Breakthroughs

The night wind howled through the valley, carrying with it the weight of everything Li Wei had just learned.

The Ruins of the Fallen Moon—the mysterious woman's words echoed in his mind.

But he wasn't ready. Not yet.

He turned to Jinhai, determination burning in his eyes. "Before we go there… I need to be stronger."

Jinhai smirked. "Glad to hear it. Because I wasn't planning on letting you leave until you've learned how to actually fight."

He cracked his knuckles and took a stance. "Alright, kid. Time for your first real lesson—Mastering Qi Control."

Jinhai stomped his foot on the ground, and a surge of Qi rippled through his body.

The air around him distorted slightly, as if space itself was bending.

"Before you learn techniques, you need to understand Qi Flow," he said. "If your Qi doesn't move properly inside you, then no technique will work at full power."

Li Wei nodded, focusing. He could feel his Qi, but controlling it still felt unstable—like trying to grasp water with his bare hands.

Jinhai continued, "There are three main ways Qi is used in battle:

1. Qi Reinforcement – Strengthening your body, making you faster, stronger, and tougher.

2. Qi Projection – Releasing Qi outside your body for ranged attacks or energy-based techniques.

3. Qi Suppression – Hiding your power to avoid detection or trick an opponent."

Jinhai's hand blurred, and in an instant—he vanished.

Li Wei's eyes widened. "What—?!"

Before he could react, Jinhai appeared behind him, tapping him lightly on the shoulder. "Qi Suppression and burst movement," he said with a grin. "If you can't sense your opponent's movements, you're dead before the fight even starts."

Li Wei clenched his fists. "Teach me."

Jinhai nodded. "Alright. Close your eyes."

Li Wei did as he was told.

"Now… feel the energy around you. Don't focus on sight. Feel."

Li Wei slowed his breathing. He could sense the warmth of the fire nearby, the cool night wind brushing against his skin.

Then—a shift.

It was faint, but he could feel something moving.

Jinhai.

His Qi flickered—like a ripple in water.

Before he could think, his instincts kicked in, and—

Li Wei spun around, blocking an incoming strike.

Jinhai grinned. "Not bad, kid. You're starting to understand."

Hours passed as they continued training. Li Wei learned to control his Qi more efficiently, using it to reinforce his strikes and sharpen his reflexes.

But as dawn approached, Jinhai suddenly stopped.

"Alright," he said. "That's enough basic training."

Li Wei wiped the sweat from his forehead. "What's next?"

Jinhai said. "You're still at the Qi Refinement Fourth Stage. That's too weak if you want to survive in the Ruins of the Fallen Moon."

He pointed at the sky. "You need to break through to Foundation Establishment. And there's only one way to do it quickly."

Li Wei raised an eyebrow. "Which is…?"

Jinhai grinned. "A life-or-death battle."

Li Wei stiffened. "You mean—"

Jinhai turned, pointing towards the forest beyond the valley. "There's a hidden cave nearby. Inside, there's a creature that feeds on Qi. If you can kill it… the energy released should be enough to push you to the next level."

Li Wei took a deep breath.

A battle against a Qi-consuming beast.

This was it. His first true test.

And he wasn't sure if he is ready

Li Wei stood at the entrance of the cave, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.

The air inside was thick, heavy with the presence of something ancient—something hungry.

Jinhai leaned against a nearby rock, arms crossed. "Remember, kid. That thing inside? It feeds on Qi. If you fight like a normal cultivator, you'll only make it stronger."

Li Wei swallowed hard but nodded. He had come this far. There was no turning back.

With a deep breath, he stepped inside.

The cave was cold and damp, the sound of dripping water echoing through the tunnels.

Faintly glowing moss clung to the walls, casting eerie green light.

Then—

A low growl.

The ground trembled slightly. Li Wei's pulse quickened. He gripped his sword tighter, scanning the darkness.

Suddenly—

Two glowing red eyes snapped open.

A monstrous black-furred beast lunged from the shadows, moving faster than anything he had ever seen.

Li Wei barely dodged as razor-sharp claws slashed past his face, carving deep gouges into the stone wall behind him.

He flipped backward, landing in a crouch. His breathing was sharp, controlled.

The beast circled him, its muscular form rippling with dark energy. Its mouth parted slightly, revealing rows of gleaming fangs.

Li Wei felt his Qi shift.

The monster was already trying to drain him.

Jinhai's words echoed in his mind:

"If you fight like a normal cultivator, you'll only make it stronger."

He couldn't rely on pure Qi attacks.

He had to be smarter.

The beast lunged again.

Li Wei dodged, rolling to the side—but not fast enough.

A claw raked across his arm, sending a burning pain through his body. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to ignore it.

"Think! How do you fight something that devours Qi?"

He stared at the moss-covered walls.

Then—an idea struck him.

With a quick movement, he tore a chunk of glowing moss from the wall and crushed it in his palm.

Instantly, his Qi flickered, blending with the strange natural energy of the cave.

The beast hesitated.

It could sense Qi—but now, Li Wei's Qi felt different.

He smirked. Got you.

Using his new advantage, he launched forward, sword flashing—

SLASH!

The blade cut deep into the beast's shoulder.

It howled in pain, stumbling back.

Li Wei didn't stop. He poured every ounce of his strength into his next attack, his sword glowing faintly with golden energy.

The beast lunged at him one last time—

And he struck its heart.

The beast let out a final, shuddering breath. Its red eyes flickered before slowly fading into darkness.

Then, Li Wei felt it.

A rush of power.

The creature's remaining Qi exploded outward, and his body absorbed it instantly.

His veins burned, his muscles trembled—

And then—

BOOM!

A powerful shockwave burst from his body as his cultivation surged—

Qi Refinement Ninth Stage…

Foundation Establishment First Stage!

He gasped, feeling the transformation. His Qi was denser, sharper, more refined.

He had broken through.

And this was only the beginning.