The forest beyond the village was thick, shadows twisting under the waning sunlight. From the treeline, the low growls of the approaching beasts echoed ominously. This time, it wasn't just a test—Li Chen could feel it. The manipulator was pushing them, probing defenses and forcing mistakes.
"Disperse into your positions!" Li Chen commanded, his voice calm but firm. Representatives from the five great sects immediately moved into formation. Mountain Sect disciples took high ground along the ridges, their swords gleaming in the dim light. Star Sect cultivators spread in a wide perimeter, forming magical barriers and scanning the forest. River Sect disciples positioned themselves near the streams, ready to use water techniques to slow any ambush.
Xu Ming fell naturally into the inner layer, sword qi already humming faintly around him. He glanced at Li Chen. "Senior, I'm ready to coordinate with the inner defenses."
"Good," Li Chen said. "But watch the disciples. Your job is as much to protect them as yourself."
The beasts emerged from the forest in waves, their movements precise, as if guided by an unseen hand. Some charges were straightforward, but others split into small groups attempting to flank the outer perimeter.
Mountain Sect leader Mo Yun barked orders, pointing toward a narrow gap between rocks where a group of smaller beasts tried to sneak through. "Archers, fire! Hold them off!" Arrows imbued with elemental energy rained down, forcing the creatures back.
Star Sect cultivators unleashed magic barriers to shield the outer disciples from sudden charges. "Keep your formations tight!" one of them shouted, deflecting a claw swipe with a glowing shield.
Xu Ming moved carefully among the inner disciples, reinforcing protective wards with his five-element sword qi. A small group of beasts charged through a previously unguarded path, but Xu Ming intercepted them, arcs of silver-white energy forcing them off course without breaking formation.
Li Chen observed all layers simultaneously, a faint hum of sword qi extending outward to detect subtle shifts. When a rogue beast broke through the River Sect's defensive line, he didn't move immediately—instead, he called, "Han Zhi, cover your flank! Shen Yue, redirect the smaller beasts toward the traps!"
The disciples scrambled into action, hesitating for a brief second, but Li Chen's calm presence stabilized them. Xu Ming caught one glance from him and reinforced a failing ward.
It wasn't just beasts now—the manipulator was subtly influencing the battle, guiding creatures toward weak points and observing the leaders' decisions. A small Mountain Sect unit panicked under pressure, their formation collapsing as three beasts broke through.
Li Chen's voice cut through: "Stay your ground! Use the terrain—force them into the bottleneck!"
Mo Yun quickly adjusted his soldiers, using the cliff edges to funnel the beasts. Star Sect disciples fired coordinated elemental attacks, while River Sect disciples diverted water to control their path. Xu Ming, coordinating sword qi, created a temporary barrier that reinforced the vulnerable flank.
The cooperation was imperfect, but it was working. The combined efforts of multiple sects, guided subtly by Li Chen's commands, forced the beasts back.
From a shadowed ridge, the cloaked figure controlling the beasts was visible for a brief moment. Li Chen's sword qi flared in recognition, tracing subtle movements of energy emanating from the manipulator's position. "They're here," he muttered. "Not for long."
Xu Ming's heart pounded. "Senior… should we strike?"
"No," Li Chen said calmly. "The others must handle their own defenses. We only act when decisive."
For the next hour, the disciples fought in waves, their coordination improving with every clash. Star Sect cultivators formed protective barriers, Mountain Sect disciples executed precise strikes, and River Sect disciples used the terrain to their advantage. Li Chen and Xu Ming intervened only at critical moments—redirecting energy, reinforcing failing wards, and subtly shaping the battlefield with sword qi.
By nightfall, the beasts retreated again, guided away by the manipulator's last adjustments. Exhausted disciples leaned against one another, catching their breath, but their morale was high. They had survived the first real test together—not thanks to any one person, but because they had learned to rely on one another under pressure.
Li Chen surveyed the battlefield. "Observe carefully," he said to the unit leaders. "This was not a random assault. Someone is orchestrating these tides. You cannot rely on brute strength alone. Strategy, coordination, and discipline will decide who survives."
Xu Ming nodded, still catching his breath. His sword qi shimmered faintly in the moonlight. "I understand, senior. This isn't just about fighting… it's about predicting, adapting, and protecting everyone."
Mo Yun approached Li Chen. "Your sword qi… that boy Xu Ming. He's improving rapidly. With guidance like yours, he might even surpass expectations."
Li Chen said nothing, simply observing the forest. The manipulator remained out there, a hidden force shaping the conflict. But for now, the combined strength of the disciples and their leaders had held firm.
And in the quiet that followed, Li Chen knew the true battle was only beginning.