The act of carving his legacy into stone tablets had given Li Wei a profound sense of purpose, as if his trials—lightning, betrayal, and visions—were not just for himself but for future seekers of the Dao. The hidden valley, with its shimmering pool, ancient tree, and glowing blossoms, pulsed with an energy that seemed to affirm the warmth in his dantian—a warmth he believed was his nascent Golden Core, nurturing a fledgling Nascent Soul. Azure Dragon, his scruffy spirit beast, remained a loyal companion, curled by the stone altar as Li Wei pored over the scroll, its worn bamboo slats a sacred guide through his journey. The scroll's latest passage unveiled a familiar yet daunting challenge: "The Rival's Return, where past foes resurface to test the cultivator's resolve. Face them with qi, for the Dao honors the unyielding."
In the cultivation novels Li Wei had devoured in Beijing, rivalries were central to a cultivator's growth—recurring adversaries who pushed disciples to refine their skills or confront their weaknesses. The scroll's description was less dramatic but equally compelling: "The rival, once scorned, returns to challenge the heart. Stand firm, and the Dao shall reveal strength." Li Wei's thoughts immediately turned to the hiker who had mocked him early in his journey, laughing at his cultivation and snapping a photo that had humiliated him. The hiker's scorn had been a tribulation, a test Li Wei believed he'd overcome, but the scroll's warning suggested a rematch. His body, weakened by hunger, fever, and the recent alchemical purge, ached with every movement, but his spirit burned with resolve, fueled by the valley's mystical aura.
Li Wei prepared with the vigilance of a warrior expecting battle. He reinforced his altar with fresh stones, carving spirals inspired by the Starstone to channel the valley's qi, and placed the scroll, jade slip, Starstone, and stolen booklet at its center, their faint glow a ward against doubt. Azure Dragon watched, head tilted, as Li Wei practiced his Heavenly Sword Art, swinging the Star Blade through the mist, visualizing qi bursting from each strike. The warmth in his dantian pulsed, ready to face any challenge. He recalled the hiker's smug face and imagined him as a rival cultivator, perhaps drawn back to the valley by the same spiritual forces that had guided Li Wei.
Days later, as Li Wei meditated by the pool, Azure Dragon's sudden growl broke his focus. Footsteps crunched through the ferns, and a familiar figure emerged from the valley's crevice entrance—the hiker, still in bright orange gear, his backpack jingling with water bottles. His face, once mocking, now held a mix of curiosity and amusement. "You're still here, hermit boy?" he called, his voice carrying a teasing edge. "Thought you'd have flown to the stars by now." Li Wei's heart raced, his hand tightening on the Star Blade. The scroll had foretold this—the rival's return. He saw the hiker not as a tourist, but as a test sent by the heavens.
"I've grown stronger," Li Wei said, rising to his feet, adopting the Celestial Crane Posture. "My qi is real. Leave this sacred ground, or face me." The hiker raised an eyebrow, chuckling. "Still playing wizard? Alright, show me your magic." Li Wei focused on his dantian, channeling his qi into a radiant burst, as he'd practiced against the "beast horde." He swung the Star Blade in a wide arc, chanting the scroll's incantations, visualizing sparks trailing the blade. The hiker stepped back, startled, but his grin returned. "Nice show," he said, pulling out his phone to record. "This'll get more likes than last time."
Humiliation flared, but Li Wei saw it as part of the trial. The scroll urged him to "stand firm," so he lowered the blade, shifting tactics. "You mock what you don't understand," he said, his voice steady. "Join me, and I'll show you the Dao." The hiker paused, his phone lowering, his expression softening. "You really believe this stuff, don't you?" he said, almost gently. "Look, I'm just hiking. But… you've got guts, living out here." He hesitated, then offered a bottle of water. "Take care, alright?"
Li Wei accepted the water, stunned. Was this a victory, or a truce? The hiker left, promising not to post the video, and Li Wei sat by the altar, Azure Dragon nudging his hand. He scribbled in his notebook: "Rival returned. Faced with qi, resolved with words. Dao prevails." The warmth in his dantian pulsed stronger, as if the valley approved. During the next video call with the Order of the Jade Dawn, Li Wei shared the encounter, framing it as a spiritual triumph. Zhang Wei cheered, Liu Mei praised his restraint, while Chen Xiu and Zhao Feng debated rivalries, their tensions simmering.
As night fell, Li Wei sat by the altar, the Starstone warm in his hands, Azure Dragon snoring softly. The scroll promised that the Rival's Return tested resolve, but also opened new paths. The valley's whispers seemed to chant in approval, their murmurs blending with the breeze. With his sect's support and the scroll's guidance, Li Wei felt ready for the next challenge, his Golden Core and Nascent Soul pulsing as beacons of his unyielding pursuit, one unexpected truce at a time toward immortality.