white phantom

Bai Shen sat cross-legged on a large rock, surrounded by the gentle flow of a quiet river. The night was still, but his mind was restless.

His previous battle had proven one thing—he was not strong enough.

Even though his Phantom Echo technique allowed him to compensate for his blindness, it wasn't enough to face true Murim experts.

If he wanted revenge…

He had to become stronger.

Cultivation Realms of Murim

Until now, Bai Shen had only understood the basics of cultivation.

In the world of Murim, cultivators were divided into several realms:

1. Mortal Realm – Those who had just begun training, still bound by the limits of an ordinary human body.

2. Qi Foundation Realm – The starting point of harnessing internal energy, enhancing physical strength and martial techniques.

3. Martial Spirit Realm – Where a cultivator begins to understand the essence of energy and strengthens their combat abilities.

4. Grandmaster Realm – True masters, capable of splitting the earth with a single strike.

5. Heavenly Ascension Realm – Those who have surpassed human limitations and approach the power of legends.

Currently, Bai Shen was at Qi Foundation Realm, but he had yet to reach its peak.

I need to break through this barrier.

Training: Refining Phantom Echo

Bai Shen steadied his breath and began training his Phantom Echo technique.

This martial art relied on sound and vibrations to read an opponent's movements. However, until now, he had only used it defensively—dodging and countering attacks.

That was not enough.

He needed to refine it into a deadly weapon.

Step 1: Hearing Without Distraction

Bai Shen submerged himself in the river, letting the rushing water attempt to overwhelm his senses.

Listen. Filter out unnecessary noise.

At first, all he could hear was the roar of the current. But slowly, he began to hear deeper—the movement of fish, the rustling of leaves falling into the river, even his own heartbeat.

I must be able to detect the slightest movement, even in chaos.

Step 2: Striking with Precision

Bai Shen tied a string to a small bell and suspended it in front of him.

The string was attached to a wooden plank that would sway randomly with the night wind.

The training was simple: every time the bell rang, he had to strike the source of the sound before it faded.

Ting!

Bai Shen slashed toward the sound.

Too slow.

Ting!

He attacked again. Still too slow.

Ting! Ting!

Dozens of attempts—and he kept failing.

Breaking His Limits and a Moment of Insight

Hours passed. Bai Shen kept training, his body exhausted, his mind frustrated.

Why am I still too slow?

Then, he realized something.

I'm still relying only on sound.

It wasn't just sound that could give him information—there were vibrations in the air, shifts in pressure, a deeper instinct beyond hearing.

Bai Shen closed his eyes, though it never mattered to him.

This time, he didn't just hear the bell.

He felt it.

Ting!

His sword moved without thought—before the sound could fade, his blade had already struck its source.

Ting! Ting! Ting!

Strike after strike, without error.

He was no longer waiting for the bell to ring. He already knew where the sound would be before it even happened.

Phantom Echo had evolved.

The Next Step

As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Bai Shen stood up. His body was tired, but his mind was sharper than ever.

This was only the beginning.

He had refined his technique. But to truly grow stronger, he needed to learn more martial arts and understand cultivation at a deeper level.

And for that—he needed a master.