The Beast of Dark Qi
Liu Zhen's heart raced as the beast lunged toward him, its glowing red eyes burning with malice. The air around it shimmered with a palpable, dark energy—Dark Qi. It was unlike anything he had felt before, a twisted and malevolent force that seemed to corrupt the very air it touched.
Without thinking, Liu Zhen leapt backward, barely avoiding the creature's massive claws as they tore through the ground where he had stood moments earlier. The villagers, roused from their sleep by the commotion, emerged from their homes, gasping in terror as they caught sight of the hulking figure at the village's edge.
"Get back!" Liu Zhen shouted, waving for the villagers to retreat. "Stay inside!"
The creature growled, its eyes fixed on him, as if sensing the growing elemental qi within his body. It was no ordinary beast—it was drawn to power, and Liu Zhen's cultivation made him a target. The elder's warnings echoed in his mind: "You will attract attention, and not the good kind."
The beast charged again, its speed belying its massive size. Liu Zhen barely had time to react, instinctively channeling the Water element. He thrust his hands forward, focusing on the stream of qi he had been cultivating for days. A burst of water shot from his palms, slamming into the creature's chest and pushing it back, though only for a moment.
The beast shook off the attack, its growl deepening, but Liu Zhen noticed something. His Water element hadn't just pushed it away—it had weakened the Dark Qi that surrounded it, causing the malevolent energy to flicker and wane for a split second.
Water can counter it, Liu Zhen realized. The elements were not just tools for cultivation; they were weapons against the corruption of Dark Qi.
But the beast was relentless. It lunged again, claws extended, and this time Liu Zhen was ready. He dodged to the side, rolling across the ground as the creature's claws missed him by inches. He rose to his feet, focusing his mind as he gathered more qi, feeling the cool, calming energy of the Water element flow through him.
With a deep breath, Liu Zhen extended his arm, summoning the power of the nearby stream. The water responded to his call, rising from the earth in a swirling torrent, coiling around his body like a living serpent. He thrust his hand toward the beast, and the water surged forward, wrapping around the creature's limbs and pulling it to the ground.
The beast howled in fury, thrashing wildly as it tried to break free, but the water held firm, dampening the Dark Qi that pulsed within it. For a moment, it seemed as though Liu Zhen had gained the upper hand.
But the beast was stronger than he anticipated. With a guttural roar, it unleashed a surge of dark energy, shattering the water binding its limbs. The force of the explosion sent Liu Zhen flying backward, slamming into the trunk of a nearby tree.
Pain shot through his body as he struggled to catch his breath. His vision blurred for a moment, and when he blinked the dizziness away, the beast was charging again, its eyes burning with hatred.
I need more power, Liu Zhen thought desperately. Water alone isn't enough.
He reached deep within himself, searching for any trace of the other elements. The elder had told him that his affinity wasn't limited to Water—that the other elements were within him as well. But they were dormant, waiting to be awakened.
Fire. Earth. Metal. Wood. They were all there, somewhere inside him, waiting to be called upon.
The beast's claws were nearly upon him when something inside Liu Zhen clicked. He felt a surge of energy, not from Water this time, but from the Earth beneath him. The ground trembled, responding to his call. In a split second, stone erupted from the earth, forming a barrier between him and the beast.
The creature slammed into the wall of rock, snarling in frustration as the barrier held firm. Liu Zhen blinked in surprise, feeling the steady, grounded energy of Earth qi coursing through his body. He had tapped into another element.
But there was no time to dwell on it. The beast was already circling the barrier, searching for an opening. Liu Zhen rose to his feet, wincing at the pain in his side, but his resolve hardened. He couldn't afford to back down now.
With the beast momentarily stalled, Liu Zhen focused on gathering his strength. He could feel the connection to Earth growing stronger, but it wasn't enough. He needed to combine it with the Water element, to strike with both forces at once.
He raised his hands, calling on the elements around him. The stream nearby surged once more, its waters rising into the air, while the earth beneath him pulsed with energy. Liu Zhen combined the two forces, shaping them into a powerful strike.
As the beast rounded the barrier, Liu Zhen unleashed his attack. A massive wave of water, reinforced by the weight of earth and stone, slammed into the creature with the force of a collapsing mountain. The beast let out a deafening roar as it was thrown back, crashing into the trees at the edge of the forest.
For a moment, everything was still. The beast lay motionless, its dark energy flickering like a dying flame. Liu Zhen breathed heavily, his body trembling from the exertion. He had done it—he had defeated the creature.
But as he approached the fallen beast, something strange happened. The Dark Qi that had surrounded it began to rise, swirling into the air like a black mist. It didn't dissipate. Instead, it gathered into a concentrated form, hovering above the creature's body.
Liu Zhen's eyes widened in horror. The beast had merely been a vessel—a manifestation of the Dark Qi that had corrupted it. And now, that dark energy was free, unbound, and growing stronger by the second.
The mist pulsed, and from within it, a deep, menacing voice echoed.
"You cannot stop what is coming, young cultivator. This is only the beginning."
Liu Zhen's blood turned to ice. He had thought the beast was the threat, but it was clear now that something far more dangerous was at play. The Dark Qi was alive, and it was only a fragment of the greater darkness the elder had warned him about.
Before Liu Zhen could react, the mist surged toward him, a torrent of malevolent energy intent on consuming him. He instinctively raised his hands, trying to form a shield of Water and Earth, but the Dark Qi was too fast. It slammed into his barrier, shattering it like glass.
The force knocked Liu Zhen to the ground, and for a moment, everything went dark.
When Liu Zhen opened his eyes, the world was still. The Dark Qi had vanished, and the beast's body lay lifeless on the ground. The village was silent, the villagers huddled inside their homes, too afraid to come out.
Liu Zhen slowly got to his feet, his entire body aching. He had survived the battle, but the words of the Dark Qi echoed in his mind: This is only the beginning.
The elder's warnings were no longer just distant threats—they were reality. The darkness was real, and it was coming for him. And for the world.
Liu Zhen glanced toward the western mountains, where the Elemental Pools of Tianxu awaited. His journey had only just begun, but he now understood the urgency. If he didn't grow stronger—if he didn't learn to master the Five Elements—he wouldn't stand a chance against the darkness that was rising.
With grim determination, Liu Zhen turned his back on the village and resumed his journey. The Elemental Pools were his only hope now, and he would do whatever it took to reach them.