Chapter 16: The Breaking Point

The first light of dawn bled across the sky as Lin Xuan stepped onto the training grounds. The air was cold and sharp, like a blade drawn across his skin. His breath misted before him as he tightened his grip on his practice sword. The weight of the upcoming Sect Tournament sat heavy on his shoulders, but determination burned in his chest.

Li Feng was already there, standing with the stillness of a mountain. His eyes, sharp as ever, tracked Lin Xuan's approach. "You're on time. Good. That will be the last easy thing about today."

Lin Xuan bowed respectfully. "I'm ready, Senior Li Feng."

Li Feng nodded once. "We'll see."

Without another word, Li Feng drew his sword, the polished steel catching the rising sun. The calm in his expression vanished, replaced by a deadly focus. "Defend yourself."

The command came like a crack of thunder, and Li Feng lunged. Lin Xuan barely had time to raise his practice sword before the impact rattled his bones. The force drove him back, his feet skidding across the dirt. He gritted his teeth, trying to absorb the shock, but Li Feng's next strike was already upon him.

A blur of motion. A flash of steel.

Lin Xuan twisted, narrowly dodging a blow aimed at his ribs. He countered with a quick thrust, but Li Feng deflected it effortlessly, his blade sliding along Lin Xuan's and snapping back like a snake.

Too slow.

Lin Xuan felt a sharp sting as Li Feng's blade struck his shoulder. He staggered back, pain flaring through his body. He clenched his jaw, refusing to cry out. He'd been through worse. He couldn't afford to show weakness.

"Focus, Lin Xuan," Li Feng said, his voice cold. "Your hesitation will get you killed."

Lin Xuan steadied his breathing. He couldn't rely solely on the threads of fate; he needed to trust his instincts, feel the flow of the fight. He shifted his stance, loosening his grip on the sword, letting his body find its rhythm.

Li Feng attacked again, his strikes precise and relentless. Lin Xuan's arms ached with every parry, but his mind was clear. He dodged, countered, flowed with the momentum of the battle. He wasn't just reacting anymore — he was fighting.

A spark of hope flared within him. He could do this. He would do this.

But just as he began to feel a rhythm, Li Feng's movements shifted. The strikes grew faster, the angles more unpredictable. Lin Xuan's confidence faltered as Li Feng's sword became a storm, impossible to track. His mind screamed for him to keep up, but his body couldn't match the speed.

Pain exploded in his side as Li Feng's blade struck home. Lin Xuan fell to his knees, his practice sword clattering to the ground. His vision blurred with pain and exhaustion. The cold dirt pressed against his palms as he struggled to catch his breath.

Li Feng's voice was like ice. "Get up."

Lin Xuan's arms trembled, his body screaming for rest. But he forced himself to his feet, his legs shaking beneath him. He met Li Feng's gaze, his own eyes burning with defiance.

"I'm not done."

Li Feng's expression didn't change, but something flickered in his eyes — a hint of respect. "Good. But remember this, Lin Xuan: strength is not just physical. It's in your mind, your spirit. If you break now, you'll never survive the tournament."

Lin Xuan nodded, swallowing the pain. He knew Li Feng was right. The path he had chosen wasn't easy. Each step forward was a battle against doubt, against fear, against his own limits.

"Again," Lin Xuan said, his voice steady.

Li Feng's lips curled into a faint smile. "That's the spirit."

The training resumed, each clash of their blades echoing across the grounds. Lin Xuan's body screamed in protest, but he pushed through it, his determination a shield against the pain. He lost count of how many times he fell, how many times he was knocked back, but each time, he got up. Each time, he fought harder.

Hours passed. The sun climbed higher, burning away the morning chill. Lin Xuan's movements grew sluggish, his vision hazy with fatigue. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Li Feng sheathed his sword and knelt beside him. "That's enough for today."

Lin Xuan's eyes fluttered open. "I… can still go."

Li Feng shook his head. "You've pushed yourself to the edge. Any more, and you'll break. Rest now. Recover. We start again tomorrow."

Lin Xuan closed his eyes, frustration gnawing at him. But deep down, he knew Li Feng was right. His body had limits, and he had reached them.

A hand gripped his shoulder. "You've done well," Li Feng said quietly. "Remember, the strongest blades are forged in the hottest fires. This pain is shaping you."

Lin Xuan nodded, the words sinking into his heart. He wasn't weak for needing rest. He was growing stronger with each challenge, each setback.

Yu Lan's voice reached him, gentle and concerned. "Come on, Lin Xuan. Let's get you some food and rest."

With her help, he got to his feet, his legs unsteady but his spirit resolute. As they walked away from the training grounds, the threads of fate shimmered faintly in his mind, paths branching out before him. The future was still uncertain, but he was no longer afraid.

He would forge his destiny, no matter how many times he had to break and rebuild himself.