I only wanted to kill a chicken, not split the heaven

The valley was quiet, though the smell of scorched earth and smoke still lingered. Azure Sky Sect's disciples moved quickly, repairing damaged platforms, collecting debris, and tending to minor injuries.

Li Ming stood atop a ridge, watching the sun rise over the horizon. His hair still stuck in wild spikes from the previous battle, and his sword hummed faintly with leftover Qi.

Bai Guo landed beside him in human form, arms crossed. "So… you survived that, huh? I half-expected to have to drag you off the battlefield myself."

Li Ming smirked. "Half-expected? That's encouraging."

Lan Yue appeared from the courtyard, her sword strapped to her back. She gave a faint nod. "The intruders are gone… for now. But you need answers, don't you?"

Li Ming folded his arms. "Exactly. Why did the Crimson Sect attack us? We were just… fighting in the tournament. Nobody died."

The Sect Master floated down from the main hall, robes flowing with Qi. His expression was calm but serious. "Ah… the question I expected."

Li Ming raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"The Crimson Sect…" the Sect Master began, "is proud, and their perception of honor is rigid. One of their disciples was badly injured during your duel.

To them, it looked as though you had killed him. That is all they needed to justify an attack. In their eyes, Azure Sky destroyed one of their own."

Li Ming tilted his head. "So… it was a misunderstanding?"

"Yes," the Sect Master said firmly. "But in the world of cultivators, misunderstandings can spark wars. You cannot underestimate pride."

Bai Guo snorted. "So basically, a little fake death and the entire sect goes berserk. Sounds about right."

Lan Yue's lips twitched. "It's exactly why we prepare for every eventuality. Now, the important thing is… the Grand Sect Tournament doesn't wait."

Li Ming exhaled. "Right. Round two. I almost forgot what day it was." He adjusted his sword, the electricity along its edge flickering faintly. "Let's make sure we're not the ones causing chaos this time."

The Sect Master clapped his hands, and a map of the tournament battlefield appeared in a swirl of glowing Qi. "Azure Sky's team will face the next five sects in succession.

Each match tests your coordination, speed, and power. Li Ming, you are at the forefront, but remember: teamwork matters more than solo brilliance."

Wu Jian stepped forward, flames dancing around his hands. "Teamwork, huh? You better not slack off, Lightning Brat. I don't want to carry dead weight."

Li Ming smirked. "And you better not set the place on fire before the match starts."

Bai Guo flapped his sleeves dramatically. "I call the aerial strategy. Li Ming and Wu Jian handle the ground, Lan Yue and the new recruit handle the flanks, and I… supervise everything with my sharp eyes."

Li Ming groaned. "Supervise? You mean nag."

Bai Guo puffed up. "I prefer 'guidance.' Subtle, intelligent guidance."

Lan Yue's sword shimmered as she checked her stance. "Enough chatter. The opponents are already gathering. Let's focus."

The disciples of Azure Sky assembled, forming a line atop the central platform. Li Ming glanced at his teammates: Bai Guo looked comically serious, wings folded as if holding back a storm of energy.

Wu Jian's flames licked the air, intense and controlled. Lan Yue's expression was calm, every muscle ready for action. The new female disciple adjusted her robes, eyes sharp and alert.

Li Ming leaned toward Bai Guo. "You think they're stronger than the last round?"

Bai Guo tilted his head. "Depends. If they've practiced as much as you pretend to, yes. Otherwise… they'll get a nice lightning greeting."

Li Ming chuckled softly, feeling his chest tighten with a mix of excitement and anticipation. He was ready.

Every ounce of cultivation, every hour of training, every failed attempt at controlling his Qi — it all led here.

The Sect Master raised his hand, and the field glowed. "Round two begins in three… two… one…"

Qi erupted across the battlefield as teams from other sects moved into position. A few clouds of energy swirled, and minor clashes erupted as opening moves were tested. Li Ming's legs flexed, his fingers tingling with energy.

A sharp wind carried the scent of Qi and heated earth. Li Ming's heartbeat quickened. He knew this wasn't just a tournament — it was a battlefield, and the slightest mistake could cost everything.

Bai Guo perched on his shoulder. "Ready to show them what a proper descendant can do?"

Li Ming gave a short laugh. "Let's make it a match to remember."

From across the field, the opposing sects blinked, their eyes narrowing as they spotted Azure Sky's team. Wu Jian's flames danced across the platform, and Lan Yue's blade gleamed in the morning sun. The new female disciple's aura flickered like a quiet storm, ready to strike.

Li Ming flexed his fingers around his sword hilt. The lightning inside him hummed, stretching along his arm, coiling like a living thing. Every step, every breath, every blink — he was alive in the fight, and he felt it in his bones: this round would be different.

The first opposing team surged forward, Qi blazing. Li Ming's heart thudded in rhythm with the battlefield — fast, precise, and ready for the storm.

And then… the first clash erupted, like thunder cracking over the valley.

----

The battlefield was alive with energy. Qi clashed like storms, creating flashes of light that lit up the valley. The opposing sect's first team surged forward, their leader a towering figure with crimson robes and sharp eyes. His aura radiated control, but Li Ming's heart thumped with excitement, not fear.

"Let's go!" Li Ming shouted, launching himself forward with lightning coursing along his arms. Each step crackled with energy, the ground beneath him practically sizzling.

A spear of blue Qi shot from his palm, cutting through the air toward the enemy. The cultivator barely dodged, spinning backward to strike with a sword engulfed in red flame. Li Ming deflected it with a swipe of his own sword, sparks flying in a spectacular arc.

Behind him, Bai Guo flapped his wings, gliding through the air in human form. "Watch the flank!" he yelled, sending out bolts of concentrated energy that forced two enemies to retreat.

Wu Jian's flames roared like a small inferno, striking at another group of attackers. His fists moved with deadly precision, smashing through barriers of Qi with brutal force.

He didn't spare a glance for Li Ming — it was teamwork, yes, but his pride still demanded he show his strength.

Lan Yue darted across the battlefield like a silver phantom, her blade flicking through the air with surgical precision. Each swing cut the opposing disciples' attacks down before they could even fully form. Her calm presence anchored the team, and Li Ming felt his confidence grow.

Then, the new female disciple stepped forward. Her movements were smooth, almost hypnotic, as she created barriers and redirected attacks. Her Qi shimmered in soft waves, controlling the battlefield in subtle ways. Li Ming watched, impressed. She didn't need to boast; her skill spoke for itself.

Li Ming grinned. "Not bad… not bad at all."

"Focus," Bai Guo snapped, wings bristling. "We're not here to admire them."

Li Ming nodded, centering himself. His body hummed with power, the eighth level of foundation building flowing through him. Lightning gathered along his limbs, ready to strike at the perfect moment.

The Crimson Sect's leader charged at him, a massive Qi spear in hand. Li Ming's eyes narrowed. "Here goes nothing!"

He unleashed the Thunder Flow Technique, a wave of blue electricity exploding from his sword. The spear met the lightning, causing a brilliant flash. The force threw both cultivators backward, leaving scorch marks across the battlefield.

"Impressive," the leader sneered, standing again with barely a scratch. "But you'll need more than flashy tricks to beat me."

Li Ming smirked, feeling the thrill of combat. "I wasn't planning on just tricks."

He launched himself into the air again, spinning as lightning arcs curled around him. Every strike, every motion, was precise. His sword hummed in perfect harmony with his Qi, creating a storm of electric energy that forced multiple enemies to retreat.

Bai Guo swooped in, landing on an enemy's shoulder before they could react, giving Li Ming the opening he needed. Wu Jian, flames blazing, destroyed a barrier, and Lan Yue's blade cut through the confusion like a hot knife. The new disciple held the flank, protecting their rear with controlled waves of Qi.

Li Ming's chest heaved. He felt alive, more connected to his cultivation than ever. The team moved as one, their synergy perfect, their power overwhelming.

And then — a massive figure appeared at the top of the opposing team's formation. His aura was different, denser, colder. Li Ming's eyes widened.

"That's… a Grand Sect-level cultivator?" Bai Guo hissed. "Descendant… he's going to be tough."

Li Ming didn't hesitate. "Then we'll just have to be tougher!"

He surged forward, lightning blazing along his sword. The Grand Sect cultivator met him midair, Qi exploding outward in a shockwave that rattled the valley. Dust and debris swirled around them, and the spectators could hardly see the combatants.

Lan Yue shouted, "Watch the flanks!"

Wu Jian roared, flames bursting around him, while the new female disciple formed shields and barriers, keeping the remaining enemies at bay.

Li Ming's eyes burned with determination. Every technique he had learned, every moment of training, every drop of sweat, was ready to be unleashed. He focused his Qi, the eighth level of foundation building amplifying each strike, each movement.

The Grand Sect cultivator grinned, striking with incredible speed. Li Ming dodged, countered, and struck again. Sparks flew like fireworks, and the battlefield echoed with the roar of unleashed Qi.

Bai Guo flapped in circles, shouting orders. "Team! Don't let him corner our Lightning Brat! Move, move, move!"

Li Ming twisted in the air, using a combination of speed and precision to break through the enemy's defense. He landed on the platform, electricity crackling along his sword.

The opposing Grand Sect cultivator advanced again, but Li Ming's eyes were sharp, confident, and unyielding.

He smirked. "You wanted a fight? Let's give you one."

The clash of lightning and Qi lit up the battlefield, creating arcs of energy that danced like dragons across the sky. Both fighters were locked in a deadly rhythm, pushing each other to their limits.

Bai Guo flapped onto Li Ming's shoulder. "Descendant… show them what eighth-level foundation building really looks like!"

Li Ming's grin widened. He surged upward, gathering every ounce of energy, every bit of skill he had cultivated. The air around him sizzled, and his Thunder Flow Technique ignited in a massive spiral, striking the enemy like a bolt of divine lightning.

The Grand Sect cultivator staggered back, shocked by the raw force. For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still — the entire valley watched, breathless.

Li Ming's Qi roared, Bai Guo's wings flapped, Lan Yue's blade shone, Wu Jian's flames erupted, and the new disciple's aura glimmered like a shield of starlight.

And with one final surge of energy, Li Ming struck. The Grand Sect cultivator was thrown backward, landing hard on the battlefield below, stunned and defeated… for the moment.

The valley erupted in cheers. Azure Sky Sect had won the first skirmish of the second round. But Li Ming's chest heaved — this was only the beginning.

Above him, the clouds twisted as if reflecting his own storm of energy. And deep inside, Li Ming felt the pull of something greater — more challenges, stronger enemies, and a path that would test him beyond anything he had faced before.

He laughed, a sharp, exhilarated sound. "Not bad… this is exactly why cultivation is worth it."

Bai Guo flapped his wings, looking at the battlefield with satisfaction. "Descendant… we're just getting started."

Lan Yue's eyes glinted. "Next opponents are approaching. Don't get comfortable."

Wu Jian crossed his arms, flames flickering around him. "Let's see if they're worthy of Azure Sky."

Li Ming gripped his sword, electricity dancing along the edge. The sun rose higher, casting golden light over the valley. This was just the beginning of the second round, and he was ready.

The battlefield roared again, as the next wave of cultivators surged forward.

To be continued...