to explain how he could cultivate Pure Eve energy.Eadric Rong began to clarify, followed by scornful looks from the crowd of new kids."I hereby confirm that I have never used any underhanded tactics or cheated in my actions in the Energy Meter trials." Eadric Rong stopped and sighed, trying to muffle his heartbeat.Although his voice did not project using pure air, because it was so quiet, every word he spoke was clearly heard and immediately understood by his listeners.Eadric Rong continued, "On that day, while I was traveling for resources in the middle of the Cloud Pine Forest, I accidentally came across a very strange tree.The tree had red leaves and fruit. Surprisingly, the fruit was also red and was the only fruit growing on the tree!"At this point, everyone listening to the story from
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Followed by the sound of shouts from the senior disciples in various directions. They seemed to be demanding an explanation from Eadric Rong about the ongoing situation, which had caused the uproar."We need an explanation. How is it possible that someone who doesn't have a pearl core can suddenly utilize pure air by dealing eleven points of damage?""Eadric Rong! You must explain. Otherwise, we'll consider this an act of cheating!" Fenn Zhao, as if encouraged by the questions most of the senior disciples asked, was not to be outdone and demanded an explanation.Meanwhile, the new disciples under the stage had already started whispering. They looked at Eadric Rong contemptuously as if he had committed an unforgivable crime."He turned out to be a cheater!" said a prospective student who seemed to be dressed in fancy clothes. Since the beginning of his arrival, he had always been in a group of four with his friends. With their beautiful outfits, these four prospective students looked v
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At that moment, the Lorien Priest's gaze on Eadric Rong looked complicated. His face was filled with sympathy and curiosity."Take it easy, Eadric Rong," said the Lorien Priest in a low, soothing voice. "Don't listen to those kids' scorn. If you fail this time, there's still next year. You are still very young, and there will be many opportunities for success in the future."Priest Lorien's voice was soft in Eadric Rong's ears as if a soothing gust of spring wind. This created a sense of warmth in his heart, giving him the strength to continue with the test.After Eadric Rong had calmed down and was no longer overwhelmed with nerves, it wasn't long before the Lorien Priest's voice could be heard echoing deafeningly."Eadric Rong, new disciple candidate of the Wudang Sect. Are you ready to undergo the energy test?" asked Priest Lorien.On stage, Eadric Rong nodded in agreement."Please grab hold of that Energy Meter pole!" ordered the Lorien Priest with his resounding voice, complete i
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"That kid never gives up. I'm always amazed by people who are persistent and full of spirit like him. However, when it comes to Eadric Rong, I can't say much. He'll probably feel embarrassed for the umpteenth time!" another disciple said sarcastically.The habit of watching the crowd, let alone seeing such an event when the new disciples were awkward, made the senior-level disciples want to witness it.This was pleasant entertainment for them. Eadric Rong noted inwardly that the three core disciples, Ferrin Teng, Torrek Da, and Faelin Fen, were seen watching along from another corner and separated themselves from the group of ordinary disciples."Wretched. Even the three core disciples witnessed this incident. I'm getting more and more confused. Should I display my true abilities, keep a low profile, and lay flat on the ground?" Eadric Rong's heart was filled with indecision.Hearing his name being called, Eadric Rong walked slowly and cautiously to the podium at the front, where the