Rumble!
The vortex shuddered, and a massive golden sword began to materialize within it. The blade's tip alone was the size of a mountain, radiating an oppressive aura that bore down on the battlefield like the judgment of the heavens. The ground beneath Dao Wei's feet cracked and buckled under the immense force.
The puppet tilted its head, then raised its own blade high. Mimicking Dao Wei's technique, a torrent of dark energy swirled around its weapon, forming an ominous black arc that seemed to tear through reality itself. Its blade hummed with energy as it performed a Sword Fusion of its own, slashing upward toward the descending golden sword. From its strike, a massive arc of silver energy erupted, shooting toward the heavens with unstoppable force.
The two attacks collided in midair.
Bang!
The sheer impact sent shockwaves rippling through the level, shaking the walls and ceiling of Ghost Peak. The air quaked as if the fabric of reality itself was being torn apart by the clash of their energies.
Dao Wei gritted his teeth, holding his saber steady as he poured every ounce of his energy into the attack. The golden sword trembled but continued its descent, inch by inch.
"Break!" he roared, slashing downward.
The golden sword surged forward, its momentum overpowering the puppet's attack and shattering the black arc into fragments of energy.
The puppet, undeterred, launched itself skyward to meet the descending blade head-on. Its body glowed with an intense light as it channeled all its remaining energy into its sword. The collision of their energies created a blinding explosion of light.
Bang!
The collision halted the massive sword's descent, the puppet standing defiantly beneath its overwhelming weight. Dao Wei's eyes narrowed as he pushed his energy to its limit.
The puppet managed to halt the golden sword's descent, its blade trembling under the strain. For a moment, the two forces were locked in a deadly stalemate, the energy between them threatening to consume everything.
"Trying to block my progress?" he growled, his voice laced with determination. "Try again!"
He channeled his Qi into the Dragon Saber, his Sword Avatar responding in kind. With a mighty roar, he slashed again, the motion adding another wave of energy to the golden sword.
"Kill!"
The golden blade surged downward with renewed momentum, its force suffocating. The puppet's sword cracked under the pressure, its glowing red eyes dimming slightly as its energy reserves waned.
Boom!
The colossal golden sword struck the puppet directly, triggering a massive explosion that illuminated the entire level. The force of the blast disintegrated the puppet into a cloud of glowing fragments, its once-menacing aura dissipating into nothingness.
The explosion of light and energy caused a force of blast that obliterated the surrounding terrain, reducing everything within its radius to dust. Lava spilled from shattered pools, cascading like fiery rivers across the battlefield.
As the dust settled, Dao Wei fell to one knee, panting heavily. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his body trembled from the exertion. The puppet was gone, disintegrated into thin air. Only the faint remnants of its energy lingered, dissipating like smoke in the wind.
"Pant… Pant…" Dao Wei's breaths came in ragged gasps as he lowered his sword. His Avatar, now dimmed, retreated into his Sea of Qi, its presence fading like a receding tide.
The battlefield was eerily silent, save for the faint crackle of lingering energy in the air. Dao Wei pushed himself to his feet, his gaze falling on the massive fiery door that now loomed before him. Its surface glowed with ancient runes, pulsating faintly as if acknowledging his victory.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and took a step forward, his resolve unwavering despite his battered state.
"This is only the third level," he muttered to himself, his voice low but filled with determination. "If the challenges ahead are even stronger than this, I'll have to get stronger—fast."
With one final glance at the battlefield, Dao Wei approached the fiery door. Its heat licked at his skin as it slowly creaked open, revealing a faint, ominous glow from the darkness beyond.
The corner of Dao Wei's mouth lifted in a faint smirk. "Bring it on."
Dao Wei wiped the sweat from his brow, his body trembling from the strain. He turned his gaze forward, taking a step forward, his determination unwavering despite his exhaustion.
DONG!
The deep, resounding chime of the Ancient Bell echoed through the Sword God Sect, silencing the bustling courtyards and training halls. Its vibrations carried an almost mystical weight, resonating with the hearts of every disciple. For over a millennium, the bell had remained dormant, its sound a mere legend whispered among the sect's members.
In the central courtyard, where young disciples had been engrossed in practicing their sword techniques, the bell's toll disrupted everything. Swords stilled mid-swing, and the air seemed to grow heavier.
"What?" one disciple blurted out, his voice trembling with disbelief. "The Ancient Bell?"
"It can't be!" another said, lowering his weapon as his eyes darted toward the distant shadow of Ghost Peak, its jagged summit barely visible through the swirling mists.
"Who would even dare to challenge Fourth Level?"
Murmurs began spreading like wildfire among the gathered disciples.
"Impossible! That bell hasn't rung in over a thousand years," a senior disciple muttered. His face was pale, as though the sound of the bell carried a foreboding omen.
"Could it be…" a younger disciple whispered, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and fear. "Someone made it to the fourth level?"
The sheer absurdity of the idea left most of them stunned.
In a different courtyard, a woman dressed in an elegant emerald robe stood amidst a grove of cherry blossoms, her sword held loosely at her side. Her piercing eyes fixed on the distant peak as her lips curled into a frown.
"Hmph. Young Elder?" Huang Ling muttered to herself. "Don't tell me that idiot is really challenging Ghost Peak instead of serving his detention."
She scoffed, the blossoms around her swaying gently as her spiritual energy fluctuated.
Nearby, Zhang Ruolan, a graceful yet sharp-tongued, crossed her arms, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Please. That Wild Beast? The same idiot who's only been here for a few weeks? It's probably Lu Shen. Or maybe a stray bird hit the bell or something."
"Stop being ridiculous," Huang Ling shot back. "The Ancient Bell doesn't ring by accident. Someone's advancing, and you know it."
Zhang Ruolan rolled her eyes but stayed silent, her lips twitching as though she wanted to argue.
Not far from them, a third voice chimed in. Qing Yao, a quiet disciple known for her insight, spoke in a tone filled with wonder. "If it really is that untamed beast, then our sect is witnessing history." Her gaze never wavered from Ghost Peak. "First, he challenges the ninth level of Sword Peak, and now this? Whether you like it or not, things are changing."
Huang Ling smirked, nodding slightly. "Change, huh? It's about time someone changed things up."
With the Central Arena, a growing crowd of disciples debated fervently. The usually calm and disciplined sect was alive with speculation.
"It has to be Lu Shen," one disciple declared confidently. "He's the strongest and the lead core disciple. If anyone could reach the fourth level, it's him."
"Lu Shen? Huh! He hasn't even challenged Sword Peak in years," another retorted. "My money's on the Sword Childe. Ever since he showed up, he's been doing the impossible."
"Sword Childe?" a third scoffed loudly. "That upstart? He's only been here a few weeks. There's no way he's capable of this."
"You're just jealous," someone chimed in, their tone mocking. "Admit it. You're afraid he'll surpass you too."
The voices grew louder, arguments breaking out among the gathered disciples. The majority clung to the belief that Lu Shen was the one challenging Ghost Peak, unwilling to accept the idea that Dao Wei—a newcomer—could achieve such a feat.
But in the back of their minds, a nagging doubt lingered.
Meanwhile, deep within the sect's forbidden chambers, the Grand Elders sat in a dimly lit hall. The room was shrouded in shadows, illuminated only by the faint glow of a brazier at its center. The tolling of the Ancient Bell had disrupted their meeting, and now they stood, their expressions a mixture of shock and disbelief.
"Impossible!" Elder Ji spat, his gnarled fingers tightening around his staff. "The Ancient Bell? It hasn't rung since the Sovereign himself ascended Ghost Peak. Are you telling me that boy—that boy—made it to the fourth level?"
Second Grand Elder stroked his long white beard thoughtfully, his expression calmer but no less astonished. "It seems we've underestimated him. To make it this far… his talent is monstrous."
"Monstrous?" Elder Ji sneered, slamming his staff against the stone floor. "It's absurd! The fourth level has been untouched for centuries. Even the best among us couldn't breach it. That boy isn't just monstrous—he's dangerous."
Third Grand Elder chuckled darkly, his sharp eyes glinting in the firelight. "Dangerous, perhaps. But talent like his always comes with a price. Even if he survives Ghost Peak, he won't escape the Hall."