The metallic clang of his practice sword against the wooden training dummy echoed through the courtyard as Bai Yu honed his skills. Sweat beaded on his forehead, each strike fueled by the memory of his resolution. Suddenly, a shrill alarm pierced the air, shattering the peaceful rhythm of his training. Panic surged through him as the familiar war horn of the neighboring island, Stormwind Island, blared across the sea. Enemy invasion.
Bai Yu bolted towards the island's central plaza, adrenaline coursing through his veins. The usually bustling marketplace was a chaotic scene of hurried movement, with islanders grabbing whatever weapons they could find – fishing spears, farming tools, anything to defend their home. Among them, seasoned cultivators, their faces grim, readied their martial arts techniques.Reaching the plaza, Bai Yu spotted his father, Patriarch Bai, issuing orders, his powerful aura radiating authority. A moment of pride swelled in Bai Yu's chest, tempered by the worry etched on his father's face.
He spotted a gap in the defensive line and without hesitation, charged towards the approaching Stormwind Island soldiers.A hulking figure, taller and broader than Bai Yu, blocked his path. Adorned in dark armor, the Stormwind soldier bore the mark of a fourth stage Blood Condensation cultivator, two stages above Bai Yu.
A surge of trepidation washed over him, but there was no room for fear. He raised his sword, its worn leather grip a source of comfort in this chaotic scene.The clash began. The Stormwind soldier wielded a massive warhammer, its every swing a brutal display of raw power. Bai Yu danced around the blows, his agility compensating for the strength disparity. He parried a crushing swing, the impact vibrating through his arms.
Drawing on years of training, he weaved a mesmerizing sequence of attacks, his sword flashing like a silver serpent.For sixty relentless moves, Bai Yu fought defensively, searching for an opening. The soldier, frustrated by his nimble opponent, launched a reckless overhead strike. It was the opportunity Bai Yu craved. With a lightning-fast riposte, he channeled all his strength into a single thrust, aiming for the unprotected gap between the soldier's armor plates. The tip of his sword found its mark, plunging deep into the soldier's chest.
A gasp escaped the soldier's lips, his eyes widening in surprise before glazing over. "I got defeated? by a mere kid? Damn it." He crumpled to the ground, lifeless. Relief washed over Bai Yu, quickly replaced by the grim reality of the ongoing battle.