Beauty and Might: Heavenly Flames

A countdown appeared beneath the information.

[Fight Begins in 10 Seconds]

The arena fell silent. Neither side moved. Li Yan calmly adjusted his grip on the sword formed from Spiritual Energy. His breathing remained steady.

The projection stood motionless. The countdown continued.

9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2…

1…

[Fight Begins]

The projection moved immediately. There was no battle cry. No flourish. No unnecessary movement.

The white-robed swordsman simply stepped forward and thrust his sword. A basic attack. Direct. Efficient. Yet Li Yan’s eyes sharpened.

Although simple, the strike was clean. The projection’s posture was correct. Its footwork was stable. The angle of the thrust left little room for error. Every movement reflected a solid foundation.

It was slow compared to Li Yan’s current level, but there was no weakness in its execution. As the sword approached, Li Yan stepped slightly to the side.

The attack missed by inches. At the same moment, Defiant Judgment Sword Intent surged from his blade.

Li Yan swung once. A single vertical strike descended. The projection had no opportunity to defend.

The slash is connected. The white-robed swordsman immediately dissolved into countless particles of light.

Silence returned to the arena.

Several moments later, new text appeared upon the monument.

[Trial #1 Complete

Result: Victory

Completion Time: 7 Seconds

Evaluation: Excellent

Reward: 10 Sword Merit Points (Reward adjusted according to level difference between Trialist and Projection)]

Li Yan stared at the final line.

Then his gaze moved to the reward. ”Only ten?”

His eyelid twitched slightly.

From beside the monument, Jian Ling’s calm voice sounded. ”Your Sword Intent has already reached the Earth-Level.”

Li Yan turned toward her. She continued without changing expression. ”The projection was merely a Sword Apprentice. The gap between you is too large.”

”Ten Sword Merit Points are already a generous reward.”

Li Yan could not argue with that logic. The trial had ended almost instantly. The projection never had a chance.

After several seconds, he simply shook his head and laughed quietly. Since entering the Eternal Sword Tower, he had been repeatedly reminded of the same truth.

The Knowledge Hall had shown him how vast the Sword Path truly was. The Insight Hall had revealed countless perspectives he had never considered.

And now the Trial Hall demonstrated how carefully the Eternal Sword Sect had structured its inheritance system.

To the tower, his current achievements were not particularly impressive. He was merely standing at the beginning of the path. Strangely, the realization did not discourage him.

Quite the opposite.

As Li Yan looked across the endless arena, anticipation gradually appeared in his eyes. For the first time since comprehending Defiant Judgment Sword Intent, he could clearly see the road ahead.

Long. Difficult.

And far from complete. Yet that only made him more eager to continue walking it.

The monument was illuminated once more.

Ancient characters emerged across its surface, replacing the previous results.

[Trial #1 Combat Analysis

Strengths:

Strong combat instinctsHigh adaptabilityStable Sword IntentDecisive attack executionWeaknesses:

Reaction speed is below expected standards for the current Sword Intent Level.Insufficient observation before committing to an attack]Li Yan’s eyebrows rose slightly. The analysis was far more detailed than he had expected. He read through it a second time before his gaze settled on the listed weaknesses.

Particularly the first one.

Reaction speed is below the expected standards for the current Sword Intent Level.

His expression became thoughtful.

After entering the Knowledge Hall, he had already realized that most of his swordsmanship foundation had been built through practical combat rather than systematic training. That approach had allowed him to grow quickly, but it had also left certain flaws hidden beneath his victories.

Against ordinary opponents, those flaws rarely mattered. Against true swordsmen, they eventually would.

Nearby, Jian Ling glanced toward the monument. ”The Trials Arena records every battle. It evaluates combat decisions, swordsmanship fundamentals, and the application of Sword Intent.”

Her gaze remained fixed on the analysis. ”It identifies strengths. It identifies weaknesses. And it recommends areas requiring improvement.”

Li Yan nodded slowly. A place where mistakes could be identified immediately after every battle was invaluable. Most cultivators spent years discovering their shortcomings.

The Trials Arena exposed them within seconds. ”Meaning I can continue challenging projections indefinitely?”

”Yes.”

Li Yan’s eyes brightened slightly. ”Without limit?”

”Without limit.” Then Jian Ling added, ”However, repeatedly challenging the same trial serves little purpose once the highest evaluation has been achieved.”

Li Yan looked toward her.

She continued calmly. ”Your Trial #1 evaluation was Excellent. The highest possible result. Even if you clear it another hundred times, your reward will not increase, nor will it be given twice.”

That immediately made sense. The Trial Hall rewarded improvement, not repetition. As Li Yan considered this, the arena changed once more.

Three circles gradually appeared upon the stone ground. Each measured roughly three feet in diameter.

One glowed green, one glowed white, and one glowed red.

At the same time, new information appeared on the monument.

[Proceed to Next Trial: Step into the Green Circle]

[Rechallenge Current Trial: Step into the White Circle]

[Leave Trial Hall: Step into the Red Circle]

Li Yan barely glanced at the options. Without hesitation, he stepped into the green circle. The moment his foot touched the circle, the arena trembled faintly.

Sword Qi gathered from all directions. Silver light condensed ahead of him. Soon, another projection appeared. The familiar young swordsman dressed in white robes stood across the battlefield.

The monument was illuminated once more.

[Trial #2

Opponent: Sword Apprentice’s Projection

Difficulty: Hard

Victory Condition: Defeat Opponent]

[Fight Begins in 30 Seconds]

Li Yan calmly waited. As the countdown approached its final moments, he raised his sword and released his Sword Intent.

The air around him grew heavier. The projection remained motionless.

5 seconds. 4… 3… 2… 1…

[Fight Begins]

The projection immediately stepped forward. Before it could fully execute its attack, Li Yan’s hand moved. His sword cut horizontally through the air.

The strike was simple.

Direct. Efficient.

The projection never had an opportunity to respond. The slash landed—the white-robed figure dissolved into countless particles of light.

The battle ended almost as soon as it had begun. Several moments later, the monument displayed the results.

[Trial #2 Complete

Result: Victory

Completion Time: 2 Seconds

Evaluation: Excellent

Reward: 20 Sword Merit Points (Reward adjusted according to the realm difference between Trialist and Projection)]

More information soon appeared.

[Trial #2 Combat Analysis

Strengths:

Excellent reaction speedStrong combat instinctsStable Sword IntentEfficient attack executionWeaknesses:

None shown in this trialLi Yan glanced over the results before stepping into the green circle again. The third trial began shortly afterward.

The opponent remained within the Sword Apprentice Realm, though the Nightmare difficulty made its swordsmanship noticeably sharper than before.

Unfortunately, the difference in Sword Intent remained overwhelming. This battle also ended in two seconds, like the previous one.

The projection barely managed to raise its sword before Li Yan’s attack landed. Moments later, the monument displayed the results.

[Trial #3 Complete

Result: Victory

Completion Time: 2 Seconds

Evaluation: Excellent

Reward: 25 Sword Merit Points (Reward adjusted according to the level difference between Trialist and Projection)]

He has earned 55 Sword Merit Points from the first three trials, which has proven one thing.

The gap between the Sword Apprentice Level and the Earth-Level was simply too wide. No amount of difficulty adjustment could compensate for such a difference. If he wanted meaningful combat experience, he would need stronger opponents.

Fortunately, the Trial Hall seemed to have plenty of them waiting ahead.

Li Yan stood quietly within the arena as a new projection gradually condensed before him.

Unlike the previous opponents, this one wore yellow robes. The Sword Aura surrounding his blade was noticeably more stable; it possessed a level of refinement absent from the earlier trials.

The monument illuminated overhead.

[Trial #4]

Opponent: Sword Practitioner Projection

Difficulty: Normal

Victory Condition: Defeat Opponent]

[Fight Begins in 3 Seconds]

Li Yan’s attention remained fixed on the projection.

The earlier Sword Apprentice projections had focused on fundamentals. Their attacks were straightforward, and their movements easy to predict. This projection, however, felt different.

The difference was not strength.

It was understanding. And this one was with Sword Intent.

The countdown reached zero.

[Fight Begins]

The projection moved first.

Instead of advancing, it unleashed its Sword Intent and swung its blade downward. A pale sword arc flew toward Li Yan, carrying a trace of Sword Intent within it.

The Sword Intent, something the previous opponents lacked.

Li Yan immediately understood the purpose of the trial.

The Eternal Sword Sect was not merely testing strength. It introduced concepts in a progression.

A Sword Apprentice learned to wield Sword Aura. A Sword Practitioner learned to project it as Sword Intent. The realization passed through his mind in an instant.

His sword moved. Defiant Judgment Sword Intent surged along the blade as he unleashed a horizontal slash.

The difference between the two attacks was immediately apparent. The projection’s sword arc shattered the moment the two attacks collided.

Li Yan’s slash continued forward without losing momentum and passed directly through the yellow-robed projection. The figure dissolved into countless particles of light.

The arena fell silent.

A moment later, the monument displayed the results.

[Trial #4 Complete

Result: Victory

Completion Time: 5 Seconds

Evaluation: Excellent

Reward: 30 Sword Merit Points (Reward adjusted according to the level difference between Trialist and Projection)]

A second panel appeared beneath it.

[Trial #4 Combat Analysis

Strengths:

Excellent Sword Intent controlStable combat mentalityStrong combat instinctsAccurate attack judgmentWeaknesses:

Relies on overwhelming superiority to solve encountersLimited observation of the opponent’s complete capabilitiesInsufficient defensive practice]Li Yan studied the analysis carefully. The first weakness caught his attention. He could not deny its accuracy.

The moment he recognized the projection posed no threat, he ended the battle immediately. While efficient, it also prevented him from learning anything beyond his initial observation.

The Trial Hall clearly expected more than simple victories.

”It is not evaluating whether you can win,” Jian Ling said calmly from nearby. ”It evaluates how you fight.”

Li Yan nodded.

That explanation matched the results.

A swordsman who relied solely on superior strength would eventually encounter an opponent who possessed the same advantage.

When that happened, habits would matter more than power. Without further delay, he stepped into the green circle. Sword Qi gathered once more.

This time, Li Yan immediately sensed something unusual. A projection appeared ahead of him.

Then another. The monument displayed new information.

[Trial #5

Opponent: Sword Practitioner Projection ×2

Difficulty: Hard

Victory Condition: Defeat Opponents]

[Fight Begins in 30 Seconds]

Li Yan glanced around the arena. One projection stood before him. The second stood behind him.

A faint smile appeared on his face. ”It seems the Trials Arena has finally decided to test awareness.”

Jian Ling did not comment. The countdown continued. This time, Li Yan did not immediately prepare an attack.

Instead, he observed. The positioning of the two projections. The distance between them. The possible attack angles. The habits developed through months of hunting magical beasts resurfaced naturally.

A battlefield was not merely an opponent standing in front of him. It was every threat present at the same time.

[Fight Begins]

When the countdown reached zero, both projections moved. The one in front advanced. The one behind unleashed a sword slash.

Li Yan immediately stepped sideways rather than attacking. The movement was simple, but it shifted both opponents into his field of vision.

Only then did he strike. A horizontal slash swept toward the projection in front. Before the attack landed, Li Yan had already turned.

The second projection’s sword slash was approaching. His blade descended vertically. The incoming attack shattered. His Sword Intent continued forward and struck the projection directly. By then, the first projection had already dissolved into particles of light.

The battle ended. The monument was illuminated again.

[Trial #5 Complete

Result: Victory

Completion Time: 6 Seconds

Evaluation: Excellent

Reward: 45 Sword Merit Points (Reward adjusted according to the level difference between Trialist and Projection)]

The combat analysis followed shortly afterward.

[Trial #5 Combat Analysis

Strengths:

Excellent battlefield awarenessEffective target prioritizationStrong Sword Intent controlGood positioning adjustmentStable combat mentalityWeaknesses:

No weaknesses exposed under current difficulty]Li Yan looked at the final line and chuckled softly. The Trial Hall was essentially telling him that the opponents were still too weak.

Even so, he found the experience valuable. The earlier trials had already exposed several habits he would not have noticed on his own.

As he prepared to enter the green circle once more, Jian Ling’s voice stopped him. ”I think that is enough for today.”

Li Yan paused and turned toward her. ”Why?”