Test ( End )

Han Yue was in the middle of the cavern, surrounded by the faint glow of the Ice Veil Barrier. She was struggling to breathe, her body battered and close to giving up. The battle had taken everything from her – her sword arm was heavy, her legs were shaking, and she had used up all her fire, wind, and wing talismans. She was barely hanging on.

The beasts had been pushed back for now, but they were not gone. She could hear them growling in the cavern, their movements barely noticeable under the crackling of the barrier. Han Yue's mind was racing, trying to come up with a plan, a counterattack. She needed to end this fight, but how? Her talismans were almost out of energy, and she could feel the orb's influence weighing her down.

Her sword, Glacial Rain, was still in her hand, a reminder of the strength she still had, even though her body was screaming for rest. She had not used her full power yet, but she knew she would have to now.

The creatures started to move again, their shadows flickering in the dim light as they closed in. Han Yue gripped her sword tighter, her fingers curling around the hilt with renewed determination. She had to keep going. This was not just a fight for survival – it was a test, a trial of her strength and her resolve.

Taking a deep breath, Han Yue gathered her remaining energy. The Frostfeather Sword Art surged through her again, her movements smooth and precise despite the pain. The Frozen Moon Slash was the next move – one last desperate attack to end the chaos. Her sword blurred in the air, and with a single, powerful strike, she sent a wave of ice energy crashing into the beasts.

The explosion of energy was overwhelming, the icy power freezing everything it touched. The creatures howled as the ice encased them, slowing them down until they were just frozen statues.

Han Yue stood there, her chest heaving with each breath, the icy aftermath of the battle settling around her. The Ice Veil Barrier flickered before disappearing completely, leaving the cavern silent again.

She had done it. She had won.

But the victory felt bittersweet. She could feel the darkness creeping into her vision, the blood loss and pain finally catching up with her. Her body was broken, and even with the healing pills, it would take time to recover.

Han Yue stumbled to her feet, her body refusing to cooperate, but she would not give in. The trial was over, but the road ahead would not be easy. There was still so much to learn, so much to endure. But for now, she had survived. She had proven to herself that even when the odds were stacked against her, she could stand strong.

Her journey was far from over, but for today, she had won.

Han Yue leaned against the cold cave wall, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her body shaking from exhaustion. The healing pill was working slowly, fixing her broken ribs and patching up the worst of her wounds, but it couldn't get rid of the deep ache spreading through her limbs. Blood stained her robes, dark against the pale fabric, a stark reminder of how close she'd come to losing.

She took a moment to catch her breath. The frozen beasts stood like lifeless statues, their eyes wide with the final traces of their struggle. The air was thick with the remnants of ice energy, the cave walls coated in a thin layer of frost from her final Frozen Moon Slash. The orb at the centre of the chamber still pulsed, its power undiminished, as if mocking her efforts.

Pushing herself upright with difficulty, Han Yue's fingers tightened around Glacial Rain, her grip reassuring despite her body's exhaustion. She'd brought this sword with her for a reason—unlike her last battle, where she'd fought barehanded, this time, she'd used it, and the difference was clear. The elegant blade shimmered faintly in the dim light, its crystalline edge glistening with an icy sheen. Despite the battle, it remained untouched, its beauty unmarred.

But this wasn't the time to admire her weapon. The fight was over, but she still needed to figure out whether the orb was worth the struggle.

Han Yue pushed through the pain, moving towards the orb. The closer she got, the more pressure she felt. It was a challenge that needed more than just strength.

She touched the orb. A cold feeling spread through her. She felt weightless and detached.

Then, knowledge flooded her mind. Images of ancient texts, skills, and movements flashed before her eyes. It was a technique hidden in the orb, waiting for someone strong enough to claim it.

Han Yue's heart raced. This was a special technique. She settled down, forcing herself to push through the pain. She couldn't miss this opportunity.

She closed her eyes and absorbed the knowledge from the orb. It was called the Frozen Veil Phantom Art.

This wasn't just a sword technique, it was a movement art. It focused on speed, dodging, and trickery. At its peak, it could make her move like a ghost in battle. This would improve her combat skills.

She was excited. This was what she had been waiting for. It would help her dodge attacks and strike without getting hurt.

But the excitement faded quickly. Her body was exhausted. She had pushed herself too far.

The knowledge was in her mind, but she couldn't learn it all at once. She needed a break.

She stood up slowly. The orb had lost its glow. The trial was over.

She gathered her things and left the cavern. She had found something precious, but the secret realm was vast. This was just the beginning.

Han Yue carefully picked her way through the rough landscape, her wounds still throbbing even after taking the healing pill. She knew she needed a good rest – at least two days to let her body recover and get used to the Frozen Veil Phantom Art she'd just learned. The secret realm would only be open for a month, so every minute was precious. She couldn't afford to waste time, but she also couldn't keep going in her current state.

She looked around. The place was huge and unpredictable, with jagged cliffs, frozen rivers, and thick patches of icy mist. The occasional roars of spirit beasts echoed in the distance, a reminder that danger was everywhere. Finding a truly secluded spot wouldn't be easy, but she had no choice.

Activating Glacial Phantom Steps, she moved quickly but carefully, her senses on high alert. The battle had left her weak, and she couldn't afford another fight – not yet. After searching for almost an hour, she finally found what she was looking for: a narrow crevice hidden between two massive ice formations. The entrance was barely wide enough for a person to squeeze through, making it the perfect hiding place.

She squeezed herself in, the cold air nipping at her skin. The space was cramped but good enough. At least here, she wouldn't be easily found.

Letting out a slow breath, she set up a makeshift defence using the broken array flag she'd taken from the dark cultivator's bag. Even though it was damaged, it still had some protective qualities left. It wouldn't stand up to a strong opponent, but it could serve as an early warning if anything came close.

Once that was sorted, she sat down cross-legged, taking stock of her situation.

She'd used fire talismans, wind talismans, wing talismans, and fire blast talismans during her fight. While she still had a few to spare, she really needed to save them for emergencies. Her bag also had the blood pill, but she was reluctant to use it unless completely necessary.

Right now, her main priority was to recover. Closing her eyes, she focused on circulating her qi, letting her body soak up the remaining effects of the healing pill. The broken ribs would take a bit to heal, but at least the worst of the pain had faded.

Once her breathing settled, she shifted her focus to the Frozen Veil Phantom Art. The knowledge she'd picked up from the orb was still jumbled in her mind, like shards of ice waiting to be pieced together.

She let the images flow, mentally recreating the movements that the technique needed. Unlike the Glacial Phantom Steps, which were all about speed and agility, this art was more about misdirection. It created afterimages with misty ice, letting the user dodge attacks unnoticed.

Getting the hang of it wouldn't be simple, but Han Yue wasn't in a hurry. For the next couple of days, she planned to focus completely on recovery and training. Only after she was back at her best would she go exploring the secret realm.

She was almost a low-key and cautious person, but she had come here looking for opportunities, and there was no way she was leaving empty-handed.

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