When the light faded, Li Ming felt the ground vanish under his feet.

Then—boom!—he landed flat on his back in a place that definitely wasn't the sect arena.

The sky above him was red and cracked like shattered glass.

Mountains floated in mid-air, upside down, and rivers ran upward into glowing clouds.

It looked like the world had been turned inside out by a drunk immortal.

"Where… where am I?" Li Ming groaned, rubbing his head.

Bai Guo appeared beside him in a flash of white feathers.

"Welcome, descendant, to the Spirit Illusion Realm—where your fears punch harder than your enemies!"

"That's… not comforting."

Before he could ask more, a wave of heat rolled toward him.

Flames burst from the ground, forming the shape of a giant red tiger made entirely of fire.

The beast roared, eyes glowing like two burning suns.

Li Ming flinched. "Great. Fire cat. My favorite."

---

He leapt back just as the tiger slammed a claw down, the impact shaking the ground.

Dust and embers flew everywhere. Li Ming spun mid-air, channeling Qi into his hands.

Golden energy formed around his palm—a shining Qi burst strike.

He thrust it forward. "Let's see how you like this!"

The blast hit the tiger square in the face.

For a second, the flames flickered—then the beast roared again, even angrier.

Bai Guo shouted, "Descendant, it's an illusion powered by your emotions! The more scared you are, the stronger it gets!"

"Then I'm doomed!"

Li Ming forced a shaky laugh and steadied his breath. He focused, letting his Qi calm.

Slowly, the flames of the tiger began to dim.

"Ha! See? You're just smoke and—"

The tiger lunged.

Li Ming barely rolled aside as fire ripped through the ground where he'd stood.

He jumped up, crossing his arms in front of him, forming a Qi barrier.

Flames smashed into it, lighting up the world like dawn. The shield cracked but held.

Sweat dripped down his forehead. "Okay… fine. Not just smoke."

---

Suddenly, two glowing figures appeared beside him—Yu Qian and Luo Feng, also trapped in the illusion.

"Li Ming!" Yu Qian shouted, slicing through a smaller flame beast. "You're here too?"

"Yeah, and the welcome party's on fire!"

Luo Feng twirled his staff, smashing a fire serpent that tried to sneak behind them.

"Did anyone else get told the test would be relaxing? No? Just me?"

The three of them stood back-to-back as more beasts formed around them—wolves of smoke, birds of lightning, and serpents made of molten rock.

The air crackled with energy.

Li Ming grit his teeth. "Guess this is the 'final trial'."

Yu Qian nodded. "Defeat them—and conquer the illusion."

"Easy to say," Luo Feng muttered, "when you're not on fire!"

---

They attacked together.

Yu Qian's blades flashed in twin arcs of light, slicing through two beasts in a blur.

Luo Feng's staff spun like a windmill, striking down another before it could reform.

Li Ming poured his Qi into his fists, slamming the ground.

BOOM!

A shockwave rippled out, blasting away a whole circle of flame creatures.

"Nice one!" Luo Feng cheered. "Do it again!"

"I would," Li Ming shouted back, "but my arms are numb!"

The illusion trembled. Cracks spread through the red sky like spiderwebs.

Each beast that fell left behind fragments of light that flowed into the trio's bodies, restoring their Qi.

Yu Qian smiled faintly. "We're close. One more push!"

The flaming tiger reappeared—larger than before, towering over the shattered land.

It let out a roar that shattered nearby mountains.

Bai Guo's voice echoed, "Descendant! That's the heart of the illusion! Break it, and you'll wake up!"

Li Ming stared up at the burning giant.

"Alright… big cat. Let's end this."

He stepped forward, Qi blazing brighter than ever.

His aura spread, golden light swirling like a storm.

Yu Qian and Luo Feng charged beside him.

The tiger leapt. Li Ming shouted, "Now!"

Their attacks met mid-air—light and flame colliding in a deafening explosion.

The world went white.

-----

When the light faded, Li Ming found himself floating in silence.

The fiery sky was gone.

The beasts had vanished.

Even Bai Guo's annoying voice was nowhere to be heard.

"Am I… dead?" Li Ming muttered, staring at his fingers. "Nope. Still ugly. Good sign."

A soft voice echoed through the emptiness.

"You stood your ground."

Li Ming turned. A tall figure of light stood before him—vague, but shaped like a man.

It felt… calm. Familiar.

"Who are you?" Li Ming asked.

The figure smiled faintly. "Not who, but what. I am your Qi's core. The power you've trained, feared, and fought beside."

Li Ming blinked. "So… you're me?"

"Technically, yes. But with better posture."

Li Ming groaned. "Figures."

The figure chuckled. "You faced your fear—and won. But remember this, Li Ming: strength without control is a storm. Learn balance, and no illusion will ever bind you again."

Then, like mist, the figure faded. The world cracked apart like shattered glass—and Li Ming fell.

---

WHUMP!

He hit the ground face-first again.

Yu Qian's voice shouted nearby, "He's awake!"

Luo Feng snorted. "Yeah, after giving the ground a kiss."

Li Ming sat up groaning. "Did we win?"

Bai Guo fluttered in front of his face. "You burned down half the illusion realm and almost punched a mountain spirit, but yes—technically, you passed."

Lan Yue stood nearby, arms crossed. Her lips twitched like she was trying not to smile. "You certainly made an impression."

Li Ming rubbed the back of his neck. "I… meant to do that."

Bai Guo cackled. "Of course you did, descendant! A true cultivator never admits confusion, only creative decision-making!"

The elders appeared in the air above them, their robes glowing faintly with spiritual energy.

Elder Sun's voice boomed, "The Spirit Illusion Trial has ended. Three participants remain standing—Li Ming, Yu Qian, and Luo Feng. Step forward!"

The trio stepped out of the cracked arena floor.

Applause thundered through the spectators. Even the disciples who had failed were whispering about Li Ming's explosion that "looked like an angry sun throwing a tantrum."

Elder Sun nodded slowly. "Impressive performance, Li Ming. Your growth is evident."

Li Ming's eyes widened slightly. Praise? From Elder Sun? That was rarer than Bai Guo staying quiet for five seconds.

The elder continued, "You will now be permitted to enter the next stage of examination—to determine your qualification for authentic disciple status."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Yu Qian nudged him. "Looks like you're moving up again, huh?"

Li Ming grinned. "If I don't blow something up first."

Bai Guo muttered, "That's what I'm afraid of."

---

The scene shifted to later that night.

Li Ming sat cross-legged outside his quarters, moonlight washing over him.

The air was cool and quiet. He could feel the Qi flowing through his veins—steady, smooth, and stronger than ever before.

He opened his eyes, exhaling softly.

"So this is what control feels like…"

Bai Guo landed beside him in human form, arms crossed. "Not bad, descendant. You've finally learned not to punch yourself with your own energy."

Li Ming smiled faintly. "I almost thought I'd never get past this trial."

"You almost didn't," Bai Guo replied. "But cultivation isn't just fighting monsters—it's fighting yourself."

Li Ming nodded. "Yeah. Guess I finally understand that."

They sat quietly for a moment, watching the stars.

Then Bai Guo suddenly frowned. "Wait. Do you hear that?"

Li Ming blinked. "Hear what?"

From the forest below, faint chanting drifted through the night.

The air vibrated, and strange symbols began glowing faintly on the ground near the arena.

Bai Guo's eyes widened. "That's… not supposed to happen."

Li Ming stood up, tension prickling down his spine. "What now?"

Lan Yue's voice echoed from afar. "Li Ming! Get ready! Tomorrow's test isn't going to be what you expect!"

The chanting grew louder. The wind shifted. And somewhere deep below the sect, something ancient stirred awake.

Li Ming's hair stood on end.

"Wait—what kind of test are we talking about?!"

The night swallowed his question.

To be continued....

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