white phantom

A thin mist blanketed the mountain valley. A cold wind whispered through the trees, carrying the rustling of leaves and the distant murmur of a flowing river. Bai Shen stood in the open field, his feet firmly planted on the ground.

Before him, the hermit gazed at him with sharp eyes, as if observing a disciple on the verge of enlightenment.

"You have learned to perceive movement without sight, to fight without a sword. But one final lesson remains."

Bai Shen remained silent, waiting attentively.

"Now, you must forge a sword without steel—a weapon not made of metal, but of intent and understanding."

A Sword That Cannot Be Seen

Bai Shen furrowed his brow. "You mean… an energy sword?"

The hermit shook his head. "No. Not energy, not qi. I speak of a blade born from the understanding of the world around you. Something invisible, yet sharper than any steel."

Bai Shen pondered.

In their previous battles, he had learned to read the wind, feel vibrations, and let his body flow with the environment. But how could those things form a blade?

The hermit stepped closer, his voice calm yet firm.

"You have learned to perceive movement without sight. Now, you must understand combat without contact."

Bai Shen raised his head slightly, intrigued.

"Fight me once more," the hermit continued. "But this time, without using your hands or feet to strike. Only with intent."

Bai Shen took a deep breath.

A battle without physical attacks? It sounded impossible.

But he did not refuse.

He relaxed his stance, allowing his body to loosen, opening all his senses.

A Battle Without Impact

The wind howled. A shift in the air signaled an incoming attack. Bai Shen did not dodge as he normally would. Instead, he adjusted his posture just slightly, letting the current pass by him.

A strike aimed at his chest.

Bai Shen did not raise his hands to block. He merely leaned in the right direction, allowing the force of the strike to slip past him without resistance.

The hermit swept his leg in an attempt to trip him.

Bai Shen did not jump away. He shifted his weight, flowing with the attack rather than against it, causing the strike to lose all effectiveness before it even reached him.

The hermit stopped.

"Good. You are beginning to understand."

Bai Shen frowned. "What exactly am I learning?"

"Combat is not just about attacking or defending," the hermit said. "It is about controlling rhythm. When you can redirect an opponent's strength without touching them, when you can make them lose balance simply by intention—then you have found your true blade."

Bai Shen contemplated his words.

If he could predict his opponent's movements and flow with their attacks, then he could defeat them without ever striking.

Like an illusionary blade that cuts without making contact.

He adjusted his stance once more. This time, he wasn't just reacting to attacks—he was leading the fight.

Mastering the Formless Blade

The hermit attacked swiftly, changing angles and adjusting his approach to break Bai Shen's rhythm. But Bai Shen had already stepped into the flow of battle.

He wasn't just avoiding strikes—he was controlling them.

The hermit stepped forward, preparing to strike from the left—but before he could fully commit to the movement, Bai Shen had already shifted slightly, closing off that angle.

The hermit hesitated for a fraction of a second, losing momentum.

And in that instant, Bai Shen understood.

This is the blade without form.

An attack that did not need to land, because the opponent would already feel its presence.

Bai Shen exhaled slowly, then took a single step forward, fully committing to his movement.

The hermit instinctively moved back half a step—despite Bai Shen never raising his hands.

A small smile formed on Bai Shen's lips.

Manipulating the Battlefield

The hermit changed his approach. This time, he mixed in feints, trying to deceive Bai Shen's senses.

But Bai Shen was no longer just relying on sound or air pressure.

He could feel every motion, not just through vibrations, but through subtle changes in balance and momentum.

When the hermit moved, Bai Shen reacted before the attack fully formed.

A kick aimed at Bai Shen—yet before it could be executed, Bai Shen had already adjusted, making the attack feel pointless.

The hermit started to realize—he could no longer attack in a conventional way.

Bai Shen was not just avoiding strikes.

He was controlling the battlefield itself.

Victory Without Violence

The hermit stopped. "Now you understand."

Bai Shen nodded. "I don't need a sword to cut. I only need my opponent to feel the presence of one."

"Exactly."

The hermit gave a small nod of approval. "This is a skill few ever master. With this understanding, you can make opponents surrender before a fight even begins. Or end a duel without ever drawing blood."

Bai Shen realized how powerful this technique was.

With it, he no longer needed to rely on his blade for every battle.

Even without steel in his hands—he remained a swordsman who could not be defeated.

But deep inside, one question lingered…

How far could this technique take him on his path of vengeance?