Li Shen's footfalls echoed in the silence as he ascended the path toward the summit of the Skyward Mountains. The air was thin here, the higher he climbed, and every breath felt like it came from a different world. His body, strengthened by the Black Lotus, was no longer burdened by the weight of fatigue, but there was a presence in the atmosphere that felt oppressive. The mountains weren't just a place — they were a living, breathing entity, and they seemed to resist his every step.
As he ascended, the rocky path grew steeper, and the once gentle breeze turned into a howling wind, battering him from every direction. He wrapped his cloak tightly around him, but the cold pierced through to his very bones. Despite the discomfort, Li Shen didn't hesitate. His eyes were fixed on the summit, where the legendary Immortal Sect was said to reside. The Lotus inside him throbbed, urging him onward with its insistent pulse. There was something waiting for him up there — something that could shape his future, or destroy him.
The path was treacherous. Jagged rocks jutted out like fangs, and the air grew thinner with each step. Yet, Li Shen pushed on, undeterred by the challenges of the ascent. As he neared the final stretch, the wind picked up violently, and dark clouds began to swirl above, casting an ominous shadow over the path ahead.
It was then that he heard it.
A low, guttural growl, as if the mountains themselves were speaking.
Li Shen stopped, his instincts immediately on alert. He could feel the oppressive presence growing stronger, and his hand instinctively moved to the hilt of the sword strapped to his side. The air seemed to thicken, and for a moment, the world around him seemed to stop moving. There was something ahead, something that was not human, and it was watching him.
Then, through the mist, a figure appeared — tall, with broad shoulders and a hunched back. The figure's skin was ashen, its eyes glowing a faint red. It moved with an unnatural grace, its steps silent despite its massive size. Its presence sent a chill down Li Shen's spine, and he instinctively reached for his sword.
"You are brave to come this far," the figure said, its voice a deep rasp that seemed to reverberate through the very rocks. "But you are a fool if you think you can proceed any further."
Li Shen's grip on his sword tightened, but he did not draw it. He studied the figure carefully. It was unlike anything he had encountered before. It wasn't human, yet it exuded an air of power that was both ancient and terrifying.
"Who are you?" Li Shen asked, his voice steady despite the unease that gnawed at him.
The figure chuckled, a sound that rumbled like thunder. "I am Yin Xuan, the Guardian of the Mountain. It is my duty to prevent those unworthy from reaching the Immortal Sect. And you, boy, are unworthy."
Li Shen's gaze hardened. He didn't care who or what this creature was. He had come too far, endured too much, to be stopped now. "I will reach the Immortal Sect," he declared. "You cannot stop me."
Yin Xuan's red eyes gleamed with amusement. "We shall see."
With that, the Guardian leaped forward, moving with a speed that belied its massive size. Li Shen barely had time to react before Yin Xuan slammed his fist into the ground, sending a shockwave of force through the air. The earth cracked, and stones were sent flying, but Li Shen managed to evade the attack by a hair's breadth, leaping backward to avoid being crushed.
He didn't wait for the creature to recover. With a swift motion, he drew his sword, its blade shimmering in the dim light. The Eternal Shadow Blade was a weapon unlike any other, crafted from the essence of darkness itself, its edge sharp enough to slice through the very fabric of space. It had been passed down through generations, though its true origins were a mystery even to Li Shen.
Yin Xuan sneered, his eyes narrowing. "A blade forged from darkness? How quaint. But it will not save you."
The Guardian lunged again, faster this time, his massive fists aimed directly at Li Shen's head. But Li Shen was faster. With a fluid motion, he parried the attack, his blade clashing with the creature's fist. The force of the impact sent a shock through his arm, but he held firm. The Eternal Shadow Blade hummed with power, and for a brief moment, Li Shen could feel the Lotus within him respond, feeding him strength.
"You are strong, for a mortal," Yin Xuan grunted, stepping back. "But you are not strong enough."
Li Shen didn't answer. Instead, he surged forward, his blade moving with lethal precision. He slashed downward, aiming for Yin Xuan's neck, but the Guardian was ready. With a roar, he swung his arm upward, deflecting the blow and sending Li Shen tumbling backward.
The two circled each other, the tension between them palpable. Yin Xuan's red eyes burned with fury, and Li Shen could feel his own heartbeat pounding in his ears. The Lotus inside him pulsed with anticipation, but Li Shen knew he had to remain focused. He couldn't afford to be distracted, not now. Not when the Immortal Sect was so close.
Suddenly, Yin Xuan raised both hands to the sky, his body glowing with dark energy. The mountains trembled, and the wind howled as the Guardian summoned a torrent of power. The sky darkened, and the air grew thick with an oppressive force. Li Shen's sword vibrated in his grip as the Guardian's aura surged toward him.
"You dare challenge me?" Yin Xuan bellowed. "Then feel the full wrath of the mountain!"
With a thunderous roar, he hurled a massive boulder toward Li Shen, the rock the size of a small house, crashing through the air with incredible speed.
Li Shen didn't hesitate. With a quick motion, he raised his sword, and the blade glowed with a black light. He slashed through the air, sending a wave of dark energy toward the boulder. The two forces collided with a deafening explosion, the shockwave sending both combatants staggering backward.
Li Shen gritted his teeth. The Guardian's power was immense, far beyond anything he had ever encountered. But he couldn't afford to retreat now. Not after everything he had been through.
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing on the Lotus within him. The flower pulsed, its petals glowing with a dark light. The threads of fate surrounding the Guardian flickered in his vision — they were thin, fragile, just waiting to be severed.
With a burst of speed, Li Shen lunged forward, his sword raised high. Yin Xuan's eyes widened in surprise, but it was too late. Li Shen's blade sliced through the air, the edge cutting through the Guardian's defenses like butter.
Yin Xuan let out a horrified roar as the blade pierced his chest, the energy from the strike shattering his body. The Guardian staggered back, his form disintegrating into dust, his body reduced to nothing but ash.
Li Shen stood over the remains of the creature, his breathing heavy, his heart pounding in his chest. His hands shook, not from fear, but from the sheer power he had just tapped into. The Lotus inside him had guided him, had given him the strength to defeat the Guardian.
But he knew this was only the beginning.
---
Li Shen continued his ascent, his eyes fixed on the summit. The winds had calmed, and the oppressive energy that had filled the air seemed to dissipate with the fall of the Guardian. But something else lingered in the air — a sense of anticipation, as if the very mountains were holding their breath.
As he reached the final stretch of the path, the mist thickened once again, swirling around him like a living thing. The air grew colder, and the sky overhead seemed to darken even further. The summit was in sight, but Li Shen could feel something watching him. Something ancient. Something powerful.
With a final, steady breath, Li Shen stepped forward, crossing the threshold that marked the entrance to the Immortal Sect.
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