The rogue cultivator's laughter echoed ominously in the park, but Li Jun felt a surge of energy that drowned out the fear. He could feel the Qi swirling around him, urging him to harness its power. Mei stood resolute beside him, her stance firm and unwavering.
"Focus, Li Jun," she said, her voice steady. "Channel your energy. Remember what you've learned."
He closed his eyes for a brief moment, centering himself. The chaos of the world faded away, and he visualized the techniques from the scroll—the intricate movements, the flow of energy. He opened his eyes, determination igniting within him.
The rogue cultivator took a step forward, his dark robes billowing like storm clouds. "You're brave, boy. But bravery alone won't save you." With a flick of his wrist, he conjured a dark energy that twisted and coiled like a serpent, launching it toward them.
"Watch out!" Mei shouted, pushing Li Jun to the side just as the energy struck the ground where they had stood moments before. The impact sent shards of stone flying, and Li Jun felt the force of it whip past him.
"Now!" Mei commanded, her voice cutting through the chaos. "We need to counterattack!"
Li Jun nodded, adrenaline coursing through him. He drew upon the Qi within, feeling it pulse through his veins. He remembered the technique for creating a protective barrier—a fundamental skill he had practiced tirelessly. He spread his arms wide, envisioning a shimmering shield forming around them.
As he concentrated, a translucent barrier materialized in front of them just as another wave of dark energy surged toward them. The two forces collided with a deafening crack, sending ripples through the air. Li Jun grunted as he strained against the pressure, but the barrier held firm.
"Good! Keep it up!" Mei encouraged, her eyes gleaming with pride.
But the rogue cultivator was relentless. He unleashed another barrage of energy blasts, each one more powerful than the last. Li Jun felt his strength waning; maintaining the barrier was draining him faster than he anticipated.
"Li Jun! We need to combine our strengths!" Mei shouted over the chaos.
"Right!" he gasped, trying to focus on her words. He could feel her Qi intertwining with his own—a warm, vibrant energy that bolstered his resolve. Together, they formed a stronger barrier, shimmering with both their powers.
The rogue cultivator sneered at their combined effort. "You think you can stop me? You're merely delaying the inevitable!" He raised both hands, summoning a swirling vortex of dark energy above him.
Li Jun's heart raced as he realized what was coming. "We have to break through! We can't let him unleash that attack!"
"On three," Mei said, her voice steady despite the chaos. "One… two… three!"
With a synchronized effort, they pushed their energies forward, channeling everything they had into a single blast aimed at the rogue cultivator. A brilliant beam of light erupted from their combined forces, racing toward him like a comet.
The rogue cultivator's eyes widened in shock as their attack struck him head-on. The impact sent him staggering back, his dark vortex collapsing into a swirling mist of energy.
"Impossible!" he roared, struggling to regain his footing.
Seizing the moment of surprise, Li Jun and Mei pressed their advantage. They charged forward together, their movements fluid and precise as they prepared for the final strike.
But just as victory seemed within reach, the rogue cultivator raised his hands again—this time not to attack but to retreat. A dark portal opened behind him, swirling with shadows.
"You may have won this round," he spat, glancing back at them with fury in his eyes. "But I will return. This is far from over."
With that, he vanished into the portal, leaving only an echo of his threat hanging in the air.
Breathing heavily, Li Jun and Mei stood amidst the remnants of their battle. The park was silent now, save for their ragged breaths.
"I didn't think we'd actually face him," Li Jun said, still in shock.
Mei turned to him, her expression
fierce yet proud. "You did well. But we can't let our guard down. He'll come back stronger next time."
Li Jun nodded, determination igniting within him once more. He knew this was just the beginning of a much larger fight—one that would test not only his abilities but also his resolve to protect what mattered most.