The Borderlands stretched endlessly before Li Ming, a wasteland of jagged black rocks and misty valleys. Even the wind seemed to whisper threats, as if the land itself disapproved of their intrusion. Li Ming staggered slightly, rubbing the lingering ache in his chest from the seal.

"Why do I get the feeling every time we enter a new place, it's designed to kill me?" Li Ming muttered.

Bai Guo, in his human form, perched on a rock like some oversized, annoyed crow. "Because you are the descendant. And descendants have a habit of attracting trouble. It's written in the cosmic chicken scrolls."

Li Ming groaned. "Cosmic chicken scrolls. Of course."

Lan Yue walked ahead, her steps precise, sword ready. Her calm presence contrasted sharply with Li Ming's panicked energy. "Focus," she said. "The Borderlands are unpredictable. Every shadow could be an enemy."

Li Ming squinted into the mist. "Or a really creepy mushroom. Or a walking rock. Or—ugh—I hate thinking about all the scary things!"

Bai Guo flapped his arms. "And yet you survived worse. Remember the cabbage incident?"

"Don't remind me," Li Ming groaned. "My ego hasn't fully recovered."

They moved cautiously, stepping over cracked terrain, past towering stone spires that groaned under the wind. Occasional bursts of dark qi flickered through the air, making the hair on Li Ming's arms stand up.

Suddenly, a shrill laugh echoed from a distant ridge.

Li Ming froze. "Is that… a ghost?"

Lan Yue's eyes narrowed. "No. It's one of them—the spies. Or at least their minions."

Bai Guo puffed his chest. "Descendant, try not to die this time."

Li Ming pointed at him. "Thanks for the pep talk, very motivating!"

The laugh repeated, closer this time. Shadows began slinking along the rocks, forming humanoid shapes. They had glowing red eyes and long, spindly fingers.

Li Ming swallowed hard. "Okay, okay… definitely not friendly."

One of the shadows leapt, claws extended. Li Ming panicked, throwing up a hand. A surge of qi shot from his chest, colliding with the attacker. The shadow shrieked, recoiling from the energy.

Bai Guo squawked in excitement. "That's it! Channel it! Make it sing!"

Li Ming blinked. "Make it sing? I just want to survive!"

Lan Yue rolled her eyes but moved into position, her blade slicing through another shadow. Sparks flew as her sword met the creature's dark claws. "Li Ming, keep your focus! Use the energy, don't waste it!"

Li Ming nodded, feeling the strange warmth of his qi responding to the seal in his chest. Normally, it hurt, but now he could feel it merging with his own energy. It was… uncomfortable, but powerful.

"Okay… okay… I got this," he muttered.

He focused, and suddenly, a sphere of swirling light and shadow erupted from his hands, blasting the shadows backward. Several scattered into wisps of smoke, while the rest hissed, regrouping.

"Not bad," Lan Yue said, slashing another attacker. "Better than expected."

Li Ming's face flushed. "Better than expected? I nearly fainted three times!"

Bai Guo chuckled, leaning against a rock. "You're evolving, descendant. Stop whining."

Li Ming groaned. "I evolve by nearly dying, not by grinning and glowing like a human lantern!"

The shadows hissed again, converging from multiple directions. Li Ming's heart raced. "Great! It's a group reunion! And I'm the main course!"

Lan Yue gestured sharply. "Stay behind me! We'll move along the ridge. There might be a narrow passage ahead."

Li Ming shuffled, tripping over a rock. "I swear, I was just testing gravity!"

Bai Guo flapped his wings. "You're a disaster, descendant. But an effective one."

The three pressed forward, shadows swirling like black clouds around them. The ground rumbled beneath their feet. Small fissures opened, releasing bursts of dark energy. Li Ming dodged clumsily. "Why does every step feel like walking on a dragon's back?!"

Suddenly, a figure appeared ahead—a tall shadow with a hooded cloak. Its eyes glowed intensely red.

Li Ming froze. "Uh… that one looks… uh… extra scary."

Lan Yue's sword snapped into position. "That's no ordinary shadow. Stay alert."

Bai Guo rolled his eyes. "Extra scary? That's an understatement."

The figure raised a hand. A bolt of black lightning shot toward them. Li Ming barely dove aside. "I hate this. I hate everything about this."

Lan Yue's blade met the strike, deflecting it. "Li Ming! Use your qi now!"

Li Ming clenched his fists. He felt the seal in his chest pulse, responding to his fear and determination. He channeled it outward, a bright flare of golden-white energy shooting from him. The lightning crackled and was absorbed into the glow, dispersing harmlessly.

Bai Guo clapped. "Finally! Some actual coordination!"

Li Ming panted. "Coordination? I was just screaming and pointing my hands! That's not coordination!"

Lan Yue sighed, but a faint smile touched her lips. "Your instincts saved you. That counts."

Li Ming wiped sweat from his forehead. "Does it? Because I feel like I nearly became an abstract painting made of shadows."

The hooded figure laughed—a chilling, metallic sound. "So, the descendant awakens. Interesting."

Li Ming blinked. "Wait… you know me?"

The figure tilted its head. "Of course. And soon, I'll know everything about your precious Azure Sky Sect too."

Lan Yue's eyes narrowed. "Li Ming, be careful. This one is strong. Very strong."

Li Ming gulped. "Understatement of the century."

The figure raised its hands again. "Let's see how much you've grown… little descendant."

Li Ming's chest tightened. He could feel the seal reacting violently, his qi thrumming in response. He glanced at Bai Guo, who simply grinned.

"Descendant… your time to shine. Don't chicken out."

Li Ming scowled. "I will not chicken out!"

He took a deep breath, stepping forward, energy swirling around him. Shadows around them hissed and twisted, sensing the confrontation.

Lan Yue stayed by his side. "Stay focused. Don't underestimate him. And don't panic."

Li Ming muttered under his breath, "I am panicking. Immensely."

The hooded figure lunged, faster than the eye could follow. Li Ming's heart leapt—but he stood firm. He felt something strange: his own qi, mingled with the seal, was shaping itself into a protective barrier around him.

Bai Guo flapped excitedly. "Yes! Channel it! Don't let him touch you!"

Li Ming steadied himself, palms glowing with energy. "Alright… here goes nothing!"

As the figure swung a shadowy blade toward him, Li Ming unleashed a surge of golden-white qi, colliding with the attack. Sparks flew, the air ripped apart, and the ground beneath them cracked.

The clash was intense. The energy surged around them, lightning-like and chaotic. Li Ming's vision narrowed. He had never felt so alive—and terrified—at the same time.

Then, the hooded figure stopped suddenly. Its glowing eyes narrowed.

"You… you carry it?" the figure hissed.

Li Ming tilted his head. "Carry what?"

The shadows around them pulsed, as if reacting to something deep inside him. The seal burned fiercely, and he felt a strange pull—toward something… ancient.

The hooded figure hissed and took a step back. "Impossible… it should not have awakened yet!"

Li Ming's pulse quickened. "Awakened what?!"

Lan Yue tensed. "Li Ming… brace yourself. This is just the beginning."

Bai Guo flapped his wings dramatically. "Descendant… you're about to be famous. And probably very, very squished."

Li Ming swallowed hard, clutching his chest where the seal burned. He glanced at the figure—who now seemed… more familiar than he should have.

The wind howled. The shadows coiled like snakes. And the Borderlands seemed to hold its breath.

Li Ming whispered to himself, voice trembling: "What… is inside me?"

The hooded figure's eyes glowed brighter. "Soon… you will find out."

The world trembled. Shadows surged. And the sense of something ancient, terrible, and unstoppable pressed closer.

Li Ming's legs wobbled. His hands shook. But deep down, he knew: he wasn't running. Not this time.

Because whatever was coming… he would face it.

-----

"Alright," he muttered to himself, voice trembling. "Big scary hooded figure. Ancient terrifying powers. And me… just little old me. Totally fine."

Bai Guo flapped his wings in his human form—well, half-human, half-chicken, because he insisted he could do both at once. "Descendant, just so you know… you look scared. Not that it matters. But terrifyingly funny."

Li Ming shot him a glare. "I'm not funny!"

"You are," Bai Guo said, folding his wings. "When you panic and shout at shadows, people will write poems about it."

"Poems? About me screaming?" Li Ming groaned. "I don't need immortal poetry! I need survival!"

Lan Yue, still tense, didn't even look at him. "Focus. That figure isn't here to chat. The shadows… they're feeding on your seal. Every second wasted talking is power lost."

Li Ming looked down at the seal glowing faintly on his chest. It was cold, but pulsing with an insistent rhythm—like it wanted him to do something… or explode.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Great. So I'm a glowing target and also the buffet."

Bai Guo squawked. "Not a buffet! You're the main course!"

Li Ming groaned. "Why am I always the main course?!"

Lan Yue finally spoke, her tone sharper. "Stop whining. Channel your energy. Don't let fear control you."

Li Ming's pulse quickened. He focused, trying to gather his qi, but the seal was… weird. It felt alive. Pulsing. Tickling. Almost like it had a sense of humor.

Bai Guo tilted his head. "Funny, right? Your qi is… weird now. Wild. Unpredictable. Like… a tiny chaos storm in a teacup."

Li Ming blinked. "I am not a chaos storm!"

"Yet, descendant. Yet," Bai Guo said smugly.

Lan Yue groaned. "Can we focus on the threat?"

The hooded figure took a step forward. Shadows writhed around it, forming long arms that scraped the ground, clawing toward them. "Do you think you are ready, little descendant?" it hissed, voice like wind through broken glass.

Li Ming's mouth went dry. "I… am… ready? I think? Maybe not? Wait… NO!"

Bai Guo ruffled his feathers in exasperation. "Stop whining! Channel the seal! Or I'll have to do it for you, and that involves a lot of wing flapping and screaming."

Li Ming swallowed hard. "No, no wing flapping! Not again!"

He inhaled, and his hands began to glow faintly. The seal pulsed in tandem, responding to his fear, his determination, and—surprisingly—his panic.

Lan Yue's eyes widened. "It's responding… on your own."

"Yeah, yeah, me too! Totally intended!" Li Ming muttered, trying to steady his shaking legs.

The figure lunged. Li Ming leapt awkwardly, slamming his glowing palms into the shadows. Energy spiraled outward in a wild, twisting wave, sending smaller shadow-creatures scattering. The hooded figure recoiled slightly.

Bai Guo flapped beside him. "Yes! Descendant! Your seal likes you!"

Li Ming waved him off. "Not exactly the way I'd describe it. It feels like a tiny dragon is tickling my chest while punching my lungs!"

Lan Yue rolled her eyes but did not interfere, letting him learn control under pressure.

The hooded figure's red eyes narrowed. "You carry a power beyond expectation… but it is unstable. Untrained."

Li Ming swallowed. "Unstable? Like… my cooking skills? Or just my life choices?"

Bai Guo puffed out his chest. "I vote both."

Li Ming groaned. "Why did I agree to come here again?!"

Lan Yue shouted, cutting through a shadow that lunged at them from the side. "Because you're the descendant. You can't hide. The Borderlands demand you face this."

Li Ming blinked. "Face it? Face it?! I'm still figuring out what it is! How am I supposed to—"

A massive shadow hand shot out, grabbing at him. Li Ming yelped, flailing like a confused fish. Bai Guo suddenly darted forward, creating a protective shield of golden light.

"Descendant! Not that way! Focus your qi!"

Li Ming took a deep breath, glaring at the hand. "Fine! Qi, listen to me! Be helpful for once!"

Energy surged from him, and the hand was blown back, disintegrating into black mist. The hooded figure hissed. "Clever… but still naive."

Li Ming wiped sweat from his brow. "Naive? I was almost eaten! That's… survival instinct!"

Lan Yue smirked faintly. "It's also your growth. You're learning to handle it… even if clumsily."

Li Ming's chest pulsed. "Clumsily? I nearly turned into shadow pancake! And I'm supposed to learn from that?!"

Bai Guo flapped his wings. "You did it though, didn't you? That counts."

Li Ming groaned. "Barely counts! Barely!"

The hooded figure raised both arms, and the ground trembled violently. Shadows swirled, forming multiple tendrils that reached for Li Ming. The seal in his chest glowed fiercely, almost as if it was fighting back on its own.

Lan Yue stepped in front of him, sword flashing. "Stay behind me. But be ready to support me when I signal."

Li Ming swallowed. "Support in fight? I can barely support my own feet!"

Bai Guo muttered, "Descendant, it's time. You either grow up fast… or get flattened."

Li Ming glanced at him. "Flattened? That's… motivational!"

He focused, calling the qi within him and letting the seal's energy merge with it. His body glowed, arms trembling as the power surged. Energy swirled like a storm around him, wild and unpredictable, but… it obeyed his will—just barely.

The hooded figure hissed, retreating a step. "What… is this power?!"

Li Ming grinned shakily. "It's… me! The slightly panicked, maybe-overdramatic, but still-surviving me!"

Lan Yue's eyes widened. "It's stabilizing… faster than I thought."

Suddenly, a massive shadow claw slammed toward them from above. Li Ming leapt, energy flaring. Sparks of qi collided with the shadow, creating an explosion that sent dirt and black mist flying.

He landed clumsily, panting. "Okay… okay… maybe I'm slightly heroic?"

Bai Guo tilted his head. "Slightly. But mostly hilarious."

Li Ming glared. "You're not helping! I said slightly heroic, not slightly ridiculous!"

Lan Yue ignored him, keeping watch on the hooded figure, which had begun moving again, eyes burning bright.

Li Ming noticed something strange. The seal on his chest wasn't just pulsing—it seemed to stretch outward, like it wanted to reach something in the distance. He blinked. "Lan Yue… it's pulling me… somewhere."

Lan Yue's eyes widened. "It's seeking the heart of the Borderlands… We need to follow it, but carefully."

Bai Guo squawked. "Descendant… you're about to be very famous. And possibly very squished. Again."

Li Ming groaned. "Why does my life always involve being squished?!"

The hooded figure hissed, advancing again. "You cannot control it yet… but soon… it will consume everything!"

Li Ming swallowed hard. The shadows twisted violently around him. His pulse quickened.

Lan Yue's sword glinted. "Stay behind me, Li Ming. But be ready. This is your fight too."

Li Ming nodded, gripping his hands, energy swirling around him. "Alright… seal. Let's do this. You, me… let's not get squished… if possible!"

And at that moment, the air exploded with movement—shadows surged, the seal flared, and Li Ming's vision was filled with blinding golden light.

To be continued...

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