The morning mist clung stubbornly to the peaks of the Jade Sword Mountains, shrouding the ruins of the Heavenly Sword Sect in a pale, ethereal glow. Birds with faint spiritual auras called to each other from distant cliffs, while the wind carried the distant echoes of Sword Qi resonating from the training grounds. Zhou Yu stood at the edge of the central courtyard, overlooking the Crimson Valley below.
The valley had always been dangerous, its poisonous mists and mystical beasts enough to deter all but the most daring cultivators. Zhou Yu knew that to truly rebuild the sect, he would have to venture deeper than before — past the safer fringes and into the heart of the forbidden zone, where rare treasures and ancient relics might lie.
Ling padded beside him, tail flicking nervously, and Liang Chen adjusted his robes, a mixture of excitement and fear in his eyes. The boy had grown stronger since his first breakthrough, but the Crimson Valley was a place that could test even seasoned cultivators.
"Master Zhou Yu," Liang Chen began hesitantly, "are we really going into the heart of the valley? What if… what if something stronger than the Spirit Wolf appears?"
Zhou Yu smiled faintly, resting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Fear is natural. But courage is not the absence of fear — it is moving forward despite it. We'll be careful, and the Flying Sword Formation will protect us. Trust in your training, and trust in your instincts."
Liang Chen swallowed hard but nodded, determination sparking in his eyes.
The first steps into Crimson Valley proper were treacherous. Faint red mist clung to their legs, carrying a poisonous tang that burned the throat and eyes. Zhou Yu carefully guided his Qi, creating a thin protective aura around himself and his companions. Ling growled low, nose twitching as the wolf detected faint spiritual presences lurking in the shadows.
"Stay alert," Zhou Yu whispered. "Even the smallest movement can hide a predator."
The deeper they moved, the more vibrant the valley became — twisted flora with crimson leaves, some pulsing faintly with spiritual energy, others giving off an acrid, toxic scent. Flowers glimmered like drops of blood, their essence potent for cultivation, yet dangerous if mishandled. Zhou Yu carefully harvested Blood Flame Fruit and Poison Lotus, instructing Liang Chen on how to store them safely.
Suddenly, a rustling in the mist caught their attention. Shadows moved between the twisted trees — a pack of Nether Shadow Wolves, their eyes glowing like coals in the crimson fog. Zhou Yu's expression hardened, extending his Qi into the Flying Sword Formation.
The three hovering swords responded instantly, spinning in arcs, their blades slicing through the mist with silver light. The wolves hesitated, snarling as the swords' energy pushed them back.
"Liang Chen!" Zhou Yu barked. "Focus your Qi! Control, not power!"
The boy's body tensed as he channeled his Qi, a thin aura radiating from his dantian. His sword moved shakily at first, barely keeping pace with the wolves' agile attacks, but then — guided by Zhou Yu's presence and the Sword Spirit fragment — Liang Chen struck cleanly, wounding one wolf and forcing the pack to retreat into the mist.
"You've improved," Zhou Yu said, exhaling. "Remember this feeling — fear is a tool if you control it, but recklessness is death."
After hours of navigating the poisonous mists and evading predatory beasts, Zhou Yu noticed a faint pulse in the ground — a vibration of Sword Qi, stronger than any residual energy he had felt before. He motioned for Liang Chen and Ling to stay back and approached cautiously.
Beneath a cluster of twisted red trees, he found a stone pedestal carved with intricate Sword Dao runes, half-buried in the crimson earth. On it rested an ancient sword hilt, the blade long missing, yet the fragment hummed faintly with spiritual energy. Zhou Yu knelt, running his fingers over the runes.
"This hilt… it belongs to a Sword Saint," Zhou Yu murmured. "And it seems… it's waiting for a master."
Carefully, he activated the small Sword Qi fragment embedded within the hilt. A faint whisper filled his mind:
"The heir has returned… restore the sword… awaken the legacy…"
Zhou Yu's eyes gleamed. This was no ordinary relic — it was tied to the Heavenly Sword Sect's lost history, perhaps even to the Primordial Immortal Sword Saint, Tian Jian. Recovering this artifact could be a pivotal step in rebuilding the sect and unlocking forgotten sword techniques.
As Zhou Yu studied the hilt, the mist thickened, the crimson fog becoming almost solid. A chilling howl echoed from deeper in the valley, followed by the cracking of ice-like branches. From the shadows, a massive Glacier Python — far stronger than the one they had encountered before — slithered into view. Its scales shimmered with faint frost Qi, and its eyes glowed with predatory intelligence.
"Master Zhou Yu!" Liang Chen exclaimed, fear evident in his voice. "It's huge!"
Zhou Yu's eyes narrowed. "It's a test. Remember your training. Stay calm and control your Qi."
The python lunged with terrifying speed. Zhou Yu extended his Sword Qi through the Flying Sword Formation, the three blades moving in perfect synchronization to intercept the attack. Sparks flew as metal met scales, the swords' energy slicing shallow grooves into the beast's tough hide.
Liang Chen struggled to keep pace, using his recently strengthened body to dodge the python's strikes. Zhou Yu guided his movements, correcting his stance, helping him anticipate the python's attacks. With a coordinated strike from Zhou Yu's formation and Liang Chen's blade, the python was finally forced to retreat, leaving a trail of frost in its wake.
Zhou Yu exhaled deeply. "This was only a fraction of the dangers in this valley. You did well, Liang Chen — but remember, cultivation is about more than strength. It's about control, timing, and understanding the Dao of the Sword."
Liang Chen nodded, chest heaving. "I… I understand, Master. I will not fail you."
After the trial, Zhou Yu carefully collected the sword hilt and a few additional treasures buried near the pedestal:
A small pouch of Spirit Essence Crystals, potent for Qi Condensation.
A faded scroll fragment, hinting at lost sword techniques that could one day restore the sect's peak power.
A pair of protective rings, etched with rudimentary defensive runes.
As they prepared to leave the Crimson Valley, Zhou Yu sensed faint disturbances beyond the valley's edge — ripples of malicious Sword Qi, subtle but undeniable. Someone, or something, was watching them, taking note of the Heavenly Sword Sect's revival and their growing power.
"The Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect isn't the only danger," Zhou Yu murmured, eyes scanning the horizon. "Others will come… and soon. The world outside our sect is vast, and many are hungry for power, treasures, and revenge."
Ling growled low, sensing the same threat, while Liang Chen looked up at Zhou Yu with a mix of awe and fear. "Master… will we be ready?"
Zhou Yu clenched his fist, the Sword Qi in his dantian pulsing like a heartbeat. "We will be," he said firmly. "Every blade we awaken, every disciple we train, every relic we recover — it all counts. Crimson Valley is only the beginning. The sect will rise, stronger than before… and no one will stop us."