The Immortal Sword Assembly

The walk back to the palace was silent, but my mind was restless, the trail in the cave left me with a great shock, yet something inside of me felt somehow different.. Stronger, I saw illusions that were meant to tear me apart but I survived, my body still ached from the terrible experience and my master's gaze made the tension even more worse.

As we reached the palace steps, he finally spoke.

"You've awakened something within you," he said, his voice calm yet firm.

"But strength which you can't control is dangerous. From now on, your training will get tougher "

I nodded, trying to hide the shiver that ran through my whole body . Something told me that "tougher " was an understatement.It could be worse

As we entered the training courtyard, the palace which was usually quiet was now replaced with whispers everywhere and something different in the air.

Disciples gathered and murmured amongst themselves, the looks on their faces was serious. I overheard one of them talk of an important event, a test that will determine one's stand within the sect.

Master Yan Zhaoxuan frowned slightly before turning to me.

"Rest for now. But be prepared. The Immortal Sword Assembly begins in three days."

I blinked. "The Immortal Sword Assembly?"

Before he could answer, a loud voice echoed in the courtyard

"Attention, all disciples!"

Mo Yan, one of the senior instructors, stood in the center of the courtyard, his expression wasn't something I could decipher .

"The Immortal Sword Assembly will commence in three days. Every disciple must participate. The winner will earn the chance to become a direct disciple of the Sect Leader, while the lowest-ranked disciple will face expulsion."

Everyone started murmuring again. Some looked eager, others nervous.

Expulsion? My chest tightened. That meant… I had no choice but to fight.

"Furthermore," Mo Yan continued, "a new disciple has joined our sect under special circumstances. Meng Xuan Lang."

I turned just as a young man stepped forward.

He was tall and composed, his robes were very nice and immaculately arranged. But there was something about him that immediately drew attention.

His aura felt controlled, but besides that , I sensed something else.. an intensity he was trying to hide. His eyes were sharp and assessing, scanning the crowd until they landed on me.

He couldn't hide the small smile on his face.

"I've heard a lot about you."

I stiffened. "Me?"

Before he could answer, a sharp voice cut in.

"Feng Mian doesn't deserve any attention."

Ni Man Tian.

I turned and saw her standing at the edge of the training ground, arms crossed, her expression filled with disdain

Meng Xuan Lang raised an eyebrow. "And you are?"

She scoffed. "Someone who actually belongs here. Unlike her."

Tension filled the air. I clenched my fists but refused to rise to the bait.

My friend, Qing Shui, yeah I actually made a new friend, though I can't totally call her my friend, appeared at my side, speaking in a low voice.

"Ignore her. She's just upset because she isn't getting the attention she wants anymore ."

I sighed. "She's always hated me."

"She's jealous," Qing Shui muttered.

Before I could respond, Mo Yan clapped his hands. "Enough talk. Training begins now."

The next few days were very stressful, Training became even more brutal, everyone wanted to do better, I spent hours in the training ground, practicing my swordsmanship, struggling to control the energy that had awakened inside me. I knew I couldn't afford to lose control in front of the elders.

Meng Xuan Lang turned out to be incredibly skilled. During sparring sessions, he moved with deadly precision, his attacks were very calculated and effortless.

The other disciples admired him.. some with awe, others with jealousy. But what confused me most was his curiosity about me.

"You fight differently," he remarked after watching me train one evening.

I wiped sweat from my forehead. "Is that a bad thing?"

He chuckled. "Not at all. Just… unusual."

I didn't know how to respond.

Meanwhile, Ni Man Tian grew more aggressive. She was determined to prove herself, and for some reason,even if that meant making me look weak.

During a sparring match, she struck harder than necessary, nearly knocking me off my feet.

"Oops," she said, smirking. "You should pay more attention."

I steadied myself, refusing to let her get a reaction out of me.

Meng Xuan Lang, however, stepped forward, his eyes dark with disapproval. "That was unnecessary."

Ni Man Tian's smirk stopped.

"Stay out of this."

But he merely gave her a knowing look before walking away.

She glared after him but said nothing more.

The night before the Assembly, I was training at the training ground, swinging my sword with a mind filled with frustration. I couldn't get rid of the feeling of doubt within me no matter how hard I tried.

What if I wasn't strong enough? What if I failed?

"You push yourself too hard."

I turned to see Meng Xuan Lang watching me.

I sighed. "I have to. If I fail tomorrow…"

He leaned against a nearby post. "You won't."

I frowned. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because," he said simply, "I can see it. You have something no one else does."

His words lingered in my mind long after he left.

The Day of the Assembly came

The courtyard was packed with disciples. The Sect Elders sat in the highest seats, their expressions unreadable as they surveyed the gathered students.

Mo Yan stepped forward.

"Let the battles begin."

My heart pounded.

I was about to fight for my place in the sect.

The first matches went by quickly, with weaker disciples being eliminated. The fights were ruthless, some ending within minutes. The stronger disciples, including Meng Xuan Lang and Ni Man Tian, won their matches with ease.

Then, my name was called.

Stepping onto the training platform, I took a deep breath. My opponent was a senior disciple.. a well-trained fighter with more experience than me.

"Are both participants ready?" Mo Yan asked.

We nodded.

"Begin!"

My opponent launched an attack first, coming at me with a powerful strike. I barely had time to react, raising my sword to block the attack.

The force from it sent a sharp pain through my arms but I held still and firm.

He didn't hesitate, he continued his strikes with a relentless flurry of strikes. I gritted my teeth, dodging and countering as best as I could.

"Too slow," he muttered, slashing toward my side.

I bent my head just in time, barely avoiding the blade.

But in that moment, something inside me shifted. A strange force spread through my chest.. the same energy I had felt in the Cave of Trials.

Control it. Yeah I have to. I can

I exhaled slowly, focusing on my movements.

My opponent striked again, but this time, I saw the attack before it happened. My body moved instinctively, stepping to the side and countering with a precise strike.

The crowd gasped as my opponent staggered back, eyes wide.

I didn't stop. Of course this was an opportunity, I pressed forward, my movements flowing effortlessly. My energy kept growing , guiding me as if it had always been there.

Then.. one final strike.

My opponent's sword fell out of his hand and the force sent him staggering backwards, then I pointed my blade at his throat.

Silence.

Mo Yan raised his hand. "Winner Feng Mian

I could see the amazement in everyone's face, looking at my master. He stared at me with a little feeling of pride in him . I stepped back, my breathing unsteady, but my heart pounding with exhilaration.

From the crowd, I caught Meng Xuan Lang watching me, his expression quite different from normal

I had won my first match.

But the Assembly was far from over.