"He really has come a long way in these two and a half years…" Bo mused, reclining lazily atop the clouds.
"At the beginning, I thought he would give up."
He chuckled softly.
"To think that even when his hands were nearly torn apart… he still continued."
Below, Lian stood in the open valley.
His body had matured shoulders, a broader frame, lean and powerful. His hair had grown long, nearly reaching his waist, flowing fiercely in the wind.
His face had hardened.
But the most prominent feature was the scar across his chest, a long, jagged mark that stretched from his collarbone down to his waist.
His clothes were worn and torn. He wore no shoes, walking barefoot across the earth as though it no longer bothered him.
Perched casually on his shoulder was a small magical beast.
It resembled a grey cat but with two tails that swayed lazily behind it. Its fur shimmered faintly, and it seemed capable of stepping through the air itself without effort.
"I think it's time I end this with one final test," Bo thought, absentmindedly moving a piece on his board.
"Mmmm… though his training concluded a few months earlier than I expected, he has gained everything he needs."
His eyes flicked to the two-tailed beast.
"With that little creature of his by his side… I doubt most cultivators at his level could even touch him."
Bo rose from the clouds.
Then descended, falling without control.
Crash!
He landed with terrifying force, shattering the ground and leaving a deep crater where he touched down.
Dust rippled outward.
"Master Bo."
Lian's voice was deeper and calmer now.
He hadn't even turned around.
Already, he was extending a pot of wine behind him.
"Hahaha, you knew it was me, huh?"
Bo accepted the pot and drank deeply.
"Yes, well, there is no one else who can get in here," Lian answered, closing the giant caldron with palm wine inside.
"Who would've thought wine brewed from fruits in this pocket space would taste this good?"
He swirled the liquid in the pot thoughtfully.
"It must have something to do with the condensed heavenly energy here… Though what's more surprising is that you managed to brew something of this quality yourself."
His gaze remained fixed on Lian.
"The Heavenly Physique was an excellent choice… especially paired with your alchemical talent."
The cat-like spirit beast brushed lazily against Lian's leg.
"Neko, you're so greedy."
Lian moved as the cat followed him. He poured some wine into a small bowl. The two-tailed beast immediately leapt forward and eagerly lapped it up.
"I see your Delightful Blade has finally settled," Bo said as he sat down.
"Yeah… I suppose so."
Lian stared at his hand, slowly opening and closing his fingers.
"It should've settled by now. After everything I went through… if I didn't make at least this much progress, then I really would've wasted your time."
"MMmmm…."
Bo said nothing; he just watched him.
Lian's hand unconsciously drifted to the scar running down his chest.
"Tch… that blade technique was really something else," he thought.
"Why have you come? It's not the third year yet. There's still time before the competition, isn't there?"
"You're right," Bo replied calmly. "It is a little early. Six months remain, to be precise."
He took another drink.
"But I think you're ready."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"And in these remaining six months… I want to take you somewhere."
A faint smile curved his lips.
"So, if you pass my final trial… we leave immediately."
"Ready?"
Lian took a slow breath and lifted his gaze to the sky.
"Alright… I agree. I'm curious about my level as well. It's been a while since our last spar."
For a fleeting moment, a white aura flickered across his eyes.
Bo finished the last of the wine and stepped back.
"Very well. Then let go."
He bent down and casually picked up a straw from the ground, holding it between his fingers.
"I'll give you the first two attacks."
He smirked at the straw.
Suddenly, Qi flared around it.
The thin strand twisted, hardened, and reshaped itself, becoming a carved blade.
Lian's lips twitched.
"Mmmpht… that would've worked last time. This time, you'll need something stronger than a straw."
"Oh?" Bo chuckled. "You don't say?"
He lifted the straw-blade lazily.
"Warriors speak with their actions. If you want me to change weapons, show me you have the strength to warrant it."
His smile vanished.
"Enough talk. Come."
"Mmmm."
Lian stepped forward, lifting Neko gently from the ground and setting him aside.
The two-tailed beast watched silently.
Lian returned to face Bo.
He lowered into a deep stance.
"Shield yourself well, Master."
His back dipped slightly.
His hand trembled slightly, then it formed.
Shimmering with dreadful elegance.
Guǐ Shā Shǒu.
The air itself seemed to distort faintly around it.
Bo's gaze sharpened.
"The Delightful Blade has five forms.
The first: overwhelming force. Effective against massive opponents or large energy constructs.
The second: flexibility and speed.
The third: designed to counter cultivators with denser Qi reserves.
Then there is the fourth…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"If he wants me to abandon this straw, he'll use the fourth."
Bo adjusted his footing almost imperceptibly.
"Show me what you've become."
"Huuuuu…"
Lian exhaled sharply.
His eyes dulled.
Dense Qi gathered around them like mist.
"Delightful Sword: Fourth Technique…"
Bo smirked slightly.
"I knew you wou—"
...
"Blade of the Heart."
Lian's voice dropped.
For a split second, the world shifted.
A piercing feminine voice echoed through the valley.
"Big brother… please help me…"
Bo froze.
Only for a heartbeat.
But a heartbeat was enough.
"Void Severer!"
Lian roared.
His blade carved upward.
The air burned along its arc.
Thud.
The straw blade slipped from Bo's fingers and struck the ground.
Silence.
Lian flicked his blade once, steadying it.
"Thank you for the first attack, Master."
Bo stared at his empty hand.
"Tch… the brat got me."
He burst into laughter.
"You integrated an illusion technique that resonated with sword-heart into the blade form. A domain woven directly into the strike."
Lian's stance remained low.
"I knew I had to show you something interesting if I wanted you to take this spar seriously."
Bo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"The Delightful Blade truly is versatile… It allows you to structure any technique around it. A proper foundation." Lian thought.
Bo's smile faded.
"But now…"
He slowly reached up and plucked a single strand of hair from his head.
"…comes the hard part."
He held the hair between his fingers.
Doom.
The air dropped in temperature.
Lian's entire body stiffened.
Bo began walking forward slowly.
The strand of hair glowed golden, and the air around it screamed it was sharp Qi.
"Growl, Subisoke."
The hair hardened, lengthening into a radiant blade of condensed Qi.
The pressure descended like a mountain.
Lian's breathing grew heavy.
He swallowed.
"Here it comes, I get to see it again…"
His grip tightened.
"Master's technique."
Bo stopped.
The golden blade hummed.
"Blade Forge."