The following morning, Yang Ye found himself standing at the edge of a dense forest that bordered the Outer Court. The sun barely broke through the thick canopy, leaving the path ahead cloaked in shadow. Su Ling's words from the night before echoed in his mind.
"A hidden training ground where the real elites train."
He wasn't naive enough to trust her completely, but his curiosity outweighed his caution. If there was a place where he could refine his skills further and face stronger opponents, it was an opportunity he couldn't afford to miss.
Gripping the hilt of his sword, Yang Ye stepped into the forest.
---
The Path to the Hidden Grounds
The forest was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the crunch of leaves underfoot and the occasional rustle of branches. As Yang Ye ventured deeper, he felt a strange energy in the air. It was faint but unmistakable—an aura of Profound Energy lingering in the environment.
After an hour of navigating the winding paths, Yang Ye came across an old, moss-covered stone marker. It bore the Sword Sect's insignia, but it was different—etched beneath it was a set of unfamiliar symbols.
Just as he reached out to touch the marker, a voice called out from behind him.
"You're brave to come here alone."
Yang Ye spun around, his sword half-drawn. Su Ling stood a few paces away, her arms crossed and a smug grin on her face.
"Relax," she said, waving a hand dismissively. "I'm not here to fight you. Not yet, anyway."
Yang Ye sheathed his sword, his expression unreadable. "Why are you here?"
"To make sure you don't get yourself killed," Su Ling replied, stepping closer. "The place you're about to enter isn't just a training ground—it's a battlefield. The elites train here because it forces them to fight for survival."
Yang Ye frowned. "What do you mean by 'battlefield'?"
Su Ling smirked. "You'll see soon enough."
With that cryptic remark, she motioned for Yang Ye to follow her.
---
The Battlefield of the Forgotten
After another hour of trekking, the forest opened up into a vast clearing. What lay before them took Yang Ye's breath away.
The ground was littered with broken weapons and armor, their edges dulled by time. In the center of the clearing stood a massive stone archway, pulsating with a faint golden light. Beyond the archway, the air shimmered like a mirage, hinting at the presence of another realm.
"This is the Battlefield of the Forgotten," Su Ling said, her voice reverent. "It's a pocket dimension created by the sect's ancestors. Inside, you'll face trials designed to test your strength, endurance, and willpower. But be warned—this place doesn't hold back. Many who enter never come out."
Yang Ye's grip tightened on his sword. The idea of a trial designed to push him to his limits excited him, but he couldn't ignore the hint of danger in Su Ling's tone.
"How does it work?" he asked.
Su Ling gestured to the archway. "Step through, and the battlefield will tailor itself to your abilities. The stronger you are, the tougher the challenges. You'll face both illusions and real enemies, so don't let your guard down."
Without hesitation, Yang Ye stepped toward the archway. Su Ling raised an eyebrow, impressed by his resolve.
"No hesitation, huh? I like that," she said, following him.
---
The First Trial: Shadows of the Past
The moment Yang Ye crossed the threshold, the world around him shifted. The air grew heavy, and the golden light of the archway faded into darkness. When his vision cleared, he found himself standing in the middle of a barren wasteland. The sky was a swirling mass of gray clouds, and the ground was cracked and lifeless.
In the distance, shadows began to take form. At first, they were vague and shapeless, but as they drew closer, Yang Ye's eyes widened in recognition.
The shadows were copies of himself—each wielding a sword identical to his own, their movements mirroring his perfectly.
A voice boomed from the heavens, deep and commanding.
"Face the shadows of your past. Prove that you are stronger than who you once were."
The shadows lunged at him in unison, their attacks synchronized and relentless. Yang Ye parried the first strike, his blade clashing against one of the shadow's swords. The force of the impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air.
The battle was unlike anything Yang Ye had experienced before. The shadows knew his every move, countering him with the precision of a mirror image. Every time he found an opening, another shadow would block his attack.
Sweat dripped down his brow as he struggled to keep up with their coordinated assault.
"Is this all you've got?" one of the shadows taunted, its voice a distorted echo of his own.
Yang Ye gritted his teeth. He refused to be bested by copies of himself. Drawing on his golden Profound Energy, he unleashed a powerful strike, his blade glowing with radiant light. The attack shattered one of the shadows, but the others quickly adapted, their movements becoming even more aggressive.
The realization hit him like a blow to the chest—these shadows weren't just copies. They were evolving, learning from his every move.
---
A Lesson in Adaptation
Yang Ye took a deep breath, calming his racing heart. If the shadows were adapting to his techniques, then he needed to change his approach.
Switching to an unorthodox stance, Yang Ye began to incorporate movements from the Basic Sword Technique into his attacks. The simplicity of the technique caught the shadows off guard, disrupting their rhythm.
One by one, the shadows fell, their forms dissipating into wisps of smoke.
When the last shadow vanished, the voice from above spoke again.
"You have overcome the first trial. Remember this lesson: true strength lies not in power alone but in the ability to adapt."
---
The Second Trial: The Endless Horde
The wasteland shifted, the ground beneath Yang Ye's feet cracking open. He found himself standing on a narrow cliffside overlooking a valley. Below him, a massive horde of beasts surged forward, their roars echoing like thunder.
Each beast was different—some had scales, others fur, but all were terrifyingly powerful. At the head of the horde was a creature unlike any Yang Ye had ever seen. It stood over ten feet tall, its body covered in black armor, and its eyes glowed with a malevolent red light.
"You must hold this position until the sun rises," the voice commanded.
Yang Ye's jaw tightened. The sun was nowhere to be seen, hidden behind the swirling gray clouds.
The first wave of beasts reached the cliffside, their claws and fangs glinting in the dim light. Yang Ye met them head-on, his sword cutting through the air with deadly precision.
For hours, he fought without rest, his golden Profound Energy fueling his strikes. But the horde was endless, and fatigue began to set in.
Just as he was about to falter, Su Ling appeared at his side, her twin daggers flashing as she joined the fight.
"Didn't think I'd let you have all the fun, did you?" she said with a grin.
Together, they fought back the horde, their movements perfectly synchronized. Despite the overwhelming odds, neither showed any sign of retreat.
Finally, as the first rays of sunlight broke through the clouds, the horde began to dissipate, their forms fading like shadows at dawn.
Yang Ye collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving with exhaustion. Su Ling offered him a hand, her expression softening.
"You're not half bad," she said.
Yang Ye managed a weak smile. "You're not so bad yourself."
---
The Path Forward
As the battlefield began to fade, Yang Ye felt a surge of energy coursing through him. The trials had pushed him to his limits, but they had also made him stronger.
When the world around him returned to normal, he found himself back at the forest's edge, the archway behind him. Su Ling stood beside him, her expression thoughtful.
"This is just the beginning," she said. "The real challenges are still ahead."
Yang Ye nodded, his resolve stronger than ever. "Then I'll face them head-on."
Together, they turned and walked back toward the Outer Court, the promise of new challenges waiting just beyond the horizon.