Chapter Twenty-Three: The Unbreakable Resolve
The forest trembled under the intensity of the clash. Zhao Rong's Qi emanated through the earth, his Core Formation presence undeniable, yet he didn't stand alone. Shen Cai and Liu Min maintained their positions, their stances mirroring the disciplined unity of Kunlun, each watching and waiting to strike when Li Yan least expected it.
Zhao Rong raised his staff, the ground beneath him seeming to pulse in response. "Foundation Establishment can wield Qi," he began, his voice a calm command, "but Core Formation becomes it." As he channeled his Qi into the ground, the terrain came alive under his control, stones and roots shifting at his will.
Shen Cai smirked, stepping in alongside Zhao Rong, his wind Qi swirling around him as he pointed his sword toward Li Yan. "You can't evade forever, Li Yan." With a flick of his wrist, Shen Cai unleashed a barrage of slicing wind blades, each one precisely timed to push Li Yan toward the path of Zhao Rong's oncoming attacks.
Li Yan dodged, feeling the sharp sting of wind Qi as a blade grazed his shoulder. But Zhao Rong's movements were unhurried, every step measured. He tapped his staff to the ground, and with a ripple of Qi, the earth buckled, jagged spikes rising up to hem Li Yan in, forcing him closer to Shen Cai's range.
As Li Yan turned to deflect another of Shen Cai's strikes, Liu Min moved in, his spear alight with a cold, crystalline sheen. He spun the weapon in his hands, sending a volley of ice shards that cut through the air with deadly precision. "Yield, Li Yan," Liu Min intoned, his voice steady, his gaze unflinching. "You're outnumbered—and outmatched."
Li Yan's flames flared as he deflected the ice shards, but he could feel the pressure building with each passing moment. They're not just fighting individually; they're closing off every escape, turning their techniques into a web.
Zhao Rong's eyes narrowed, his Qi surging with a renewed intensity. "Together, Kunlun's strength is unbreakable." He raised his staff, channeling his Qi to create a circle of stone pillars around Li Yan, each one pulsing with his Core Formation energy. As the pillars closed in, Shen Cai and Liu Min moved seamlessly, coordinating their attacks to keep Li Yan contained within Zhao Rong's trap.
With a swift motion, Liu Min thrust his spear forward, the ice Qi around it intensifying as it sent a wave of frost that solidified the ground beneath Li Yan's feet. The cold seeped through the earth, slowing Li Yan's movements and making it harder for him to maintain his footing.
At the same time, Shen Cai circled to the other side, his wind Qi building into a swirling vortex around his sword. With a fierce slash, he directed a burst of wind toward Li Yan, the gust reinforcing the chilling effect of Liu Min's ice. Together, their elements turned the battlefield into a hostile terrain, amplifying the weight of Zhao Rong's earth Qi.
Li Yan's breath quickened as he fought to maintain his balance, his flame flickering as he struggled against the combined might of their techniques. They're weaving their Qi together, turning every angle into a trap.
Zhao Rong's voice cut through the air, calm and commanding. "Core Formation cultivators don't just wield their element—they command it. You're fighting against the earth itself."
With a subtle shift, Zhao Rong extended his Qi, causing the stone pillars to press inward, each movement amplifying the unyielding force of his energy. The oppressive weight of his Qi bore down on Li Yan, while Shen Cai's wind and Liu Min's ice sharpened the assault, each element playing off the other, leaving Li Yan nowhere to retreat.
But Li Yan's resolve burned bright. Igniting his Qi in a focused burst, he summoned a blade of fire, slicing through the stone pillars as he forced his way free. He staggered back, his breath heavy, but his stance steady. His gaze met Zhao Rong's, a flicker of defiance sparking in his eyes. "You talk of strength and unity, yet three of you stand here against one."
Shen Cai's face twisted in anger, his wind Qi flaring as he gripped his sword tighter. "Enough with your arrogance!" He surged forward, his blade cutting through the air with a furious arc. But as Li Yan dodged, Zhao Rong extended a hand, signaling Shen Cai to pause.
Zhao Rong's calm voice broke through, a slight edge to his tone. "Control your temper, Shen Cai. Our purpose here isn't to feed your pride." He turned his gaze back to Li Yan, his expression unchanging. "You have spirit, Li Yan, I'll grant you that. But spirit alone won't conquer a realm beyond your reach."
With a fluid motion, Zhao Rong channeled his Qi into the earth, summoning a massive stone hand that rose from the ground, each finger dense with compressed Qi. The hand moved with eerie precision, reaching out for Li Yan with an unyielding grip.
Liu Min, observing the hand's movements, shifted his stance, preparing his next move. He raised his spear, the frost around it crystallizing further as he aimed, sending another wave of ice that coated the stone hand, turning it into a reinforced weapon of both stone and ice. The hand, now encased in frost, closed in on Li Yan, each movement calculated, controlled by Zhao Rong's calm command and Liu Min's precise enhancement.
As Li Yan evaded, Shen Cai joined in, channeling his wind Qi into the air around them, creating an updraft that funneled Li Yan's movement into a smaller space, limiting his options. Their combined efforts left Li Yan no room to escape, the walls of stone, ice, and wind closing in from all sides.
They're using every advantage, Li Yan thought, his heart pounding as he took in their coordinated attacks. Every technique, every shift in Qi, perfectly synchronized.
Yet even as the pressure mounted, Li Yan's flame burned with a fierce intensity. He focused his Qi into a concentrated burst, his flame condensing into a narrow beam of heat as he struck at the ice-encased stone hand, shattering it with a burst of energy.
The ground trembled, and Zhao Rong lifted his staff, his gaze never leaving Li Yan. "Impressive. Few would withstand this long against Kunlun's strength." He raised his staff once more, the ground responding to his call, rumbling as he prepared to summon yet another wave. "But endurance has its limits."
With Shen Cai and Liu Min at his sides, each poised for the next strike, Zhao Rong moved forward, his Core Formation Qi amplifying the strength of their combined elements. Together, they represented Kunlun's unbreakable unity, an unstoppable force that bore down on Li Yan with relentless power.
The battlefield felt suffocating, each element combining in a deadly dance designed to trap and exhaust Li Yan. Every step he took was met with Zhao Rong's unyielding earth, Liu Min's precise frost, or Shen Cai's relentless wind.
Li Yan's vision blurred as he focused his Qi, fighting to keep his flame alive. He knew his energy was nearing its limit, yet his spirit remained unyielded. He scanned their movements, noting the patterns in Zhao Rong's earth-wielding mastery, Liu Min's subtle timing, and Shen Cai's raw speed.
A faint pulse of Qi from his core flared up, one he'd not felt before—a response from his own limits breaking. He wasn't just fighting Kunlun's disciples; he was confronting his own boundaries. With each step, he felt his flame ignite a bit brighter, as though it were answering his resolve.
Suddenly, Zhao Rong stepped back, signaling the others to halt. "Enough. His resilience is admirable, but we're wasting time." Zhao Rong lifted his staff, and the earth around him pulsed with energy, gathering his Qi into a concentrated mass. The ground trembled as if acknowledging its master, preparing for a decisive strike.
"Let's end this," Zhao Rong said, his voice firm. With a final thrust of his staff, the ground beneath Li Yan cracked, creating a fissure that rippled outward, aiming to swallow him whole.
Li Yan's flame erupted as he leapt to escape, his Qi surging in response to the danger. But Liu Min moved in, his ice Qi filling the air as he conjured a prison of frost around Li Yan, layers upon layers of sharp ice closing in.
"You may resist," Liu Min remarked, his tone measured, "but against Kunlun's order, resistance is meaningless."
In that moment, something within Li Yan snapped. His Qi, battered and stretched to its limits, broke through an unseen barrier, igniting with an intensity he hadn't felt before. His flame surged, its light brighter and fiercer than ever, melting through Liu Min's ice and scorching the air around him. Every ounce of his remaining Qi concentrated into a blazing wave, pushing back against the elemental trap surrounding him.
Shen Cai and Liu Min recoiled, their expressions flickering with shock as they felt the shift in Li Yan's power. Even Zhao Rong hesitated, his gaze narrowing as he observed the sudden surge of energy from Li Yan.
As Li Yan's flame blazed brighter, his Qi surged with a newfound strength. The late Foundation Establishment stage granted him a clarity of control, sharpening his senses and allowing him to harness his Qi with a precision he hadn't achieved before. He felt the weight of his flame settle, coiled yet ready to strike with lethal focus.
Zhao Rong and his disciples hesitated, each assessing the change in Li Yan's aura. This was no longer the same opponent they'd been cornering; there was a new intensity in his stance, a calm that held a quiet, deadly promise.
"Interesting," Zhao Rong muttered, his gaze fixed on Li Yan with newfound caution. "But power without control is just a flash in the pan."
Li Yan's lips curled into a slight smile. Control? That's exactly what I've gained.
Recalling the lessons instilled by the Pavilion Master, Li Yan took a deep breath, sinking into the calm state he'd trained to maintain even in the heart of battle. With a flicker of his Qi, he activated a technique the Pavilion Master had made him repeat countless times: Shadowslip, a stealth technique that allowed him to blend with his surroundings, masking his movements and suppressing his aura.
For a brief moment, Li Yan seemed to disappear, his presence slipping from their senses as he moved silently to the side, weaving between the shadows cast by the flickering flame. Shen Cai's eyes widened, his gaze darting around in confusion. "Where did he go?"
"Stay alert," Liu Min warned, his spear ready as he searched the area. His gaze hardened, sensing that Li Yan was no longer relying on brute force alone.
Seizing the opportunity, Li Yan reappeared to Shen Cai's left, a burst of flame condensed in his palm as he executed a controlled Focused Qi Strike directly at Shen Cai's unguarded side. The blow connected, sending Shen Cai staggering as a scorch mark spread across his robes.
Zhao Rong's eyes narrowed as he registered the shift in Li Yan's tactics. "He's not just attacking. He's waiting, watching us."
Without hesitation, Zhao Rong thrust his staff into the ground, sending a shockwave that rippled outward, disrupting the terrain and attempting to flush Li Yan from his hidden position. But Li Yan was ready. Using a technique called Whispering Step, he redirected his Qi to his feet, enhancing his agility as he darted out of range with a swift, silent step.
Liu Min, noticing Li Yan's new speed, moved to intercept, his spear brimming with ice Qi as he thrust forward. But Li Yan anticipated the move, sidestepping and using Qi Divergence, a technique that split his aura in two, creating a faint decoy on his left as he slipped to Liu Min's right. The Kunlun disciple struck at the decoy, his spear meeting only air.
Realizing his mistake, Liu Min spun around, only to find Li Yan's blazing fist closing in. Li Yan struck with a powerful burst of flame, forcing Liu Min back, his frost-coated spear barely deflecting the attack.
The disciples regrouped, their expressions wary. Shen Cai's fury was barely contained, his face twisted with frustration. "Coward," he spat. "Only those afraid of their weakness rely on such tricks."
Li Yan's gaze met Shen Cai's, calm and unshaken. "You call them tricks, but you're the one who's struggling."
Zhao Rong stepped forward, his staff raised, his expression thoughtful. "He's adapting to the flow of battle," he acknowledged, a hint of respect in his voice. "But let's see how well you handle this."
With a commanding gesture, Zhao Rong channeled his Core Formation Qi into the earth, summoning a ring of stone around them, each stone pillar pulsing with energy. The ground shook, and the pillars closed in, converging to form an inescapable barrier. Shadows and flame flickered within the ring, casting the scene in an ominous glow.
Li Yan took a deep breath, steadying his stance as he prepared himself. The Pavilion Master didn't teach me just to survive, but to break through every boundary.
He felt his Qi steady within, like an unbroken flame amid the encroaching darkness. With a surge of energy, he ignited his flames, his new control allowing him to concentrate his Qi more precisely. He waited, watching the disciples' positions, analyzing their movements with a focus that cut through the noise of battle.
The three disciples advanced, each strike more intense than the last, but Li Yan was no longer simply defending. He weaved between them, slipping past their defenses, his movements fluid and purposeful. Each counterattack was calculated, refined by the techniques drilled into him under the Pavilion Master's instruction, each strike honed to exploit the smallest lapse in their unity.
He was no longer just fighting against them; he was moving with the rhythm of the battle, using their strength against them, pushing the disciples of Kunlun back, one step at a time.
The battle was far from over, but the balance had shifted. Li Yan was no longer merely surviving—he was thriving, his spirit and newfound power turning the fight into a test of his unbreakable will.