The path narrowed as Lin Dong and Li Yan ascended deeper into the northern mountains. Jagged cliffs jutted from the earth, their surfaces slick with morning dew. Mist clung to the slopes like drifting spirits, and the air smelled of pine, stone, and distant rain. Each step was deliberate; one misstep could send them tumbling into the abyss below.
"This is where most travelers turn back," Li Yan said, her voice low, eyes scanning the misty ridges. "Few dare to challenge the beasts that roam these heights."
Lin Dong tightened the grip on his jade blade. The Seal on his chest pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat in tune with his own. Each beat reminded him: he was still weak, still growing, and the road ahead demanded more than courage.
The wind shifted abruptly, carrying a low growl that vibrated through the stone beneath their feet. The mist parted, revealing the massive form of a Mountain Spirit Beast. Its scales shimmered like molten iron, eyes glowing amber, fangs sharp enough to pierce armor. It reared, letting out a roar that shook the cliffs, and the ground beneath them trembled with the force of its presence.
Li Yan notched an arrow and drew her bowstring, but Lin Dong stepped forward, eyes narrowed.
"Let me handle this," he said.
"Be careful," Li Yan warned. "Even with the Seal, you're not invincible."
The beast charged, claws scraping against stone, leaving deep grooves in its path. Lin Dong's Seal flared, golden energy coiling along his arms. He moved, not with raw force, but with rhythm — stepping into the flow of the beast's charge, letting the Seal anticipate and amplify each movement.
The jade blade sliced through the air, meeting the beast's claws. Sparks erupted as golden energy met iron-scaled hide. The beast roared, thrashing, but Lin Dong ducked and rolled, letting its momentum carry it past him. His eyes glowed as he extended the Seal's energy outward, forming a protective barrier that deflected the beast's swinging tail.
"The Seal… it's alive," he whispered under his breath, feeling it respond to his intent. "It's not just power… it's guidance."
The Mountain Beast lunged again, faster this time, fangs snapping mere inches from his face. Lin Dong sidestepped, parrying with the jade blade. The impact sent a shockwave that shattered nearby rocks, sending fragments tumbling down the mountainside. He leapt backward, vaulting onto a higher ledge. The Seal's energy surged, wrapping his body in a golden aura.
From above, Li Yan fired arrows with deadly precision, distracting the beast and weakening its flanks. Yet the creature adapted, its movements growing smarter, more strategic. It was no ordinary animal — the Mountain Spirit was testing them, probing for weakness.
"It's learning," Lin Dong said, chest heaving. "I have to think ahead… or it'll kill me."
He focused, letting the Seal link with his instincts. Each strike became predictive, each movement preemptive. When the beast lunged from the cliff's edge, Lin Dong spun, letting the momentum carry him around its massive frame. His blade glowed, arcs of golden energy slicing through the air, cutting the creature's side without harming it fatally — a calculated strike to demonstrate dominance.
The Mountain Beast roared, retreating a few paces, eyes narrowing with respect. Lin Dong's heart pounded; the Seal hummed with satisfaction, as if approving his decision. He realized that strength alone would not win battles — strategy, timing, and the ability to read the enemy were equally important.
"I'm not just fighting it… I'm learning it," Lin Dong muttered. "And I have to become stronger than even this."
The beast charged one final time, faster than before, fangs bared. Lin Dong dodged, leapt, and brought the jade blade down in a controlled arc. The Seal flared brilliantly, energy spiraling outward and knocking the Mountain Beast to the ground. It lay still for a moment, panting, then slowly bowed its massive head, acknowledging Lin Dong as the stronger — not through cruelty, but through skill, control, and intelligence.
Li Yan approached, a rare smile breaking across her face. "You did it," she said softly. "The first trial outside Yan City… and you've already mastered more than most can in years."
Lin Dong exhaled, lowering the blade. Sweat dripped from his brow, the golden light of the Seal dimming slightly as it stabilized. The mountain breeze carried the roar of distant peaks, but the forest below remained silent, as though the world itself was observing.
"This is only the beginning," Lin Dong said quietly. "The Seal, the beasts, the world… everything ahead will test me. And I will rise from weakness. Stronger than anyone expects."
The Mountain Beast rose, retreating into the mists, leaving behind broken stone and the echoes of its respect. Lin Dong turned to Li Yan, her expression one of pride and quiet concern.
"Next, we head toward the Dao Sect," he said. "I need to learn more… control, martial skill, strategy. I have to be ready for Lei Tian — and for the Dark Palace."
The sun climbed higher, casting long shadows over the winding mountain path. Lin Dong walked forward, Seal glowing faintly in golden light, each step a promise of growth, mastery, and the inevitable rise from the boy who could barely defend himself… into a legend who could command the heavens.