Chapter 15: Blades Through the Mist

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the open-air training ground at the Heavenly Dawn Academy. A light breeze carried with it the faint scent of blooming lotus flowers from the nearby pond, mingling with the hushed hum of students in deep concentration. Li Tian stood with his arms folded, his dark robes fluttering slightly, as a group of his most promising disciples faced him with varying levels of resolve and nerves.

"Cultivation isn't just about strength," Li Tian said, his voice cutting through the stillness like a blade. "It's about balance—mind, body, and the energy that flows through everything around you." He gestured to the training dummies before them, each carved from ancient wood that radiated faint traces of qi. "Demonstrate what balance looks like, and remember, brute force alone gets you nowhere."

It was a simple enough instruction, but Li Tian never stuck to simplicity for long.

Yuan Fei, his oldest and most brash student, grinned and stepped forward without hesitation. Yuan Fei was the type whose confidence could fill an entire room. He was skilled, to be sure, but his energy was fiery and restless, often exploding outward rather than finessing its impact.

"I'll show you balance!" Yuan Fei declared, hefting his saber high and charging at the dummy. His strike was quick and powerful, cutting deep into the wood. But in his enthusiasm, his footing slipped slightly, and an unexpected surge of qi rebounded off the energy-enchanted target, sending him stumbling back. He managed to keep his composure, but his grin faltered as Li Tian shook his head slowly.

"Balance," Li Tian repeated, stepping forward calmly, "is neither about overwhelming force nor flawless technique. It's about knowing when to act and when to wait." He placed a hand on Yuan Fei's shoulder, steadying him before pulling him aside. "Focus on centering your qi first. Swordsmanship begins here." He tapped Yuan Fei's chest lightly, just above his dantian. Yuan Fei nodded, his earlier bravado tempered with humility.

Next came Qiao Ling, who hesitated before stepping forward. Her petite form trembled slightly as she raised her sword with both hands, her face a mixture of determination and apprehension. Since joining Li Tian's class, Qiao Ling had shown significant progress, yet a fear of failure still clung to her like an unwanted shadow.

Li Tian smiled faintly, his tone gentler this time. "Qiao Ling, don't think of the dummy as your enemy. The obstacle isn't front of you—it's inside you."

"I... I understand, Instructor," she said, though her voice carried a quiver.

"Breathe," he said softly, walking closer but letting her take control of the moment. "The sword is your companion, not your crutch. Trust yourself."

Her blade gleamed as she swung it in a precise arc. The qi behind the strike was lighter than Yuan Fei's but far more controlled. It struck the dummy cleanly, energy dissipating evenly without any recoil. Qiao Ling's small smile quickly turned to wide eyes of disbelief as a system notification flashed in Li Tian's mind.

"Student Growth Detected – Reward Unlocked."

A glowing jade bead materialized silently and slipped into Li Tian's spatial ring. He recognized it instantly as a rare meditation orb, capable of enhancing qi refinement significantly. The rewards had started small when his system first activated, but as his students' talent grew under his guidance, they were becoming more extraordinary—and undeniably useful for his own development.

He acknowledged the reward with a mental note, then turned back to Qiao Ling. "Good work," he said, inclining his head. "Now, keep refining that technique. Precision like yours could save a life someday."

The other disciples watched intently as Li Tian continued to critique and guide each of them in turn. Zhao Wei, meticulous and calculated, hounded for overthinking every move. Mei Lin, bold and gifted, encouraged to temper her power with restraint. Each student presented their unique challenges, and Li Tian saw to it that his feedback was equally unique.

It wasn't just their cultivation he nurtured, but their personalities too. He joked with them when tensions grew taut, offered personal insights from his own struggles, and pushed them to their limits when they least expected it. No disciple left his lessons unchanged.

By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber and violet, the students were seated around him in a loose circle. Some leaned against their practice swords; others sprawled out on the lush grass, too tired to sit upright.

"I don't know how you expect me to walk to my quarters after this, Instructor," Yuan Fei groaned dramatically, earning quiet chuckles from the group. Even Qiao Ling had a small smile.

Li Tian smirked, raising an eyebrow. "If you have enough energy to complain, you have enough energy to spar." That instantly silenced Yuan Fei's theatrics.

"Instructor Li," Mei Lin spoke up, her tone curious, "why do you focus so much on us? Other instructors only care about results."

"I care about results too," Li Tian replied, his gaze thoughtful as he studied the faces around him. "But results are meaningless if you lose sight of what makes you... you. A strong cultivator only becomes great when they know what they're fighting for."

His words seemed to sink into the group as the night deepened, the first stars beginning to appear above. Li Tian, however, found his thoughts drifting elsewhere. Each time a new reward was claimed through the Enlightenment System, his power grew exponentially. Venomous qi purifying pills, ancient scripts outlining forbidden techniques, energy reserves that could rival sect elders—it was becoming clear the System's purpose was not solely tied to his students' growth. It wanted him to ascend far beyond even his wildest ambitions.

Yet as he watched his disciples—these young, bright souls who entrusted him with their futures—Li Tian wondered privately just how far the System would take him. And at what cost.

Still, one thing was certain.

The seeds of greatness had been planted here, and both he and his students would reap the harvest together, whether the world approved or not.