The Guardian Of The Falls.
Li Wei stood at the base of the Celestial Falls, feeling the overwhelming energy radiating from the rising waters. His heart pounded—not from fear, but from the sheer challenge ahead.
Jinhai's voice was calm but firm. "Control your Qi. Without it, the force of the waterfall will crush you before you even take three steps."
Li Wei nodded, inhaling deeply. He closed his eyes and focused.
He could feel his Qi swirling within him, pulsing like a living force. He guided it toward his feet, trying to balance the flow of energy.
Then, he took his first step.
The moment his foot touched the surface of the water, a massive force pushed against him, threatening to send him flying. Li Wei gritted his teeth, pushing his Qi downward, anchoring himself.
A second step.
The force increased, resisting him even more. His body trembled under the pressure, sweat beading on his forehead.
A third step.
BOOM!
A shockwave of water erupted, sending him crashing back to the rocky shore.
Li Wei coughed, shaking from the impact. He clenched his fists. "Damn it…"
Jinhai chuckled. "Not bad for a first try. But you need to refine your control. You're using too much force—Qi isn't about brute strength, it's about harmony. Learn to flow with the energy of the falls, not against it."
Li Wei wiped the sweat from his brow and exhaled slowly. Flow with it, not against it.
He stood up and stepped forward again.
Li Wei steadied his breath, his body still trembling from the force of the fall. His Qi control was nowhere near refined enough to climb the Celestial Falls—but he refused to back down.
Jinhai watched him with a knowing smile. "You're trying to overpower the falls, but this isn't a battle of strength. Qi is like water—it flows. If you force it, you'll only break yourself against the current."
Li Wei exhaled slowly. He closed his eyes and focused. Instead of forcing his Qi to push against the waterfall's energy, he let it flow naturally, guiding it through his body like a gentle stream.
He stepped forward.
This time, the force didn't immediately knock him back. He could feel the energy currents within the waterfall, spiraling in unpredictable patterns.
He took another step.
The pressure pushed against him, but he adjusted his Qi flow, shifting it with the movement of the water instead of resisting it.
A third step.
A fourth.
By the fifth step, he could feel the power of the Celestial Falls merging with his own Qi, strengthening it instead of rejecting it.
Jinhai's eyes gleamed. "He's learning."
But just as Li Wei took his sixth step, a violent surge of energy erupted from the waterfall.
BOOM!
A pulse of Celestial Energy shot toward him like a roaring dragon.
Li Wei's eyes widened—he had no time to dodge.
Instinct took over.
He raised his hand, and for the first time, the Celestial Seal within him responded on its own.
A golden light flared around him, and the attack shattered before it could reach him.
Jinhai's smile widened. "Interesting."
Li Wei staggered, panting. He looked down at his glowing hands, his mind racing.
The Celestial Seal… it had protected him.
Was it awakening further?
His heart pounded with excitement. If I can master this…
Gritting his teeth, he turned back to the waterfall. He wasn't done yet.
He stepped forward once more.
Li Wei's breath was steady, his heart pounding—not from exhaustion, but from revelation. The Celestial Seal had awakened on its own, responding to the force of the falls.
Was this what Jinhai meant by control?
He looked up at the towering waterfall, its energy still swirling like a storm. If the Celestial Seal was reacting to pressure, then maybe…
He stepped forward again.
This time, instead of just flowing with the currents of Qi, he focused inward.
The Celestial Seal pulsed within him, a golden light flickering faintly over his skin. He reached for it—not as a tool, but as a part of himself.
The moment his Qi merged with the seal, his perception shifted.
The waterfall that had once seemed like a raging storm became clear.
He could see the hidden patterns in its flow, the gaps in its energy.
This was the key.
He took another step.
This time, he vanished.
Jinhai's eyes widened slightly. "Hoh… not bad."
Li Wei reappeared ten steps higher on the falls.
His Qi had synchronized with the Celestial Seal, allowing him to move between the currents instead of struggling against them.
A grin spread across his face. He was doing it.
But then—
BOOM!
The waterfall suddenly shifted, and a powerful spiritual presence emerged from the mist.
Jinhai sighed. "Of course."
From within the waterfall, a guardian spirit appeared—a colossal beast formed entirely of water, its glowing blue eyes locking onto Li Wei.
A voice echoed through the valley.
"Only the worthy may ascend the Celestial Falls. Prove your strength!"
Li Wei's grin didn't fade.
"Perfect."
He had been waiting for a real fight.
A roar like thunder echoed through the valley as the guardian spirit emerged in full form. The beast was massive, its body composed entirely of swirling water, glowing runes pulsating across its form. Its eyes burned with ancient power, locked onto Li Wei.
Jinhai sighed, crossing his arms. "A spirit guardian, huh? Looks like the falls have acknowledged your potential."
Li Wei exhaled sharply, his excitement barely contained. This was exactly what he needed—a chance to push himself even further.
The guardian's voice rumbled through the air.
"To wield the power of the Celestial Falls, one must prove their strength. Show me your mastery of Qi, or be cast down!"
Without warning, the guardian struck.
A colossal wave, infused with pure spiritual energy, surged toward Li Wei with crushing force.
His instincts screamed at him to dodge, but he knew—this was a test of mastery, not evasion.
Instead of running, he focused.
The Celestial Seal flared within him, and his Qi flowed outward, forming a protective barrier of golden light.
BOOM!