The air itself was trembling.

From the ridge, black-robed cultivators poured down like a storm of shadows, blades drawn, Qi flaring wild. The mountains shook beneath their feet.

Li Ming wiped the blood off his lip, cracked his neck, and grinned. "Well… guess nap time's over."

Bai Guo, now in his human form, muttered, "You attract trouble like honey attracts flies."

Lan Yue's sword gleamed beside him, her voice calm but sharp. "There are too many. We hold the line. Don't get reckless."

Li Ming smirked. "Me? Reckless? Never."

He dashed forward before she could even blink.

The first wave of enemies lunged at him. Li Ming ducked low, spun, and drove his elbow into one man's gut. The impact launched the man into the air like a cannonball.

Another cultivator came from behind. Li Ming twisted, channeled golden Qi into his palm, and blasted him away. The ground split open from the sheer force.

"Eighth Level—Golden Tempest Form!"

Energy roared out of him in waves, golden arcs slicing through the battlefield. Dust turned to light, rocks shattered under his feet, and the nearest enemies froze in terror.

Bai Guo watched from above, shouting, "Descendant! You're glowing again! That usually means things are about to explode!"

"Yeah," Li Ming yelled back, punching straight through a sword attack, "that's the plan!"

His fist hit the enemy's weapon so hard it melted into sparks. Then his other hand slammed into the man's chest, sending him tumbling off the cliff.

Lan Yue appeared beside him, cutting through a dozen attackers in a single sweeping arc. The energy from her sword lit up the sky like dawn breaking through a storm.

"Nice swing," Li Ming said between breaths.

She didn't even look at him. "Focus."

"I am focused—just multitasking!"

Two enemies tried to flank him. Without turning, Li Ming kicked backward, sending one flying, then spun and sent a blast of energy at the other.

The explosion carved a crater ten meters deep.

Bai Guo facepalmed. "You're going to collapse the mountain again, aren't you?"

Li Ming laughed. "Only a little!"

More shadows approached—faster this time. Their leader barked orders, summoning black chains of Qi that snaked across the field, wrapping around Li Ming's legs.

He looked down. "Oh. That's new."

The chains tightened, dragging him toward the ground. But before they could pin him, he clenched his fists and roared, energy bursting from his core.

The chains shattered like glass.

"Didn't your boss tell you?" he said, eyes glowing gold. "I don't do bindings."

He slammed his hands together, forming a massive energy sphere that pulsed with light.

"Golden Burst!"

The sphere exploded outward, wiping out a dozen enemies in one go. The air crackled, the earth trembled, and even Bai Guo stumbled midair.

"Li Ming!" Lan Yue shouted. "Don't overuse your core!"

"Too late!" he yelled back, punching another attacker through a rock wall.

The enemy leader appeared in front of him, sword aimed at his heart. Li Ming barely dodged—the blade grazed his cheek, leaving a shallow cut.

The man grinned. "You've grown stronger, but not strong enough."

Li Ming spat a bit of blood. "You talk too much."

Their blades clashed—gold against black. Sparks flew. Every strike sent shockwaves through the mountain.

Then—BANG!

Li Ming ducked low, slid under the enemy's guard, and drove his palm upward. His golden energy erupted like lightning.

The leader was thrown backward, crashing into his own men.

Lan Yue called out, "Li Ming! The barrier's weakening! If they break through—"

"Then we stop them here!" he shouted, eyes blazing.

He jumped onto a fallen pillar, aura glowing bright gold. Every disciple still standing turned to look at him.

He raised his hand. "Azure Sky Sect doesn't fall today!"

His Qi surged higher—so bright even the clouds above began to twist.

The attackers hesitated, fear flickering in their eyes.

Bai Guo grinned proudly. "Now that's my descendant."

Li Ming looked down at his hands, trembling slightly but steady. "Let's finish this."

The black-robed cultivators screamed and charged all at once.

Lan Yue moved first, blade flashing. Li Ming followed, launching himself into the thick of the chaos.

Fists, blades, and Qi collided in a storm of sound and light.

Every punch he threw shattered air. Every kick cracked the ground. Golden streaks tore through the night sky.

It was no longer just a battle—it was a storm given form.

And in the center of it, Li Ming laughed—not because it was easy, but because he finally felt alive.

---

The ground cracked beneath Li Ming's feet as his Qi roared higher, golden waves rippling through the battlefield.

Lan Yue's sword gleamed beside him, cutting through enemy after enemy with graceful precision. Every swing was clean, calm—like she was slicing through the chaos itself.

"Li Ming!" she shouted. "Hold the left flank! Don't let them regroup!"

He grinned, spinning his staff in a flash of gold. "On it!"

With a burst of speed, he dashed forward. The air rippled behind him as his golden aura tore through the dust. He leapt high—then slammed down with both hands.

BOOM!

A golden shockwave erupted, knocking back dozens of enemies at once. Stones shattered. Dust exploded outward.

Bai Guo—half-chicken, half-human—hovered above, flapping his wings dramatically. "Descendant! Don't blow up the sect again!"

Li Ming shouted back, "No promises!"

He spun, sweeping his staff sideways. It connected with an enemy's chest, sending him flying through two boulders.

Another came from behind, sword raised. Without turning, Li Ming kicked backward, flipping the man head over heels.

Lan Yue moved beside him again, slashing in a wide arc. Her Qi collided with his midair, forming a spiral of golden and azure light. It surged forward like a wave—engulfing every shadow in its path.

The explosion shook the sky.

When the dust settled, a tall figure stepped out—robed in deep crimson, his aura suffocating. The others fell back immediately.

Li Ming's expression hardened. "That must be their leader."

The man smiled coldly. "You've caused enough trouble, boy. Let's end this."

He flicked his wrist—his weapon, a long black halberd, appeared with a crackle of dark Qi.

Li Ming raised his staff. "Bring it."

They vanished.

For a moment, the air was empty—then two flashes collided in the center of the field, gold against black.

CLANG!

The impact sent a shockwave that flattened the surrounding terrain.

Lan Yue shielded her eyes. Bai Guo barely held his ground.

Li Ming staggered back, arms trembling from the sheer force. "Not bad… old man."

The leader smirked. "You're still too young to challenge me."

Li Ming's grin widened. "Yeah? Then watch closely."

He inhaled deeply, his golden Qi spiraling upward, swirling around him like a storm.

"Golden Tempest Form—Second Release!"

Light exploded from his core, wrapping his body in radiant flames of energy. His eyes burned bright like two suns.

The crimson-robed man raised his halberd and swung down.

Li Ming met the strike head-on.

Their weapons clashed again and again—fast, furious, sparks flying everywhere. The ground beneath them cracked like glass.

The leader growled. "Impossible! You're only Foundation Building!"

Li Ming's voice thundered. "Eighth Level. And growing!"

He twisted, dodged the next strike, then drove his fist forward with all his might.

Golden energy surged through his arm—pure, sharp, unstoppable.

His punch connected squarely with the man's chest.

CRACK!

The shockwave rippled out in a perfect circle, clearing the field of smoke and dust.

The crimson-robed man flew backward, crashing into a mountain wall with an echoing boom. The halberd shattered into fragments of light.

Silence fell.

The wind carried away the dust, revealing Li Ming standing tall—his robes torn, his body steaming with Qi, but his stance unbroken.

Lan Yue walked up beside him, calm but clearly impressed. "You finally hit something without breaking the ground."

Li Ming exhaled, smiling tiredly. "Progress."

Bai Guo landed with a thump. "You mean miracle."

For a moment, the three of them just stood there—sunlight cutting through the smoke, painting everything gold.

Then a faint breeze swept past. The smell of battle faded. The mountain birds began to sing again.

Lan Yue sheathed her sword. "It's over."

Li Ming nodded, looking at his hands. "Yeah. This time… it really is."

He glanced toward the horizon, where the sky was finally clear.

For once, there were no explosions, no chaos—just calm.

Bai Guo stretched lazily. "Well… until next time someone pokes the wrong talisman."

Li Ming smirked. "That'll probably be you."

The chicken-man raised a finger. "Rude. True, but rude."

Li Ming laughed. For the first time in weeks, it wasn't tired—it was light.

He had fought. He had won. And this victory wasn't luck, or accident, or chaos—it was his.

He raised his hand toward the sunrise, feeling the warmth hit his palm.

"Onward," he whispered. "To the next stage."

The golden light flared around him once more—steady, calm, unshakable.

To be continued...

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