The dawn wind carried a biting chill through the Jade Sword Mountain Range, rustling the foliage and stirring the Sword Qi that hummed through the Heavenly Sword Sect. The previous day's training had left every disciple exhausted, muscles burning and hearts racing with newfound strength. Yet, none dared rest too long; the threat of the Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect lingered like a shadow over their awakening.
Zhou Yu had already risen. His silver eyes scanned the eastern horizon, as if expecting trouble to arrive at any moment. Beside him, Ling's fur rippled with electricity, alert and coiled like a spring. The wolf padded silently behind Zhou Yu, ever vigilant.
The disciples assembled in the central courtyard. Though fatigue etched their features, their eyes burned with determination. Today's training would push them further, and Zhou Yu intended to take them to the edge.
Zhou Yu began with a wave of his hand, and ghostly sword-shaped projections appeared, hovering in the air like sentinels. The Silver Qi blades shimmered, reflecting the first rays of sunlight.
"Today," Zhou Yu said, his voice calm but commanding, "we move beyond simple strikes. You will learn to infuse your Sword Qi into multiple projections simultaneously, creating layers of attack that can overwhelm any enemy—even those far stronger than you."
Liang Chen's eyes widened. He had already mastered resonance with Ling, forming a single spectral blade, but Zhou Yu's next challenge would stretch him further.
"Start with a single projection," Zhou Yu instructed, "then expand to two, four, eight… until your Qi flows like a river of silver, unstoppable and omnipresent."
The courtyard erupted in activity. Liang Chen focused, drawing Ling's energy into his own. The spectral blade began to split, dividing into two, then four, each retaining the wolf's primal essence. With each new blade, Liang Chen felt his Bronze Core tempering, the flow of qi deepening.
Zhou Yu's eyes glimmered. "Good… now synchronize movement with intention, not force. Let your mind guide the Silver Qi, not your muscles."
Feng Lian's icy swords flared as she manipulated Sword Qi projections in midair. Each blade left a trail of frost, slicing through the projections with precision. Her control over the Ice Sword Vein was improving exponentially, her strikes now moving in fluid, unpredictable patterns that mimicked the currents of a frozen river.
Su Mei leapt gracefully from one stone platform to another, weaving Star-Stepping with Sword Qi projections. She left multiple afterimages in her wake, each one mimicking her attack trajectory. Zhou Yu's subtle adjustments allowed the afterimages to resonate with her physical strikes, forming deadly combinations that even an elite Silver Core cultivator would struggle to counter.
Han Xiang worked with formation plates, redirecting Sword Qi attacks in real time. Streams of energy surged, bending in unnatural arcs as the formations amplified the disciples' combined output.
The courtyard became a dazzling dance of silver and frost, arcs of Sword Qi colliding, leaving trails of light that carved into the stone beneath their feet. The disciples' coordination had reached a level few would believe possible in such a short time.
The air suddenly grew heavy. Ling's hackles rose, fur standing on end. The disciples froze, sensing a disturbance in the spiritual currents of the surrounding mountains.
A distant rumble reached their ears, growing louder, sharper, a rhythmic pounding that shook the earth. Zhou Yu's eyes narrowed.
"Prepare yourselves," he warned. "They are here."
From the western edge of the valley, a contingent of Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect scouts appeared. Five in number, each shrouded in black armor that absorbed the light, red energy flickering like veins beneath the surface. Their aura was strong—enough to make even the disciples shiver.
The lead scout, a tall figure with a jagged mask, stepped forward. He radiated Silver Core Peak power, though not extreme, yet his presence alone carried the weight of authority.
"You are the Heavenly Sword Sect," he said, voice carrying over the distance, deep and menacing. "We have come to see if rumors of your revival hold truth. Show us your strength… or die here."
Zhou Yu's hand rested lightly on the hilt of his jade blade. Ling growled low, circling in front of the disciples.
"Disciples," Zhou Yu commanded, voice calm but firm, "remember everything from the past month. Coordination, resonance, Sword Qi flow—this is the time to demonstrate it. Do not underestimate them. They are skilled, but they lack unity."
The scouts charged in unison, each moving with speed and precision that tested the disciples' reflexes to the limit. Liang Chen and Ling moved as one, forming a dual-blade projection. The first scout's attack met their Silver Qi, the clash erupting in a brilliant burst of energy. Stones shattered. The shockwave knocked minor projections from the courtyard into the air.
Ling's claws slashed through the air with perfect timing, striking the scout's arm, forcing a stagger. Liang Chen surged forward, spinning, Silver Qi projections slicing across the scout's path.
Feng Lian unleashed her icy blades, freezing the ground beneath another scout's feet, sending him tumbling, yet she did not pause, using the frozen shards to launch herself into midair, striking with precise, deadly accuracy.
Su Mei darted across platforms, each Star-Step leaving afterimages that disoriented the remaining scouts. Her strikes created a rhythm, a pattern of unpredictability that forced the scouts to split their attention, weakening their attacks.
Han Xiang controlled the battlefield, subtly adjusting formation plates to redirect both Sword Qi and demonic energy attacks, amplifying the disciples' effectiveness while minimizing their risk.
Zhou Yu observed, providing minor corrections through subtle Sword Qi pulses, ensuring perfect resonance.
The scouts quickly realized they were facing something entirely different from the previous encounters. The Heavenly Sword Sect's disciples no longer moved as individuals—they fought as a single, cohesive unit, a living embodiment of Sword Qi itself.
One scout, faster and more skilled than the others, charged at Zhou Yu with a curved demonic blade, intent on testing the master himself. Ling sprang forward, moving like a silver shadow, intercepting the scout with a force that shook the air.
The clash of claws and demonic steel sent sparks flying. Ling's tail whipped with precision, knocking the scout off balance, while spectral Silver Qi blades formed from his resonance with Liang Chen surged into the fray, striking with blinding speed.
The scout roared, retreating slightly, eyes wide with disbelief. Even among Scarlet Moon cultivators, few had seen a single wolf hold its own against a Silver Core warrior.
Zhou Yu's expression remained calm. He gestured, sending a pulse of Sword Qi that guided Ling's movements perfectly, amplifying the wolf's natural instincts with refined precision. Together, they became an unstoppable force, the embodiment of primal and cultivated power combined.
Feng Lian launched her next strike, weaving ice and Silver Qi together, creating a vortex that pulled two scouts off balance. Su Mei's afterimages moved in perfect unison, cutting off escape routes and forcing the scouts into the Silver Qi web. Liang Chen and Ling exploited the openings, pressing their advantage.
Han Xiang's formation plates glimmered as he shifted them subtly, bending the flow of attacks to protect the weaker disciples while enhancing the striking power of the others. The scouts struggled to adapt, realizing too late that each attack had been anticipated and manipulated by the disciples' combined efforts.
The courtyard became a battlefield of light, frost, and shadow. Each movement was a lesson in Sword Qi mastery, a demonstration of the Heavenly Sword Sect's revival. The scouts were skilled, yet every blow they landed was mitigated by superior coordination, precise timing, and the pure power of the Sword Veins themselves.
Within an hour, the scouts were forced to retreat. Though none were killed, all bore visible signs of defeat: scorched armor, frost-covered weapons, and bruised egos. The lead scout glared at Zhou Yu.
"This is not over," he hissed, voice laced with venom. "Your sect has potential… but the Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect does not forgive arrogance. One month remains."
With that, they vanished, leaving behind an aura of threat and dread.
The disciples collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily, yet exhilarated. Ling padded over, tail wagging slightly, satisfied with the display.
Zhou Yu looked at his disciples, pride mingled with seriousness. "This was not a victory over them—they were scouts. But it was a victory for us. You have proven that unity, resonance, and control over Sword Qi can surpass raw individual strength."
Liang Chen smiled, exhausted but elated. "Master… Ling… we actually did it… we held our own!"
Feng Lian and Su Mei nodded, both flushed with adrenaline. Han Xiang adjusted his formation plates, letting out a deep sigh of relief.
Zhou Yu's eyes glimmered silver. "Remember this feeling. When the full Scarlet Moon force comes, you will need every ounce of skill, every shred of coordination, and every ounce of courage. Today was the first step toward becoming truly formidable."
Ling barked, his eyes glinting with loyalty and pride. The Heavenly Sword Sect had taken its first true step into the storm that awaited—and they had survived, stronger than before.
The horizon burned with light as the disciples stood together, their swords raised, ready to face whatever came next. The revival of the Heavenly Sword Sect was no longer a rumor. It was reality—and it was unstoppable.