After the competition concluded, an elder from the sect approached me and said Elder Wu wanted to see me immediately.
Without delay, I was escorted to a secluded mountain pavilion nestled deep within the sect's grounds. Mist curled lazily around the stone steps as I climbed, the air rich with qi far denser than anywhere I had trained before.
At the top, I saw him.
Elder Wu sat calmly beneath an ancient pine, sipping tea as if the world moved slower around him. His eyes, half-closed, still carried a sharpness that could pierce through mountains.
"So you're Chen Yu," his voice was steady, but something in it demanded attention.
"Yes, Elder." I bowed deeply, unsure of what to expect.
"Do you know why I summoned you?" he asked, setting his cup down.
"To guide me… because I won the competition?"
Elder Wu chuckled softly. "The competition? That is nothing. There will always be competitions, always someone stronger. I summoned you because I saw something in you."
I frowned. "Something?"
He stood, his gaze falling upon me like a mountain's weight. "You're walking a path few dare to tread. Body, qi, and soul—all simultaneously. Dangerous. Bold. But also… potentially boundless."
I felt a shiver crawl up my spine. He had seen through me.
Elder Wu stepped forward. "Tell me, Chen Yu, why do you cultivate?"
The question struck me harder than any fist.
Why do I cultivate?
For power?
For survival?
For something more?
I clenched my fists. "Because I refuse to be weak."
He studied me, then nodded. "A simple answer, but not without weight. Let us see if your body can carry the strength you desire."
Before I could react, his palm struck toward me—not with killing intent, but with enough force that my instincts screamed.
"Endure ten of my strikes. Stand until the end."
There was no chance to refuse.
The first strike landed on my shoulder, sending me staggering backward.
I gritted my teeth, stabilizing my footing.
The second struck my ribs. The pain lanced through me, but I forced my body to stay upright.
Again. And again. Each blow was like a mountain crashing down, but I refused to kneel.
By the seventh strike, my legs trembled.
Elder Wu paused, a hint of curiosity flickering in his eyes. "You could surrender."
I spat blood, a grin forming despite the pain. "Most people… aren't me."
The eighth. The ninth.
The final strike came, not with power, but with precision. It struck my core, resonating through the meridians I had only recently unlocked.
I stumbled… but remained standing.
Silence lingered in the air.
Finally, Elder Wu smiled faintly. "Good. Very good."
He turned back toward his stone table, gesturing for me to sit.
"Chen Yu, I will personally guide you in stabilizing your Void Qi Sutra. But you must remember—balance is key. Abandoning body, qi, or soul will be your downfall."
I bowed low. "Thank you, Elder!"
His fingers tapped the table slowly. "I will also teach you the Flowing Shadow Step—a movement technique that will serve you well."
That day, my path deepened.
I had taken another step forward—but the mountain I was climbing still loomed far above me.