Test (1)

Han Yue took a deep breath, her eyes narrowed as the energy in the cave started to get more intense. It felt like the freezing cold was trying to get at her, biting through her cloak and making her numb. But she stayed calm – the trials had begun, and she had to be ready.

With a flick of her wrist, she brought out her Frostbite Needles, feeling their sharp edges hidden under her dress. These icy needles would be her secret weapon, waiting for the right moment. She looked around the cave, checking every inch of the frozen walls and the pulsing orb. She could feel ancient energy flowing through the space, like it was alive.

The voice had said, "The trials of the Frozen Rebirth begin."

Was it a test of how long she could last? Of her skills? Or maybe… of how well she could control her power?

She raised her hand a little, and the familiar energy of Frostfeather Sword Art started to swirl around her. The first move, the Feather Light Slash, came to mind – quick, sharp, a strike that could cut through the air without a sound. But she held back from attacking blindly. The energy in the cave was unpredictable; it would be silly to waste her power on something she couldn't see.

The orb flared again, sending out a wave of intense frost, and the ground under her feet cracked like it was reacting to the surge. Han Yue moved quickly, dodging to the side, her Glacial Phantom Steps carrying her away from the attack. She was light on her feet, every move flowing smoothly into the next.

Then, the Frostfeather Sword Art kicked in.

With a quick movement, she drew Glacial Rain, its blade shining cold and clear in the dim light. She unleashed the second move of the Frostfeather Sword Art, the Frostfall Cut, a fast, precise slash aimed at the air itself.

The slash left a trail of freezing wind in its wake, aiming for the source of the cold. The orb pulsed again, and a layer of ice formed in the air in front of her, blocking the attack completely. It wasn't just a barrier – it was the energy of the realm itself reacting to her power.

Interesting.

She raised her other hand, the wind talisman at her fingertips ready to go. A gust of wind erupted outwards, clearing just enough of a path for her to move forward.

The voice echoed again, this time with a hint of amusement.

"You've done well so far, but the real fun is just kicking off."

Out of nowhere, the ground shook beneath her, and from the cracks came frost-covered creatures—beasts made of ice and energy, their eyes glowing with the same blue light as the orb.

These were the trials—physical forms of the energy she'd just tapped into.

Han Yue didn't hesitate. The Frostfeather Sword Art was ready. She stepped forward, quick and accurate, diving into the third style: Frozen Feather Dance.

Her sword became part of her, slicing through the air as she moved in a blur of frozen light. She hacked at one of the creatures, which shattered into ice shards, only for another to pounce in its place.

The trial was unforgiving—the creatures attacked her from every angle. She shifted styles fluidly, moving effortlessly between offensive and defensive techniques, her energy barely keeping the vicious beasts at bay.

One of the creatures jumped at her from above. Han Yue instinctively responded, barely grazing the ground as she executed the Frozen Moon Slash, the fourth style of her sword technique.

The slash sent a wave of ice flying forward, slicing through the creature in midair, turning it into shards before it could land.

But there was no time to chill. The creatures kept charging, and with each strike, the ice around her thickened, the pressure building as she drew on more of her power.

A dark thought crossed her mind. Could she keep this up?

She paused for just a second, and that split second was enough for one of the creatures to land a hit. Its icy claws raked across her side, slicing through her cloak and leaving a thin line of blood.

Han Yue flinched, but she didn't let it slow her down. The pain was quick, and the blood was already starting to freeze in the cold—this was all about endurance and focus.

She wasn't going to back down.

Activating Ice Veil Barrier again, she wrapped herself in a solid shield of frost, blocking the next wave of attacks. Taking a breath, she pulled on her strength, feeling the raw power of the realm pushing against her. The ice-covered creatures paused for just a moment, sensing the strength of the barrier.

This was her chance.

With a surge of energy, Han Yue shattered the barrier, unleashing a wave of frost in all directions. The ice creatures crumbled under the sheer force of the blast, their forms vanishing into thin air.

The cavern was quiet again, except for the sound of Han Yue's breath, shallow but steady.

The orb pulsed again, its light flickering softly.

"You have passed the first trial," the voice said, softer now, almost approving. "But more is ahead. Prepare yourself."

Han Yue exhaled and wiped the blood from her side. This was just the beginning.

Han Yue stood amongst the crumbling ice creatures, her breathing steady and controlled. The cavern's icy chill was starting to get to her, but she forced herself to focus. She had passed the first test, but she knew this place was far more dangerous than any normal training ground.

The orb, now a bit dimmer, still buzzed with a weird energy. Han Yue couldn't shake the feeling that it was watching her, waiting for her next move. As the heavy silence filled the air, she quickly glanced at her side. The wound had already started to freeze over, the blood stiff and encased in ice. It wasn't serious, but it needed attention once she had time to rest.

But now wasn't the time to give up.

Han Yue's fingers twitched as she felt the familiar weight of her Glacial Rain sword in her hand, the hilt warm against her palm despite the freezing environment. She hadn't used it during the test yet, but she needed it now. She had relied on her other techniques, especially her Frostfeather Sword Art, but Glacial Rain was her trusty weapon – the blade that held the Phoenix energy within her. Unlike the smaller, faster strikes of the Frostfeather Sword Art, Glacial Rain was powerful and precise, able to slice through opponents with deadly accuracy when wielded with enough control.

The sword shimmered in her hands as she slowly raised it, her eyes locking onto the orb again. As the energy from the orb got stronger, a sudden pressure built up around her, like the air itself was turning to ice. The sense of danger sent shivers down her spine.

The cave walls groaned as the ground shifted beneath her feet, cracking and groaning. More creatures started to crawl out of the cracks – bigger, scarier, and made of sharp, jagged ice. Han Yue braced herself, still sore from the earlier fight, but she was determined to keep going.

She gripped Glacial Rain tightly.

This time, she was going to give it her all.

She used the first move of her Frostfeather Sword Art, the Feather Light Slash, aiming for the creatures with lightning speed. The strike was as quiet as a whisper, but it was enough to crack the ice beasts' frozen skin.

With a quick movement, she used the momentum to swing Glacial Rain upwards, slicing through the creature's body in one clean move. But as it fell apart, another beast emerged from the shadows, its claws ready to tear through her defences.

Han Yue's eyes narrowed.

She needed to finish this now.

She activated the Frozen Moon Slash, her most powerful move with the Glacial Rain sword. The strike was quick, but the power behind it was huge. The blade glowed with an ethereal light as the air itself seemed to freeze in its wake. Han Yue's wrist flicked expertly, and the crescent-shaped arc of ice shot forward, slicing through the creature's entire body in one smooth movement.

These creatures were a tough nut to crack. They reacted fast, their frozen claws slicing at her quicker than the smaller ones she had tackled before. Han Yue slipped to the side with a smooth twist, her Glacial Phantom Steps letting her move like a shadow, dodging the first few hits. But she knew she couldn't keep this up for long – every dodge drained her energy, and the creatures just wouldn't quit.

She needed to wrap this up fast.

Out of nowhere, one of the creatures lunged at her with surprising power, its jagged teeth snapping just inches from her face. Han Yue barely managed to block the attack with Glacial Rain, the blade ringing out as it met the creature's icy fangs. The impact jolted her arm, her bones protesting against the force behind the hit. She bit down hard, refusing to let the pain distract her.

The beast shattered into pieces, like broken glass. As Han Yue moved forward, the orb pulsed again. The light grew brighter and hotter. The temperature dropped, becoming unbearably cold. The energy pressed in on her, suffocating her. She felt the cold trying to freeze her from the inside out.

Her Ice Veil Barrier protected her. The pressure eased slightly, but the trial wasn't over. The orb seemed stronger. She realised she wasn't just fighting creatures, but the cavern's energy.

Han Yue struggled to breathe. She hadn't reached her full potential. She thought about the Frostbite Needles hidden under her dress. They were her secret weapon. She reached for them and threw them at the next creature.

The needles hit their target, freezing the beast instantly. Its body shattered into sharp, icy pieces.

Most of the creatures were gone. Han Yue took a moment to catch her breath. The energy around her had calmed down, but the orb pulsed. It was watching her.

The voice returned, low and pleased.

"Impressive. You've passed the second trial. But the Frozen Rebirth isn't easy to win."

Han Yue wiped the sweat from her forehead. The trials weren't over. She was ready for whatever came next. The voice said she was worthy, but that wasn't enough. She had to push herself to the limit.

The cavern grew darker. Han Yue stood firm, holding Glacial Rain, ready for the next challenge.

Han Yue stepped back slowly, breathing heavily. The last of the ice creatures had shattered around her. The cavern was now eerily quiet, except for the distant echo of the orb's pulsating energy. Her body ached, bruised and sore, and the pain in her side was getting worse by the second. Her ribs had been badly hurt during the fight, and she could feel a deep fracture in her chest. Even though her Ice Veil had offered some protection, the force of the creature's attack had caused serious internal injuries.

She clenched her teeth and pressed her hand against her side, wincing at the sharp pain from her broken bones. When she pulled her fingers away, they were covered in blood. The cold had dulled some of the pain, but she could still feel her warm blood flowing out of the wound. It wasn't life-threatening, but if she didn't treat it soon, it would slow her down.

In one swift motion, Han Yue grabbed four healing pills from her storage bag. The small, round pills were made from rare medicinal herbs. Without hesitation, she swallowed them, the bitter taste lingering on her tongue. Soon, she felt the healing energy spreading through her body, easing the pain, though it didn't disappear entirely.

Her side still throbbed, and her broken ribs were far from fully healed. She could sense the medicine starting to work, but it would take time for the bones to completely mend. The pills had stopped the bleeding, but the injury required more than just a temporary solution.

Taking a deep breath, Han Yue leaned against a rock, her fingers pressing firmly into her side as she tried to steady herself. She closed her eyes for a moment, focusing on the healing energy flowing through her. Yet, despite the relief, a troubling thought lingered in her mind.

She had underestimated her enemies in this trial. Instead of using her stronger techniques, she had relied on her Frostfeather Sword Art and Glacial Phantom Steps to stay quick and agile. But even with those skills, she had taken a lot of damage. She had avoided using Glacial Rain because she didn't want to draw too much attention to herself. Now, looking back, she realized her caution had cost her valuable time and energy.

Her thoughts changed as she reached into her robe and took out a small, silver needle—one of the Frostbite Needles. The weapon was hidden under her dress in a small, discreet compartment that was easy to access. Even though she had already used some during the fight, Han Yue knew these needles were meant for desperate situations. They were effective because they were surprising, fast, and could freeze a target upon impact.

But now, as she thought about the trial going on, a wave of urgency kicked in. She needed to act fast, and even though she was managing, she wasn't exactly in top shape for what was coming. Glancing at the orb still glowing in the distance, Han Yue realised that Frozen Rebirth was more than just a strength test. It was a challenge to her willpower and how far she was ready to push herself.

She shut her eyes again, letting the healing continue, but only for a moment. She couldn't afford to take too long, especially with the orb continuing to pulse more fiercely. It felt like it was nudging her forward, almost mocking her for hesitating.

She decided she had to make a move now.

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