Morning sunlight spilled across Azure Sky Sect, turning the roofs golden and the mountains soft with mist. The sect, still calm after the Heartbreaker Trials, seemed peaceful again. But Li Ming knew better. Peace was just the pause before another disaster.

He stood at the training ground, dressed in his usual robe again—thank heavens—and watched Bai Guo pecking at a rice bun. "Hey, don't eat my breakfast!"

Bai Guo looked up, crumbs on his beak. "I was inspecting it for poison."

"Uh-huh. And your inspection required swallowing it whole?"

"Thorough checks demand sacrifices," Bai Guo said seriously, then belched softly.

Li Ming sighed. "You're impossible."

Just then, Lan Yue appeared, her presence calm yet sharp as ever. "You're both early. Good. We'll need the time."

Li Ming turned to her, expression wary. "You mentioned we're going to the borderlands. Is it really that serious?"

She nodded. "Yes. After last night's infiltration, the elders agreed we can't sit still. The Shadow Valley Sect has been moving in secret. Their disciples were last seen in the eastern borderlands. If we trace their path, we might uncover their next move."

Li Ming rubbed his chin. "So… like a road trip?"

"More like walking into danger," she replied dryly.

Bai Guo flapped his wings. "Adventure! I approve."

Li Ming groaned. "Easy for you to say. You can fly away if things go bad."

Lan Yue's lips twitched. "You'll manage. You always do."

He folded his arms. "That's not comforting! That's just a fancy way of saying, 'Good luck, you're doomed.'"

Ignoring his protest, she handed him a small pouch. "Inside are spirit stones and travel provisions. You'll also carry this."

She gave him a circular compass-like talisman. Its surface shimmered faintly with light. "It reacts to corrupted qi. Use it if you sense danger."

Li Ming turned it over, amazed. "Wow… does it come with a self-defense mode?"

"No. That's what your cultivation is for."

He grimaced. "Figures."

Soon, they left the sect, descending the misty path that wound down the mountains. Birds chirped, the sky was clear, and for once, Li Ming thought maybe—just maybe—this would be a calm journey.

Then, naturally, Bai Guo sneezed lightning.

The air cracked with static, scaring away a flock of crows.

Li Ming yelled, "Why are you sneezing lightning?!"

"I think I'm allergic to destiny," Bai Guo said, feathers puffed.

Lan Yue didn't even look back. "Both of you, focus. We have a long way ahead."

The journey stretched across winding trails, through bamboo forests and over quiet bridges. Every step, Li Ming's mind wandered back to last night's fight. The spy's words, his strength, that symbol—it wasn't random. Something bigger was moving behind the scenes.

He kicked a pebble, frowning. "Lan Yue… do you think I was really helpful yesterday? Or was it just luck again?"

She slowed her pace. "It wasn't luck. You used your qi, your instincts, and your will. That's growth. You're learning to fight with purpose."

Li Ming blinked. "You mean… I'm not just an accidental hero anymore?"

"Not entirely," she said. "But remember—growth doesn't mean perfection. It means choosing to stand, even when you'd rather run."

He stared at her, a bit stunned. "That was actually really deep."

Bai Guo nodded sagely. "She read it from a fortune cookie."

Lan Yue gave him a glare that could shatter mountains. Bai Guo quickly turned away, pretending to be interested in a leaf.

By noon, they reached a riverside village where traders bustled around carrying herbs, ore, and spirit beast pelts. The trio stopped by a small stall selling steamed buns.

Li Ming's eyes sparkled. "Food!"

Lan Yue gave him a look. "We're here for supplies, not snacks."

He pouted. "But buns are supplies."

Before she could argue, the shopkeeper—a cheerful old lady—called out, "Ah, young travelers! Try our famous Sky Buns! Blessed by the heavens, guaranteed to make your qi flow like a waterfall!"

Li Ming leaned in, whispering, "You think that's true?"

Bai Guo sniffed the steam. "If it's blessed by heavens, it'll taste divine. I vote yes."

Lan Yue sighed. "Fine. Two buns. Then we move."

Li Ming cheered. "Yes! Victory!"

But just as he bit into his bun, a voice called out behind him, "Hey! You there!"

He turned. A group of disciples wearing black-and-red robes were standing nearby. Their emblem—a clawed crescent—made his stomach drop.

Lan Yue's hand hovered near her sword. "Shadow Valley disciples."

The tallest of them sneered. "Azure Sky rats. Didn't expect to see you here. What's the matter? Lost your way?"

Li Ming swallowed his bite nervously. "Nope, just… sightseeing."

Another one chuckled. "A sightseeing trip to the borderlands? Funny place for tourists."

Lan Yue stepped forward calmly. "We're not looking for trouble."

The leader smirked. "Too bad. Trouble's looking for you."

In a blink, his hand flashed, and a pulse of dark qi surged toward them. Lan Yue blocked it with a flick of her wrist, her sword gleaming like a ribbon of moonlight. Sparks scattered as the blast split the ground.

Li Ming stumbled back. "They're attacking in broad daylight?! What happened to manners?!"

Bai Guo transformed mid-air, feathers glowing, wings spreading wide. "Descendant! Focus!"

Li Ming steadied his breath, summoning his qi. A wave of spirit energy gathered around him, swirling like faint wind.

The Shadow Valley leader pointed his sword. "Let's see what the so-called prodigies of Azure Sky can do!"

The ground trembled as both sides rushed forward. Lan Yue engaged the leader, their swords clashing in a blur of silver and crimson. Sparks exploded with each strike. Her movements were sharp, precise, like a dance of blades.

Li Ming faced the second disciple—a sneering man with daggers in both hands. "Two blades? Isn't that cheating?!"

"Not my fault you're slow," the man grinned, slashing.

Li Ming ducked, rolled, and countered with a palm strike. His qi burst out, pushing the attacker back. "Ha! Not bad, right?"

Bai Guo swooped down, knocking another disciple into a cart of turnips. "Triple Peck Formation!"

Turnips scattered everywhere, and Li Ming couldn't help shouting, "That's not a formation—it's chaos!"

The villagers ran for cover as the street turned into a miniature battlefield. Stalls toppled, vegetables flew, and a bun bounced dramatically off someone's head.

Li Ming blocked a dagger, feeling the shock run up his arm. Focus. You're not weak anymore. He summoned more energy, channeling it into his palm.

The man lunged again—but Li Ming sidestepped, then used his momentum to deliver a qi-infused strike to his chest. The disciple flew back, crashing into a barrel of soy sauce.

Bai Guo crowed proudly. "Nice! Sauce for victory!"

Li Ming grinned, "I'm on fire!"

"Literally!" Bai Guo shouted as a stray blast ignited a stall beside them.

Li Ming screamed, "Why is it always fire?!"

Lan Yue, mid-duel, shouted, "Put it out later! Focus now!"

She clashed blades again with the leader, sparks scattering like fireworks. But the Shadow Valley cultivator was strong—his energy dark and unyielding.

He smirked, voice low. "You're strong, Azure Sky woman. But strength alone won't save your disciple."

Lan Yue's eyes flicked toward Li Ming just as a dark talisman appeared in the enemy's hand.

He threw it. A seal of black light shot through the air, heading straight for Li Ming.

Lan Yue shouted, "Li Ming! Dodge!"

Li Ming turned—too late. The seal slammed into his chest, bursting in a wave of dark energy.

Everything froze.

Lan Yue's eyes widened. Bai Guo shrieked his name. Li Ming staggered, feeling the cold energy crawl up his arm like chains.

He gasped, body trembling. The last thing he saw was the Shadow Valley leader's smirk before his vision blurred.

Then everything went black.

----

When Li Ming opened his eyes again, he wasn't sure if he'd woken up in the afterlife or a really bad camping trip. The ground beneath him was rough and dry, the air smelled faintly of dust and ash, and the sky above shimmered in an odd, murky orange.

He blinked. "...Okay, either I'm dead, or someone dropped me in a fried desert."

"Descendant! You're awake!"

Li Ming turned his head—Bai Guo, in human form, was sitting cross-legged nearby, poking at a small campfire with a stick. His expression was oddly calm.

"Bai Guo?" Li Ming croaked, clutching his chest. "I thought—I thought I got hit—"

"You did," Bai Guo said flatly. "By the Shadow Valley Leader's seal. You were unconscious for half a day. Lan Yue carried you here."

Li Ming's eyes widened. "She carried me?"

From a few steps away, Lan Yue—still looking as graceful and unbothered as ever—gave him a sharp glance. "You're heavier than you look."

Li Ming coughed awkwardly. "T-that's because I'm cultivating! Denser energy, stronger body, you know—"

"Denser excuses, more like," Bai Guo muttered.

Li Ming ignored him and tried to sit up, but his limbs felt weak, like he'd just gone five rounds with a cabbage monster. "Where… are we?"

Lan Yue glanced toward the horizon. In the distance, strange black stone spires jutted from the ground, like broken fangs. The wind carried faint whispers, almost like voices from another world.

"The Borderlands," she said. "We crossed into it while you were unconscious."

Li Ming shivered. "Wait… this is the Borderlands? Why does it look like someone took a regular forest and set the contrast to maximum danger?"

Bai Guo chuckled. "Because this place was once the battlefield of ancient sects. The ground is soaked with old qi and grudges. You might trip over a sword ghost if you're unlucky."

"Tr-trip over a what?!"

Lan Yue ignored his panic and stood, dusting off her robes. "We came here because the spies fled toward the Borderlands. This is where their base might be hidden."

Li Ming frowned. "So we're chasing people we already failed to catch into a haunted wasteland?"

"Correct," Bai Guo said cheerfully.

Li Ming groaned. "This is how protagonists die in tragic flashbacks!"

"Relax," Bai Guo said, waving a hand. "You have plot armor."

Li Ming stared. "What's a plot armor?"

"Never mind," Bai Guo said quickly. "Too complicated for your mortal brain."

Before Li Ming could argue, Lan Yue knelt beside him, placing her hand over the mark on his chest. A faint glow appeared, soft and cool.

He winced. "Ow—hey, careful!"

She narrowed her eyes. "The seal left a trace. Dark qi. If left unchecked, it could spread."

Li Ming's eyes widened. "Spread?! Like—like cabbage rot?"

"Worse," Bai Guo said. "It could eat away at your spiritual veins. You'd end up a cultivator with no cultivation."

Li Ming froze. "That's like… a chef with no food! A scholar with no books! A chicken with no feathers!"

Bai Guo frowned. "Hey."

Lan Yue sighed, her tone softening. "Don't worry. I can suppress it, but we'll need a proper purification stone soon."

Li Ming let out a shaky breath. "...Thanks."

She nodded. "Just… don't do anything reckless until then."

He raised a hand. "No promises."

She glared. He coughed. "Joking. Totally joking."

A moment of silence passed. Then Bai Guo perked up. "Descendant, since you're alive, let's move. The longer we stay here, the more dangerous it gets. This place doesn't like outsiders."

As if on cue, a low growl echoed from the shadows. Li Ming froze. "...Tell me that was your stomach."

Bai Guo shook his head. "Nope."

Lan Yue's sword flashed into her hand. "We're surrounded."

Figures began emerging from the mist—dark shapes with glowing eyes, their forms flickering like smoke. Shadow beasts.

Li Ming swallowed hard. "They look friendly. Maybe they just want a hug?"

One lunged.

Li Ming screamed and rolled out of the way. "NOPE! DEFINITELY NOT A HUG!"

Lan Yue moved like lightning, slicing through two beasts in one motion. Bai Guo transformed back into his chicken form, glowing faintly, and unleashed a burst of spiritual light. "Descendant! Focus! Channel your energy!"

Li Ming steadied himself, breathing deeply. He could feel the sluggish qi in his body, but it answered when he called. The mark on his chest pulsed, dark and cold, but he pushed past it.

His hands moved into a familiar stance. "Azure Sky Style—Fifth Form: Crashing Wave!"

A surge of blue energy erupted from his palms, slamming into the nearest beasts. They disintegrated into wisps, but more poured in from all sides.

Lan Yue's voice rang out, calm and sharp. "Stay close!"

Li Ming fought beside her, each movement a mix of instinct and panic. "Why do they keep coming?! It's like a sale—'Buy one, get ten free!'"

"Less talking!" she snapped, slicing another beast apart.

Li Ming ducked, narrowly avoiding a claw swipe. "Easy for you to say! You didn't almost die to a demon with bad breath!"

Bai Guo hovered above them, blasting streaks of golden light. "Keep moving! There's a ridge ahead!"

They cut their way through the swarm, Li Ming panting, every muscle aching. Just as they reached the ridge, a massive roar shook the ground.

From the mist rose a colossal beast—its body made of shifting shadows, its eyes burning red.

Li Ming's face went pale. "Why is there always a boss monster?!"

Lan Yue's expression hardened. "This one… is real."

The beast's claws slammed down, shaking the earth. Li Ming barely leapt aside, coughing from the dust.

He glanced at Bai Guo. "Any bright ideas?!"

The chicken sighed. "One. Don't die."

Li Ming groaned. "Very helpful!"

Lan Yue leapt forward, clashing with the monster. Sparks flew as her blade met its shadowy claws. "Li Ming! Support me!"

He nodded, forcing himself to focus. The cold energy in his chest flared again—but this time, he didn't resist. He guided it, blending it with his qi.

A surge of mixed energy swirled around him—half light, half shadow.

Lan Yue noticed. "Be careful—!"

"I got this!" Li Ming shouted, thrusting his palm forward. "Azure Sky—Chaos Burst!"

A wave of unstable energy exploded from his hand, colliding with the beast. The impact blasted the creature back, tearing cracks in its body—but the force knocked Li Ming off his feet.

He hit the ground hard, gasping.

Lan Yue rushed to him, eyes wide. "Li Ming!"

He coughed, smiling weakly. "Heh… still alive…"

But as the dust settled, the beast wasn't gone. Its form reformed, though weaker. It stared at Li Ming, eyes narrowing.

Bai Guo fluttered down, grim. "It's after you. The seal—it's calling them."

Li Ming's eyes widened. "You mean—"

Lan Yue grabbed his arm. "We're leaving. Now!"

The beast roared again, chasing as they fled toward the ridge. The ground cracked beneath their feet, shadowy hands reaching from below.

Li Ming stumbled, breath ragged. "I—I can't outrun this!"

Lan Yue pulled him up. "You can!"

The sky darkened further. The air trembled.

Just as the beast lunged again, Bai Guo spread his wings, chanting an old incantation. A burst of golden light enveloped them, tearing open a glowing path ahead.

"Move!" he shouted.

Lan Yue and Li Ming sprinted through the light. Behind them, the beast's roar echoed—angry, hungry.

Then—silence.

The light faded. They stumbled onto solid ground again, gasping. The landscape had changed—still dark, but calmer.

Li Ming dropped to his knees, clutching his chest. The seal pulsed faintly.

Lan Yue knelt beside him, frowning. "The darkness inside you… it's growing."

Li Ming forced a smile. "Heh… guess I'm full of surprises."

Bai Guo landed beside them, feathers ruffled. "Surprises or trouble, descendant?"

Li Ming sighed. "Probably both."

Lan Yue's eyes turned toward the horizon. "If the seal calls the shadows… then we're running out of time."

She rose, her tone sharp. "Li Ming… we're heading deeper into the Borderlands. The answers—and your cure—lie ahead."

Li Ming looked up, swallowing hard. "Deeper…?"

The ground trembled faintly again, as if something vast stirred beneath.

Bai Guo's voice was low. "Something's waiting for us out there."

Lan Yue's gaze hardened. "Then we'll meet it head-on."

Li Ming groaned. "Do I get a say in this—?"

"No," both said in unison.

The wind howled through the dark spires, carrying with it a whisper—something ancient, familiar.

Li Ming shivered, clutching his chest as the seal glowed faintly.

Somewhere in the distance… a pair of red eyes blinked open.

To be continued...

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