The path to mastering the sword had only just begun, but the journey ahead was fraught with greater challenges than Wei Shuren could have imagined. His body was battered and sore from Lei Feng’s relentless training. Every muscle screamed in protest, and his hands were raw from hours of gripping the sword. But it was his spirit that had taken the heaviest blow. The burden of his past and the whispers that haunted him constantly weighed on his mind.

  It had been weeks since they left the Temple of Silent Echoes, and each day was marked by grueling training sessions under Lei Feng’s unforgiving eye. The once-stoic mountain guardian had proven to be a merciless teacher, pushing Wei to his limits and beyond. Meilin, though offering guidance, remained distant—always watching, never intervening. Her calm, enigmatic presence was both a comfort and a mystery to Wei. She knew something he didn’t—something she was waiting for him to discover on his own.

  The clearing where they trained was now a familiar battleground, but today, the air carried an oppressive tension that had not been there before. Dark clouds gathered above, swirling like an ominous omen. The sky was heavy, and the wind whipped through the trees with a wild, unpredictable force. Even Lei Feng seemed more serious than usual, his cold eyes scanning the horizon as if waiting for something—or someone.

  “You’re distracted,” Lei Feng barked, breaking Wei from his thoughts. “Focus.”

  Wei took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the sword. His body ached with every movement, but he pushed the pain aside. This was no longer about proving himself to Lei Feng—it was about survival. The relentless attacks had sharpened his reflexes, but he still struggled to match the master swordsman’s sheer speed and precision.

  “Again,” Lei Feng commanded, his voice harsh and impatient. “You’ll never learn if you keep hesitating.”

  Wei gritted his teeth and lunged forward, swinging his sword with as much force as he could muster. Lei Feng blocked the strike effortlessly, countering with a swift, brutal blow that sent Wei stumbling back. Before he could recover, Lei Feng was already on him again, striking with the precision of a blade cutting through air.

  Wei barely managed to deflect the attacks, each one hitting with more power than the last. His movements were sluggish, his body exhausted, but he refused to yield. He knew that surrendering now would mean losing everything he had fought for.

  Lei Feng’s blade slashed through the air, cutting dangerously close to Wei’s cheek. The force of the near miss sent him reeling, and he stumbled back, his foot slipping on the uneven ground. His sword flew from his hand, clattering across the rocky surface.

  “You’re too slow,” Lei Feng said coldly, his eyes narrowing with disappointment. “If you can’t keep up, you’ll die.”

  Wei’s chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath. His hands were trembling, his legs threatening to give out beneath him. But the voices—the voices of the Temple of Silent Echoes—whispered in his mind, telling him to rise, to fight.

  You are not broken. You are not weak.

  With a growl of frustration, Wei pushed himself back to his feet. His body was screaming in protest, but his mind was set. He couldn’t afford to fall here—not when he was so close to discovering his true potential.

  He reached for his sword, his fingers brushing the cold steel just as Lei Feng moved to strike again. But before the blow could land, a sharp gust of wind tore through the clearing, carrying with it the scent of something ancient, something dangerous. The clouds above darkened further, and the wind’s howl grew into a deafening roar.

  Lei Feng froze, his eyes narrowing as he glanced up at the storm brewing above. “Something’s coming.”

  Meilin, who had been standing silently at the edge of the clearing, finally spoke. Her voice was calm but filled with a sense of urgency. “The Stormblade Clan.”

  The name sent a chill down Wei’s spine. The Stormblade Clan was a legendary group of warriors known for their mastery of wind and lightning techniques. They were ruthless and efficient, and their name was whispered in fear across the Eastern Lands. What could they possibly want here?

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  Lei Feng’s expression hardened as he turned to face Wei. “Get ready. This will be your real test.”

  Before Wei could respond, a flash of lightning split the sky, followed by the deafening crash of thunder. From the storm clouds above, figures began to descend—warriors clad in dark, storm-gray armor, their weapons gleaming with crackling electricity. They moved with an unnatural speed, their feet barely touching the ground as they landed in the clearing with a thundering impact.

  The leader of the group, a tall, imposing figure with eyes that glowed like molten silver, stepped forward. His hair was wild, swept up by the wind, and his face was hidden behind a mask shaped like a snarling wolf. In his hand, he held a sword that crackled with lightning, the air around it buzzing with energy.

  “Lei Feng,” the leader said, his voice carrying over the howling wind. “We’ve come for the boy.”

  Lei Feng’s grip tightened on his sword, his stance shifting into a defensive posture. “He’s not yours.”

  The Stormblade leader laughed, a cold, cruel sound. “You don’t have a choice. He belongs to us now.”

  Wei’s heart raced. Why were they after him? What could the Stormblade Clan possibly want with someone like him?

  Before he could process the situation, the Stormblade warriors lunged forward, their movements a blur of speed and power. Lei Feng met them head-on, his sword clashing with theirs in a dazzling display of sparks and lightning. The ground shook with the force of their battle, the wind howling louder as the storm intensified.

  Wei watched in awe and terror as Lei Feng fought off the attackers, his blade moving with inhuman precision. But despite Lei Feng’s skill, the Stormblade warriors were relentless, their strikes coming faster and harder with every passing second.

  “Wei!” Meilin’s voice cut through the chaos, snapping him out of his daze. “You have to fight!”

  Fight? Against them? Wei could barely hold his own against Lei Feng, and now he was expected to face warriors of the Stormblade Clan? His hands trembled as he picked up his sword, the weight of it feeling heavier than ever before.

  But as he looked at the battle raging around him, something inside him shifted. The fear, the doubt, the uncertainty—they were still there, but beneath them was a spark of determination. He had come this far, survived the trials of the temple, endured Lei Feng’s brutal training. He couldn’t turn back now.

  With a deep breath, Wei charged into the fray. His movements were clumsy at first, his strikes lacking the precision and power of his enemies. But he fought with everything he had, deflecting blows and dodging strikes as best he could. The voices in his head whispered encouragement, urging him to keep going, to fight.

  And then, in the midst of the chaos, something unexpected happened. As Wei swung his sword at one of the Stormblade warriors, he felt a surge of energy course through him. His blade crackled with electricity, just like theirs, and when it connected with the enemy’s sword, a burst of lightning erupted from the impact, sending the warrior flying back.

  Wei stumbled in shock, staring at his sword in disbelief. What had just happened?

  Meilin’s eyes widened as she saw the display of power. “You’re awakening,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the storm. “You’re starting to unlock your true potential.”

  The realization hit Wei like a bolt of lightning. This was the power that had been lying dormant within him, waiting for the right moment to emerge. And now, in the heat of battle, it was finally coming to the surface.

  With renewed determination, Wei threw himself back into the fight. His movements became more fluid, his strikes more powerful. The lightning that crackled around his sword grew stronger with each swing, matching the energy of the Stormblade warriors. He was no longer just surviving—he was fighting back.

  Lei Feng, noticing the change in Wei, fought with renewed vigor, cutting through the Stormblade warriors with ruthless efficiency. Together, they began to push back the invaders, their combined strength overwhelming even the powerful Stormblade Clan.

  As the last of the warriors fell, the leader of the Stormblade Clan stepped forward, his glowing eyes locked onto Wei. “You are stronger than I expected,” he said, his voice filled with both admiration and malice. “But this is far from over. We will meet again.”

  With a flash of lightning, the Stormblade leader disappeared, leaving behind only the crackling remnants of his power.

  The storm had passed, but the damage had been done. The clearing was littered with debris, and the air still hummed with residual energy. Wei stood in the center, his sword still crackling with faint electricity, his chest heaving from exertion. He had unlocked a part of himself that he hadn’t known existed, but the cost of this power was yet to be seen.

  Lei Feng approached, his expression unreadable. “You’ve only just scratched the surface of your abilities,” he said, his voice quieter than usual. “But now, you’ve attracted enemies far more dangerous than you realize.”

  Wei nodded, his mind racing with questions. What did the Stormblade Clan want with him? How had he unlocked this power? And more importantly, what would come next?

  As the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the clearing, Wei knew that his journey was far from over. The storm had passed, but the true battle was only just beginning.