The formation of the Order of the Jade Dawn had ignited a renewed sense of purpose in Li Wei. The virtual sect, though scattered across China, felt like a lifeline, their shared belief in cultivation binding them despite the miles. Each night, as he sat by his flickering campfire on Mount Tai, Li Wei pored over the group's chat messages, eagerly absorbing JadeSeeker88's translations of alchemical recipes, MoonlitCrane's serene meditation videos, and IronWill's gruff advice on channeling qi through physical exertion. Their encouragement bolstered his resolve, but the scroll's next challenge loomed large: a passage titled "Taming the Spirit Beast," which spoke of confronting a creature of the wild to prove one's mastery over nature's primal forces. Li Wei, emboldened by his recent triumphs, saw this as his next trial—a chance to test his growing qi against a living adversary.
The clearing on Mount Tai, now a familiar sanctuary with its stone altar and patched tarp, buzzed with morning energy as Li Wei prepared. The scroll's description was vague, as usual, mentioning a "beast of the earth" whose spirit could be subdued through "qi projection and unyielding will." In his mind, Li Wei envisioned a mythical creature—a tiger infused with celestial power, perhaps, or a serpent glowing with ancient energy. The reality of Mount Tai's wildlife was likely less fantastical, but Li Wei was undeterred. He packed his backpack with the scroll, his notebook, and a makeshift "weapon"—a sharpened stick he'd carved into a crude spear, imbued with what he believed was a trace of his qi after hours of meditative focus.
He ventured deeper into the forest than he had before, following a narrow trail that wound through dense pines and rocky outcrops. The air grew cooler, the sunlight dimmer, as the canopy thickened overhead. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig set his nerves on edge, his senses heightened by anticipation. The scroll had warned that the beast trial was as much about courage as power, a test of whether a cultivator could face the wild without faltering. Li Wei clutched his spear, chanting softly to steady his qi, visualizing it as a radiant shield around him.
Hours passed with no sign of anything more formidable than a scampering hare or a flock of sparrows. Hunger gnawed at him—his diet of foraged berries and the occasional "Spirit Root Herb" was barely enough to sustain his energy—but he pressed on, determined to find his trial. As the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest, he reached a rocky ravine where the trail petered out. The air here felt heavier, charged with an almost palpable tension. Li Wei's heart quickened. This was the place, he was certain—the scroll spoke of "sacred grounds" where trials manifested.
Then he heard it: a low, guttural grunt, followed by the crunch of underbrush. His breath caught as a dark shape emerged from the shadows—a wild boar, its bristly hide scarred, its tusks glinting in the fading light. The creature was massive, easily twice the size of any pig Li Wei had seen, its small eyes fixed on him with a mix of curiosity and menace. His first instinct was to run, but the scroll's words echoed in his mind: "Subdue the beast with qi, not force." This was no ordinary animal—it was his spirit beast, a challenge sent by the heavens.
Li Wei dropped into a stance he'd learned from IronWill's videos, feet planted wide, spear held loosely. He focused on his dantian, willing the warmth of his qi to surge outward. "I am a cultivator," he whispered, his voice trembling but resolute. "I command your spirit." He thrust his hands forward, mimicking the qi projection he'd practiced in his clearing, imagining a wave of energy to calm the boar. The beast snorted, pawing the ground, clearly unimpressed.
Panic crept in as the boar took a step closer, its head lowered. Li Wei's qi felt weak, the warmth flickering like a dying ember. Desperate, he shouted the scroll's incantations, his voice echoing off the ravine walls. The boar charged, a blur of muscle and tusks. Li Wei dove aside, his spear clattering uselessly against a rock. Scrambling to his feet, he sprinted toward a nearby tree, the boar's hooves thundering behind him. With a frantic leap, he grabbed a low branch and hauled himself up, heart pounding as the boar circled below, grunting in frustration.
Perched precariously in the tree, Li Wei caught his breath, his mind racing. Had he failed? The scroll promised mastery, not a humiliating climb. But as he watched the boar, an idea struck. The trial wasn't about slaying the beast—it was about connection, about asserting his will over nature's chaos. He closed his eyes, ignoring the boar's snorts, and focused inward. The warmth in his dantian stirred, faint but steady. He visualized it flowing outward, not as a weapon but as a bridge, a calming force to soothe the beast's spirit.
Opening his eyes, he locked gazes with the boar. "Be at peace," he said softly, extending a trembling hand. The words felt absurd, but he poured his intent into them, imagining his qi as a gentle wave. To his astonishment, the boar paused, its ears twitching. It snorted once more, then turned and lumbered back into the underbrush, disappearing as if the encounter had never happened.
Li Wei slid down the tree, his legs shaky but his spirit soaring. Had he tamed the beast, or had it simply grown bored? He chose to believe the former. Back at his clearing, he scribbled in his notebook: "Beast Trial faced. Spirit boar subdued with qi projection. Courage proven." He shared the story with the Order of the Jade Dawn in their next video call, embellishing the boar's size and ferocity just a little. Zhang Wei cheered, Liu Mei nodded approvingly, and even Wang Hao grunted in respect.
As night fell over Mount Tai, Li Wei sat by his altar, the scroll open before him. The boar had been a test, and he had survived—perhaps even triumphed. The path to immortality was proving more perilous than he'd imagined, but each trial made him stronger. With his sect's support and the scroll's guidance, he felt ready for whatever came next. The stars above seemed to wink in approval, and Li Wei smiled, his qi pulsing with quiet confidence.