Blazing Ascent

The days blurred as Seo-Jun immersed himself in training. Each dawn, he meditated under the pale sunrise, the crisp air filled with dew. The Basic Meditation Sutra flowed naturally, his Qi circulating like a river through stone.

After meditation, he sparred with Zhong Yi and Lin Tao. The training square echoed with clashing swords and grunts of effort.

"Come on, Seo-Jun! Is that all you've got?" Zhong Yi teased, grinning despite his sweat.

Seo-Jun smirked, deflecting the strike. "You're improving, but your left side's still open. Work on your footwork."

Lin Tao, precise and methodical, observed quietly. "Your technique's better," he said one evening, "but you're predictable. Vary your strikes."

Seo-Jun nodded, absorbing the advice. Together, the trio pushed each other, forming a tight bond.

Six months had passed since Seo-Jun first arrived at the Blazing Sword Sect, and the changes in him were undeniable. His once frail body was now lean and muscular, his movements sharp and precise. His Qi Condensation had reached the third stage, a testament to his relentless effort.

[System Progress Window:]

Cultivation Realm: Qi Condensation Stage 3

Skills:

Basic Meditation Sutra: 88% Mastery (Advanced Level)

Blazing Sword Foundation Technique: 60% Mastery (Intermediate Level)

As Seo-Jun practiced his sword forms, Zhong Yi stumbled out of the training square, his wooden sword slipping from his hand. He wiped the sweat from his brow and grinned ruefully at Seo-Jun. "You always beat me," he said, panting. "I don't know how you do it."

Seo-Jun smiled, sheathing his sword. "You're getting better, Zhong Yi. Your footwork has improved, and your strikes are more precise. You just need to focus on your timing."

Zhong Yi chuckled, shaking his head. "Easy for you to say. You're a monster."

Before Seo-Jun could respond, a sharp whoosh cut through the air. He spun around, his sword instinctively parrying a sudden strike. The force of the blow sent a shockwave through his arm, but he held his ground.

Feng Yan stood before him, a playful smirk on his face. "Not bad, Seo-Jun. You've gotten faster."

Seo-Jun narrowed his eyes, his system immediately analyzing Feng Yan's progress.

[System Alert: Cultivator Info]

Name: Feng Yan

Cultivation Realm: Qi Condensation Stage 4

Skills:

Basic Meditation Sutra: 75% Mastery (Intermediate Level)

Blazing Sword Foundation Technique: 50% Mastery (Intermediate Level)

Seo-Jun couldn't help but feel a flicker of pride. Feng Yan was still ahead in cultivation, but Seo-Jun's mastery of the sword technique was catching up. "You've been holding back," Seo-Jun said, his tone light but probing.

Feng Yan shrugged, his smirk widening. "Maybe. Or maybe you're just getting stronger. Either way, I'm curious to see how much you've improved. Care for a spar?"

Seo-Jun nodded, his grip tightening on his sword. "Let's see if you can keep up."

The two of them moved to the center of the training square, the other disciples forming a loose circle around them. The air crackled with tension as they faced off, their swords gleaming in the sunlight.

Feng Yan struck first, his movements fluid and precise. His sword seemed to dance through the air, each strike aimed with deadly accuracy. Seo-Jun countered with equal skill, his blade meeting Feng Yan's with a series of sharp clangs. The sound echoed through the square, drawing the attention of even the senior disciples.

Seo-Jun's system guided his movements, analyzing Feng Yan's patterns and predicting his next strike. He dodged a sweeping slash and countered with a quick thrust, forcing Feng Yan to step back. Feng Yan's eyes narrowed, his smirk fading as he realized Seo-Jun was no longer the same disciple he had met six months ago.

The fight intensified, their swords moving faster and faster. Sparks flew as their blades clashed, the force of their strikes sending shockwaves through the ground. Both of them were pushed to their limits, their movements becoming a blur to the onlookers.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they both stepped back, their chests heaving and their swords trembling in their hands. Neither had landed a decisive blow, but the respect in their eyes was undeniable.

"Not bad," Feng Yan said, his voice slightly breathless. "You've improved more than I expected."

Seo-Jun nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You're still ahead, but I'm catching up."

Feng Yan's smirk returned, though there was a hint of something deeper in his eyes. "We'll see about that."

As the sun began to set, Lin Tao approached the training square, his expression excited. "Guys, the mission board is finally open to new disciples! Let's go check it out."

Seo-Jun, Feng Yan, and Zhong Yi followed Lin Tao to the Hall of Eternal Tasks, a grand building where disciples could accept missions to earn contribution points and resources. The hall was bustling with activity, senior disciples scanning the mission board with practiced ease.

Seo-Jun's eyes were drawn to a specific task:

[Mission: Capture a Blue Head Snake]

Cultivation Requirement: Qi Condensation Stage 3

Description: A Blue Head Snake has been sighted in the Silent Bamboo Forest near Bluesky City. Its core is highly valuable for alchemy.

Reward: 50 Contribution Points, 1 Spirit Stone

Seo-Jun glanced at Feng Yan, who was already looking at him. "What do you think?" Seo-Jun asked.

Feng Yan shrugged, his smirk returning. "I'm in. It'll be a good test of our skills."

Zhong Yi and Lin Tao, meanwhile, chose a simpler herb-collecting mission. "We'll leave the dangerous stuff to you two," Zhong Yi said with a grin.

The next day, Seo-Jun and Feng Yan left the sect and made their way to Bluesky City, a bustling town nestled at the edge of the Silent Bamboo Forest. The city was alive with activity, merchants hawking their wares and cultivators moving through the streets with purpose.

They checked into an inn for the night, planning to set out for the forest at dawn. But as midnight approached, Seo-Jun heard a strange noise coming from downstairs. He reached for his sword, his senses on high alert.

"Feng Yan," he whispered, but Feng Yan was already awake, his eyes sharp and focused.

"Let's see what's going on," Feng Yan said, his voice low.

They crept downstairs, their swords at the ready. The noise grew louder, but just as they reached the source, it stopped. The inn was eerily silent.

The next morning, they questioned the innkeeper, but he claimed to know nothing. Suspicious but unable to investigate further, they set out for the forest.

The Silent Bamboo Forest was as quiet as its name suggested, the tall bamboo stalks swaying gently in the breeze. After hours of searching, they finally spotted their target: a Blue Head Snake, its scales glinting in the sunlight.

Seo-Jun and Feng Yan set up an ambush, their movements perfectly synchronized. The fight was intense, the snake's venomous strikes forcing them to stay on their toes. But with their combined skills, they managed to subdue the creature and extract its core.

That night, back at the inn, the strange noise returned. This time, Seo-Jun and Feng Yan pretended to sleep, their swords hidden but within reach. The door creaked open, and a shadowy figure entered the room.

Feng Yan struck first, his sword slicing through the air. The figure dodged, but Seo-Jun was already behind him, his blade cutting through the darkness. The figure turned, revealing the inn's waiter, his eyes glowing with a bloodthirsty aura.

The fight was brutal. The waiter moved with unnatural speed, his strikes fueled by a dark energy. Seo-Jun and Feng Yan fought back with everything they had, their teamwork the only thing keeping them alive. Finally, Seo-Jun landed a decisive blow, and the waiter collapsed.

Feng Yan searched the waiter's pouch and pulled out a badge. His expression darkened as he examined it.

"What is it?" Seo-Jun asked, his voice strained.

Feng Yan's eyes were grim. "This badge… it's from the Crimson Shadow Sect. They're a demonic sect that's been causing trouble across the region. If they're here, it means something big is about to happen."