Veil of the Shattered Heavens

Xuan Li decided to create a technique. Sitting in his block, his gaze locked onto the monstrous figure prowling in the opposite block. His mind churned with thoughts.

"What kind of technique could help me defeat that monster? A sword technique? A palm technique? Body strengthening? No, none of these will work. I need something unique... an area where I can detect its every movement. A technique where my cosmic energy isn't wasted—absolute control. And a finishing blow that will rip this monstrous thing to shreds. But... can I really create something so bizarre? Master won't help me craft it… or will he?"

His gaze shifted toward the locket around his neck. Memories surfaced.

"I remember something... Master once promised to teach me a technique if I defeated the monster he pointed out. I defeated it—though I was at death's door after. But I got so busy with other things that Master likely forgot..."

A determined expression crossed his face as his voice broke the silence. "Master, there is something I want to ask."

The locket glowed faintly as his master's calm voice resounded in his mind. "Disciple, what is it?"

Xuan Li took a deep breath and spoke of his master's promise to teach him a technique.

His master chuckled softly. "I remember my promise, and I will fulfill it—after you defeat the current monster."

Xuan Li didn't falter. Instead, he offered a counterproposal. "Master, I have a request. If not a technique, then an answer to one question."

The voice in the locket curled into a knowing smile. "Very well. But I will only answer one question. And it won't be about how to defeat the current monster—you must figure that out on your own. Is that acceptable?"

Xuan Li nodded firmly. "Yes."

He paused for a moment before asking, "Master, is it possible to use cosmic energy to intersect in certain patterns to create a formation?"

There was a brief silence. His master's tone carried a trace of surprise when he answered.

"It is possible. But it depends on your level of construction, control over cosmic energy, and how precisely you aim to create this 'pattern' you speak of. However, it's extremely difficult to achieve. It places an immense burden on your body, and even the slightest imbalance can destabilize the formation. This would result in an overwhelming release of cosmic energy, destroying everything in its wake."

Xuan Li listened carefully, his thoughts racing. One sentence stood out: "A disbalance could cause an overwhelming release of cosmic energy, destroying everything..."

He bowed slightly toward the locket. "Thank you, Master, for your guidance. I won't disturb you further."

Turning back to the monster, Xuan Li's lips curled into a smirk. "Be prepared, you monstrous beast. I now know the technique I need to create. This will be my ultimate technique, and it will tear you apart."

Inside the locket, his master's voice softened into a murmur. "This kid is up to something crazy. I have a hunch about what he's planning, but it's incredibly dangerous. Still, the road to becoming strong is always full of suffering, pain, and death. You either forge yourself with pain to ascend—or you break and perish."

Xuan Li had finally envisioned his technique. Fully healed, he grabbed his sword, took a deep breath, and stepped out of his block. His gaze locked on the towering monster ahead, his determination unshaken.

"For my technique to work, I need absolute control over my cosmic energy," he thought, dashing toward the beast.

The monster turned its six heads toward him, letting out a furious roar. Without hesitation, it spewed a wave of searing flames toward Xuan Li.

Channeling his cosmic energy, Xuan Li formed a protective barrier around himself, resisting the fire's heat while simultaneously condensing the energy within. Sweat trickled down his brow as he pushed his focus to the limit.

"Battling this beast is the only way I can refine my control over condensed cosmic energy," he thought, gritting his teeth. "But it's far more difficult than I imagined..."

As the flames subsided, Xuan Li seized the opening. He channeled his condensed cosmic energy into his sword, its blade glowing with an otherworldly light, and dashed toward the monster's torso.

But as he struck, the monster's tendrils lashed out, piercing his skin and injecting venom into his bloodstream. Xuan Li felt his limbs grow heavy, his body numb. The next moment, the monster's massive tail slammed into him, sending him crashing into the block wall with a sickening crack.

Pain shot through his shattered bones as he collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood. Trembling, he drove his sword into the ground, using it to steady his broken body.

Once again, he channeled cosmic energy into his sword. This time, the blade began to hum, resonating with his condensed energy. Despite the agony, Xuan Li forced himself forward, dashing toward one of the monster's heads.

With all his strength, he swung his sword, but the strike barely scratched the beast. Its thick, scaly hide repelled the attack, leaving Xuan Li frustrated.

"Just how tough is this monster's skin?" he growled inwardly, stepping back. Blood dripped from his battered form, his body riddled with broken bones and bruises.

Defeated but not discouraged, Xuan Li retreated into his block. Sitting cross-legged, he focused on healing as a surge of cosmic energy enveloped him, knitting his wounds together slowly.

"I'm getting closer," he thought, his determination unshaken. "The day you experience my ultimate technique isn't far off, you wretched beast."

Days turned into weeks. Every day, Xuan Li faced the monster in brutal combat, returning to his block in a bloodied and broken state.

On the twelfth day, his relentless efforts bore the smallest fruit. With his condensed cosmic energy, he managed to inflict a shallow wound on one of the monster's heads. Yet the victory was short-lived—the wound healed instantly.

A strained but defiant smile crossed Xuan Li's lips. "So, you've got regeneration too. Just how overpowered are you? But it's fine. Keep yourself in perfect condition. You'll need it when I unleash my ultimate technique."

The brutal cycle continued for weeks. Inside the locket, his master watched with a mixture of concern and admiration.

"It's been three weeks now," his master murmured to himself. "This kid should've killed the monster by now. Yet every day, he faces it, only to return more broken than the last. And lately… he's been pushing himself to the brink. Just how long does he intend to drag this out?"

A deep sigh escaped the master. "Perhaps this is his path… one paved with suffering. If he survives, he'll be forged into something extraordinary."

At the end of the fourth week, Xuan Li sat in his block, surrounded by swirling cosmic energy. His battered body now radiated an unyielding power. His eyes snapped open, blazing with cold determination.

"It's complete," he thought. "My ultimate technique."

He stood, his movements calm but deliberate. Grabbing his sword, he stepped out of his block. His gaze on the monster was sharp, as though the beast was nothing more than a test subject.

With a smirk curling his lips, he whispered, "Are you ready? Let's end this today."

The ground trembled beneath his feet as Xuan Li began his final march toward the monster, his ultimate technique ready to shatter all limits.