white phantom

Bai Shen stood before the old man, his blank eyes staring straight ahead.

"You have proven that you can see without your eyes." The hermit's voice was calm, yet firm. "Now, I want to know… can you fight without your sword?"

Bai Shen was not surprised.

A true warrior does not rely on weapons. The sword is merely a tool—but instinct and mastery of martial arts are everything.

"Alright." Bai Shen sheathed his sword and placed it on a large rock beside him.

The hermit gave a faint smile. "Good. Then let's begin."

The Trial of Instinct Begins

Whoosh!

A sudden gust of wind rushed from his right. Bai Shen moved back, but before he could fully react—

Thud!

A force struck his stomach, pushing him back a few steps.

I didn't hear any footsteps… How did he hit me?

The hermit remained in place, showing no signs of having moved.

"Don't rely only on your hearing," he said. "If you depend on a single sense, you will fall into the same trap as before."

Bai Shen steadied his breath.

He attacked without sound… or perhaps, in a different way.

Bai Shen focused. This time, he didn't rely solely on Phantom Echo but also on the subtle sensations in his body—air pressure, temperature shifts, and even the faintest movements.

Whoosh!

Another attack!

Bai Shen moved sideways, but something pressed down from above—as if the attack came from the air. He raised his arm to block…

Thud!

Too slow.

A strike landed on his shoulder.

But this time, Bai Shen didn't just take the hit—he felt it.

Understanding the Invisible Combat Style

"Are you starting to understand?" the hermit's voice echoed.

Bai Shen remained silent, inhaling deeply.

His technique isn't just about speed. It's about blending with the surroundings.

The hermit wasn't moving in a normal pattern. He was using wind pressure, temperature shifts, and air disturbances to disguise his movements.

If Bai Shen wanted to win, he had to see differently.

Not with his eyes. Not with sound. But with feeling.

Bai Shen emptied his mind of his old fighting habits.

And in that instant, he "saw" it.

Whoosh!

Another attack came.

This time, Bai Shen didn't try to dodge completely. He let the air pressure guide him, moving with the flow of the strike instead of resisting it.

And just before the attack landed—

Thud!

Bai Shen shifted his arm and caught the strike with his palm!

The wind around him trembled, as if the world acknowledged his newfound understanding.

The hermit grinned. "Good. You're starting to move with the rhythm of battle."

But the trial was not over yet.

Now, Bai Shen had to strike back—without a sword.