After entering Ziyang City, Xuan Li decided to stay for a while to recover and assess his next steps. He booked a modest inn for a week, settling into a quiet room on the second floor. The space was simple, with a wooden bed, a small table, and a view of the bustling city streets below. Exhausted, Xuan Li sat cross-legged on the bed, reflecting on his recent experiences.
As he closed his eyes to meditate, a familiar presence appeared in the room. Opening his eyes, Xuan Li saw his enigmatic master, Veldris, standing before him with his usual blank expression.
"Master," Xuan Li said, bowing slightly. "Now that I can sense the cosmic energy and use it in attacks, I feel I'm finally improving."
Veldris regarded him calmly. "Disciple, do not overestimate your progress. Your pattern of using cosmic energy is still lacking in many ways."
Xuan Li frowned. "Master, how can I improve?"
Veldris sighed softly. "By creating a constant flow. Right now, you sense cosmic energy, gather it, and then release it to attack. But don't you see how inefficient that is? It takes too much time in combat."
Confused, Xuan Li asked, "How do I create a constant flow, Master?"
"Think about how you absorb cosmic energy," Veldris prompted.
"Through my meridians," Xuan Li replied. "It's the path through which energy flows in the body."
A realization dawned on him, and his eyes widened. "Master, do you mean that instead of merely gathering and releasing energy, I should let it flow continuously, like wind moving freely?"
Veldris nodded approvingly. "Exactly. The cosmic energy should circulate within you and flow out naturally. Only then can you achieve true combat efficiency."
Excited, Xuan Li immediately sat cross-legged to practice, but Veldris stopped him. "Meditation alone won't help, disciple. This requires real combat. Go to the forest and test yourself."
Reluctant but determined, Xuan Li left the inn and journeyed to the forest surrounding Ziyang City, which was only an hour's walk away. By the time he reached the forest's depths, the sun was high in the sky.
Veldris reappeared, scanning the surroundings before pointing to a specific direction. "Go there," he instructed.
Xuan Li hesitated. "Master, when will I be able to sense my surroundings as effortlessly as you do?"
"When you've built a proper foundation. Now go."
Xuan Li followed the direction, his nerves tightening as he approached. What he saw left him stunned—a pack of thunder beasts, over 20 feet tall, with sharp fangs, four massive claws, and bodies crackling with arcs of lightning.
He muttered, "Thunder Behemoths… Dangerous, fast, and they're in a group. How am I supposed to handle them?"
Sensing his presence, the monsters turned toward him with glowing, predatory eyes. One of them charged at incredible speed.
Xuan Li braced himself, channeling cosmic energy into his fist. As the beast lunged, he punched with all his strength, but the creature cracked with lightning and vanished, reappearing behind him. Before Xuan Li could react, its claws sent him flying into a tree with a loud crash.
Spitting blood, Xuan Li wiped his mouth and cursed. "Damn it, they're too fast!"
Before he could catch his breath, two more beasts slashed at him, leaving deep gashes across his chest. Screaming in pain, Xuan Li stumbled back. "I can't even gather energy fast enough. They're not giving me a chance!"
Climbing onto a tree to gain some distance, he surveyed the pack below. Five more Thunder Behemoths rushed toward him, their fangs gleaming with destructive intent. Heart pounding, Xuan Li thought, It's now or never. I have to try Master's method.
Closing his eyes, Xuan Li focused on sensing the cosmic energy around him. He let it flow into his body—not to gather and release, but to circulate and move freely. As the monsters' claws reached him, he felt a sudden breakthrough.
The energy coursed through him, flowing like a river and exiting his body naturally. His aura flared to life, a faint blue hue surrounding him like a whirlwind. With this newfound strength, he dodged the attack at the last moment, landing on the ground with a heavy breath.
But the strain was immense. His body ached, and he felt like he'd been torn apart. "Master was right," Xuan Li muttered. "My body isn't strong enough to handle this yet. But I've caught a glimpse of the flow."
The Thunder Behemoths growled, their bodies crackling with even more ferocious lightning. Xuan Li gritted his teeth, the blue aura around him intensifying.
"This is where the real fight begins," he said, his lips curling into a determined smile.
This time, he didn't absorb cosmic energy—he let it flow continuously, wrapping his body in a whirlpool of blue energy. As the first monster charged, Xuan Li's enhanced senses picked up its movement. He dodged effortlessly, countering with a punch that sent the creature flying into a tree.
Another monster attacked from behind, grazing him with its claws. Xuan Li retaliated with a kick, but the creature dodged. Frustrated but focused, he thought, Calm down. Get the bigger picture.
An idea struck him. Closing his eyes, Xuan Li concentrated on the cosmic energy flowing around him. He let it expand beyond his body, sensing the presence of the monsters as ripples in the energy field.
Suddenly, he sensed a beast approaching from his blind spot. Smiling, Xuan Li dodged just in time and countered with a precise strike.
Over the next two days, Xuan Li fought relentlessly, perfecting the flow of cosmic energy and sharpening his senses. By the end, his body was covered in scars, his muscles screaming in pain, but his eyes gleamed with newfound confidence.
Veldris, who had been observing from a distance, finally stood up. "It's been two days. Let's see how he's doing."
As he approached, he saw a figure emerging from the shadows, faintly glowing with a blue aura. Xuan Li, battered and bloodied, walked toward his master with the eyes of a predator.
Veldris smiled faintly. "So, disciple, did you grasp the flow?"
Xuan Li nodded weakly before collapsing from exhaustion. Catching him, Veldris murmured, "Good work, disciple. Now rest. This is just the beginning."