Chapter 84: The final blow
The air trembled. The floating arena shook as golden Qi and dark mist collided midair.
Li Ming darted across the glowing stones, each step leaving ripples of light. His eyes were locked on the shadowy figure ahead, whose form wavered like smoke in a storm.
"Alright," Li Ming muttered. "Full control, full focus. Just don’t explode this time."
"Good advice," Bai Guo said dryly, circling above in his human form. "Let’s see if you can follow it for more than five seconds."
"Ha! Watch me!" Li Ming yelled, slamming his palms together. Qi flared around him, bright as the sun.
The shadow charged, its blade dragging a streak of darkness across the air. Li Ming met it head-on, twisting his body midair. Clang! Sparks burst as his golden barrier deflected the first strike.
Then came the second—faster, sharper. Li Ming spun, bending backward so narrowly that the blade sliced a strand of his hair.
"Whoa—personal space!" he shouted, leaping back.
He slammed a palm into the ground. "Flowing Lotus Burst!"
A ring of light exploded outward, petals of Qi spiraling like spinning discs. The shadow was pushed back, forced to block with crossed arms.
Li Ming’s eyes gleamed. He pressed forward, summoning golden streaks of energy that twisted into small blades around him. "Alright, time to test my new combo!"
The blades spun faster. "Golden Spiral—Rain Formation!"
The air erupted with streaks of light, raining down like a storm of knives. Each impact shook the platform, splintering the glowing stones. The shadow darted between the strikes, graceful and fast—but not fast enough.
One beam grazed its arm, bursting into smoke.
Li Ming grinned. "Gotcha!"
The figure steadied itself, the mist forming cracks along its body. Then it raised its hand and unleashed a wave of black Qi that slammed into Li Ming like a hammer.
Boom!
He crashed through a floating stone, coughing. "Okay, ow... that’s new."
"Focus!" Bai Guo yelled. "You lose control now, and it’ll eat your energy alive!"
"Yeah, yeah! I got this!" Li Ming pushed himself up, Qi surging through his meridians. His golden aura pulsed, brighter and steadier than before.
The shadow came at him again, but this time Li Ming didn’t dodge. He closed his eyes, took a breath, and let instinct guide him.
The shadow’s blade descended—Li Ming’s hand shot up. Clang! He caught the blade between two fingers.
Bai Guo’s jaw dropped. "You—how?!"
Li Ming smirked. "Learned this from Grandpa Li. It’s called the ’Don’t Panic and Pretend You Planned That’ technique."
With a twist, he shattered the shadow’s weapon. Energy burst out in every direction.
He spun midair, channeling all his Qi into his leg. "Golden Tempest Kick!"
BOOM!
The kick connected, sending the shadow flying into a glowing pillar. Cracks of light shot through its body. The entire arena quaked as golden waves rippled outward.
Li Ming landed, panting but still grinning. "Ha... that’s what you get for underestimating me!"
The figure rose again, barely holding shape now. "You... have learned much, young cultivator."
Li Ming raised a brow. "Wait, you can talk properly now?"
"I always could," the shadow said, voice steady but fading. "You just never listened."
Li Ming blinked. "Okay, rude."
The shadow chuckled—a deep, echoing sound. "Your heart has grown stronger. You’ve faced your fear, your anger, and your limits. That is why... you stand."
Before Li Ming could reply, the figure raised a hand and pressed it to his chest. Warm light flowed from it into him, spreading through every vein.
The shadow’s form slowly dissolved into particles of gold, drifting upward. "You’ve passed, Li Ming. The Heavenly Mirage Field recognizes your strength."
Bai Guo landed beside him, eyes wide. "Descendant... your energy... it’s stabilizing!"
Li Ming gasped as his Qi surged, rising like a flood. His dantian pulsed—then burst with light.
BOOM!
The entire illusionary field exploded in a cascade of color. When the light cleared, Li Ming stood alone, glowing faintly gold.
He looked down at his hands. His aura was calm, steady—more refined. "Wait... did I just—"
Bai Guo grinned. "Congratulations. Mid Foundation Building, Level Five."
Li Ming’s jaw dropped. "Already?! But I just—wait, how long was I even fighting?!"
"Three hours," Bai Guo said, stretching. "Four, if you count your dramatic monologues."
Li Ming groaned. "Oh great, I’ve officially broken my personal record for unnecessary energy usage."
The mist around them shimmered, forming a glowing portal.
Bai Guo crossed his arms. "Guess that’s our way out. You ready?"
Li Ming hesitated. The memory of the fight still pulsed through him—the energy, the thrill, the exhaustion. He smiled faintly. "Yeah... let’s go."
They stepped into the light together.
For a moment, everything went silent.
Then—
BOOM!
They fell flat onto the ground of the real-world sect arena.
Li Ming groaned. "Oww... couldn’t they just teleport us gently for once?"
Lan Yue stood nearby, arms folded, a faint smile on her face. "Congratulations, Li Ming. You’ve passed the Heavenly Mirage Field."
He blinked. "Wait... seriously? That’s it? No surprise attack? No sudden betrayal?!"
Lan Yue’s lips twitched. "You sound disappointed."
Bai Guo nodded. "He’s just addicted to chaos now."
Li Ming sighed. "Maybe... but at least this time, no explosions—"
A distant boom echoed from the mountain.
Lan Yue turned slowly. "You were saying?"
Li Ming covered his face. "I didn’t even do anything this time!"
The other disciples around the arena looked up as smoke rose from the sect’s training field. Someone shouted, "The alchemy hall exploded again!"
Bai Guo grinned. "Let me guess... your friend Chen tried to cook pills again?"
Li Ming groaned. "Why does this always happen right after I pass a test?!"
Lan Yue smiled faintly. "Because peace doesn’t suit you, Li Ming."
He sighed dramatically. "Apparently not."
But as he looked up at the sky, a faint smile curved his lips. For the first time in a while, he felt stronger—not just in cultivation, but in will.
Maybe, he thought, this was what being a cultivator was really about.
------
The smoke from the alchemy hall still curled into the sky when Li Ming sprinted down the stone path.
"Why do I always have to clean up someone else’s explosion?!" he shouted, ducking as a flaming cauldron flew overhead.
"Because you’re fast," Bai Guo said calmly, sipping tea on his shoulder. "And slightly too responsible for your own good."
Li Ming pointed. "That’s not tea! That’s my energy drink!"
Bai Guo shrugged. "Consider it a spiritual tax."
Before Li Ming could argue, another explosion shook the ground. A massive gust of heat whooshed through the courtyard, sending disciples tumbling like leaves.
From the wreckage of the alchemy hall emerged a familiar figure—Chen, the eternally panicked alchemist—covered in soot, holding a melted ladle.
"I swear," Chen coughed, "the recipe said two drops of Flame Essence, not don’t summon a fire spirit!"
"Wait, WHAT?!" Li Ming yelled.
A low roar answered him. From the burning ruins, a fiery shape rose—three meters tall, with molten eyes and smoke trailing off its shoulders.
Lan Yue appeared beside Li Ming in a flash. "A fire elemental. Wild and unstable. Someone must’ve disturbed its seal."
Bai Guo glanced at Chen. "Oh look, the culprit’s wearing the evidence."
Chen raised a hand weakly. "My bad?"
The elemental roared again, and the ground cracked beneath its heat. Disciples scattered as it swung its massive arm toward the courtyard.
Li Ming didn’t hesitate. "Let’s go!"
He dashed forward, golden energy swirling around him. The air shimmered as he channeled his Qi, launching himself straight at the creature’s chest.
"Golden Burst Palm!"
BOOM!
The impact shook the courtyard, flames scattering like fireworks. But the elemental only staggered. Its molten body reformed instantly.
"Okay," Li Ming said, landing with a skid. "That barely tickled it."
Lan Yue raised her sword. "It feeds on fire—don’t use direct heat attacks!"
"Got it!" Li Ming grinned. "Then I’ll use something cooler!"
Bai Guo groaned. "Please never say it like that again."
Li Ming ignored him and spun his hands in a circular motion. Golden Qi condensed into orbs of light. "Flowing Frost Formation!"
The orbs shot forward, releasing icy ripples that clashed with the elemental’s flames. Steam hissed as fire met frost.
For a moment, the arena filled with a blinding mist.
"Now!" Lan Yue shouted.
Li Ming leaped through the haze, fists blazing with golden light—not flame, but pure Qi force. He struck the creature’s core. "Burst Impact!"
The elemental howled, its chest cracking open in a spiral of light.
Bai Guo swooped overhead, wings flaring. "Finish it, descendant! Before it reforms!"
Li Ming’s energy surged, gathering in his palm. He slammed his hand into the glowing crack. "Qi Disperse!"
The elemental screamed—then exploded in a wave of steam and sparks.
The courtyard went silent except for the faint crackle of fading fire.
Li Ming stood panting, his hair sticking up from the heat. "That... was way too close."
Chen peeked out from behind a pillar. "S-so... we’re good?"
Lan Yue turned her sharp gaze on him. "You’re cleaning the ruins for a week."
Chen groaned. "Fair..."
Bai Guo floated down, patting Li Ming’s shoulder. "Not bad, descendant. You’re starting to look like an actual cultivator."
Li Ming laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Really? I just feel like a glorified firefighter."
Lan Yue sheathed her sword, her expression softening. "Still, your control improved. That last attack—if you’d used a fraction more power, you’d have collapsed the courtyard."
Li Ming blinked. "So... I’m too strong now?"
Bai Guo smirked. "No, you’re just too dramatic."
Li Ming sighed. "I’ll take it."
Lan Yue turned to him. "Rest for today. Tomorrow, the real challenge begins."
Li Ming frowned. "What do you mean?"
She handed him a jade slip. Symbols glowed faintly across its surface. "The announcement just came in. The core ascension trials start at dawn."
Li Ming’s mouth dropped. "Wait—already?! I just finished fighting a walking furnace!"
Bai Guo chuckled. "Perfect timing! You’re warmed up."
Li Ming glared. "I’m burnt up!"
But Lan Yue’s serious tone cut through the banter. "This exam will determine your standing in the sect—and your future as a cultivator. No distractions. No mistakes."
Li Ming looked down at the jade slip. His reflection shimmered faintly in its surface. The faint grin faded, replaced by quiet determination.
"Alright," he said finally. "Let’s do this."
Lan Yue nodded. "Good. Because once it starts, there’s no turning back."
Thunder rumbled in the distance. The sky darkened—not from storm clouds, but from energy gathering above the sect. Massive rings of light formed, each one representing a trial arena.
Bai Guo whistled. "Now that’s an entrance."
Li Ming squinted up at the glowing rings. "Why does every test here look like it wants to kill me?"
"Because it does," Lan Yue said casually, walking away.
"Great. Just great."
Bai Guo patted his shoulder. "Cheer up, descendant. You’ve survived worse."
Li Ming exhaled slowly. The air shimmered with the coming storm of energy.
He grinned faintly. "Yeah... but this time, I plan to win on purpose."
Lightning arced across the sky, illuminating his golden aura. The ground rumbled as the first wave of spiritual pressure descended.
The exam had begun.
And Li Ming—burnt, tired, and grinning like a madman—stepped forward to face it.
To be continued...