The clearing outside the village became the stage for this unconventional confrontation. Villagers gathered at a distance, whispers of curiosity and concern rippling through their ranks.
Jiang Chen and Li Wei stood facing each other, the moon casting a pale glow upon them.
"No weapons," Li Wei declared, his tone authoritative. "We shall engage in a battle of spiritual pressure. The one who falters first concedes."
Jiang Chen inclined his head in agreement. He had anticipated a physical challenge, but this test was far more insidious.
Li Wei closed his eyes briefly, and when they reopened, a palpable force emanated from him—a crushing aura that bore down upon Jiang Chen like an invisible weight.
The villagers gasped, some staggering under the sheer intensity of the pressure.
Jiang Chen stood firm, his expression serene. He drew a deep breath, centering himself, and then released his own aura—a gentle, encompassing presence that flowed like water, meeting Li Wei's force head-on.
The two energies clashed in the space between them, an invisible storm that stirred the dust at their feet.
Li Wei's eyes widened imperceptibly. He had expected resistance, but not this... tranquility.
"Impressive," Li Wei conceded, his voice strained. "But can you withstand this?"
With a surge of effort, Li Wei intensified his aura, transforming it into a tempest of raw power, seeking to overwhelm Jiang Chen's calm.
Jiang Chen's knees threatened to buckle under the assault, but he steadied himself, drawing upon the wellspring of his past—a time when he had stood among the stars, unyielding and infinite.
His aura expanded, not in force, but in depth, absorbing Li Wei's onslaught like an ocean swallowing a storm.
Li Wei's breath hitched, sweat beading on his brow. He had underestimated this man.
With a final, desperate push, Li Wei attempted to break through Jiang Chen's defenses, but it was like striking at the wind—formless and ungraspable.
Exhausted, Li Wei's aura faltered, and he dropped to one knee, gasping for breath.
Jiang Chen remained standing, his expression a mask of composed detachment.
The villagers erupted into murmurs, awe and fear mingling in their voices.
Li Wei struggled to his feet, his demeanor humbled. "You are no mere villager," he admitted, his tone devoid of its earlier arrogance.
Jiang Chen offered a hand, helping Li Wei rise. "Titles and appearances are but illusions. It is one's actions that define them."
Li Wei studied Jiang Chen intently. "The Celestial Pavilion will not overlook this encounter. Be prepared for what may come."
With that, Li Wei turned and departed, his form melding into the shadows.
Xiao Yue and Bai Qi approached, their expressions a mix of admiration and concern.
"That was... extraordinary," Bai Qi remarked. "But it seems we've drawn even greater attention."
Jiang Chen nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon where Li Wei had vanished. "The winds of change are upon us. We must be ready for whatever they carry."