Wandao 030
At noon the next day, just outside Spirit Vine Valley, a thick mist drifted like a silken veil, weaving through the evergreen mountain paths beyond the valley. The tangled vines hung like coiling dragons and serpents, while lush greenery pressed close around slick, winding blue stones that glistened damply beneath their feet.
The trio advanced steadily toward the valley entrance, where the spiritual energy grew heavier, thick and tangible in the humid air. Wan Xiaochuan's footsteps were deliberate and measured, his brow furrowed in concentration. Behind him, Lin Qixian bore the familiar weight of his spirit insect pouch, his left hand already bracing a spirit talisman, charged with latent power. Leading the way, Jiang Lingshan moved with effortless grace. Her sword-hugging robes of white and jade clung to her slender frame, outlining every supple curve as natural sword qi swirled softly around her. Her skin was pale and flawless as freshly fallen snow, her waist slender and lithe, each movement flowing with a dancer's precision and the lethal elegance of a swordmaster.
Her sword, named "Frost Feather", gleamed translucent as if forged from pure ice. The scabbard was carved with delicate motifs of snowy cranes, and though the blade remained sheathed, a subtle vibration hummed from the hilt, as if eager to be unleashed.
"The valley's energy is unstable," Jiang Lingshan's voice was calm but edged with urgency. "We must find the source of the disturbance quickly, or the entire Spirit Vine Valley's life vein will reverse and collapse."
Suddenly, a sharp, slicing howl cut through the forest air like a blade through silk. A massive silver-white wolf burst forth, its hide encrusted with shards of frost crystal that shimmered with deadly chill. Two powerful wings, feathered and frosted, stretched wide from its back, spreading a mist of cold that froze the very air around it.
"Frost-Shard Shadow Wolf!" Jiang Lingshan cried out, launching herself into the air like a shooting star. Her sword flared with shimmering qi that sliced through the mist like liquid light.
The frost blade cleaved the air, instantly painting the space with swirling frost patterns that glittered like frozen lace. She spun mid-air, right hand guiding the sword while her left formed a complex seal, chanting: "Flying Frost Sword Technique — Frost Return Shadow!"
Countless streaks of sword qi erupted like icy feathers, scattering outward and blossoming into fierce ice blossoms, ensnaring the beast in an unyielding cage of frost.
Wan Xiaochuan planted his feet firmly, muscles coiling like a spring, crossing his Wind-Thunder Sword horizontally before his chest. "Wind's Roar, Thunder's Strike — Twin Shadows Sever!"
Lightning crackled along the blade's edge as wind blades spiraled in tandem, whirling with the force of a dragon's roar. The air thundered with their battle cry. Wan Xiaochuan moved with the elusive grace of the "Eight Trigram Shadow Step," weaving through the underbrush to the wolf's flank with breathtaking speed.
The beast howled in fury, unleashing a violent surge of frost energy. Sharp ice shards exploded like deadly arrows, piercing the air.
His eyes glinting with fierce determination, Wan Xiaochuan's sword never faltered, but his left fist suddenly thrust forward with the crushing force of a mountain's collapse. Blue-gold aura surged from his arm; skin gleaming like burnished metal. His punch thundered against the wolf's side with bone-shattering power.
The silver wolf was hurled backward, crashing ten paces into a sturdy tree trunk. Frost crystals shattered like glass; blood mixed with frost spraying into the air.
"You... practice body cultivation?" Jiang Lingshan's surprise was tinged with admiration.
"True Body Technique — just begun learning a few forms," Wan Xiaochuan panted, tightening his grip on the sword's hilt and stepping forward again.
Behind, Lin Qixian's fingers flicked, releasing a swift chant. "Wind Bind Curse — Explode!"
Spiritual energy coalesced into whirling wind chains that coiled tightly around the wolf's legs, rooting it temporarily in place.
Seizing the moment, Jiang Lingshan's foot flicked with precision, striking the earth lightly as she launched her next attack: "Frost Cry Slash — Feather Break Ice Sever!"
The Frost Feather sword slashed through the air, the blade's icy radiance bursting like a frozen waterfall unleashed. The wolf's agonized roar was cut off abruptly as it collapsed, its crystalline form fracturing and crumbling to the ground.
As the frost mist slowly dispersed, the earth beneath revealed an ancient array pattern, glowing faintly with arcane power. Jiang Lingshan knelt, tracing the runes with a serious expression. "This beast... was transformed by the core disturbance of the array."
Wan Xiaochuan smoothly slid the Frost Feather back into its scabbard, the soft click echoing his calm after the storm. His fists clenched tightly, sensing the flow of spiritual energy coursing within his body. "After merging wind and thunder, I'll try to incorporate body cultivation as well — the disciplines may complement each other."
Jiang Lingshan glanced sideways with a faint smile. "If you master both sword and body, your path will broaden beyond measure."
As the trio began tidying the battlefield, the thick mist began to clear. The sun dipped toward the horizon, casting golden rays through the thinning clouds. Those beams of light draped over their shoulders like a blessing, illuminating their shadows—and the challenges still awaiting beyond the valley's edge.
Renee: Maybe I'm just slow at this whole love thing.Tell me with a comment? And don't forget the Library.