The morning sun spilled golden light over the Heavenly Sword Sect, illuminating the ruins with an almost sacred warmth. Zhou Yu stood in the central courtyard, Liang Chen kneeling before him, wide-eyed and trembling with excitement.
"Today begins your true training," Zhou Yu said firmly. "You will not just learn sword techniques. You must understand discipline, cultivation, and the Dao of the Sword. Only then can you survive the world outside."
Liang Chen nodded eagerly. "Yes, Master Zhou Yu! I won't fail!"
Ling padded silently behind them, ears twitching and tail low. The wolf had grown stronger, more perceptive, and seemed to understand that Liang Chen was now part of their little family.
Zhou Yu began with the fundamentals of Body Refining, teaching Liang Chen to circulate Qi through his body, tempering his bones and muscles. The boy's first attempts were clumsy; Qi spilled erratically through his meridians, causing painful shocks and leaving him gasping.
"Focus," Zhou Yu instructed, placing his hand on Liang Chen's dantian. "You must feel the flow, not force it. The body is your foundation. If it breaks, the Sword Dao cannot flourish."
Hours passed. Sweat drenched the boy's robes, and bruises appeared on his arms and legs, but slowly, his Qi began to circulate in a faint, controlled stream. Zhou Yu's eyes gleamed with pride. This was the first step toward raising a disciple capable of walking the path of the sword.
After the morning training, Zhou Yu decided to inspect the ruins for anything that might have survived centuries of decay. Ling padded ahead, sniffing the air, until a faint glow caught Zhou Yu's eye near the base of a collapsed tower.
He approached cautiously and brushed aside debris. Beneath the rubble lay a small chest, sealed with an intricate pattern of Sword Qi. Zhou Yu extended his own Qi, carefully aligning it with the formation's faint pulse. Slowly, the chest clicked open, revealing its contents:
A Fragmented Sword Manual — A partially intact treatise from the sect's peak era, containing advanced sword techniques that Zhou Yu could study and later teach Liang Chen.
A Silver Talisman — Etched with protective runes, capable of strengthening spiritual defense for a short period.
A Small Flask of Spirit Qi Essence — Rare condensed spiritual energy that could accelerate cultivation if ingested carefully.
"This…" Zhou Yu whispered, running his fingers over the manual. "This could be invaluable for both me and Liang Chen."
As Zhou Yu exited the ruined tower, Ling suddenly growled, ears twitching. Through the trees surrounding the sect, Zhou Yu spotted faint silhouettes — figures cloaked in dark robes, moving silently through the shadows.
"They're scouting us," Zhou Yu murmured, hand instinctively reaching for his iron sword. He could sense faint Qi lingering around them, weak but deliberate — likely agents from the Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect or another opportunistic group seeking to exploit the sect's weakened state.
"We have visitors," Zhou Yu said, turning to Liang Chen. "Remember everything I taught you. If they attack, defend yourself, but do not strike recklessly."
Liang Chen nodded, eyes wide but determined.
The scouts lingered at the edge of the ruins, observing, whispering, and making calculations. Zhou Yu's presence, his growing Sword Qi, and the revived formation were all clearly noted. He knew this was only the beginning. The revival of the Heavenly Sword Sect would not go unnoticed, and rivals were already circling.
That evening, Zhou Yu stood on the ridge overlooking the valley. The sky was painted with red and purple streaks, the wind carrying faint whispers of distant Sword Qi and spiritual energy. Liang Chen practiced nearby, slowly mastering the first rudimentary strikes, while Ling rested at Zhou Yu's feet.
"This is only the beginning," Zhou Yu murmured to himself. "Each day we grow stronger, each disciple we train, each relic we recover… it all matters. But the road ahead is dangerous. The Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect… or any other who senses the Sword… they will come."
He clenched his fist, feeling the faint thrum of Sword Qi in his dantian. The Heavenly Sword Sect may be in ruins, but under his hands, it was slowly stirring back to life. And one day, it would rise again to reclaim its glory.