Chapter 10: The Forge of Bonds
Li Wei and Lin Xue met at dawn on a secluded island, its cliffs ringed by mist. Lin Xue was a formation prodigy, her knowledge gleaned from years as an outer disciple. She taught Li Wei the basics of the Cloud Veil Formation, a defensive array that bent light to obscure movements. "It's not as strong as your Spirit Blade Formation," she explained, sketching runes in the air with qi, "but it's versatile. Use it to confuse enemies."
Li Wei practiced, weaving qi into a shimmering veil that hid his form. The effort strained his dantian, but Lin Xue's guidance was precise, her patience steadying his frustration. In return, he shared the Qi Pulse Strike, teaching her to disrupt an opponent's qi flow. Their training forged a tentative trust, though Li Wei kept the Nine Worlds Ascension Art secret, its origins too perilous to reveal.
Between sessions, they shared stories. Lin Xue hailed from a merchant family in the Spirit Realm, forced into the pavilion after bandits destroyed her caravan. "I cultivate to protect those I love," she said, her eyes distant. Li Wei thought of Hidden Mist Valley, his own losses fueling his resolve. "We're not so different," he admitted, surprised by the warmth in his chest.
Their training was interrupted by a sect mission: to gather Azure Lotus Cores from the Mistveil Swamp, a dangerous region teeming with spirit beasts. Elder Mei assigned Li Wei, Lin Xue, and ten other outer disciples, warning of the swamp's Fog Serpents—mid-Qi Condensation beasts with venomous bites. Fang Luo was among the group, his smirk promising trouble.
The swamp was a labyrinth of gnarled roots and murky pools, its air thick with corrosive qi. Li Wei's Spirit Sense guided the group, detecting lotus patches. As they harvested, a Fog Serpent struck, its scales blending with the mist. Li Wei reacted first, his Qi Spiral blasting the beast back. Lin Xue activated a Cloud Veil Formation, hiding the group as more serpents slithered near.
Fang, however, saw an opportunity. He slipped away, tampering with the formation's runes to draw the serpents toward Li Wei. The trap sprang, a dozen serpents lunging. Li Wei's Spirit Blade Formation activated, slicing through scales, but the venom qi burned his meridians. Lin Xue pulled him to safety, her own formation stabilizing the group. "Fang did this," she whispered, her eyes blazing.
Together, they repelled the serpents, Li Wei's Qi Flame Control igniting a fiery vortex to drive them off. The group returned with the cores, but Fang's sabotage went unpunished—his cousin's influence shielded him. Li Wei clenched his fists, vowing to settle the score in the tournament.
That night, he absorbed an Azure Lotus Core, its pure qi pushing him to the sixth stage of Qi Condensation. The scroll hummed, revealing a new technique: Starlight Slash, a blade of condensed qi that drew power from the Spirit Realm's auroras. Li Wei practiced under the starry sky, his resolve hardening. Fang's schemes would not break him.