Later That Year: Cliff Warden Trials, Part 6
Time Until First Rift Appears: 5 Years, 2 Months, 1 Day
Unaware of the circumstances unfolding within the depths of the cave, Lu Ri Jr. paced outside, each step sinking into the snow as he tried to occupy his mind. The chilling silence of the mountains had him on edge, a gnawing sense of something unfinished lingering in his chest. His hand hovered near his blades, a reflex honed over years, ready to draw at the slightest hint of movement.
The crunching of footsteps behind him snapped him to attention. His eyes narrowed, muscles tensing, but a familiar voice cut through the cold air.
“Easy there, brother.”
Recognition softened his stance immediately. “Brother Yun?” he asked, still cautious but more curious now.
A tall, slim figure appeared through the curtain of falling snow, his movements graceful and unhurried. Yi Yun stepped forward, wearing the Cliff Warden robes that marked him as one of Lu Ri’s closest comrades. His eyes held a familiar spark of mischief, an expression Lu Ri hadn’t realized he’d missed.
Yi Yun offered a wry smile. “I see you've had quite the trial so far,” he said, glancing at Lu Ri's weary posture.
Lu Ri chuckled, shaking his head as they clasped forearms. “You could say that. But you, Brother Yun, how did your participants fare?”
Yi Yun’s smile shifted to something closer to amused resignation. “Oh, they failed within the first few hours of the trial starting.”
“Really? What happened?” Lu Ri arched a brow, genuinely intrigued. Few things brought more satisfaction in the trials than a good story of mischief or hubris.
Yi Yun’s eyes twinkled with barely restrained laughter. “Well, they had the unfortunate idea to pick a fight with that Kaidan kid, you know, the one everyone’s been whispering about. They thought they’d score some easy points or maybe put him in his place.”
“Seems like that kid has a knack for attracting trouble,” Lu Ri remarked, smirking as Yi Yun raised a questioning eyebrow.
Seeing his friend’s curiosity, Lu Ri continued, “Well, you know, before that ominous howl that shook the mountain…”
Yi Yun nodded, his expression turning thoughtful. “Yeah, that was strange. But the old man said it could just be some of the stronger beasts marking their territory or something.”
Lu Ri rolled his eyes. “Of course he’d say that. I swear, he’d downplay an earthquake if it kept him from doing extra work. But, anyway, right before that howl, I saw Kaidan wipe the floor with a group of fifteen trial takers.”
Yi Yun let out a low whistle, impressed. “Fifteen? Really?”
“Well, he mostly fought the leader,” Lu Ri admitted, then added with a grin, “But still, it was quite the show. Reminded me a bit of myself back in the day—if I do say so myself.”
“Oh, please,” Yi Yun scoffed, laughing. “You were one of the worst candidates we’d ever seen! Everyone thought your dad was going to bribe the old chief just to get you on the Cliff Wardens!”
Lu Ri waved off the jab with a chuckle, though he couldn’t deny the truth of it. “Alright, alright, so maybe I was a bit of a mess back then. But look at me now—commanding the respect of the finest warriors around.”
“Respect? Is that what you call it?” Yi Yun laughed again, and the tension that had weighed on Lu Ri’s shoulders lifted, if only a little. Moments like this, a break from the seriousness, were rare. He was grateful for it, grateful for a friend who knew him well enough to take him down a notch.
Their laughter drifted into the crisp mountain air, and for a moment, the looming darkness of the cave seemed a distant worry.
Just as their laughter faded, the soft crunch of approaching footsteps caught their attention. The other Cliff Wardens had arrived, moving through the snow in disciplined lines. Lu Ri and Yi Yun turned, watching their comrades gather, each warrior’s expression mirroring a mix of resolve and curiosity. Among them was Ruan, his broad shoulders and no-nonsense gaze signaling his position as their strongest earth cultivator.
Ruan nodded in greeting, though his expression was more business than pleasantries. “Alright, Lu Ri, what’s the situation?”
“Glad you’re here,” Lu Ri replied, his tone shifting to one of authority. “We’ve got a bit of a task on our hands, and it might be urgent. This cave—it’s giving off strange energy, and there’s a chance some of the trial takers could be trapped inside. Whatever’s on the other side needs investigating, and we need to clear a path quickly in case they need rescuing. Ruan, I’ll need you to take the lead on tunneling; the rock is dense, and we have no idea what we might encounter behind it. Everyone, stay sharp.”
Ruan grunted in affirmation, his eyes scanning the cave entrance. “Whatever’s in there, we’ll break through.”
“Good,” Lu Ri said. “Everyone else, stay sharp. Yi Yun and I will go in first, but once Ruan starts, we’re all going to keep our distance and cover his back. There’s no telling what sort of creatures might be drawn to the noise. Understood?”
The group nodded, the air of camaraderie from earlier replaced by a solemn focus. Each Warden readied their weapons and settled into formation. With a final glance toward Yi Yun, Lu Ri took the first step into the cave, the flickering torchlight casting shadows that danced along the jagged walls. The cold seemed to deepen as they moved further in, the damp, echoing stillness broken only by the crunch of their footsteps.
Ruan joined them at the front, running a hand over the cave wall to assess its sturdiness. He took a deep breath, then let it out slowly, a look of steely determination setting in his jaw. “Let’s see how tough this rock really is.”
With a nod from Lu Ri, Ruan pressed his hand to the wall, and a faint green glow began to emanate from his fingertips, the energy pulsing as he channeled his qi into the stone. Slowly, he began to work, moving his hand in a circular motion as cracks started to spider out from his touch.
The rest of the group held back, watching intently. Yi Yun leaned in close to Lu Ri, muttering with a grin, “I’d forgotten how serious he gets when he’s working. It’s almost inspiring, in a ‘don’t mess with him’ kind of way.”
Lu Ri smirked. “You should see him on his bad days.”
They shared a grin, but both of them kept their eyes on Ruan as he continued his work, widening the fissure inch by inch. The rock groaned under the pressure, and bits of stone began to fall away, creating a small tunnel that led deeper into the cave. The work was slow and methodical, every bit of progress measured and careful. The other Wardens kept their stances ready, glancing around as if expecting some unseen threat to emerge from the shadows.
The minutes stretched, the sound of cracking stone the only noise as Ruan chipped away. He moved with the steady, relentless focus of someone accustomed to bending nature to his will, each motion precise and powerful. The tunnel deepened, and the air grew heavier, a strange energy prickling along their skin as they pressed forward.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ruan broke through to the other side. With a triumphant grunt, he stepped back, brushing dust from his hands as he surveyed his work.
The Wardens gathered around, peering into the dark opening. A sense of anticipation hung in the air as they prepared to see what lay beyond.
And what they saw stunned each and every one of them. In the cave stood two initiate Cliff Wardens, weapons ready, with such a murderous glint in their eyes that you’d mistake them for seasoned veterans instead of the kids they were. It was Lu Ri who broke the silence first.
“Goruo?”
“Linhua?”
As if hearing the bells of heaven, the two Cliff Warden hopefuls collapsed to the ground.
“Lu Ri, man, it’s good to see you,” Goruo said, wiping a hand over his eyes. “What took you guys so long?” he added with a half-chuckle. But before Lu Ri could answer, Yun Yi spoke up.
“By the heavens, look,” he said, gesturing further inside the cave. What he saw made his stomach drop. Just past the two kids was a pile of dead bodies, but not any ordinary pile. They were interlaced like a woven basket. Noticing the gazes and mutterings of the other Cliff Wardens, Linhua finally spoke, sheepishly.
“We had to improvise a bit,” she admitted. “Rin’s idea.”
At the mention of the boy’s name, Lu Ri wanted to ask where he was, but Goruo cut him off.
“Well, are you guys going to help, or just keep staring?” His tone held a note of annoyance. That snapped the Cliff Wardens out of their reverie, and they all climbed into the cave. The two Cliff Wardens who had arrived with Ruan started tending to the kids’ wounds, but Goruo and Linhua weren’t having it.
“Lu Ri, you need to get Rin. The Frostfang Wyrm is deeper in the cave,” Linhua insisted, brushing away the Cliff Warden who was trying to bandage her arm.
At her words, everyone went dead still. Only Lu Ri spoke. “Say that again, Linhua,” he said, his voice like steel.
She started again, “Rin is deeper inside the cave. There’s a cavern, and the Frostfang Wyrm is there, sleeping, but he went in there to collect one of the qi crystals for the trials—”
Having heard enough, Lu Ri bellowed, “WHAT WERE YOU THINKING, YOU FOOLS?!” His voice, amplified with qi, made small pebbles fall and vibrate. Both kids winced.
“What made you think you could—” He stopped mid-tirade as Goruo cut him off.
“We were strong enough to fight all these,” he said, gesturing around. “And we were strong enough to fight that,” he added, pointing to the remains of the largest yeti Lu Ri had ever seen, its body splattered and broken—a side effect of Ruan’s qi.
“So, before you lecture us on being fools, maybe ask why you guys didn’t do a proper sweep of the mountain before the trials began,” Goruo finished, his voice echoing through the cavern.
Lu Ri's shoulders dropped as he let out a deep sigh, taking in Goruo's words. He wanted to argue, to remind the young hopefuls that they weren’t yet full-fledged Cliff Wardens, that they weren’t ready for creatures like this, but the evidence was there, sprawled across the cave floor in blood and fractured bone.
“You’re right,” he admitted, his voice gruff but softening. “There was no excuse for overlooking this area. But don’t mistake courage for recklessness—if it hadn’t been for luck or a bit of qi, any one of you could’ve…” He trailed off, his expression darkening at the thought.
“Now isn’t the time to argue,” Yun Yi interjected, nodding toward the depths of the cave. “If Rin’s in there with that Frostfang Wyrm, he may not have much longer.”
Lu Ri’s gaze hardened, shifting to the two bruised and battered initiates. “Stay put,” he ordered, his tone brooking no argument. “Goruo, Linhua—you’ve done enough here. This is beyond what you’re equipped for, so don’t even think about following. Rest, recover, and for the heavens’ sake, stay out of the way.”
Goruo opened his mouth to protest, but Lu Ri’s icy glare silenced him before a single word escaped. He nodded reluctantly, sharing a wary glance with Linhua, whose eyes still held a fierce, stubborn glint. But neither moved, though their jaws were clenched tight in frustration.
With a quick signal, Lu Ri gestured to Ruan and Yun Yi. “We’re moving. Keep your senses sharp, and don’t underestimate anything you see in here. If that Frostfang Wyrm’s truly nesting further in, it’ll be on high alert after everything that’s happened here.”
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They moved through the dim cavern with swift precision, leaving the initiates behind as they stepped over the remnants of shattered yetis. The air grew colder and thicker with each step, the oppressive energy pressing down on them as they ventured deeper into the twisting tunnels. Even the experienced Cliff Wardens could feel the malevolence in the air, as if the mountain itself resented their intrusion.
As they rounded a narrow bend, a hiss like distant thunder echoed from deeper within, sending a chill through the group. They paused, bracing themselves, and Lu Ri raised a hand, signaling silence. The hissing grew louder, sharp and deadly, followed by the unmistakable scrape of scales against stone.
“That’s it,” Yun Yi whispered, his hand already resting on his weapon. “The Frostfang Wyrm.”
The three Cliff Wardens pressed forward, finally reaching an opening that led into a larger cavern. As they peered inside, their eyes widened, unable to believe what lay before them.
"By the frost lords, is that Rin" Yun Yi said as he watched a small boy stand his ground while a gigantic snake beast was trying its best to eat him
"Yes thats him" Lu Ri said as he surveyed the surroundings it was dark if not for the Light quarts each of them were wearing they wouldnt be able to see anything infront of them "What do you think that starnge blue glow is" Ru An said as he was still watching Rin "I do not know and do not care we need to help" Yin Yu said and he agreed "We wont be able to get to him in time not without knowing terain and this cavern looks like a death trap to most" Ru An said
This is going no where Lu Ri thought
As he unsheathed his blades Yun Yi saw this and realized what he was planning "No brother not from thi distance you could hit the boy" and Lu Ri agreed but he had to take this chance as he activated his technique
Cliff Blade Style, Second Technique: Slash of Stone and Ice
Lu Ri’s blades moved in a powerful diagonal sweep, crossing each other to form a glimmering cross of qi that radiated dual forces. From one blade came the unyielding weight of stone, each strike carrying a crushing heaviness that could stagger even the most resilient opponent. The other blade emanated a chill sharper than mere ice—a crystalline edge that cut as cleanly as it froze. The fusion of weight and sharpness in the crossed blades made it a formidable assault, pressing opponents with both the oppressive force of stone and the lethal precision of a frozen shard, leaving them caught in a brutal clash of earth and ice.
He heard the low whistles from his brothers.
"Wouldn’t expect anything less from the Cliff’s Blade," Yun Yi remarked, his tone practically dripping with self-satisfaction.
Ru An chimed in, "As I’ve said many times before, brother, you need to create a manual. Losing that expertise with the dual blade would be a tragedy."
Lu Ri barely gave them a second glance. With a quick leap, he surged forward, feet pounding against stone as he sped into the dark.
"Come on," he called over his shoulder, “it might not do much, but it'll buy us time.”
They both nodded following after Lu Ri.
But yet again none of them seemed to have noticed the boy hovering in the air with a most beautiful egg like jewel
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A shiver ran through Rin’s limbs, but this time it wasn’t from fear or the sting of bruises. He rose to his feet, steadying himself against the icy cavern wall, eyes fixed on the towering beast before him. The Frostfang Wyrm’s blue-scaled head lowered, watching him with an eerie intelligence, like it was sizing up his worth as prey or challenger.
If it can bleed… Master Lu Ri’s voice echoed in his mind, steady and fierce. It can die.
The words rooted themselves deep within him, like a mantra—a reminder that, no matter the odds, this creature was not invincible. Rin’s muscles still ached, and his body throbbed with the sting of previous blows, but that flicker of determination within him had grown into a steady flame. He wasn’t finished yet. Not by a long shot.
The wyrm shifted, its icy gaze fixed on him, a rumble building in its chest as if mocking his defiance. But Rin clenched his fists, forcing his legs into a sturdy stance. With a slow, deliberate breath, he recalled Master Lu Ri’s training, the hours spent on the cliffs above the sect, where he’d learned to draw strength from the ground beneath him and the sky above. This was what those endless days had been for. This was what it meant to stand your ground, to face a storm head-on.
"You're no different from the dummy," Rin whispered, his voice carrying an edge he didn’t know he had. "And if you can be hurt, I’ll find a way to do it."
With a fierce glint in his eye, he eyed where his dagger was lying on the cold hard ground he started to move towards them he stumbled but caught himself before falling the Wyrm just stared at him intently waiting as if it didn't matter to it if he was armed or not it would not make a difference it was inevitable he would die and it would have a nice snack
As if I would become some over sized snakes lunch
Rin’s fingers closed around the dagger, feeling the familiar weight of the battered blade as he straightened up. His chest heaved, each breath stinging as he forced himself upright, legs trembling under the weight of his resolve. The Frostfang Wyrm seemed almost amused, its scaled lips curling in what could only be described as a cold, reptilian sneer.
"You think I’m done?” Rin’s voice was low, barely more than a whisper, yet filled with a force he could feel reverberate through his bones. This was more than a fight. It was a promise—to himself, to everything he had endured, and to everything he refused to become.
The wyrm’s massive head reared back, its icy eyes narrowing, but Rin ignored the creeping chill of fear trying to claw its way up his spine. Instead, he pulled his arm back, holding the dagger tight, until he could feel his fingers ache from the grip. Every lesson, every bruise, every word of Master Lu Ri’s had built to this moment. There was nothing left to hold back, nothing left to lose. He was going to put everything into this one strike.
With a guttural yell, Rin lunged forward, swinging the dagger with every ounce of fury, desperation, and defiance he possessed. The blade, worn and nicked from countless scrapes, glinted with an odd shimmer, almost as if his sheer intent had breathed life into it. Just as his strike reached its zenith, a thin, almost spectral blade of light shot forth from the dagger’s edge. It was nearly invisible, less than a hair’s breadth thick, and smaller than a finger, yet it radiated a presence that seemed to slice through the very air between him and the beast.
The Frostfang Wyrm’s eyes widened. Its body recoiled, an instinctive flinch rippling through its serpentine form as the spectral blade hurtled toward it, carrying an essence that spoke of danger—a razor-thin promise of death.
But then, as swiftly as it had formed, the light faded, dissolving into the cold air before it could reach the wyrm. The cavern seemed to sigh with the sudden absence of power, leaving Rin standing there, chest heaving, his arm still outstretched.
The shock of emptiness pulled him forward, and his vision blurred as his strength faltered. He stumbled, feeling the cavern’s icy floor rise up to meet him as he crashed face-first into the ground. A bitter chill seeped through him, and the silence that followed was almost mocking.
The boy floating in the air let out a bellowed laugh "Well now young Rin I did not expect that " he said assessing the boy on the ground "Well at least he kept it interesting but he is but a mortal how strange to see one like him in this universe" Jiyan frowned then shrugged "It saddens me to see that he wont make it past the first rift he could have fixed his little deficiency' Jiyan shrugged "well that is just to be his fate"
Jiyan turned toward the Frostfang Wyrm, his voice laced with a quiet authority. “He's all yours, and then we can leave,” he said, the command clear in his tone.
The wyrm dipped its massive head, its ice-blue eyes narrowing slightly in acknowledgment. It slithered toward Rin, the so-called ‘little rabbit,’ who was lying vulnerable on the frozen ground. The creature’s predatory instincts were sharp; the boy’s life was a mere trifle for it, a meal to be consumed in a moment. It made no effort to hurry, as if it knew the end was inevitable.
But before the wyrm could close the distance, the ground beneath them trembled, a deep, thunderous roar vibrating through the ice. The force of it was overwhelming, like the crashing of boulders. Jiyan’s senses flared instantly, his instincts guiding him before his mind could catch up. Dammit, he thought, irritation flashing through him. If the wyrm dies, we’ll get penalized. I can’t have that.
He shifted, his body moving without hesitation, already preparing for the oncoming threat. His hand shot out, creating a shimmering barrier in front of the wyrm, but the impact was immediate and brutal. The shield was shattered effortlessly, the attack slamming into it with such force that the fragments of energy were sent scattering into the air. Jiyan’s eyes widened for a moment, his gaze flicking toward the wyrm. A grin spread across his face, wide and dangerous.
“Interesting,” he murmured, his voice low, almost delighted.
Instead of reinforcing another barrier, Jiyan disappeared from his position, vanishing in a blink. In an instant, he reappeared in front of the wyrm, his palm outstretched toward the incoming attack, as if he meant to stop the entire force with nothing but his bare hands. The attack slammed into him, the weight of it crushing down with a brutal, cutting sharpness. For the first few seconds, he didn’t even budge, his feet planted firmly as the energy wrapped around him.
He grunted, the pressure mounting, but the smile on his face remained, unyielding.
"It seems," he murmured, his voice tinged with satisfaction, "there are some on this planet worthy of attention. Well, it will be interesting to see who survives."
With a simple flick of his wrist, Jiyan deflected the incoming assault. The power was sent careening into the distant walls of the cavern, causing them to collapse, debris bursting into the air like a storm of sharp, frozen shards. The ground was torn open, a jagged trench carved through the ice as the energy from the attack left deep impressions on the cavern floor.
The air grew thick with dust and debris, swirling around them, obscuring everything in sight. Jiyan’s figure stood still amidst the chaos, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. The power of the attack still pulsed through the atmosphere, crackling like residual energy in his bones.
Well, I guess it’s time to leave, he thought, casting a final glance toward Rin, whose body had been pushed further away from the blast. He raised a finger to his lips, contemplating the situation. I’ve sown enough seeds. The clan will be pleased with this. And I’ve already collected what I came for.
His gaze lingered on Rin for a moment longer before he turned away. He didn’t look at the cavern walls or the path ahead, but his focus was drawn inward, as if seeing something beyond the physical world. His hand stretched out again, but this time not to defend against an incoming attack. Instead, he coalesced something new—something small, something subtle.
A tiny black snake appeared, forming from the air itself, winding and twisting around Jiyan’s palm with unnatural grace. Its scales gleamed darkly, the serpent’s form shifting as if it was made of pure shadow. The air around it seemed to grow colder, darker, as if the very atmosphere recoiled from its presence.
Jiyan’s fingers curled, allowing the snake to slither down his arm, its tiny body flowing like water as it made its way toward Rin. The boy, unconscious and vulnerable, lay in the center of the wreckage, unaware of the shadow that was now slithering toward him.
The snake moved quickly, its body fluid, its form sleek and dangerous. It reached Rin’s neck with startling speed and sank its fangs into the boy’s skin, not with the intent to harm, but to mark him. The venom was not poison—it was something far more insidious. The snake dissolved into mist the instant it bit, leaving behind an intricate mark. A tattoo, like a coiling serpent, formed on Rin’s neck, its dark, winding lines shimmering with latent power before vanishing leaving not a trace that it even was there in the first place.
The mark was more than just a symbol—it was a binding. A mark of potential, of fate, of the beginning of something much larger than Rin could understand. It was a signature, left by Jiyan, a reminder that this encounter was not a random occurrence, but part of a much deeper plan.
The serpent’s work done, Jiyan straightened, his expression unreadable as he looked at where the mark vanished. Satisfied, he turned away without another word.
"Let's go," he muttered to the wyrm, who had been watching patiently from behind him. The creature’s eyes flicked to him with the same eerie intelligence it had used to assess Rin, but it did not question its orders. With a graceful, fluid movement, the wyrm turned and slithered away, its massive form vanishing into the shadows of the cavern, leaving only the echo of its movement in the stillness.
Jiyan, now alone, took one last look toward Rin’s fallen form. The boy would not know of the serpent’s mark. Not yet. But Jiyan had placed a piece of himself on this world—a piece that would come to bear fruit in due time.
He turned, vanishing into the air in the same seamless way he had appeared, his presence dissipating like a breath of wind. His exit was swift and silent, leaving no trace behind except for the whispering remnants of his actions.
But just before he disappeared completely, his sharp eyes caught a flicker of movement—another figure had arrived. A man, tall and imposing, landing next to Rin. His presence was unmistakable, his two-bladed weapon strapped to his back. Jiyan hesitated for a fraction of a moment, his gaze briefly meeting the man’s. A sense of power, of potential, radiated from him—a presence worthy of notice.
But it was fleeting. Jiyan didn’t wait to see who the man was or what he would do. With a final, unspoken thought, he vanished, leaving the cavern in eerie silence, the last vestiges of his power hanging in the air like a lingering storm.
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"Come on, move!" Lu Ri hissed as his blade sliced through another charging yeti, its heavy body slumping to the ground. The beasts were acting strange, their eyes wide, frantic, as if some unseen force was pushing them into a frenzy.
"How many are left?" he shouted over his shoulder, glancing briefly at his team.
"I don’t know, but we need to keep moving—the cavern’s gotten way too quiet," Yun Yi replied, his voice tense as he struck down a yeti lunging for his flank.
Ru An was already at his side, his fists gleaming with qi as he pummeled the chest of a snarling yeti, sending it sprawling against the stone wall with a sickening crunch. "This is a mess," Ru An grunted, wiping blood from his cheek. "They’re coming from every direction—like they’re herding us."
"Don’t let them!" Lu Ri barked, swinging both blades in a brutal arc that cleaved through two yetis at once. The team moved with brutal efficiency, their attacks swift and precise, yet the yetis kept coming, surging forward in twisted waves.
Minutes blurred as they fought their way deeper, cutting through the beasts that clawed and snarled, each step pressing them closer to their goal. Lu Ri’s senses were stretched taut, his gaze constantly flicking to the cavern’s shadows, alert for any sign of Rin. And then, after what felt like an eternity, he broke through the cluster of yetis, his team close behind.
He skidded to a halt, his heart pounding as his eyes landed on a shadowy figure watching him from across the cavern. For a heartbeat, his mind faltered. It couldn’t be… that kid—the one he’d seen talking to Kaidan. But rather than dwell on it, he quickly forced the thought aside. He had more immediate concerns.
Rin lay slumped against a cold, jagged rock, his face pale and his breathing shallow but steady. Relief washed over Lu Ri as he crouched beside the boy, fingers pressed against Rin's neck to confirm a pulse. He was alive. No time to waste.
With practiced ease, Lu Ri hoisted Rin up, throwing him over his shoulder like a sack of grain. "We’re getting out of here!" he called to his team as he sprinted toward the cave entrance, not pausing to see if they were keeping up.
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[SYSTEM ALERT]
Anomaly Detected: Unusual fluctuations in environmental and operational parameters. Initial diagnostics indicate an unknown interference.
Status: Investigation initiated.
Action Required: Standby. System is executing diagnostic protocols to assess anomaly origins and impact.
Note: Additional protocols may be activated based on findings.