Frostbane

Li then decided to practice his sword play using frostbane. He realised he needed to learn to wield Frosbane, especially in a fight. The first step to wielding Frostbane properly, Li learned, was understanding that it was no ordinary weapon. Resting in his hands, the blade seemed alive, its faint hum resonating in harmony with the qi flowing through him. The surface of the sword, a pristine silver-blue sheen, shimmered faintly in the glowing mists of the sanctuary. Yet beneath its beauty lay an unmistakable coldness, a presence that reached into his bones, testing his resolve with each passing moment.

Li's grip tightened on the hilt as he exhaled a steady breath. "Let's see what you're capable of," he muttered, more to himself than to the blade.

The sanctuary seemed to answer his challenge. A circle of ancient runes carved into the ground flared to life, their light swirling like molten gold. Moments later, a figure emerged within the circle, solidifying into a towering warrior clad in heavy armor. The faceless opponent radiated a menacing aura, and its massive blade gleamed under the ethereal light. Though Li knew it was only an illusion, the sheer presence of the figure sent a thrill of anticipation through him.

"Let's see if you are all you seem to be," Li murmured, raising Frostbane to a ready stance.

The blade pulsed faintly in response, and the air around him grew colder, the temperature dropping sharply. Frostbane's icy power radiated outward, frosting the ground beneath his feet and creating a light mist that coiled around him like a protective shroud. Li felt a jolt of energy surge through his arm as he held the sword aloft, a warning and a promise.

Without hesitation, he dashed forward, the force of his movement cracking the frosted ground beneath him. Frostbane gleamed with a sharp, otherworldly light as it arced through the air. The strike landed cleanly on the warrior's armoured chest, and shards of ice exploded outward from the point of contact. Yet, to Li's surprise, the illusion barely flinched.

The faceless warrior retaliated with a heavy, calculated swing of its blade. Li twisted to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the sheer force of the attack sent a gust of air rushing past him, ruffling his robes. He staggered slightly, adjusting his footing on the icy ground. The ground seemed to be coming up to him but he beat the vertigo and regained his footing.

"You'll have to do better than that," came a deep voice, resonant and calm. Xianlong's unmistakable presence loomed at the edge of the field, his golden eyes watching intently. He had appeared suddenly out of thin air. Li guessed his distress was a signal for the sanctuary's guardian to appear.

Li gritted his teeth, his muscles tensing as he prepared for another exchange. He adjusted his grip on Frostbane, feeling the cold metal pulse faintly in response. The blade was not merely a weapon, it was a living entity, attuned to his qi and emotions. It demanded more from him, more focus, more precision, more control. Li closed his eyes and looked deep inside himself, controlling the swirling power in his dantian and focusing it like a torrent to flow into frostbane. The power surged out of him in exultation as if it had been waiting to be released all along as the sentient sword flared in crimson light that bathed the entire area red. The power pulsed inside Li, eager to come out.

The warrior charged, its blade cutting a deadly arc through the air. Li raised Frostbane to parry, and the two weapons collided with a resounding clash that echoed through the sanctuary. Sparks flew, mingling with the frost that danced in the air around them. The impact sent vibrations up Li's arm, but he held firm, the power of the sword acting as a buffer to the attack of the sword.

Frostbane's cold energy mingled with Li's fiery power surged outward, freezing the warrior's blade on contact. Li seized the opportunity, twisting his wrist to deflect the attack and following up with a swift counterstrike. The edge of Frostbane sliced cleanly through the illusion's arm, leaving behind a trail of glittering frost.

The warrior staggered but did not falter. Its severed arm reformed instantly, the fragmented pieces of its body coalescing back into shape. Li frowned, his mind racing. This was no ordinary sparring match—it was a test, not just of his strength but of his adaptability and mastery over Frostbane's unique properties.

Drawing a deep breath, Li closed his eyes briefly, centering himself. He felt the elemental harmonies within him -fire, water, earth, wind, and lightning—rushing to the surface, ready to be called upon. Channeling that energy into Frostbane, he opened his eyes, and the blade responded with a brilliant transformation. Ice encased its edge, but faint streaks of lightning crackled along its surface, weaving a dangerous and unpredictable current into the weapon's frosty aura.

He lunged again, this time moving with deliberate precision. Frostbane danced in his hands, each strike fluid and calculated. The icy edge of the blade clashed against the warrior's armor, freezing and shattering sections of it with each blow. The added element of lightning disrupted the illusion's attempts to reform, slowing its regeneration.

Xianlong's voice cut through the clash of battle. "You are improving, but your movements are not yet seamless. Frostbane is not a tool of brute force—it is a weapon of precision. Let the blade guide you, and trust in its instincts."

Li growled under his breath but heeded the advice. Instead of forcing his will onto the weapon, he allowed Frostbane to lead. The shift was immediate. The blade seemed to hum with approval, its energy flowing in sync with his movements. He moved like water, adapting to the warrior's attacks and exploiting its weaknesses with graceful efficiency.

Finally, with a sweeping slash that combined the full force of Frostbane's icy power and crackling lightning, Li delivered the finishing blow. The warrior shattered into shards of light and frost, its form dissolving into the air. The clearing grew silent once more, save for the faint hum of Frostbane's energy as it settled back into its dormant state.

"Good," Xianlong said, stepping forward. The dragon's golden eyes regarded Li with a mix of approval and expectation. "You are beginning to understand the blade's potential. But your control wavers. Frostbane is a tool, not a crutch. Wield it with precision, not brute force."

Li nodded, his breathing heavy as he lowered Frostbane. The coldness of the blade seeped back into its core, leaving his hands trembling slightly from the exertion. "Understood," he said, his voice steady despite his fatigue.

Xianlong's gaze softened slightly. "Remember this, young one, Frostbane's power is immense, but it is also exacting. It will demand more from you as you grow stronger. Mastering it is not a matter of simply wielding it; you must become one with it, understanding its essence as you understand your own."

Li absorbed the dragon's words, his mind already racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. The sanctuary was a place of endless potential, but it was also a crucible, designed to temper him into the warrior he needed to become.

As Xianlong turned to leave, Li looked down at Frostbane, its pristine surface gleaming faintly in the misty light. "You and I have a long way to go," he murmured, tightening his grip on the hilt. The glow emanating from the flared up producing a brighter light than before in response. Li looked at the blade as it gave series of bright pulses before finally cooling down to just the initial glow.

"This truly is a sentient sword" mused Li in wonder.

He sheathed the blade and took a moment to survey the clearing, the runes on the ground still faintly glowing from the intense battle. His body ached, but it was a good ache, a sign that he was growing stronger.

"I wonder what is going on with Zhang Wei and the others. They must really be worried about me. But I can't leave here just yet, I need to get stronger so that I can protect them all from the inevitable peril that awaits us all. I will prevail." Li vowed silently.

Before departing, Li walked to the edge of the field, where a row of ancient stone statues stood in silent vigil. He paused before one, a weathered depiction of a warrior holding a blade that bore a striking resemblance to Frostbane. The statue's expression was serene, yet its stance radiated an unyielding resolve.

"Someday," Li said quietly, "I'll wield Frostbane as you once did. But for now, I'll take it one step at a time."

With that, he turned and began the long walk back toward the sanctuary's central chambers, his mind focused on the challenges yet to come. Behind him, the air grew still once more, the sanctuary's ancient power settling into its quiet, watchful rhythm.