The forest was a battlefield of clashing swords, flying arrows, and roaring Qi. Flames from shattered campfires lit up the clearing, casting eerie shadows across the trees as the Li Clan warriors pressed the attack. But the masked leader stood at the center of it all, a dark figure radiating with menacing power.
Li Wei held his ground, his heart pounding as he faced the masked leader. This was the enemy who had threatened his clan, the one who had nearly destroyed them in the last attack. But this time, Li Wei was stronger. He could feel the power of his middle-stage Core Formation cultivation humming through him, sharpening his senses and strengthening his resolve.
The masked leader sneered. "You've grown bolder, Li Wei. But courage without strength is meaningless."
Li Wei steadied his breathing, his hand firm on the hilt of his sword. "The Li Clan will not be defeated. You underestimate us."
"Do I?" the leader replied coldly. "Then prove me wrong."
With a blur of movement, the masked leader lunged at Li Wei, his sword slashing downward with deadly speed. Li Wei raised his own blade to block, their swords colliding with a shockwave of Qi that echoed through the clearing. The force of the strike pushed Li Wei back, but he planted his feet, refusing to yield.
Their blades clashed again, each strike sending ripples of energy through the air. Li Wei could feel the pressure of the masked leader's Qi bearing down on him, but he focused, letting the Heavenly Sword Art guide his movements.
"Sky-Cutting Slash!" Li Wei shouted, unleashing a powerful horizontal strike. The shockwave cut through the air, but the masked leader dodged, moving with a speed that defied belief. He countered with a thrust, forcing Li Wei to twist his body and parry with a quick, precise motion.
The masked leader chuckled. "Impressive. But you're still too slow."
Before Li Wei could react, the leader sent a surge of dark Qi through his blade, the energy crackling with a malevolent force. Li Wei barely managed to dodge, the dark Qi slicing past him and splitting a tree in two.
He's faster than before, Li Wei thought, his mind racing. And his Qi… it's unlike anything I've faced.
But he couldn't back down. Not now.
A Desperate Strategy
Li Wei took a deep breath, centering himself. He let his Qi flow through his body, merging with his sword, his connection to the Heavenly Sword Art strengthening. Every strike, every movement, needed to be perfect. He couldn't afford any mistakes.
He moved into the form of Sword of Flowing Heavens, his sword flowing in a graceful arc as he launched a series of rapid strikes. The masked leader blocked and dodged, his movements equally fluid, but Li Wei's precision was improving with each moment.
Li Yan, perched on a nearby tree branch, took aim, her arrows slicing through the air toward the masked leader. The leader deflected them with a sweep of his sword, but the brief distraction gave Li Wei the opening he needed.
"Celestial Ripple Strike!" Li Wei shouted, channeling his Qi outward. Waves of sword Qi rippled through the clearing, forcing the masked leader back as the energy disrupted his balance.
The leader staggered, his aura flickering for just a moment.
Li Wei seized the chance, surging forward with Heavenly Edge of the Void. His sword cut through the air, an ethereal light tracing its path as it aimed directly for the masked leader's chest.
But at the last second, the leader twisted away, his eyes narrowing as he countered with a backhanded slash. Li Wei dodged, but the blade grazed his shoulder, pain flaring as the dark Qi burned through his skin.
"You're better than last time," the leader admitted, his tone grudging. "But still not good enough."
Li Wei gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain. He couldn't allow doubt to creep in. This was his fight, his moment to prove himself.
But as the masked leader prepared for another strike, Li Wei realized something: brute force alone wouldn't win this battle. He needed to outthink his opponent.
Turning the Tide
Li Wei steadied his breathing, his mind racing. The leader's strength was overwhelming, but his arrogance was a weakness. If he could exploit it, he might find a way to break through.
He shifted his stance, taking on a defensive position, his movements cautious and calculated. The masked leader smirked, clearly taking it as a sign of weakness.
"You're faltering," the leader taunted. "I expected more from the heir of the Li Clan."
Li Wei said nothing, his eyes focused, his Qi flowing steadily. He let the leader advance, parrying his strikes with measured, precise movements. He gave ground slowly, waiting, watching for an opening.
Then, in a sudden burst, Li Wei countered with a feint, stepping to the side as the masked leader lunged forward. The leader's eyes widened as his strike missed its mark, and in that split second, Li Wei unleashed Sky-Cutting Slash, the shockwave hitting the leader directly in the side.
The leader stumbled, his stance faltering. Li Wei didn't hesitate, moving in with Celestial Ripple Strike to disrupt the leader's Qi further.
For the first time, the masked leader was on the defensive, his aura flickering as he struggled to maintain his composure.
Li Wei's eyes narrowed. This is my chance.
The Final Strike
With every ounce of Qi he had, Li Wei poured his energy into his blade, preparing for a decisive strike. He moved with precision, each step guided by the Heavenly Sword Art.
"Heavenly Edge of the Void!" he roared, the energy of the technique radiating through his sword as he struck forward.
The leader's defenses shattered, his dark Qi breaking apart under the force of Li Wei's attack. The blade cut through his armor, leaving a deep gash across his chest. The leader staggered back, blood dripping from the wound, his expression one of shock and rage.
"You…!" the leader hissed, his eyes filled with hatred. "You'll pay for this, Li Wei."
But before the leader could strike back, Li Yan's arrow flew through the air, hitting him squarely in the shoulder. He stumbled, his strength faltering further.
Li Wei didn't waste the opportunity. With a final surge of energy, he raised his sword, preparing to end the fight.
But the leader, sensing his defeat, released a pulse of dark Qi that created a dense smokescreen around him. The air filled with the stench of burnt wood as the leader's form vanished into the shadows.
When the smoke cleared, the masked leader was gone.
Li Wei lowered his sword, his breathing heavy. He had won the fight, but the leader had escaped. The victory felt hollow, but he knew that he had struck a critical blow. The enemy had underestimated him, and now, they would think twice before challenging the Li Clan again.
Aftermath
The remaining masked men, seeing their leader retreat, scattered into the forest. The Li Clan warriors regrouped, their expressions a mixture of exhaustion and relief.
Li Huang approached, his eyes filled with pride. "You did it, Li Wei. We drove them off."
Li Wei nodded, though his mind was still racing. "We won this battle, but they'll be back. That masked leader won't stop until the Li Clan is destroyed."
Li Yan joined them, her face resolute. "Then we'll be ready. After tonight, they know we're not an easy target."
Li Wei sheathed his sword, his gaze turning to the horizon. The fight had pushed him to his limits, but it had also shown him the strength he could achieve. He had tasted the true power of the Heavenly Sword Art, and with his cultivation growing, he knew there was more he could unlock.
But this battle had also revealed the depths of the enemy's power. The masked leader was no ordinary foe, and his dark Qi hinted at forces beyond Li Wei's understanding.
"We have to grow stronger," Li Wei said, his voice filled with determination. "The Li Clan won't just survive. We'll rise again, stronger than ever."
His clanmates nodded, their faces resolute. They had faced the enemy and emerged victorious, but the path ahead was still uncertain. Li Wei knew that more challenges awaited, that the enemy would return with even greater force.
But he also knew that he would be ready.
As dawn broke over the forest, Li Wei stood among his clanmates, the weight of his responsibility pressing down on him. He was no longer just a cultivator—he was the leader of the Li Clan. And he would not rest until they reclaimed their place among the strongest clans in the land.
End of Chapter 10