The aftermath of Yan Xuanlanbin's breakthrough was unlike anything he had ever experienced. The surge of power wasn't just a flood—it was an awakening, a call to rise beyond every limit he had ever known. The air around him shimmered, alive with spiritual energy, as if the Shadow Realm itself recognized the birth of a new legend.
Yan knelt on the cracked, fractured ground, sweat dripping from his brow. The Supreme Sword hummed gently in his grip, its golden flames flickering with a pulse that matched his racing heart. This sword was no longer just a tool; it was a living extension of his soul, tied to his every breath and thought.
Inside him, the Ninefold Meridian Path glowed brighter than ever. Each of the nine meridians radiated spiritual energy—flowing like molten gold through his veins, igniting every nerve and muscle. The breakthrough had shattered the Third Meridian Barrier, but the true challenge was only beginning.
"This power… it's beyond what I imagined," Yan whispered, his voice barely audible over the hum of energy. "But strength alone isn't enough. I must learn to control it, master it… or it will consume me."
His mind, still buzzing from the breakthrough, began to sift through the flood of knowledge unlocked within. Ancient cultivation secrets—hidden for centuries—filled his thoughts like a torrent of fire and ice. Three core techniques stood out among the sea of wisdom, each one a legend whispered only among the highest cultivators.
The first was Dragon Soul Manifestation — a technique allowing a cultivator to summon the spirit of a dragon within, transforming raw spiritual energy into a roaring beast of strength and speed. The dragon was a symbol of power, wisdom, and dominion over the elements.
The second was Celestial Flame Dance — a sword art that combined fire and spirit energy into a blazing storm of attacks. Every slash was said to carry the heat of a thousand suns, scorching the battlefield and burning through all defenses.
The third was Frost Lightning Veil — a defensive art that blended ice and lightning, creating an impenetrable shield that absorbed and redirected enemy attacks with lethal precision. It was a technique that demanded perfect harmony of opposing forces.
Yan's eyes narrowed, a fierce spark igniting in their depths. These were not mere skills — they were keys to mastering the Supreme Sword, to unlocking its true potential. To wield it fully, Yan would have to conquer each technique.
He stood slowly, the earth beneath his feet trembling as the spiritual energy surged inside him. The golden veins across his arms and chest glowed brighter, illuminating the dim shadows of the realm like molten rivers.
"First… Dragon Soul Manifestation," Yan said, gripping the hilt of the Supreme Sword tightly. His body shifted into a low battle stance, every muscle coiled like a spring ready to release.
He pulled the spiritual energy deep into his core, summoning the power of the dragon that dwelled within his newly awakened meridians. The air around him crackled as golden light gathered and twisted behind him.
With a roar that shook the very bones of the Shadow Realm, a massive spectral dragon erupted into being. It stretched wide across the sky—its scales shimmering with molten gold, eyes burning with fierce intelligence and ancient rage.
The dragon's spirit roared, and Yan felt his body surge with strength beyond human limits. His muscles thickened, reflexes sharpened, and speed exploded. He was no longer just a boy with a sword—he was a beast coiled to strike.
Yan dashed forward, faster than the eye could follow. The Supreme Sword in his hand was a comet of golden light, slicing through the air with devastating precision. Each strike left behind a trail of blazing afterimages, like streaks of fire burning through space.
Stones exploded where his blade cut, scattering shards into the swirling mists. The energy storm of the Dragon Soul coiled inside him, roaring for more battle, more chaos.
Panting, Yan pulled back from the furious display, his body glowing with residual power.
"Next," he breathed, "Celestial Flame Dance."
Spinning the sword in his hand, Yan focused his spiritual energy into the blade itself. Flames of pure spirit fire erupted, swirling around the sword like a living storm. The heat was intense, but it energized him, pushing his senses to a razor's edge.
With lightning speed, Yan launched into the dance — a relentless flurry of slashes and strikes that moved faster than thought. His sword became a blazing comet, cutting arcs of fire into the darkness.
The flames roared louder with every strike, growing into a tempest of scorching light. The air around him shimmered and cracked as the power of a thousand suns erupted from his sword.
Each slash burned the ground, turning the Shadow Realm's cracked earth into molten glass. The fiery dance was not just an attack — it was an expression of Yan's soul, wild and untamed.
The dance ended as suddenly as it had begun, leaving Yan panting but alive with exhilaration.
Finally, the last technique: Frost Lightning Veil.
Yan steadied his breath, shifting the spiritual energy coursing through him. The flames within dimmed, replaced by a chilling rush of ice and crackling lightning.
A shimmering veil of blue-white energy erupted from him, encasing his body in a crackling shield of frost and electricity. The barrier hummed like a living thing, flickering with deadly power.
Suddenly, Yan thrust his palm forward, releasing the veil in a burst of icy lightning. The wave tore through the landscape, freezing and shattering everything in its path.
The ground cracked under the power, frost spreading like wildfire while bolts of electricity danced and struck with relentless speed.
Yan's breath came steady now, the thrill of mastery rising within him. Each technique tested a different aspect of his power — strength, speed, defense — but all were born from the same core of spiritual energy.
The breakthrough was not an end. It was the beginning of a new chapter in his cultivation journey.
He looked to the horizon where the portal to the next realm shimmered faintly. A storm of challenges awaited beyond.
Yan Xuanlanbin gripped the Supreme Sword tighter. The path ahead was perilous, but his spirit blazed hotter than ever.
"Step by step," he whispered, voice full of steel. "I will master these arts. I will prove I am worthy. The nine realms will bow before the Bearer of the Supreme Sword."
The Supreme Sword flared once more, its golden flames swirling into the form of a celestial dragon. The beast's roar echoed in Yan's soul, igniting every fiber of his being.
With a final glance at the Shadow Realm behind him, Yan stepped through the portal, into the unknown.
The path of legend had truly begun.