As the two boys battled, a group of girls had gathered to watch. They were all young cultivators, hoping to catch the eye of Master Wu and be chosen to train at the Xuanqing School.
Among them was a girl named Mei, with long, flowing hair and bright, intelligent eyes. She had always admired Li Xuan from afar, but had never had the courage to speak to him.
As she watched him fight, she felt a surge of pride and admiration. He was small and slight, but he moved with an effortless grace and skill that belied his size.
But as the fight wore on, it became clear that Li Xuan was at a disadvantage. He was skilled, but he lacked the brute strength and power of Wei Chen.
Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, Li Xuan did something unexpected. He closed his eyes and began to channel his qi in a different way. Instead of using it to strengthen his sword or his body, he focused it on his mind.
As he did so, he felt a surge of power and clarity. His senses became heightened, and he was able to see Wei Chen's movements before they even happened.
With a sudden burst of speed, Li Xuan leapt into the air and delivered a devastating blow to Wei Chen's chest. The older boy staggered back, his breath knocked out of him.
Li Xuan stood proudly on the stage of the Xuanqing School's main hall, the cheers of the audience ringing in his ears. He had defeated Wei Chen, a renowned cultivator, in a fierce battle of strength and skill.
As he basked in the glow of his victory, Li Xuan couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and reverence for the Xuanqing School. This was where the greatest cultivators in the world trained, and he was now one of them.
But Li Xuan knew that his journey was far from over. He had set his sights on a lofty goal - to become a new god in a world of ancient gods. He knew that the path to such power would be long and treacherous, but he was determined to follow it nonetheless.
As he walked off the stage, Li Xuan was approached by a mysterious figure in a long black robe. The figure's face was obscured by a hood, but Li Xuan could sense a powerful aura emanating from them.
"Congratulations on your victory," the figure said in a deep, resonant voice. "You have proven yourself to be a skilled cultivator. But if you truly wish to become a god, you must be willing to pay any price."
Li Xuan felt a chill run down his spine. He knew that the path to power was fraught with danger, but he had never imagined it would be so dark.
"What kind of price?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The figure leaned in close, and Li Xuan could see a glint of red in their eyes. "You must be willing to sacrifice everything," they said. "Your friends, your family, your own soul. Only then will you be able to achieve true power."
Li Xuan felt a surge of fear and revulsion. Was this really what it took to become a god? To become a monster?
But he pushed his fear aside. He knew that he could not let anything stand in the way of his dream.
"I will do whatever it takes," he said firmly.
The figure nodded, and handed him a small black stone. "Use this to summon me when you are ready to begin your training," they said, before disappearing into the shadows.