The ground trembled beneath Xu Lan's feet as the massive beast stepped into the clearing. Towering over him, its hide glinted like molten bronze, muscles rippling with terrifying strength. Its eyes burned with intelligence and malice, and every breath it exhaled carried the raw scent of primal dominance.
Xu Lan's pulse raced, yet his mind was sharp. Fear lingered at the edges, but he had no time for hesitation. The golden beast essence surged within him, illuminating the veins beneath his skin. Every fiber of his being screamed to fight, to push beyond limits.
The beast lunged. Its massive paw smashed the ground where Xu Lan had stood moments before, sending shards of rock flying in all directions. He rolled to the side, feeling the shockwave through his body. Instinct and training collided—his movements had grown faster, sharper, more fluid.
Xu Lan exhaled, centering his qi. The beast circled him, each step deliberate, like a predator assessing its prey. He realized that a direct confrontation would not suffice; he needed strategy. Channeling the beast essence into his arms, he struck a series of rapid punches, not to kill, but to test the creature's speed and reaction.
The beast responded instantly, parrying and dodging with an agility that defied its size. Xu Lan's strikes met resistance at every turn. With each exchange, he absorbed the creature's energy, feeling his body expand with newfound strength. But the beast was not just strong—it was cunning.
It feigned left, then slammed its massive tail toward Xu Lan's legs. He leapt over the attack, twisting midair to deliver a golden-infused kick. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the forest, toppling nearby trees. Xu Lan felt the beast's energy enter him like a torrent, his senses sharpening further.
"Not enough…" he muttered through gritted teeth. He needed more control, more finesse. He centered his focus, letting the beast essence flow not just into his limbs, but into his entire body. His movements slowed in perception but accelerated in reality, his reflexes operating faster than the naked eye could follow.
The beast roared, and Xu Lan roared back, launching himself into the air. Golden energy flared from his fists as he performed a sequence of strikes that combined speed, power, and precision—a technique he had created in the moment. Each blow absorbed the beast's energy, weakening it while simultaneously strengthening him.
The ground beneath them cracked and split, trees splintered, and the air itself seemed to vibrate with the force of their clash. Xu Lan felt exhaustion clawing at him, but he pushed forward. The golden essence within him was no longer just energy—it was an extension of his body, his instincts, his very will.
Finally, Xu Lan saw an opening. The beast's guard faltered for the briefest instant. With a roar, he channeled every ounce of his strength into a single, decisive strike: a spinning, golden-infused punch aimed at the beast's chest. The impact exploded like a thunderclap.
The beast let out a final, echoing roar before collapsing. Xu Lan staggered backward, chest heaving, golden essence still pulsating around him. He had won—not through brute force, but through the perfect union of strategy, skill, and the beast essence within.
As silence fell over the clearing, Xu Lan sank to one knee, exhausted but exhilarated. His body felt different—stronger, faster, sharper. But even in victory, he sensed the truth: this was only the beginning. Greater beasts, greater trials awaited.
He closed his eyes, letting the energy of the fallen beast integrate fully. In that moment, a new technique had awakened within him, born of instinct, necessity, and the raw power of the beast essence.
Xu Lan whispered to himself, a smile tugging at his lips:
"This is just the start… my true power has only begun to awaken."*
The mountains around him seemed to hum in agreement, as if the world itself acknowledged the rise of a new force