The sun had barely risen over Yan City when Lin Dong stood at the northern gates, the city sprawling behind him like a sleeping giant. The golden glow of his Spirit Seal throbbed faintly beneath his chest, a steady heartbeat echoing the rhythm of his determination.
Li Yan walked beside him, her bow slung across her back, eyes scanning the road ahead. "The path isn't safe," she warned. "Once we leave the city, the world isn't forgiving. Not for someone like you… not yet."
Lin Dong tightened his grip on the jade blade. Its runes shimmered with residual energy from the last battle, still warm from the Seal's power. He had defeated Shen Luo, survived the first confrontation with the Lei Clan, and mastered the first stage of the Seal — yet he knew the road ahead demanded more than raw strength.
"Then I'll get stronger," he said simply, his voice steady. "I'll be ready for whatever comes next."
The northern road stretched into the mountains, winding through thick forests where the morning mist clung to the trees like living spirits. Birds, startled by their footsteps, took flight in flurries, their cries echoing off the hills. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, seemed amplified, as though the forest itself were alive, watching him.
"Keep your focus," Li Yan cautioned. "The beasts here aren't ordinary. Even a skilled martial artist can be torn apart if they aren't careful."
Lin Dong's eyes narrowed. He had learned to sense the pulse of the world — the Seal had taught him that. The ground beneath his feet vibrated faintly, reacting to his weight, his presence. Every step he took felt deliberate, measured, like he was not merely walking through the forest, but becoming one with it.
A sudden rustle echoed to their left. Lin Dong froze, sensing an unnatural energy. A massive shadow lunged from the underbrush — a spirit beast, scales black as obsidian, eyes glowing a molten red. Its claws dug into the soil, leaving gouges in the earth, and its roar shook the surrounding trees.
Li Yan nocked an arrow and drew her bowstring, aim steady. "Stay behind me," she instructed, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of apprehension.
Lin Dong stepped forward, chest glowing faintly. The Seal pulsed in response, stretching along his arm, connecting with the jade blade. Its golden energy coiled like serpents ready to strike. He was still far from the masters he had glimpsed in his travels — yet the Seal gave him courage, amplifying his speed and reflexes beyond mortal limits.
The beast charged. Lin Dong sidestepped, swinging the jade blade. Golden arcs met obsidian scales, sparks flying as the energy rippled outward. The impact shook the forest floor, sending leaves and dust into the air. The beast recoiled, snarling, claws raking the earth where he had stood.
"Not bad," Lin Dong muttered, voice calm even as adrenaline surged. "But I won't hold back."
He moved faster, flowing with the Seal's rhythm, strikes precise and continuous. The spirit beast lunged again, jaws snapping, eyes burning with primal fury. Lin Dong leapt over the strike, letting the Seal's energy surge through the blade, sending a shockwave that knocked the creature backward into a grove of trees.
Li Yan's arrows found their marks, piercing the beast's flanks, each shot perfectly timed with Lin Dong's movements. Together, they were a storm of precision and energy — yet Lin Dong knew this was only the beginning.
"This world… it's alive," he whispered, golden eyes flashing. "Every corner, every shadow… it will test me."
The beast rose, wounded but defiant. It circled, snarling, then charged again with renewed fury. Lin Dong felt the Seal pulse wildly, demanding control, demanding focus. He closed his eyes briefly, attuning himself to the forest, to the beast, to the rhythm of his own heartbeat.
When he opened them, golden light coiled around him like a living aura. He was no longer simply reacting; he was commanding the flow of the battle, predicting every strike, anticipating every lunge. The jade blade arced in a brilliant spiral, connecting with the beast's chest. A final surge of Seal energy exploded outward, sending the spirit beast sprawling and unconscious.
Li Yan approached, a rare smile breaking her calm demeanor. "You've grown," she said. "Much faster than I expected."
Lin Dong exhaled, lowering the blade. Sweat glistened on his brow, the forest quiet once more, as if holding its breath. "We've only begun," he said. "I'll get stronger… stronger than anyone thinks possible. And when I return to Yan City, nothing will stop me from facing Lei Tian."
The morning sun pierced the mist, casting golden light over the winding mountain path. Lin Dong tightened his grip on the jade blade. Each step forward carried the weight of ambition, vengeance, and destiny.
"The journey begins," he whispered. "And I'll rise from weakness… to become unstoppable."
The forest seemed to hum in response, alive with the pulse of unseen life. Ahead, the road stretched into shadowed valleys and distant peaks — a path lined with trials, beasts, and enemies that would challenge him at every turn.
And Lin Dong walked forward, the first true step of his martial ascension, the Seal glowing with unwavering light.