Rise of a Lunar Legend

It was Tang Chun Xi who broke the stalemate. Moving with impressive agility, she charged toward Chen Kai. He reacted instantly, raising his arm to defend himself before delivering a direct kick to her chest, imbued with his earthen aura. The impact was powerful, and the air around them seemed to tremble for a moment.

In the split second before the strike landed, Tang Chun Xi thought quickly:

'If my stellar earth aura can already counteract a common earth aura, what happens if I use wood instead? After all, wood contains earth, and earth generates metal…'

With that thought, she allowed her aura to shift, surrounding herself with the vibrant, resilient energy of the wood element. Chen Kai's kick finally struck her, but to his surprise, she only took a single step back. The blow, which would have previously sent her reeling, now seemed weakened at the moment of impact.

'It worked!' — Tang Chun Xi thought, her eyes glimmering with excitement.

Wasting no time, she advanced again, covering her fists with a metallic aura. The sharp, penetrating energy shimmered as she unleashed a flurry of swift and precise attacks. Chen Kai managed to block most of them, but the few that got through left shallow cuts on his skin.

Tang Chun Xi noticed something intriguing: with each impact, her aura seemed to grow in intensity, while Chen Kai's aura visibly weakened. This realization bolstered her confidence, encouraging her to alternate strategically between wood and metal auras.

The training field transformed into a whirlwind of swift movements and shimmering auras. The two exchanged blows with incredible speed and precision, each impact reverberating like muffled thunder. Tang Chun Xi balanced resilience with offense, quickly mastering the art of fluidly manipulating her auras.

Sensing the pressure mounting, Chen Kai adjusted his strategy. His earthy aura began to dissipate, replaced by a more fluid and adaptable energy: water. His movements became faster and more unpredictable, like a river weaving through rocks.

Tang Chun Xi smirked, recognizing the shift and rising to the challenge. She summoned her own wood and earth auras, prepared to counter his adaptability. What had been a balanced exchange now evolved into a spectacle of elemental mastery. Each clash of auras sent visible ripples through the air around them.

From the sidelines, Ah Tao watched in awe. Her eyes struggled to follow the incredible speed of the combatants, but her heart swelled with pride and joy. She murmured to herself:

—"My lady… so powerful now. I can't wait to see the faces of those who dared to call her a failure!"

Her blood boiled with excitement as she envisioned Tang Chun Xi's glorious future.

On the field, the two combatants continued their exchange, their movements now resembling a fluid dance. It was clear they were testing each other, learning and adapting with every strike. Even amidst the heat of battle, Tang Chun Xi couldn't help but smile. Each clash was a testament to her newfound strength, fueling her determination.

Finally, both stepped back simultaneously, creating a brief pause. They stood facing each other, breathless but with mutual respect evident in their eyes.

The silence following the intense exchange was broken only by their heavy but controlled breathing. Chen Kai was the first to speak, his voice steady and filled with respect:

— "You're formidable, my lady. If I had been a level 4 cultivator of the normal tier, you would have already won."

Tang Chun Xi raised her head, the confidence in her shining eyes tempered by humility in her voice.

— "Thank you, Chen Kai. But in a life-or-death fight, the outcome would still be unpredictable. Besides, we've only used our auras… we have yet to test our weapons."

Her excitement was unmistakable as she extended her hand, summoning her Lunar Umbrella. The weapon appeared in her grasp with a gentle glow, its elegant design catching the light. The canopy, once adorned with a night sky speckled with stars, now featured delicately drawn white clouds. The frame and handle were a deep black, etched with intricate cloud patterns.

Chen Kai was momentarily surprised, but his expression quickly returned to calm, as expected of an experienced bodyguard. He tilted his head slightly and said:

— "Miss, perhaps it would be better for you to adapt to the weapon first. It wouldn't be wise to enter combat without fully understanding its potential."

Tang Chun Xi recognized the logic in his words. As her father's trusted confidant, Chen Kai likely knew she had never used that weapon before. His tone wasn't reproachful but cautious—a reminder not to underestimate what she didn't fully understand.

She glanced at the Lunar Umbrella in her hands, spinning it slowly. Its structure was incredibly light, yet it radiated a sense of restrained power. Although she felt an intuitive familiarity with the weapon, she knew she still needed to grasp it on a deeper level.

— "You're right, Chen Kai. This will be my first time using the 'Clouded' Umbrella. But there's no better way to adapt to it than through combat."

She called it that as a precaution. With a confident smile, she spun the umbrella in the air, the sound of metal slicing through the wind echoing softly.

Chen Kai nodded, adjusting his stance and drawing his own weapon—a long sword with a shimmering blade that seemed to vibrate with an aquatic aura. He assumed a defensive position, making it clear he would not underestimate her.

Tang Chun Xi was the first to attack, advancing with impressive speed. In one fluid motion, she partially opened the umbrella, spinning it like a shield while thrusting its metallic tip forward. Chen Kai sidestepped and countered with a horizontal slash.

The clash of their weapons created a visible ripple of energy, and Tang Chun Xi felt the vibration travel up her arm. She adjusted her grip, realizing the umbrella wasn't just an offensive weapon but also a versatile defensive tool.

The exchange continued, swift and precise. Tang Chun Xi experimented with different techniques: spinning the umbrella to deflect attacks, striking with its sharp tip from unexpected angles. With every move, she felt her connection with the weapon deepen, as if the Lunar Umbrella were responding to her thoughts and intentions.

Chen Kai adapted his strategy as well. His sword seemed to dance through the air, its aquatic aura making his moves more unpredictable. Even so, Tang Chun Xi adjusted in kind, using the umbrella's structure to block and counter with increasing efficiency.

From a distance, Ah Tao watched in complete awe. The sound of their weapons echoed through the training field, their auras intertwining in a breathtaking display.

Tang Chun Xi eventually stepped back, closing the umbrella with a swift motion and adopting a defensive stance.

— "Chen Kai, it seems I'm beginning to understand this weapon's potential. But there's still much to explore."

He appeared to smile faintly, admiration clear in his eyes.

— "If this is only the beginning, Miss, I can't imagine what you'll achieve once you've fully mastered this weapon."

The training wasn't over, but in that moment, Tang Chun Xi had already taken a significant step toward mastering her newfound power.

— "Now it's time for you to unleash your martial arts and come at me with full force,"— she said, eager to test her strength against him. And so, he did.