The Dance Of Blades

Li Wei lay flat on his back, staring at the sky as his chest heaved. Every muscle in his body screamed in agony, but he refused to stay down.

Jinhai loomed over him, arms crossed. "You lasted longer, but you're still weak."

Li Wei forced himself up on shaking arms. "Then make me stronger."

Jinhai's smile widened. "That's the spirit."

Without warning, he grabbed a wooden training staff from the side and tossed it to Li Wei, who barely caught it before it smacked into his chest.

"From now on, we train with weapons," Jinhai announced. "Your power means nothing if you don't know how to use it with technique."

Li Wei rolled the staff in his hands, testing the weight. It was simple but sturdy, much lighter than he expected.

"First lesson," Jinhai said, stepping forward and grabbing another staff. "Footwork."

He moved in a blur.

Before Li Wei could react, Jinhai's staff lashed out, striking his ankle. His balance broke, and he tumbled to the ground.

Jinhai sighed. "Sloppy."

Li Wei groaned, pushing himself up. "You didn't even warn me!"

"In a real fight, your enemy won't warn you either."

Li Wei clenched his jaw, gripping the staff tighter. He planted his feet more firmly this time, watching Jinhai's movements carefully.

Jinhai attacked again, but Li Wei sidestepped—not cleanly, but enough to avoid a direct hit.

"Better."

The next hour was brutal. Jinhai's strikes came fast and relentless, forcing Li Wei to move, dodge, and counter. His body screamed for rest, but he refused to quit.

And then—

It happened.

Li Wei's mind sharpened. His vision narrowed. The Celestial Seal pulsed, and suddenly, everything felt clear.

Jinhai's next attack came from the left.

Li Wei moved before he could think. He twisted, bringing his staff up at the perfect angle. Wood met wood with a sharp crack!

Jinhai's eyes flashed with approval. "Not bad."

Li Wei panted, sweat dripping down his face, but for the first time, he grinned.

He was getting stronger.

The sound of clashing wood echoed through the clearing as Li Wei and Jinhai's staffs met again and again. Each strike sent vibrations up Li Wei's arms, but he refused to let go.

Jinhai's movements were like flowing water—swift, effortless, unpredictable. His staff blurred as he struck from different angles, forcing Li Wei to stay on the defensive.

Left! Right! Low sweep!

Li Wei barely dodged the last attack, stumbling back, but his grip remained firm. His breathing was ragged, his muscles burned, but there was something exhilarating about the fight.

Jinhai smirked. "Your body's exhausted, but you're still moving. Why?"

Li Wei panted, gripping his staff tighter. "Because I don't want to lose."

Jinhai nodded. "Then prove it."

He moved faster.

Li Wei's instincts sharpened. The Celestial Seal pulsed faintly, heightening his senses. He wasn't just reacting anymore—he was predicting. He saw the way Jinhai shifted his weight, the way his shoulders moved before a strike.

When the next attack came, Li Wei didn't just block.

He countered.

His staff moved with precision, deflecting Jinhai's strike and twisting into an upward arc. Jinhai barely managed to dodge as the wooden tip grazed his shoulder.

For the first time, Li Wei had forced him to retreat.

Jinhai paused, rubbing his shoulder with a thoughtful expression. "You're improving faster."

Li Wei tried to catch his breath, sweat dripping into his eyes. "Does that mean we're done?"

Jinhai laughed. "Not even close."

Without warning, he threw his staff aside.

Li Wei barely had a second to react before Jinhai lunged barehanded, faster than ever.

Jinhai moved like a phantom. One second, he stood before Li Wei; the next, he was already behind him.

Li Wei barely turned before a powerful strike crashed against his shoulder. Pain flared as he stumbled forward, barely managing to stay on his feet. His staff clattered to the ground, useless.

"Lesson two," Jinhai said coolly. "A warrior who relies only on weapons is already dead."

Li Wei clenched his fists. Damn it! He had been so focused on the staff that he had ignored the most important part—himself.

Jinhai didn't wait. He attacked again, moving faster than before. A sharp palm strike aimed for Li Wei's ribs.

This time, Li Wei reacted.

He twisted at the last second, Jinhai's hand grazing past him. His instincts flared, his body moving without thought. He stepped in, raising his arm to strike—

Jinhai caught his wrist.

Li Wei's breath hitched as an overwhelming force crashed into him. His vision blurred as his back slammed into the ground.

Jinhai stood over him, unfazed. "Not bad. You're finally letting your instincts take over."

Li Wei groaned, lying flat on the ground. He was beyond exhausted, his body screaming for rest. But deep inside, something had changed. He had felt it—his body moving in perfect sync with the Celestial Seal's power.

Jinhai offered a hand. "That's enough for today."

Li Wei hesitated, then took it, letting Jinhai pull him to his feet.

The wind rustled through the trees as Jinhai studied him with an unreadable expression.

"Tomorrow, we take things to the next level."

Li Wei swallowed. He wasn't sure whether to feel excited or terrified.

Either way, there was no turning back now.

The wind howled over the jagged peaks of the Azure Sky Mountains, carrying whispers of an ancient power stirring once more. Deep within the misty valleys, hidden from the eyes of ordinary men, a gathering was taking place.

A lone figure stood at the heart of an open courtyard, surrounded by silent warriors clad in dark robes. His golden eyes gleamed like molten fire under the pale moonlight. His presence alone made the air heavy, suffocating. This was Wu Chen, the rising force of the younger generation, and soon, the world would know his name.

Before him, kneeling in reverence, was a shadow-cloaked man. "My lord, the rumors are true. The Celestial Seal… has appeared."

A slow smile spread across Wu Chen's face.

"So… fate has finally revealed itself." His voice was smooth, yet laced with power that sent shivers down the spines of those around him.

Another figure stepped forward—a towering man with a body like carved stone, his aura crackling with a deep crimson energy. Shen Kuan, a ruthless warrior and one of Wu Chen's most trusted lieutenants, crossed his arms.

"The boy who possesses it—Li Wei—is still untrained," Shen Kuan said. "If we act now, we can seize the Celestial Seal before he realizes its true worth."

Wu Chen's gaze darkened. "No."

Shen Kuan frowned. "My lord?"

Wu Chen's lips curled into a smirk. "A treasure like the Celestial Seal must be nurtured before being taken. A premature harvest will only bring regret." He turned his gaze toward the distant horizon. "Let him grow. When he reaches his peak… I will take everything from him."

Silence followed his words, heavy with meaning. The warriors bowed, acknowledging the will of their leader.

Wu Chen closed his eyes, feeling the power surging within him. His cultivation had already reached the Sky Vein Realm, an achievement beyond his years. But it was not enough.

I will ascend to the next realm… and when the time comes, even the heavens will kneel before me.