The Forest of Death trembled under the surge of unbridled power. Mei Yun, unconscious and engulfed in a raging storm of violet energy, was a force of destruction. The ground cracked beneath her feet, the nearby trees splintered into shards, and the very air seemed to hum with danger. Rocks floated into the air before disintegrating under the sheer pressure of the aura she emitted. Her companions, Yue Lin and Lan Fei, lay sprawled on the ground, struggling to remain conscious, while Zhen Qiu and Bai Chen were forced to their knees, their faces pale and drenched with sweat.
Zhen Qiu gritted his teeth, trying to fight against the suffocating weight of the energy pressing down on him. "What… what is this power?" he rasped, his voice barely audible over the roaring wind. His pride, once unyielding, was now crumbling under the unbearable pressure.
Bai Chen clawed at the ground, his face twisted in desperation. "This can't be real… She's just a 4th-level Qi cultivator! How can her power feel like this? It's... monstrous!"
The storm of energy surrounding Mei Yun was growing fiercer by the second. The violet energy formed the shape of a massive lotus around her, each petal radiating destruction as it spun with an ominous beauty. Even in her unconscious state, her power was wreaking havoc on the surrounding environment. Debris flew through the air like deadly projectiles, slicing through anything in their path.
Lan Fei forced her eyes open, her vision blurred. She reached for Yue Lin, who was barely holding on to consciousness. "We… we need to do something," Lan Fei whispered hoarsely, her voice filled with desperation.
Yue Lin shook her head weakly. "We can't… Even standing is impossible right now…"
The oppressive energy was too much for any of them to handle. As the chaos reached its peak, it became clear that no one present could stop what was happening.
Just as it seemed that the destructive power would consume them all, a sudden stillness descended upon the forest. The suffocating energy halted, as though frozen in place. The once-deafening roar of power faded into silence, and the air itself seemed to hold its breath.
From the shadows, a figure emerged a presence so calm and commanding that it seemed to overshadow even the raging storm. Wanai, the mysterious figure who had appeared behind Mei Yun before, stepped into the clearing. His movements were unhurried, his expression unreadable. His black hair swayed gently as if untouched by the violent winds around him, and his dark eyes gleamed with an unfathomable depth.
Zhen Qiu's trembling eyes locked onto Wanai. "W-who… are you?" he stammered, but his voice was lost in the void of Wanai's overwhelming aura.
Wanai's gaze swept over the scene, taking in the destruction, the unconscious girls, and the trembling figures of Zhen Qiu and Bai Chen. He seemed entirely unbothered by the chaos, his presence radiating a calm that bordered on terrifying.
With a mere flick of his wrist, Wanai released a speck of energy barely more than a whisper of his power. The effect was instantaneous. Yue Lin, Lan Fei, Zhen Qiu, and Bai Chen collapsed unconscious, their bodies succumbing to the overwhelming pressure.
Wanai's gaze finally settled on Mei Yun. Her floating body, surrounded by the ominous Void Lotus, was still radiating immense power. But as Wanai took a single step closer, the lotus reacted violently, its petals expanding and pulsating as though to defend its master.
The corner of Wanai's lips twitched, a faint shadow of a smile. "So, even now, it seeks to protect you," he murmured. He raised a hand, and the spiraling energy around Mei Yun quivered before collapsing inward, folding in on itself like a retreating tide. The Void Lotus disintegrated into tiny particles of light, which faded into the air.
"It's still not time yet," Wanai said softly, his voice carrying an otherworldly resonance. His words seemed to echo through the clearing, reaching Mei Yun even in her unconscious state. He extended his hand, and Mei Yun's body was lowered gently to the ground, the violent energy surrounding her gone as though it had never existed.
Wanai studied her for a long moment, his expression contemplative. "You're not ready," he said, almost to himself. "But soon… very soon."
Inside the Void
Mei Yun's consciousness floated in a vast, endless void. The familiar darkness surrounded her, pressing against her senses. It was the same place she had seen before the same suffocating, endless expanse. Yet, this time, there was something different. The air felt heavier, the silence more deafening.
Before her, the shadowy figure materialized once again, its presence even more defined than before. It stood tall, its form indistinct but undeniably imposing. The sheer weight of its existence sent shivers through Mei Yun's very soul.
"You've touched the Void Lotus again," the figure said, its voice deep and echoing as though it came from every direction at once. "Do you understand the consequences of wielding such power?"
Mei Yun clenched her fists, her breathing ragged. "I didn't mean to. I… I couldn't control it."
The figure chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that carried both amusement and warning. "Control is not something given freely. It must be earned. And you, child, are far from ready."
"Then teach me!" Mei Yun's voice wavered with frustration and desperation. "If this power is mine to bear, I need to know how to use it. I can't keep hurting people like this!"
The figure regarded her in silence for a moment. "Patience," it said at last. "Your journey is only beginning. The Void Lotus is not a tool for destruction. It is a path a path that will reveal the truth of your existence."
Mei Yun's eyes widened. "The truth of my existence? What are you talking about?"
But the figure did not answer her question. Instead, it raised a hand, and the void around her began to shift and collapse. "Survive the trials ahead, and perhaps you will begin to understand. Until then, the power of the Void remains beyond your reach."
Before Mei Yun could protest, the void dissolved, pulling her back toward consciousness.
The Forest of Death
Mei Yun's body lay still on the forest floor, her chest rising and falling steadily. Her face was pale, but her expression was peaceful, as though she were merely asleep.
Wanai stood over her, his eyes unreadable. He extended a hand, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face with a tenderness that seemed out of place. "You'll understand someday," he murmured before stepping back.
From the shadows, a second figure emerged a woman with sharp eyes and an air of authority. She had been following Mei Yun from a distance, observing the chaos with great interest. Her gaze now locked onto Wanai.
"You've grown stronger again," the woman said, her voice carrying a mix of awe and unease. "It's terrifying how much power you've gained in such a short time."
Wanai didn't turn to face her. "Power is meaningless without purpose."
The woman's lips curled into a faint smile. "And what's your purpose this time? Protecting her?"
Wanai finally turned, his gaze sharp and piercing. "That's not for you to question."
The woman raised her hands in mock surrender, her expression amused. "Very well. But don't think I'll stop watching. She's important… to many of us."
Wanai's expression darkened slightly, but he said nothing more. Instead, he vanished into the shadows, his presence disappearing as though he had never been there.
The woman lingered for a moment, her eyes on Mei Yun. "You truly are special, aren't you?" she murmured before disappearing into the darkness as well, leaving the forest eerily quiet once more.