Morning mist floated above the training field. The air hummed with energy.

Dozens of disciples stood in a wide circle, watching the upcoming matches. The sound of swords clashing echoed from nearby platforms.

Li Ming tightened his gloves, staring at the sparring arena.

Bai Guo stood on his shoulder in his tiny bird form, looking unimpressed.

"Descendant, remember—try not to get punched in the face. It ruins your heroic image."

Li Ming muttered, "I don't even have a heroic image yet."

Lan Yue walked past them, calm as ever. "You'll build one today. Every authentic disciple must spar to prove their control."

Li Ming nodded, feeling his heartbeat quicken. "Got it. Control. Focus. Don't die."

Bai Guo tilted his head. "Good priorities."

---

The referee, an elder with a white beard and a bored expression, floated onto the platform.

"First match," he announced, "Li Ming of Azure Sky Peak versus Han Zhao of Ironwood Peak!"

The crowd cheered.

Li Ming stepped forward, blinking. "Han Zhao? Isn't he the one who—"

A tall, muscular youth landed on the opposite side of the platform, grinning confidently. "The one who shattered ten stone targets in a single strike? Yeah, that's me."

Li Ming's smile twitched. "...Great."

The elder raised his hand. "Begin!"

---

Han Zhao moved first. His spiritual energy burst out, cracking the tiles beneath him.

He swung his spear forward — the air whistled as Qi rippled like waves.

Li Ming dodged sideways, barely avoiding the spearhead.

Woah! That's fast!

Han Zhao grinned. "You're quick, but let's see how long that lasts!"

He slammed his foot down. A shockwave of earthy energy spread through the platform.

Li Ming jumped back, spinning midair. His palms glowed with Qi.

"Mountain Splitting Palm!"

He struck, the air booming.

Han Zhao blocked with his spear, but the impact sent him sliding back a few feet. Dust kicked up between them.

The crowd shouted, "Nice hit!"

Li Ming exhaled sharply. Okay… not bad!

Bai Guo shouted from the sidelines, "Good! Now don't get overconfident!"

Han Zhao smirked. "Not bad for a foundation cultivator. But I'm just warming up."

---

The ground trembled again. Han Zhao raised his spear high, Qi swirling around it like a storm.

"Ironwood Domain—Piercing Root Strike!"

The spear stabbed forward—

—but before Li Ming could dodge, glowing roots burst from the ground, wrapping around his ankles.

Li Ming froze. "Wait—hey! That's cheating!"

Han Zhao laughed. "It's called technique!"

The spear lunged toward his chest—

—but Li Ming twisted his wrist, channeling energy through his arm.

"Qi Burst Step!"

The ground cracked as he shot sideways, breaking free. His body blurred, reappearing behind Han Zhao.

The crowd gasped. "He vanished?!"

Li Ming grinned. "My turn."

He gathered his Qi again, hands glowing gold.

"Threading Needle Strike!"

A narrow beam of energy flashed from his fingertips, striking Han Zhao's shoulder before he could turn.

Han Zhao stumbled, smoke rising from his sleeve.

Li Ming panted, sweat running down his temple. "Ha… lucky shot."

Han Zhao looked back, eyes sharp. "You think that's enough?"

His spear blazed with light. "Let me show you real power!"

---

The two clashed in the center of the platform — palm against spear, Qi against Qi.

Each impact thundered like an explosion.

Golden and brown light danced wildly across the arena.

Li Ming's feet skidded backward. His hands ached.

But his eyes were burning with focus now — not fear.

Lan Yue watched silently, her expression unreadable.

Han Zhao roared, "You can't win with tricks!"

Li Ming smiled faintly. "Good thing I don't fight fair."

He gathered his remaining Qi — but this time, not to attack.

He channeled it into his feet.

"Flowing Step!"

Han Zhao's spear slashed forward — but Li Ming slid under it, spinning low, palm glowing.

He struck upward, hitting Han Zhao's ribs with a precise burst of energy.

BOOM!

Han Zhao was thrown off balance, his spear flying from his hand and landing with a clang.

The crowd erupted.

Li Ming stumbled, gasping for air — but he was still standing.

The elder raised a hand. "Winner: Li Ming of Azure Sky Peak!"

---

Cheers broke out around the arena.

Bai Guo flapped onto his shoulder proudly. "Ha! My descendant wins again!"

Li Ming grinned weakly. "Yeah… I'd celebrate… if I could still feel my arms."

Lan Yue approached him. "You maintained control. You didn't overuse your Qi. You adapted."

Li Ming blinked. "You mean… I did good?"

She nodded once. "For once, yes."

He laughed softly, relief flooding through him. "Then maybe I'm finally learning something."

Bai Guo smirked. "You? Learning? Truly, the heavens have changed."

Li Ming chuckled and looked around at the cheering disciples.

For the first time, he didn't feel out of place.

He was no longer the weak chicken loser of the sect.

He was finally part of it.

------

The dust from Li Ming's victory hadn't even settled when the elder clapped his hands.

"Next test—group combat! Three against three!"

Li Ming blinked. "Wait—three?"

Bai Guo puffed his feathers. "Descendant, the heavens clearly hate you today."

Before Li Ming could even recover, two figures stepped up beside him.

One was a quiet girl with twin blades and sharp eyes.

The other was a cheerful boy holding a staff taller than himself.

"Hey, name's Luo Feng!" the boy grinned. "Let's not die together!"

The girl sighed. "Yu Qian."

Li Ming nodded weakly. "Li Ming… probably the one who'll get hit first."

Across the platform, three opponents appeared—disciples from Thunder Ridge Peak, all brimming with confidence and lightning Qi crackling around them.

"Looks like Azure Sky Peak sent the beginners," one of them sneered. "This'll be quick."

Bai Guo squawked, "Beginner? My descendant beat a boulder with his face and survived!"

Li Ming hissed, "That's… not helping!"

---

The elder raised his hand. "Begin!"

Lightning burst across the field instantly. The Thunder Ridge trio attacked in perfect sync—spear, sword, and talisman flying forward.

Li Ming's team barely dodged the first wave.

Luo Feng spun his staff, deflecting sparks. "They're fast!"

Yu Qian leapt forward, her twin blades slicing through a bolt of lightning, scattering it into harmless sparks.

Li Ming dashed behind her, gathering Qi in his palms. "I'll handle the tall one!"

The tall one, a spear user, laughed. "Handle me? You can barely handle standing!"

He lunged, spear flashing. Li Ming sidestepped—barely—and countered with a palm strike, but the man blocked it easily.

Too slow, Li Ming thought. He's way stronger!

The ground cracked as the opponent's spear swept low. Li Ming jumped back but tripped over debris—

until Luo Feng's staff hooked him mid-fall, pulling him back upright.

"Try not to die yet!" Luo Feng shouted.

"Working on it!" Li Ming yelled back.

---

Yu Qian's blades clashed with another disciple's sword, sparks flying.

She shouted, "Li Ming! Use your energy! Stop thinking, start moving!"

Li Ming gritted his teeth. She was right. He had been holding back—trying to fight neatly, like the books said.

But cultivation battles were never neat.

He exhaled slowly. His Qi flowed, warm and alive.

Golden light began to shimmer faintly around his arms.

The spear came again—faster this time.

Li Ming caught it mid-swing. Energy surged through his palms, rippling down the weapon.

The Thunder Ridge disciple froze. "What—?!"

Li Ming grinned. "Return to sender!"

He twisted his wrist and redirected the spear, sending the man flying backward into his teammate with a bang!

Bai Guo screamed from the sidelines, "Beautiful reversal! That's my boy!"

The crowd roared. Even the elder leaned forward slightly. "Hmm. Unexpectedly clever."

---

But the last Thunder Ridge disciple wasn't giving up.

He slammed his talisman to the ground. A storm of lightning formed above the arena, swirling and crackling.

"Let's see you block this!"

The sky lit up. Bolts of energy shot down like rain.

Yu Qian raised her blades, but she couldn't block them all.

Luo Feng tried spinning his staff into a barrier, but sparks broke through.

Li Ming clenched his fists. Think! You've trained for this!

He focused inward. His Qi spun like a whirlpool—faster, stronger.

Then it burst out, forming a faint golden shield around the three of them.

The lightning struck—

and instead of exploding, it bent away, flowing harmlessly off the barrier.

Gasps echoed across the field.

Yu Qian glanced at him, eyes wide. "That—what was that technique?!"

Li Ming blinked. "Uh… improvisation?"

Bai Guo puffed proudly. "A true descendant of chaos!"

The last opponent fell to his knees, drained of Qi. The lightning vanished.

The elder raised his hand. "Azure Sky Peak—victorious again!"

---

Cheers erupted around them.

Luo Feng dropped onto the ground, panting. "That… was insane."

Yu Qian sheathed her blades, nodding. "You're not bad, Li Ming. Just reckless."

Li Ming smiled weakly. "Thanks… I think?"

Lan Yue appeared beside the platform, arms folded. "You're learning. Not fast—but you're learning."

Li Ming straightened. "So… does that mean I passed?"

She smiled faintly. "The test isn't over yet."

Li Ming blinked. "Wait… what—"

The ground beneath the arena began to glow.

Circles of light formed, expanding outward like ripples in water.

Wind howled. The disciples stumbled back.

The elder's expression turned serious. "It's time for the final trial. All remaining contestants—step forward."

Li Ming groaned, shoulders slumping. "I knew it was too good to end there…"

Bai Guo tilted his head. "Descendant, when have things ever ended peacefully for you?"

Li Ming sighed, staring at the glowing platform that seemed ready to explode.

"Well," he muttered, "guess I'm about to find out what 'final trial' means."

The ground cracked—

and blinding light swallowed the entire arena.

To be continued...

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