014 : The limits of Power.

The moment Lin Tian's fingers touched Ji Wuye's back, the elder froze.

A terrifying force ripped through his meridians, siphoning away his qi at an alarming speed. It felt as though his very life essence was being drained into an abyss with no bottom.

"ARGH!" Ji Wuye gritted his teeth, his body trembling as his strength bled away. His golden Nascent Soul Core pulsed violently within his dantian, trying to resist the unnatural pull.

But Lin Tian had expected this.

"A cultivator at the Nascent Soul Realm… he won't go down so easily."

The higher a cultivator's realm, the more refined and condensed their qi became. Unlike the weaker disciples he had consumed before, Ji Wuye's qi was like hardened steel, difficult to strip away all at once.

For the first time, Lin Tian felt resistance.

His golden eyes flickered with realization.

"So there is a limit."

Instead of taking everything, he could only absorb about half.

But even at 50%, it was enough to shift the battle in his favor.

Ji Wuye staggered forward, his breath ragged, his aura visibly weaker—but he was still standing.

Lin Tian released his grip, stepping back slightly. "Still alive?"

Ji Wuye's chest rose and fell rapidly, but he forced himself to stand tall. His once overwhelming qi was now halved, but his expression remained calm.

"You… cannot take everything from me," he muttered. His fingers twitched, gathering what remained of his strength. "You are strong, Lin Tian… but not invincible."

Lin Tian smirked. "We'll see."

And then—they clashed again.

Despite losing half of his qi, Ji Wuye was still fast.

He moved like a streak of blue lightning, his palm striking toward Lin Tian's heart. The air exploded as his Nascent Soul qi condensed into a devastating shockwave.

Lin Tian dodged, barely. The wind from the strike alone sent cracks through the earth beneath him.

"He's still dangerous."

But not as dangerous as before.

Before, Ji Wuye's attacks had been unstoppable, like the crushing weight of a mountain. But now? His movements were slightly slower, his strikes slightly weaker.

And against someone like Lin Tian, that difference was fatal.

Lin Tian countered, stepping forward with a precise palm strike—

BOOM!

The attack connected with Ji Wuye's ribs, sending him crashing through trees.

But the elder was not done yet.

He rolled mid-air, stabilizing himself, and landed on his feet, coughing up blood but still standing.

His expression was no longer confident—it was grim.

"He took half my qi, and yet he's still this fast…!" Ji Wuye thought, wiping blood from his lips.

He had underestimated Lin Tian.

But Lin Tian was not someone you could underestimate twice.

Ji Wuye took a deep breath, forcing his remaining Nascent Soul energy to circulate through his meridians.

He had one final move.

If it failed… he would die.

The air crackled as Ji Wuye gathered his remaining power into his palm. His qi compressed into a single point, forming a glowing Azure Lotus Seal.

This was his strongest attack—a technique capable of obliterating mountains.

"If I can land this strike, I can still win!"

He vanished.

In the blink of an eye, he reappeared behind Lin Tian—his palm thrusting forward, the full force of his Nascent Soul cultivation condensed into a single devastating blow.

BOOOOM!

The Azure Lotus Seal struck Lin Tian's back directly, unleashing an explosion of pure energy. The entire forest shook, trees splintering, the ground collapsing into a crater.

Dust filled the air.

Ji Wuye gasped for breath, his body trembling from exertion.

"Did I—?"

Before he could finish—

A shadow moved within the dust.

A figure emerged, completely unharmed.

Ji Wuye's heart stopped.

Lin Tian walked out of the smoke, his robes slightly torn but his body untouched. His golden eyes burned with something dangerous.

"You thought that would work?"

Ji Wuye took a step back, his body instinctively rejecting what he had just seen.

"Impossible."

Lin Tian had taken his full-power strike— and had not even flinched.

Despair crept into Ji Wuye's chest.

He had nothing left.

No more strength. No more trump cards.

And Lin Tian?

He hadn't even gone all out.

Lin Tian approached slowly, savoring the moment.

"You fought well," he admitted. "Stronger than most."

Ji Wuye's breathing was uneven. His body was beyond exhaustion.

He had lost.

He knew it.

Lin Tian raised his hand—

But then, he stopped.

He lowered it slightly, a thoughtful look crossing his face.

"...No," he mused. "Killing you would be a waste."

Ji Wuye stiffened.

Lin Tian's golden eyes gleamed. "You came here to kill me. Now, I want you to return to your sect."

Ji Wuye's breath hitched.

Lin Tian smiled. "I want them to see you. I want them to see what happens when they send someone after me."

He leaned in slightly.

"Go. Crawl back to your sect," Lin Tian whispered. "Tell them what you saw. Tell them what's coming."

Ji Wuye gritted his teeth.

He wanted to die rather than return in disgrace.

But he had no choice.

He turned and fled to the darkness of forest.

Lin Tian watched him disappear into the night, his smirk widening.

"Now, they will understand."

He had sent a message.

And soon, the entire cultivation world would know.

Lin Tian was not just a rising cultivator.

He was a force beyond their control.

And the real game?

Had only just begun.

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