The merchant district faded behind Lin Dong and Li Yan as they approached the edge of a quiet courtyard, hidden beneath the shadows of towering stone walls. Here, the air carried a faint metallic tang — the residue of countless battles fought in secrecy.
"This is where your father trained," the old shopkeeper said. "The jade blade and the Seal are connected. You must learn to synchronize them, or the power will overwhelm you."
Lin Dong nodded. The jade blade rested in his hand, its runes faintly glowing. The Seal on his chest pulsed in response, eager, restless.
"We begin," the shopkeeper continued, gesturing toward the courtyard.
At first, Lin Dong struggled. Every swing of the jade blade seemed heavy, disconnected from his body. The Seal flared uncontrollably, blasting loose stones and sending dust swirling into the air. Sparks of golden energy ricocheted off the walls.
"Focus," the shopkeeper instructed. "The Seal mirrors your mind. Calm it, or it will destroy you."
Lin Dong's heart pounded. He closed his eyes, taking a slow breath. The golden pulse in his chest steadied. The warmth of the spirit core in his hand seemed to ground him, linking the Seal and the jade blade in a flowing rhythm.
He opened his eyes. In one smooth motion, the jade blade moved — light streaking across the courtyard, slicing through a pillar with a clean, reverberating crack. The Seal's golden glow coiled along his arm, extending into the blade.
"Good," the shopkeeper said, his voice low but approving. "But control is only half the battle."
A sudden snap echoed through the courtyard. Shadows flickered at the corners of Lin Dong's vision. From the darkness, a masked disciple of the Lei Clan stepped forward, twin daggers gleaming in the moonlight.
"The Seal is mine," the figure hissed. "Step aside, or die."
Li Yan moved to intercept, but Lin Dong raised a hand. "I handle this."
The disciple lunged. Lin Dong barely had time to react — the Seal flaring violently, golden energy forming a protective aura around him. He parried the first strike with the jade blade, sparks exploding on impact.
"You're fast," Lin Dong muttered, feeling the Seal pulse stronger with every movement. "But I'm faster."
He surged forward, blade tracing arcs of golden light. The courtyard walls cracked under the force of their strikes. Each movement from the disciple was precise, trained, deadly. But the Seal began to synchronize with Lin Dong's intent. Every step, every swing, every strike carried additional weight, additional force.
"Focus on the connection," the shopkeeper reminded from the sidelines. "Not the attack. Feel the Seal. Become one with it."
Lin Dong's eyes glowed golden. Energy coiled along his arms, around the jade blade, forming a radiant spiral. He moved as if the courtyard itself were part of him — the ground, the air, the walls responding to the Seal's call.
The disciple attacked again, daggers flashing. Lin Dong sidestepped, twisting, and struck — golden light erupting from the blade, knocking the disciple backward into the shadows. Dust and debris rained down.
"Enough games," the disciple growled, rolling to regain footing.
Lin Dong advanced, every step measured, controlled. The Seal responded instinctively, amplifying his movements without overwhelming him. The golden aura swirled around him, coiling into a tornado of power, striking the disciple with a shockwave that threw him against the far wall.
"Stop!" Li Yan shouted, but Lin Dong did not pause. He raised the jade blade above his head, and the Seal surged one final time. Golden light cascaded outward, forming a radiant dome that lifted dust, shattered stone, and illuminated the courtyard in blinding brilliance.
When the light faded, the disciple lay unconscious, the runes on his daggers smoking, his mask cracked. Lin Dong's chest heaved, but the Seal pulsed steadily, no longer wild — in harmony with him.
The shopkeeper stepped forward, eyes gleaming. "Well done. This is only the beginning. The Seal has acknowledged your control. But remember — mastery comes not from defeating others, but from understanding the full depth of your power."
Lin Dong nodded, lowering the jade blade. The golden glow of the Seal faded to a soft pulse, like a heartbeat in rhythm with his own.
"I feel it," he whispered. "The Seal… it's mine — but it's not just power. It's knowledge, instinct… a bond. And if I'm to face Lei Tian, I'll need all of it."
Li Yan placed a hand on his shoulder. "Then we train. We get stronger. And then… we take the fight to him."
Outside, Yan City stretched vast and alive, shadows twisting in narrow streets, whispers of hidden dangers carried on the wind. Somewhere, Lei Tian's scouts would report back. Somewhere, the city was preparing for the coming storm.
But in this hidden courtyard, the first step of Lin Dong's true journey had begun.
The Seal pulsed once more — steady, powerful, alive. And above, the first stars appeared, faint but unwavering, as if watching the rise of a new force in Yan City.