Wind Masters (Part 2)

Encouraged, I guided the energy, coaxing it forward. The wind responded, growing stronger, swirling in a delicate spiral around the stick. Its momentum carried into my movements, making each swing lighter, more fluid, as if the air itself was lifting my strikes.

The strain quickly became overwhelming. My breath grew ragged, and I finally had to stop, lowering the stick as I gasped for air. "I didn't expect it would take so much energy."

Tao Liu nodded knowingly. "It does. That's why this old man can't even manage a tiny whirlwind anymore."

I exhaled, still catching my breath. "I didn't even come close to what you did."

He chuckled. "It was your first attempt. Mastery takes time."

His confidence in me was reassuring. "Of course."

For a moment, he simply observed me, his gaze thoughtful. "You truly had no idea you possessed the wind element? How is that possible?"

I started to shake my head, but a distant memory surfaced, one I hadn't thought about in years.

"When I was younger, I once borrowed one of the Ethereal Frost Sect's five treasured swords. I played with it the same way you just played with that stick, and I noticed the wind gathering around the blade. At the time, I thought the sword itself was special. My master caught me and scolded me for 'disrespecting the weapon.' I never tried it again and eventually forgot about it."

Tao Liu raised an eyebrow. "And more recently? Haven't you felt it manifesting?"

I recalled the sudden gust that had knocked my pursuer down in the woods. At the time, I had assumed someone had intervened to help me. But now… could it have been me? Could my own latent element have reacted on its own?

But that wind had been far too strong. No matter how I tried to convince myself, it didn't seem possible that I had summoned something that powerful with my current cultivation level.

"I don't think so," I finally said, shaking my head.

Tao Liu studied me for a moment, as if debating whether to push the matter further. Instead, he smiled and nodded. "Wind is a formidable ally, especially for a dual-core cultivator like you. It acts as a bridge between light and dark. Light generates heat, dark generates cold, and their interaction creates movement. That is the key to controlling the wind."

I was amazed by the explanation. "How do you know all of this?"

He smiled, a hint of pride in his expression. "I read it in a book written by the legendary Wind Master himself. The founder of the Storm Surge Sect also wielded the wind element, which is why he had chosen this island to build the temple. The abundance of wind here makes it the perfect place to refine wind techniques and shape them into storms."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Storms? It's really possible to summon something that powerful?"

"Of course," Tao Liu replied with certainty. "Haven't you heard of the Dark Wind Master?"

I nodded slowly. The Dark Wind Master was known to me, though the Frost Mountain library had little information about him since he was a dark core bearer. His legendary status, however, made him a frequent topic of discussion, even among disciples of light sects. "I've heard of him, yes. But if I understand correctly, you're saying a dual core is required to summon storms. Is that right?"

"That's correct."

"Then does that mean the Dark Wind Master is a dual-core cultivator?"

"Precisely," Tao Liu confirmed. "But his dark core is stronger than his light core."

My breath hitched. All this time, I had believed the Dark Wind Master was a pure dark core bearer, which explained why the light sects shunned him and why his name was scarcely mentioned in their teachings. But now, it all made sense. He wasn't only rejected by the light sects—he was also an outcast among dark cultivators. His dual core had left him truly alone, a master of wind standing between two worlds that refused to claim him.

"Then how is it that you can harness the wind even with your core damaged? And how did I sense it back when I was still a pure light core?" I asked, my mind racing with new questions.

"Dark and light qi permeate the world around us," Tao Liu explained evenly. "If you wield the wind element, the environment itself provides the qi needed to harness it, regardless of whether your core is dark or light. However, the force of the wind you summon depends on the potency of the surrounding energy. That is why this island is ideal for dual-core cultivators. Both light and dark qi flourish here in equal measure.

"But more than that," he continued, his gaze steady, "being a dual-core cultivator grants you a unique advantage. Throughout history, every true Wind Master has possessed both cores. That balance is what allows them to command the wind with unrivaled precision."

His words left me momentarily breathless. "Is the book you mentioned in the library?" I asked eagerly.

He shook his head. "No, it's a personal treasure. I keep it in my quarters. But I'll lend it to you later. The Wind Master's writings are filled with techniques that may prove invaluable to you."

Excitement bubbled within me. "Thank you, Elder Tao. I can't wait to study it."

He chuckled and gestured toward the path. "Come. Let's head back. The wind may favor you, but this old man's bones are not what they used to be."