The sky above Jade Sword Mountain had darkened to a deep crimson, the Blood Moon rising ominously in the east. Its eerie light reflected off the repaired walls of the Heavenly Sword Sect, casting elongated shadows across the courtyard. Sword Qi hummed faintly in the air, as though anticipating the coming storm.
Zhou Yu stood atop the Main Sect Hall, arms crossed, his robes rippling lightly in the wind. Ling, the Nether Shadow Wolf, crouched beside him, ears twitching, eyes gleaming like molten silver. The wind carried a faint scent—metal, blood, and demonic energy.
"Three days," Zhou Yu murmured, voice calm yet carrying a deadly weight. "They have come earlier than expected."
Liang Chen stood before him, Bronze Sword Core pulsing faintly in rhythm with his heartbeat. The Third Stance of the Dawn Break Technique lingered at the edge of his consciousness, a complex weaving of Sword Qi that required focus, control, and precision. His hands shook slightly—not from fear, but anticipation.
Feng Lian, white frost swirling gently around her robes, surveyed the perimeter. "The Moon-Shadow Forest is alive tonight. They've sent scouts. Not the main force… yet."
A faint rustle came from the northern treeline. At first, it was indistinct—like a whisper through the branches—but then, the silhouettes of the Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect's scouts emerged, twelve in total, cloaked in black robes with crimson moon insignias.
Liang Chen's pulse quickened. "Master… should we attack them directly?"
Zhou Yu's eyes narrowed. "No. Let them reveal their strategy. Observe and respond. Sword cultivation is as much about patience as speed."
Ling let out a low growl, muscles coiling like springs. Zhou Yu flicked his wrist, and a faint Sword Qi barrier shimmered along the edge of the courtyard, invisible to the untrained eye.
The scouts hesitated, sensing the subtle Sword Qi weaving across the terrain. One of them, taller than the others, stepped forward. "Master Zhou Yu," he called, his voice cold and smooth. "Your sect cannot hope to survive. Hand over the fragments, and your lives will be spared."
Zhou Yu's lips curved slightly. "You overestimate your reach and underestimate our resolve."
A sudden signal from the tall scout, and the remaining eleven moved in perfect synchronization, spreading out to flank the sect's perimeter.
Feng Lian's eyes glimmered. "They are disciplined. Trained to probe and retreat. Watch their Qi patterns. Do not strike prematurely."
Liang Chen felt the Third Stance stir in his mind. It was time. His Bronze Sword Core pulsed faster, resonating with the faint arcs of Sword Qi already flowing through the courtyard. He gripped his sword tightly, the faint hum of the technique whispering through him.
With a sudden whoosh, the scouts lunged. The forest around the sect seemed to respond, leaves rustling violently as Ling blurred forward, intercepting the nearest attackers with inhuman speed. His jaws clamped onto one scout, hurling him into a tree with a sickening crack.
Liang Chen raised his sword instinctively. Sword Qi spiraled from the blade, forming a silver arc that split the air. His body moved almost on autopilot, following the path of the Third Stance. The first two scouts collided with his arcs, screams stifled by the sharpness of the energy.
Feng Lian moved like a wisp of frost through the battlefield. Ice Qi surged from her hands, freezing the ground beneath enemy feet, her strikes precise and lethal. Each swipe of her blade left a trail of frost, cracking stone and splintering trees.
Zhou Yu watched, calm and composed, barely needing to move. His presence alone guided the disciples' movements, subtle pulses of Sword Qi reinforcing their attacks, subtly correcting arcs, and enhancing precision.
The taller scout, leader of the group, stepped forward. His sword emitted a faint crimson glow. "Impressive… for children," he sneered. "But you cannot withstand the Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect."
He lunged, moving faster than the eye could follow, aiming directly at Liang Chen. The Bronze Sword Core resonated, and Liang Chen's Third Stance activated fully. Sword Qi arcs weaved around him, forming a protective cage while simultaneously launching deadly counter-strikes.
The leader's sword clashed with Liang Chen's, sparks and Sword Qi colliding in a dazzling display. Trees nearby splintered, and the forest floor cracked under the pressure of the clash. Liang Chen's arms trembled, sweat pouring down his face. This was not training—this was war.
Ling darted among the scouts with predatory grace, his form blurring in the crimson light. Every movement was calculated; every attack precise. A scout attempted a flanking maneuver, only to find Ling already there, jaws clamping down with inhuman speed.
The wolf's presence allowed the disciples to focus entirely on offense, exploiting weaknesses revealed by Ling's attacks. One scout, attempting a ranged talisman strike, found himself frozen in place by Feng Lian's Ice Qi, leaving him vulnerable to Liang Chen's precise blade.
Zhou Yu remained in the background, observing the unfolding chaos. He did not need to intervene yet—the students were performing well under pressure. Their training, while recent, had been rigorous.
The battle raged on for what seemed like hours, though in reality, it had barely been half an hour. The scouts, disciplined and trained, began to falter as they underestimated the Heavenly Sword Sect's cohesion.
Liang Chen's Bronze Sword Core glowed brightly, resonating with his mastery of the Second and Third Stances. With a deep breath, he formed a complex arc, weaving multiple Sword Qi threads into a single, deadly strike.
The leader of the scouts attempted to block, but Liang Chen's coordinated attack—enhanced by Zhou Yu's subtle Sword Qi guidance—overpowered him. The arc of silver energy sliced cleanly across the scout's sword, knocking him back. He fell to the ground, the glow of his sword dimming as he crawled backward in shock.
Feng Lian moved in tandem, her frost-enhanced blade leaving a trail of destruction that immobilized the remaining scouts. One by one, they fell to Ling, Liang Chen, and Feng Lian's combined attacks.
The forest was silent once more, save for the wind rustling through splintered trees and shattered foliage.
Liang Chen collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily. His arms ached, his clothes were torn, and his Bronze Sword Core was glowing faintly from the exertion.
Zhou Yu approached, kneeling beside him. "Well done. You controlled your Core, maintained the Third Stance under real combat, and coordinated with your allies. Few could achieve that."
Liang Chen's chest heaved. "Master… it was… intense. I almost—"
"You almost what?" Zhou Yu's voice was calm, yet carried a subtle edge. "Died? That is the sword path. If you do not challenge the limits, the limits will challenge you—and you will fail. Remember this lesson."
Feng Lian's frost dissipated, and she offered a rare nod of approval. "You held your own against a Sword Core scout team with minimal interference from the Master. That is commendable."
Ling, satisfied, padded silently back to Zhou Yu's side. His silver eyes flickered faintly, scanning the shadows. He sensed more forces approaching—this was only the beginning.
The intercepted scout leader, now unconscious but alive, carried messages revealing more about the Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect's strategy. Zhou Yu read quickly, his brow furrowing.
"They underestimated us," he murmured. "But they are coordinating with the Western Desolation Steppe. Their main forces will arrive sooner than expected. We have only two days to prepare for a full-scale assault."
Liang Chen swallowed hard. "Two days… we barely survived the scouts, Master. How can we handle their main force?"
Zhou Yu's gaze sharpened. "With discipline, training, and unity. And with the Sword Dao guiding us."
He looked toward the Blood Moon, its crimson glow bathing the sect in ominous light. "Tomorrow, we will push your Third Stance to its limits. And you, Liang Chen, will learn to integrate Sword Qi with formations for the first time. Only then can we face what is coming."