The courtyard had barely settled from the chaos of the previous fight. Dust hung in the air, glowing faintly in the sunlight. Li Ming wiped sweat from his brow, his Pride Shatter Orbs still humming faintly.

Bai Guo perched nearby, human form this time, feathers ruffled. "Round two starts now, descendant. You thought that was hard? You're just getting warmed up."

Li Ming groaned. "I was just standing. Now I get to do it all over again?"

The Head Mentor's voice boomed across the courtyard. "Next round! All disciples, prepare yourselves. Pride must be tested again, or growth is meaningless."

Students scrambled to their positions, Pride Shatter Orbs glowing, hearts pounding. Some were trembling. Some looked confident. Li Ming exhaled slowly, centering himself.

"This is it," he muttered. "Round two. I can't rely on luck or tricks. I have to actually grow… properly."

Bai Guo tilted his head. "Good. That's the spirit. Remember: this round is about endurance and adaptability. Not just pride. Not just speed. You must understand yourself."

Li Ming's eyes scanned the courtyard. Mentors floated above, their orbs spinning, ready to strike at any moment. Unlike before, there were no specific assignments. Any mentor could attack any student. The unpredictability would test every skill, every reflex, every ounce of determination.

The Head Mentor stepped forward, the six orbs circling him with deadly precision. "Li Ming, begin."

The first mentor lunged at him with a spinning orb. Li Ming sidestepped, barely, and countered with one of his own orbs. Sparks flew. The clash echoed like thunder.

"Focus, focus, focus," Li Ming muttered under his breath. His hands were steady, his eyes sharp. Every move was deliberate, every dodge calculated. He could feel the lessons from the previous round working, helping him anticipate attacks he couldn't see clearly yet.

Another mentor attacked from the side. Li Ming jumped, pivoted, and blocked midair, feeling the resistance of the orb in his hands. He was no longer panicking. No longer flailing. He was learning from the storm itself.

Bai Guo hovered above, wings fluttering nervously. "Okay, descendant, don't screw this up. You've got a chance to show real growth now. No running. No joking. Just fight smart."

Li Ming exhaled, planting his feet firmly on the cracked courtyard floor. "No… I won't run. Not this time. Not ever."

The Head Mentor's six orbs spun faster, forming a barrier around Li Ming. He ducked, rolled, spun—every motion controlled, every movement purposeful. Unlike the first round, he wasn't reacting blindly. He was responding, predicting, and improving with each strike.

A massive orb flew straight at him. Li Ming lifted his arms and channeled all of his energy, reflecting the orb into another mentor's attack. Sparks exploded in the air. The students gasped.

"Finally, he's thinking for himself!" Bai Guo cheered. "Yes! That's the Li Ming I know!"

Li Ming smiled faintly despite his exhaustion. "I feel… different. Stronger. Focused. I understand a little more about myself… about pride… about strength."

The Head Mentor's voice echoed through the courtyard. "Pride alone cannot save you, Li Ming. Strength alone cannot either. Understanding your own limits is the true test."

Li Ming gritted his teeth. "Then I'll push past them."

A mentor swooped down from above, flanking him. Another appeared from the side. Li Ming's eyes darted, assessing, calculating. He blocked one orb, deflected another, and dodged a third with a roll that left sparks flying.

Bai Guo gasped. "He's keeping up! Actually keeping up!"

Li Ming landed, chest heaving. His arms shook. "I… I can do this," he muttered. "I will do this."

The Head Mentor's eyes glimmered, a faint smile on his lips. "Good. That determination is what separates the strong from the ordinary. But endurance is only the beginning…"

The air thickened. Mentors attacked from all directions. Li Ming moved fluidly, avoiding, blocking, striking back. Every action tested not only his strength but his will, patience, and growth.

Bai Guo hovered closer. "This round isn't about winning. It's about surviving… and learning. And so far, descendant, you're doing better than I expected."

Li Ming's focus sharpened. "I'll take this seriously. I'll prove I can handle it. Not for fame. Not for glory. For me. For my growth."

The courtyard was chaos, but in the center, Li Ming's eyes burned with resolve. Pride, yes—but now tempered with understanding and humility.

The mentors' orbs spun faster, faster… and Li Ming braced himself, knowing that the next wave would test everything he had learned so far.

----

Bai Guo hovered nearby, half-human, half-chicken. "Descendant… the real test begins now. Don't just react—use your energy!"

Li Ming nodded. He closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his cultivation energy. Qi flowed through his dantian, warm and powerful, spreading through his arms and legs. His Pride Shatter Orbs glowed brighter, resonating with his spirit.

The Head Mentor's six orbs shot forward simultaneously, spinning faster than ever. The ground cracked as they collided with Li Ming's aura.

Li Ming stepped forward, letting his cultivation energy guide his movements. He blocked one orb, deflected another, and used his Qi to create a brief shield around himself. Sparks flew with each impact.

"Good! That's it!" Bai Guo squawked. "You're finally using your Qi! Don't just fight—fight with power!"

Li Ming's vision sharpened. He felt the flow of energy in his body and realized something important: his strength wasn't just physical. It was his spirit and cultivation combined.

Another orb came flying from the side. Li Ming twisted mid-air, channeling Qi through his legs, and kicked it back toward the mentor. It exploded on contact with another orb, sending sparks across the courtyard.

The Head Mentor's voice boomed: "Impressive. You are learning to harmonize spirit and power. But can you endure the next wave?"

Li Ming gritted his teeth. "I have to!" He poured more cultivation energy into his orbs, letting them spin faster. His golden aura flared, and the dust in the courtyard lifted into a shimmering cloud around him.

Two mentors swooped in at once, swinging their Pride Shatter Orbs with deadly precision. Li Ming met them head-on, using both his cultivation energy and precise timing to block and redirect the strikes. The ground shook with each impact.

Bai Guo flapped, half-excited, half-worried. "Descendant… don't tire yourself! Focus your Qi, not just your body!"

Li Ming clenched his fists, letting the cultivation energy flow freely. His movements became faster, sharper, and smoother. He wasn't just defending—he was controlling the battlefield. Orbs spun around him like extensions of his own body.

The Head Mentor raised all six Pride Shatter Orbs above him. Light flooded the courtyard. Li Ming's chest heaved as he summoned every ounce of his Qi, channeling it through his orbs. The energy flowed like a golden river, shielding him from the mentor's overwhelming attack.

Bai Guo squawked, "Now it's really happening! Keep your focus, descendant!"

Li Ming planted his feet firmly and pushed forward, his aura flaring. The combined power of his cultivation energy and Pride Shatter Orbs clashed with the Head Mentor's six massive orbs. Sparks, dust, and shockwaves filled the air.

Li Ming stumbled slightly, arms burning, but he didn't fall. He realized something crucial: strength isn't just about surviving, it's about using every resource within you—body, spirit, and Qi—to keep standing.

The Head Mentor's voice echoed, calm but cutting: "You have endurance, Li Ming… but can your pride withstand this final assault?"

Li Ming narrowed his eyes. "I won't let it break me!"

The six orbs converged into a massive, blinding sphere above him. Cultivation energy surged from his body to meet it head-on. Light clashed with light. The courtyard shook violently.

Bai Guo flapped his wings frantically. "Descendant… brace yourself! This is it! The real challenge!"

Li Ming's aura flared brighter than ever. Qi flowed through every limb, every muscle, every cell. Pride and energy merged. He lifted his hands—ready to face the incoming orb with everything he had.

And just as the massive orb descended…

To be continued...

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