The morning after the Entry Trial, Su Yanzhou woke up to an unfamiliar sensation: a faint thrum of energy running through his body, subtle but steady.
Void Qi.
It wasn't much yet — a fragile ember buried deep in his dantian — but it was real. No fever dream. No delusion. His successful Shadow Step had proven that.
He flexed his fingers, watching as the skin shimmered ever so slightly when he concentrated.
Still… the cost of it lingered.
His limbs ached. His mind felt stretched thin, as if it had burned too hot the day before.
"Can't rely on that trick too often," he muttered to himself. "Not yet."
The Reset had given him one path forward, but it hadn't erased the risks. Nor had it erased his enemies.
A sharp knock rattled the thin wooden door of his quarters.
"Yanzhou!" a voice hissed. "Open up!"
Su Yanzhou stiffened. He recognized the voice—Yu Lan, one of the few Outer Sect disciples who didn't openly mock him. A gangly boy with more heart than talent.
He opened the door a crack.
Yu Lan looked panicked, eyes darting left and right.
"You idiot! Do you know what you did yesterday?!"
Su Yanzhou blinked, still groggy.
"Uh… passed the trial?"
Yu Lan shoved the door open wider and barged in.
"You embarrassed Lu Fei. In front of everyone. He's furious."
Su Yanzhou sighed and rubbed his temples.
"That wasn't exactly intentional…"
"Doesn't matter!" Yu Lan paced. "Word's going around that he's calling for a 'friendly rematch' during the open spar tomorrow. You know what that means."
A pit formed in Su Yanzhou's stomach.
Outer Sect rules were clear — any open challenge had to be accepted unless you forfeited your standing. Declining meant losing access to resources, training slots… even your place in the dormitory.
And Lu Fei? He wouldn't stop at a simple beating.
Su Yanzhou exhaled slowly.
"Of course he wouldn't let it go."
Yu Lan stopped pacing and gave him a worried look.
"Can you… can you fight him again?"
Su Yanzhou hesitated.
Truthfully, he didn't know. Shadow Step had worked once — an instinctual response to danger. Could he repeat it? And if so, would it be enough?
Lu Fei's silver flames weren't for show. He was fast, ruthless, and trained by actual Inner Sect instructors.
"I… need time to prepare," Su Yanzhou said.
Yu Lan nodded nervously. "I'll stall him for a bit. But be careful."
As Yu Lan slipped out, Su Yanzhou sank onto the edge of his bed.
Think. You can't brute-force this. Use what you have.
He pulled out the Void Nexus stone again, feeling its cool surface pulse faintly against his skin.
Suddenly, text appeared in his mind's eye—clean and sharp.
[Void Nexus: Primary Anchor established.]
[Access unlocked: Anchor 1 - Foundation Reset.]
Su Yanzhou frowned.
Anchor?
A ripple of understanding surfaced — faint echoes from the Reset.
An Anchor was a milestone — a safe point in the otherwise costly process of using Limitless Reset. Reaching one meant he could selectively Reset certain attributes without erasing everything.
Foundation Reset would allow him to recalibrate his Qi channels, improving flow and capacity.
But the cost…
He hesitated.
Every use of Reset drew on his life force. Overuse would cripple or kill him. For now, one use had left him drained for days.
Not yet. Not unless I have no other choice.
Still, the knowledge comforted him. The path was real — and it would only grow clearer.
Later that afternoon, Su Yanzhou stood at the edge of the empty training field, watching shadows stretch across the stone tiles.
If Lu Fei wanted a fight, he'd get one.
But Su Yanzhou would dictate the terms.
He practiced Shadow Step — again and again.
At first, nothing happened.
No flicker, no shift.
His movements were slow, clumsy.
Too stiff. Too forced.
He forced himself to breathe slower. Centered his focus on the Void Qi, letting it flow naturally.
The sensation returned — a cold coil spiraling through his limbs.
He pictured himself stepping through it, not around it.
One with the Void. One with the space between.
A sharp breath.
Suddenly, the world blurred.
Su Yanzhou stumbled forward, reappearing two paces ahead, heart hammering.
"Ha… ha!"
Sweat dripped down his brow.
It wasn't perfect. Not yet. But repeatable.
One step at a time.
The next day, a crowd gathered at the open sparring arena.
Word had spread fast.
Lu Fei stood in the center, arms crossed, silver flames licking around his wrists.
His eyes glittered with malice.
"So the little rat came after all."
Su Yanzhou walked into the ring, face calm despite the murmurs.
"Let's get this over with."
Sect Elder Yun, the referee, raised a brow.
"Remember — open spar. First to concede or be incapacitated."
Both nodded.
The signal flared.
Lu Fei lunged instantly, silver fire coiling into a spear thrust.
Fast.
Faster than yesterday.
Su Yanzhou sidestepped barely in time, feeling the heat singe his robe.
Another thrust.
Now.
Void Qi surged.
The world warped.
He flickered left, reappearing behind Lu Fei — sword already swinging.
But Lu Fei had learned.
Spinning, he countered with a fiery backhand.
Impact.
Pain exploded in Su Yanzhou's ribs. He gasped, rolling away.
"Cheap trick," Lu Fei sneered. "Won't save you again."
Su Yanzhou forced himself up, blood in his mouth.
He's adapting. I need a new angle.
Drawing a shaky breath, he centered his focus again.
One more step.
Shadow Step flared — twice in rapid succession.
Blink. Blink.
He zigzagged unpredictably, closing in.
Lu Fei faltered — just for a moment.
It was enough.
Su Yanzhou's blade struck home — a shallow slash across Lu Fei's shoulder.
The silver flames dimmed briefly.
The crowd gasped.
Lu Fei's eyes went wild.
"You dare—!"
Fire exploded outward.
A torrent of Qi surged.
Su Yanzhou's vision blurred.
Too much.
His body screamed in protest.
Not enough strength left…
But before Lu Fei could land the final blow, Sect Elder Yun's voice boomed.
"Enough! The point is clear."
The flames vanished.
Lu Fei stood trembling with rage, but Elder Yun's gaze stopped him cold.
"Innovation under pressure. Strategic use of limited Qi. Impressive, Su Yanzhou."
Su Yanzhou swayed on his feet, barely conscious.
But inside, something sparked.
Recognition.
The crowd buzzed.
No longer just a nobody.
Not today.
Later that night, Su Yanzhou sat beneath a lone tree, nursing bruises and exhaustion.
He opened the Void Nexus again.
[Anchor 1: Stable.]
[Next Anchor unlock condition: Survive one life-threatening battle.]
He exhaled slowly.
Life-threatening?
That was just the beginning, wasn't it…?
But for the first time, the path ahead felt real.
He wasn't running anymore.
He was walking forward — into the Void.