Chapter 83: Trial of the sky blades
Li Ming landed on a floating stone platform, breathing heavily, his Qi still glowing faint gold. The mist of the Heavenly Mirage Field swirled around him, but it felt calmer than before—at least for a moment.
Then a whoosh cut through the air.
He looked up. Hundreds of glowing blades had materialized above, spinning like a deadly storm. Some glimmered blue, some green, and a few even radiated golden light.
Li Ming gulped. "Uh... okay. Why is everything trying to murder me today?"
Bai Guo hovered beside him, arms crossed. "Welcome to the Sky Blades, descendant. Timing, precision, and a touch of insanity—your new best friends."
Li Ming stared at the spinning blades. "I... I don’t even know which to dodge first!"
Before he could think further, the blades dropped in sweeping arcs. The first few slices sent sparks flying as he barely dodged, rolling and leaping between the floating islands.
"Note to self," he muttered, "don’t look down... don’t look up... just... run."
One blade veered unusually fast toward his shoulder. He raised his arm instinctively, Qi flaring to form a golden barrier. Clang! The blade bounced off, and he stumbled backward.
Bai Guo shook his head. "Descendant... that’s called defense. Not improvisational gymnastics."
Li Ming shot him a glare. "Thanks for the helpful advice while I almost get sliced in half!"
The blades didn’t pause. They twisted, split, and zipped unpredictably, as if alive. Li Ming realized that pattern recognition would only get him so far—he had to be creative.
He inhaled deeply, feeling Qi flow through his dantian. His mind cleared. Instead of dodging every blade individually, he started moving along the platforms, using his Qi to bend their trajectories slightly, guiding them toward empty spaces.
A golden thread of energy wrapped around one spinning blade, redirecting it into the mist. Another blade slowed as he split his Qi, forming a protective sphere that deflected multiple strikes.
"Finally," Bai Guo muttered, "you’re learning to dance with them instead of just running."
Li Ming smirked. "Dance? Yeah, like a chicken in a tornado."
As he moved, he noticed a small opening ahead—a narrow bridge of light connecting two islands. If he could reach it, he could shortcut past half the blades.
He took a deep breath and focused every ounce of energy. Channeling his Qi into a Flowing Step Technique, he leapt across the spinning blades, dodging, weaving, and even flipping midair.
A blade grazed his sleeve, tearing it slightly, but he landed safely.
"Not bad," Bai Guo said. "Though next time, maybe avoid the half-dead sleeve."
Li Ming shook his head, ignoring him. Another set of blades spun into view—faster, larger, and sharper than before.
"This isn’t fair!" he yelled, launching a Qi wave into the nearest blade. It shattered midair into golden sparks.
The others reacted. Some slowed, some veered off-course, and a few whizzed past harmlessly.
Li Ming’s pulse quickened, a grin spreading across his face. "Okay... this is actually kinda fun!"
He dashed forward, flipping over a blade, then punching his palm. A golden shockwave rippled outward, knocking three spinning blades away.
Then, from above, a massive blade—longer than a spear, glowing black—dropped straight toward him.
Li Ming froze. His heart hammered. This one isn’t normal.
Bai Guo’s voice rang out, unusually serious. "Descendant... that’s the Field’s test blade. It adapts to your energy. One hit, and you restart."
Li Ming’s eyes widened. "Restart?! I just made it this far!"
He clenched his fists, feeling his Qi surge. This was more than raw energy—it was control, timing, focus. He leapt sideways, channeling every ounce of skill he’d learned.
"Twin Flow Strike!"
Golden threads of energy spiraled around him, weaving a temporary shield. The black blade struck the barrier, sparks scattering like fireworks. The platform shook violently, but Li Ming held his ground.
Bai Guo cheered faintly. "That’s the spirit! Using your mind, not just your fists!"
Li Ming panted, gripping the platform’s edge. He looked up at the spinning storm of blades—some neutralized, some still dangerous. He grinned. "Okay... let’s finish this."
He channeled all his Qi into a single, continuous thread, forming a path of light that redirected the remaining blades safely ahead. With a running leap, he followed the path, each step precise, each movement flowing with his energy.
Finally, he landed on the next safe platform. The storm of blades dissipated instantly, replaced by golden light forming an archway ahead.
Li Ming fell to his knees, exhausted but exhilarated. "I... I did it. I actually did it!"
Bai Guo hovered above, arms crossed. "And you survived without panicking... mostly. That’s progress."
Li Ming wiped sweat from his brow. "Mostly counts, right?"
He stepped forward toward the archway. Beyond it, he could see the faint glow of the next trial. Bigger. Harder. Faster.
A small grin crept across his face. "Alright... whatever’s next, let’s go."
And at that moment, the mist ahead shifted... forming a shadowy figure standing at the exit, eyes glowing red.
Li Ming froze.
Bai Guo muttered, voice low, "Descendant... I think you’ve just met the real trial."
The figure raised a hand. Energy crackled in the air.
Li Ming’s pulse quickened. "Here we go again..."
The Heavenly Mirage Field had one last surprise waiting.
----
Li Ming froze as the shadowy figure stepped forward, its energy swirling like a storm around him.
"Alright... think. Stay calm. Maybe... maybe it’s friendly?" Li Ming whispered to himself, though his hands were already glowing with Qi.
Bai Guo hovered behind him, arms crossed, clearly amused. "Friendly? Descendant... it’s a shadow trial. Nothing in here is friendly."
Li Ming gulped. "Noted. Friendly is out."
The figure moved with terrifying speed. In the blink of an eye, it appeared right in front of him, raising a dark, shimmering blade.
Li Ming jumped backward, barely avoiding the strike. Sparks flew as his Qi barrier absorbed the impact.
"Okay... first lesson," he muttered. "Don’t get sliced by ominous silhouettes. Check."
The shadow lunged again. This time, Li Ming channeled golden Qi into a spiral, spinning around to create a protective dome. The shadow’s blade slammed against the dome, sending a shockwave that rattled the platform.
"Whoa!" Li Ming staggered. "It’s... stronger than I thought!"
Bai Guo chuckled. "Finally! You’re learning to react, not just panic!"
Li Ming shot him a glare. "Thanks... for the constant commentary while I almost die."
The shadow raised its blade again, and Li Ming realized this wasn’t about raw power—it was about timing and creativity.
He focused, Qi flowing smoothly through his body. Instead of dodging at the last second, he read the figure’s movements, predicting the strike.
"Twin Flow Palm!" Li Ming shouted, thrusting his palm forward. Golden energy shot out, meeting the shadow’s blade midair. Sparks erupted, scattering across the platform like fireworks.
The figure staggered slightly. Li Ming’s confidence surged. "Ha! Did you see that, Bai Guo?"
Bai Guo snorted. "Yes. Try not to jinx it."
Li Ming’s mind raced. The platform beneath them shimmered—it reacted to energy, moving and twisting unpredictably. Suddenly, it tilted, sending him sliding forward.
He skidded but recovered mid-roll, channeling Qi into his feet to jump onto a smaller floating stone. From there, he launched a Qi thread at the shadow figure, tangling it slightly.
"Gotcha!" he exclaimed.
The shadow easily severed the thread but paused for just a fraction of a second. That was all Li Ming needed.
He leaped high, spinning in the air. "Spiral Golden Kick!" His foot collided with the figure’s chest, sending it skidding backward into the mist.
Li Ming landed, chest heaving. "Okay... okay... I’m getting the hang of this!"
The shadow reformed, blade raised. Its voice, cold and echoing, said, "You fight well... but only because you are desperate."
Li Ming swallowed. "Desperate... is my middle name. Right after ’Confused’ and before ’Hungry.’"
The figure lunged again, faster than before. This time, Li Ming didn’t just block—he flowed with the attack, redirecting energy through his body, amplifying his own Qi as he spun.
Bam! He struck the figure with a golden spiral palm. Clang! The blade snapped midair, breaking apart in sparks.
Li Ming landed, panting but smiling. "Yes! Beat it with style!"
Bai Guo hovered, clapping slowly. "Congratulations, descendant. You’re officially not pathetic in battle."
The mist ahead shimmered. The next trial’s gate appeared, floating like a ring of golden light.
Li Ming wiped sweat from his brow. "Finally... moving forward."
Just as he stepped toward it, the shadowy figure reappeared, floating in front of the gate, glowing faintly golden this time.
Li Ming froze. "Wait... weren’t you done?!"
The figure raised a hand. "The trial isn’t over. This... is the final test of your control. Use all your cultivation skills. Only then will the path open."
Li Ming’s pulse quickened. "All my skills... huh? Well, I did just level up a lot since last time."
Bai Guo hovered closer, eyes twinkling. "Descendant... it’s time to see if all your training actually works in combat."
Li Ming clenched his fists, golden Qi flaring around him. He felt the energy hum inside—controlled, flowing, powerful. He realized something.
This wasn’t just about dodging or hitting. It was about understanding himself.
The shadow lunged again.
Li Ming smiled. "Alright then... let’s make it interesting."
And he charged forward, Qi blazing, ready to strike...
To be continued...