Chapter 5
“How is this even possible? Zhen energy cannot take shape until you’re in the Qi Refining stage,” Tian Ping thought, his mind racing as he activated and deactivated the Zhen blade in his hand. “But I’m just at the 6th stage of the Dantian realm. How could this be happening without a martial arts skill?”
Frustration mixed with awe bubbled within him. Even with a yellow Dantian, this shouldn’t be feasible. It must be the strange blade that appeared in my Dantian.
He found a clear patch on the forest floor, the remnants of his battle with the kobold fading from his mind as he settled into a lotus position. Closing his eyes, he focused inward, sending his consciousness into the depths of his Dantian, eager to explore its mysteries.
As time passed, the sounds of the forest became a distant hum, and the world around him faded away. After two incense sticks of time, the blade began to glow with an ethereal light“What’s this?” he murmured, sensing the radiance emanating from it. It felt alive, pulsing with energy. It’s releasing something... words, but I can’t understand them.
Two more incense sticks passed, the glow intensifying, illuminating the darkness behind his closed eyelids. Suddenly, clarity struck him like a bolt of lightning. “The Dao of Swords!”
An epiphany washed over him, and he recognized the words being released as the mysteries of the Dao of Swords unfolding before him. The revelation was exhilarating, a surge of power and knowledge flowing into his very soul.
Just as he began to ponder the mysteries of his Dantian, the air around him grew still. The bushes and trees started to tremble, an eerie rustling sound filling the forest. Tian Ping’s eyes snapped open, his instincts flaring to life. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he remembered something very important, something he had foolishly overlooked...
Kobolds hunt in packs.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Around fifteen kobolds burst from the underbrush, their snarling faces twisted with fury as they surrounded him. Their eyes glowed with malice, fixed on him as they sought revenge for their fallen comrade.
Tian Ping leapt to his feet, his mind racing. “Damn it! I was so lost in thought that I ignored the stories from the mines,” he muttered through gritted teeth, taking a defensive stance.
Flashback:
In his mind, he recalled the grizzled miner's words echoing in the darkness of the tunnels: "Kobolds, they never fight alone. You see one, and you can bet there are a dozen more lurking in the shadows. Never let your guard down, boy, or they’ll rip you apart before you can even scream."
Present
“Damn it, how could I forget?” Tian Ping muttered, his mind racing. He quickly formed a Zhen blade around his hand, the energy surging to life with a sharper edge than before, thanks to his epiphany about the Dao of Swords. Taking a deep breath, he calmed his thoughts, assessing the situation. “Their cultivation ranges from the 4th stage Dantian at the weakest to the 8th stage at the strongest. I must stand my ground. This is just the beginning of my journey,” he reminded himself, determination settling into his bones.
The area went still, the forest holding its breath as though waiting for the first move. It was so silent that he could almost hear the rustling of a leaf as it drifted to the ground.
“COME AT ME, BEASTS! I'LL SHOW YOU MY TRUE STRENGTH!”
Tian Ping’s shout ripped through the air, sending a swirl of leaves and dust in all directions. The kobolds didn't hesitate; they charged at him with a ferocity that could shake the resolve of even the bravest warriors. But Tian Ping stood firm, his gaze cold and unyielding, his Zhen blade glowing with an intense light.
He could feel the epiphany of the Dao of Swords guiding him, as if ancient techniques were being whispered into his soul. Visualizing sword moves that seemed to rise from some hidden part of his mind, he began to move. The techniques were foreign, but his body responded as if he’d known them all his life—each step and strike felt like a dance in the sun. The blade in his hand flowed smoothly, slicing through the air with a grace that seemed almost otherworldly.
As the first kobold leaped at him, teeth bared and claws ready to tear, Tian Ping’s movements were fluid and instinctive. He parried its strike with a swift twist of his wrist and, in one seamless motion, countered with a downward slash that sent the beast crashing to the ground, howling in pain.More kobolds rushed forward, their eyes filled with rage and desperation, but Tian Ping’s blade was a blur of motion. Each strike was faster, more precise, and deadlier than the last. His newfound understanding of the Dao of Swords seemed to guide his every move, his Zhen blade slicing through scales and sinew as if they were nothing.
He stood amidst the fallen kobolds, his breath steady, the glow of his Zhen blade illuminating the carnage around him. A cold, confident smile spread across his face as he looked at the remaining creatures, who hesitated now, their courage waning in the face of this unstoppable force.
Tian Ping’s eyes narrowed, and in a voice as cold as ice, he muttered, "You think this is the end? We're just getting started."
The words seemed to hang in the air, sending a shiver through the forest itself, as if even the trees knew that a new force had awakened—a force that would stop at nothing to reach its full potential.
Side Note: Martial Arts Skills
Martial skills or techniques are abilities harnessed from Zhen energy. These techniques are shaped by one's imagination but come to life through the power of Zhen energy. The strength and complexity of these martial arts techniques increase with one's cultivation level—the higher the realm, the more powerful and intricate the techniques that can be mastered
✨ If you're enjoying the story so far, please consider hitting that Like button and Subscribing to stay updated! Your support means a lot and helps more readers discover TIAN PING. ✨
📖 Don't stop here—there's more to come! Click to read the next chapter and see what happens next in Tian Ping's journey! 📖
Comments (3)
See all