The Jade Sword Mountains were silent in the predawn haze, the air thick with tension. The Heavenly Sword Sect had been slowly rebuilding after the devastation of previous conflicts, but rumors of the Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect gathering in the nearby valleys had sent a wave of unease through the disciples.
Zhou Yu stood atop the Main Sect Hall, the rising sun glinting off the fragmented edges of the Flying Sword Formation hovering above the courtyard. Arcs of silver light spun gracefully, each blade resonating faintly with the fragments of Tian Jian's lost sword techniques.
"This is coming sooner than I expected," Zhou Yu murmured, his eyes narrowing. "Scarlet Moon doesn't strike without purpose. They know we have fragments now, and they intend to test us."
Feng Lian, her silver hair catching the early light, approached. "Master, their scouts have been sighted in the lower Azure River Basin. Estimates indicate at least fifty mid-to-high-level cultivators are moving toward the sect."
Zhou Yu's gaze swept over the courtyard where disciples readied their positions, some repairing formations while others trained in Sword Qi coordination. "Then we prepare. This will be the first trial for our newly awakened Flying Sword Formation, and for Liang Chen as well."
Liang Chen's heart pounded as he adjusted the strap of his sword. From Body Refining 9, he had trained tirelessly with the fragments, yet he still felt the tremor of doubt deep in his chest. Ling, his wolf companion, padded beside him, growling softly at the faint rustle of leaves — the prelude of approaching enemies.
"Master," Liang Chen asked quietly, "am I ready for this?"
Zhou Yu's hand rested firmly on his shoulder. "Courage is not the absence of fear, Liang Chen, but the ability to act despite it. Your cultivation foundation is solid, and the fragments will guide your Sword Dao. Trust in your body, your dantian, and your instincts."
The sect had fortified key positions. Main Hall, Forge Hall, and Inner Sect Trial Tower were reinforced with arrays, and the Flying Sword Formation had been upgraded to integrate two fragments of Tian Jian's sword techniques.
Feng Lian directed the outer defense lines, positioning disciples in strategic points around the courtyard. Their task was to intercept Scarlet Moon's initial wave, giving the formation time to stabilize. Zhou Yu divided the disciples into small squads, each paired with a fragment-enhanced formation blade.
Liang Chen was placed near the center of the formation, alongside Han Xiang, whose ability to control Sword Qi precisely would be essential to stabilizing the arcs of silver light during combat. Zhou Yu's plan was straightforward yet demanding: the disciples' coordination, reinforced by the Flying Sword Formation, would be the sect's first line of defense against Scarlet Moon's elite attackers.
The air grew tense as the first scouts approached, their red robes glinting faintly through the mist. Ling's ears twitched, and he let out a low growl, warning of the enemy's proximity.
By late morning, the Scarlet Moon Demonic Sect descended from the mist, their numbers far greater than expected. Cultivators wielded crimson talismans, their Sword Qi wild and chaotic, clearly intended to disrupt formation arrays.
Zhou Yu activated the Flying Sword Formation, arcs of silver light spinning rapidly. Each sword emitted faint harmonics, resonating with the fragments' Sword Dao energy.
The first wave struck with terrifying speed. Scarlet Moon disciples attempted to breach the courtyard gates, igniting talismans to destabilize the formation. Sparks flew, and minor disciples were thrown off balance.
Liang Chen's heart raced. His Body Refining 9 foundation allowed him to move faster than most disciples, yet the intensity of the battle pushed him to the edge. He extended Sword Qi into the formation, feeling it vibrate under his control, each arc of silver light perfectly synchronized with his movements.
Feng Lian moved fluidly, intercepting demonic talismans and countering chaotic Sword Qi. Han Xiang's precision strikes disabled minor traps before they could detonate. Ling darted between positions, sensing threats and providing rapid flanking support.
Midway through the battle, Liang Chen faced an overwhelming surge of demonic Sword Qi. A Scarlet Moon cultivator, clearly of mid-tier Qi Condensation strength, launched a barrage of lethal sword strikes aimed at him. His body tensed instinctively, but the force of the attack pushed him to the limit.
A searing sensation ignited in his dantian. Body Refining 9 → Qi Condensation Stage 1 breakthrough.
Light bloomed faintly in his dantian, and Sword Qi surged through him with unprecedented fluidity. The arcs of silver light in the Flying Sword Formation responded instinctively, intensifying as if recognizing his newfound strength. Liang Chen's movements became faster, more precise, each strike perfectly coordinated with the formation and his peers.
"Master!" Liang Chen shouted, his confidence bolstered by the breakthrough. He moved as one with the Flying Sword Formation, redirecting enemy attacks while countering with lethal precision. Zhou Yu eyes gleamed with approval. "Well done. Now feel what your Sword Dao can do when it flows freely."
The tide of battle shifted. Disciples moved more confidently, Sword Qi arcing in elegant, deadly patterns. The Scarlet Moon forces, despite their numbers, were unable to break the formation's rhythm.
Zhou Yu personally led the counterattack, cutting through enemy ranks with his iron sword. Sparks of silver Sword Qi clashed against crimson energy, sending waves of force rippling through the courtyard. Ling leapt in to attack weaker opponents, while Liang Chen and Han Xiang intercepted elite attackers, their Sword Qi now flowing with the fragments' power.
The Scarlet Moon elders realized their assault was failing. Retreat was ordered, though their eyes glimmered with malice. Zhou Yu lowered his sword only after the last enemy vanished into the mist.
The courtyard was silent save for the residual hum of the Flying Sword Formation and the faint crackle of lingering Sword Qi. Liang Chen, breathing heavily, felt the weight of his first major breakthrough. Qi Condensation Stage 1, earned through survival, courage, and intense synchronization with the fragments.
Disciples tended wounds and repaired minor damages to the formation. Zhou Yu addressed the sect:
"Today, we defended not only the sect but our future. Liang Chen has made his first leap into the Qi Condensation realm, but remember — cultivation is endless. Every trial strengthens the body, sharpens the sword, and fortifies the mind. Rest today, but prepare for tomorrow, for the path ahead will be harsher."
Liang Chen stared at the spinning arcs of the Flying Sword Formation, feeling the fragments' Sword Dao energy resonate with his Qi Condensation. He had grown, but he knew the Outer Heaven Frontier awaited — a challenge far deadlier than Scarlet Moon could ever be.