The moment the golden light dimmed, I found myself standing atop a jagged peak, lost in mist, the summit slicing into the heavens like a divine blade. The wind whispered ancient chants, older than memory, wrapping around my body like an invisible shroud.
This was the Wind Cloud Special Cultivation Grounds.
Even the air was different—thick, rich with spiritual energy. My meridians stirred eagerly, drinking it in. Before I could even take a full breath, the system chimed.
Ding!
Scenario Mission Activated
Mission: Find the Third Sword
Reward:
• 4000 XP
• Unknown Token
Hint: The Third Sword, Sword of Wind, lies within 100 meters.
I blinked, stunned. "The Third Sword… here?!"
Excitement swelled in my chest like a flood.
Nearby, I spotted the other top competitors. Feng Xuan, dressed in long silver robes, his gaze as sharp as a blade, nodded at me coolly. His aura carried the same wind attribute as this place. Beside him stood Mu Lingyao, her icy blue eyes filled with quiet disdain.
I approached with a grin.
"So, Brother Feng Xuan, you managed to make it here."
Feng Xuan's tone was indifferent. "Of course. I possess the wind attribute. This place calls to me."
I turned to Mu Lingyao. "And you must be the third-place winner?"
She snorted. "Yeah. So what?"
I raised my hands in mock surrender and chuckled. "Alright, alright."
Turning back to Feng Xuan, I asked, "Do you know what's next? Or where we go?"
"I heard," he replied, "a divine bird will appear and take us to the true cultivation grounds."
We waited.
Ten minutes passed. Nothing.
Twenty minutes. Still nothing.
Thirty…
I huffed. "Hey, Feng Xuan, you sure about that bird? You didn't just make that up, right?"
Suddenly, a shadow fell over us.
"Look behind you," Feng Xuan said with a smirk.
I turned—and my jaw dropped.
A massive bird stood behind me. Its wings could blot out the sun, its feathers shimmered like obsidian steel, and its eyes burned with divine intelligence.
"W-what the heck?!" I yelped. "Is this bird a pig-eater?! How is it this big?!"
The bird narrowed its eyes at me.
"Alright, alright! I'm sitting, I'm sitting!"
I leapt onto its back, and the bird flew, carrying us down to a cave nestled in the side of the mountain. It landed with a mighty flap, and we dismounted.
As I stepped toward the cave, the bird suddenly bit my butt.
"AHHHH! You damned bird!" I yelped, clutching my rear as it flew off in majestic silence.
Muttering curses under my breath, I limped into the cave and found three doors. Two were sealed shut. The third stood open.
"So those two already went in," I muttered. "But my sword… it's here somewhere."
I asked the system, "Where's the Third Sword?"
Ding
5000 XP deducted.
Ding
Current XP: 8777
Ding
Host, the Third Sword lies beneath this cave.
"WHAT?! Why'd you take XP just for that?!"
Ding
I've told you twice already—nothing is free.
I fake-cried, wailing dramatically, "Ah, my poor XP… my precious points…"
Shaking it off, I began examining the walls. If there was a sword below this cave, there had to be a hidden path.
Sure enough, my fingers found a small depression in the stone. A secret button.
"Hah! Just like in those novels! Always a wall switch!"
I pressed it.
Immediately, the ground beneath my feet vanished.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed as I plunged into darkness.
Instead of slamming into the ground, I landed with a soft pomf. Blinking, I looked down—and froze.
A massive furry belly. Steady breath. A mountain of muscle beneath me.
I was lying on top of a slumbering Wind Bear.
I laughed nervously. "H-hello, big guy. I'm just passing through. Nothing to worry about…"
The Wind Bear's eyes snapped open.
"Uh-oh."
With a deafening ROAR, the beast surged to its feet, flinging me off its belly. I hit the ground hard and scrambled to my feet as its towering form loomed over me.
"Okay! Okay! No need to get violent!" I shouted, drawing my sword as the bear charged.
The Sword of Wind was close… but first, I had to survive the fury of the Wind Bear.