Chapter Twenty-Four: Flames of Defiance
The forest was ablaze with power, each clash of Qi sending shockwaves through the trees. Li Yan stood at the center of the battlefield, his flame a steady, fierce presence amidst the shifting elements of the Kunlun disciples. His breath was deep, measured, guided by the rhythmic flow of Breath of the Phoenix Ascendance. With each inhale, he could feel the energy of his Qi pulsing, refining itself in his core; with each exhale, his mind cleared, his senses heightened, as if each breath were connecting him to something deeper.
Shen Cai lunged first, his wind Qi swirling in lethal arcs around his sword. His strikes came fast and precise, but with each one, Li Yan was already a step ahead. His breathing, synchronized with the rhythm of his Qi, allowed him to move with uncanny precision, his flame responding effortlessly to each of Shen Cai's attacks.
With a swift move, Li Yan activated Shadowslip, disappearing from Shen Cai's sight before reappearing on his left, his flame igniting with a ferocity that caught Shen Cai off guard. He delivered a powerful strike that sent Shen Cai stumbling back, his robes singed by the intense heat.
Zhao Rong observed carefully, sensing the shift in Li Yan's energy. "He's stabilizing his Qi," he muttered, his gaze narrowing. "But even control has its limits."
But Li Yan pressed forward, his eyes locked onto Zhao Rong's, unyielding. Breath of the Phoenix Ascendance sharpened his senses, his Qi circulating smoothly as he met the disciples' attacks with an intensity that left them faltering. He summoned Ember Stream Flow, a concentrated burst of fire, forcing Zhao Rong to summon a stone barrier just in time to deflect the flames.
Liu Min moved in next, his spear coated in frost as he thrust forward, ice Qi spiraling outward in sharp, glistening shards. Li Yan's breath remained steady as he countered, meeting each strike with Focused Qi Strike, flames sparking with each deflection. As Liu Min's movements grew more aggressive, Li Yan's stance shifted, and he activated Qi Divergence, splitting his aura to create a faint decoy that threw Liu Min off balance. Liu Min's spear struck empty air as Li Yan evaded, sending a pulse of flame toward him that forced him back.
"You're no match for us, Li Yan!" Shen Cai shouted, his face red with frustration as he prepared another attack. But Li Yan's expression remained calm, his flame steady. "Then why are you all struggling?" he replied, his voice laced with quiet defiance.
Seething, Shen Cai gathered his wind Qi into a swirling vortex around his sword and lunged. But Li Yan met him with Scorching Palm, the heat in his hands igniting the air between them in a fierce blaze that disrupted Shen Cai's stance. Shen Cai staggered, a flash of uncertainty flickering in his eyes as he stumbled back from the force of Li Yan's strike.
Zhao Rong's expression tightened as he saw his fellow disciples faltering. With a controlled motion, he raised his staff, channeling his Core Formation Qi into the ground. The earth trembled, and a towering stone figure emerged beside him, each step resonating with his Qi. "You're persistent," he intoned, his voice echoing with authority. "But resilience has its limits."
Yet Li Yan's breath remained steady, his flame unwavering as he stared down the massive stone figure. Breath of the Phoenix Ascendance continued to guide his movements, each breath a steadying force as he summoned his Qi. With a concentrated beam of fire, he struck the stone figure, cracking its surface and sending shards flying. The disciples shielded their eyes from the heat and debris, each taking a cautious step back.
Liu Min regrouped quickly, his frost Qi sharpening as he sent another wave of ice toward Li Yan. But Li Yan's flames met the frost head-on, creating a burst of steam that clouded the air around them. Through the mist, Li Yan's voice rang out, calm but fierce. "I've been fighting for my own strength long before Kunlun interfered."
The steam cleared, revealing Li Yan standing with his flame blazing, his eyes locked on the three disciples with unyielding determination. Zhao Rong's gaze remained fixed, his grip on his staff firm, but the hint of doubt in his eyes showed he hadn't anticipated the level of strength Li Yan was now wielding.
With a final surge of Qi, Li Yan activated Ember Stream Flow and unleashed a sweeping arc of fire that sent Liu Min and Shen Cai scrambling to block. Zhao Rong steadied himself, his Core Formation Qi rippling as he braced for the attack. The forest trembled under the force of Li Yan's power, each wave of flame pushing the disciples further back.
The balance had shifted. Li Yan's flame was no longer a defensive barrier but an unstoppable force, a manifestation of his resolve. Each breath fueled his Qi, each strike honed by the mastery he was gaining with every clash. The battle was turning, his fire blazing as brightly as the will behind it.
Shen Cai's face twisted in rage, his wind Qi swirling wildly around him, each movement fueled by his frustration and growing desperation. He lunged at Li Yan with a roar, his sword slicing through the air, conjuring a furious vortex that churned the very ground beneath them. "You'll pay for this humiliation!" he spat, his eyes blazing with resentment.
But Li Yan's gaze was calm, focused. Each breath guided by the Breath of the Phoenix Ascendance steadied his Qi, sharpening his control until his focus honed in on Shen Cai with perfect clarity. He saw not just an opponent but the flaws in Shen Cai's movements—the unguarded gaps, the overextended strikes. The Kunlun disciple's rage had clouded his control.
In a swift motion, Li Yan activated Whispering Step, his Qi propelling him silently to Shen Cai's left flank. Shen Cai's eyes widened, his stance faltering as he realized too late that he'd missed his mark. Li Yan's flame gathered in his palm, condensing into a fierce, concentrated heat as he executed Scorching Palm, his strike aiming low and precise.
The blow landed directly against Shen Cai's leg, the flames searing through his defenses with devastating intensity. Shen Cai screamed, the agonizing heat overwhelming him as the flames surged down his leg, burning away fabric and flesh alike. He staggered, his sword falling from his grip as he struggled to stand, his Qi flickering in disarray.
Li Yan's expression remained steady, his voice cold as he spoke. "You brought this upon yourself, Shen Cai. Arrogance can be a dangerous companion in battle."
Desperation flashed across Shen Cai's face as he tried to summon his Qi, but his strength was failing, the damage too great. With a final, determined look, Li Yan raised his hand, channeling his Qi into a Focused Qi Strike that condensed his flame into a piercing, controlled burst. The strike hit Shen Cai's leg with pinpoint accuracy, the heat severing muscle and bone with ruthless precision.
Shen Cai's scream echoed through the trees as he collapsed, his leg charred and broken beyond repair. The realization hit him like a blow, his face contorting in horror and disbelief as he grasped at the burned, unresponsive limb. "No… no…!" he gasped, his voice barely a whisper, the full weight of his injury sinking in.
Liu Min's eyes widened, shock flashing across his usually calm face, while Zhao Rong's grip tightened on his staff, his expression hardening as he watched Shen Cai fall, incapacitated and broken.
Shen Cai's gaze flickered toward Li Yan, a mix of hatred and despair in his eyes. "You… you'll pay for this!" he rasped, but his voice was weak, trembling, the once proud disciple now brought to the ground, his arrogance shattered.
Li Yan's flame flickered around him, his stance resolute, his gaze steady as he looked down at Shen Cai, unyielding. "The price was your own to pay, Shen Cai. You made your choice."
The forest fell silent, the crackling of Li Yan's flame the only sound as he turned his attention back to the two remaining disciples. Shen Cai's fall had shifted the balance of the battle, a testament to Li Yan's strength and resolve—a reminder that underestimating him would come at a steep cost.
The silence that followed Shen Cai's scream was thick, broken only by the crackling of Li Yan's flame and the shallow, ragged breaths of the fallen disciple. The severity of the scene settled heavily over the battlefield, a reminder that this was no ordinary confrontation. Li Yan had left his mark, both physical and psychological, and the consequences rippled through his remaining opponents.
Liu Min's eyes were wide, his usual calm replaced by a tense, unsettled gaze as he looked at Shen Cai, now lying on the forest floor, his leg charred beyond repair. He could still hear Shen Cai's scream ringing in his ears, the sound unnervingly human in a battle that had felt, until now, like a contest of techniques and discipline.
This wasn't supposed to happen, Liu Min thought, a wave of doubt breaking through his confidence. They had entered the forest certain of their strength, secure in the knowledge that Kunlun's training and unity would carry them through any challenge. But standing here, watching one of their own brought so low, he couldn't shake the creeping fear that they had underestimated Li Yan—not just in strength, but in the unbreakable resolve he carried.
For Zhao Rong, the sight struck a different chord. His Core Formation aura flared subtly, a mark of his rising tension, though he kept his expression guarded. Yet, within, a turmoil simmered, his carefully composed facade masking the weight of realization. I knew he was tenacious, but this… Li Yan had not only bested Shen Cai—he had crushed his spirit, a testament to the depth of his power and control.
He stole a glance at Liu Min, noting the uncertainty in his fellow disciple's stance. It was rare to see Liu Min shaken, and Zhao Rong felt a pang of frustration. We are Kunlun, he reminded himself, clenching his grip on his staff. This is nothing we cannot overcome.
But as he turned his gaze back to Li Yan, who now stood unwavering, the flames around him casting long shadows across the ground, Zhao Rong couldn't deny the knot of unease growing in his chest. This was no ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator; there was a raw, unrelenting fire in Li Yan, something that defied the bounds of cultivation stages and pushed against the disciplined strength Kunlun had cultivated.
Zhao Rong's jaw tightened as he steadied his stance. He felt the weight of his Core Formation Qi, a reminder of his own power, but there was no denying the unease that crept through him. For the first time, he questioned whether strength alone would be enough to contain the blazing force that Li Yan had become.
"We can't falter now," Zhao Rong said, his voice low but firm, more for his own reassurance than Liu Min's. "He's only one, and we have our orders. Kunlun's will must be upheld."
Liu Min gave a terse nod, though his gaze lingered on Shen Cai's motionless form. There was a new gravity in his expression, a recognition that this battle had become something far greater than a routine mission. His spear glinted with frost as he readied himself, a resolve taking hold beneath the shaken calm in his eyes. "You're right. But this isn't like anything we prepared for. He… he's more than just a rogue cultivator."
Zhao Rong said nothing, his gaze locked on Li Yan as he steeled himself. The flames flickering around Li Yan's form seemed to swell, undeterred, as if challenging them to face the depth of his spirit. And for the first time, Zhao Rong wondered if even Kunlun's unity and strength would be enough to subdue the force they had unleashed.