Chapter 7 The Path of the Unseen Wind
In the darkness, Duan Liyang's eyes suddenly flew open. An intense, unbearable pain had returned to his head, jolting him awake from sleep. It spread to his eyes, as if the blue particles swirling within his pupils were now burning like fire. He was gasping, drenched in sweat, but this time there was no blurry vision or dream. Just pure, sharp pain gripping his mind and eyes. He gritted his teeth, clutched his pillow tightly, and waited for the pain to subside.
The intense pain gradually began to recede, but this time, as the pain lessened, Duan Liyang discovered a completely new sensation. The burning sensation in his eyes faded, and the feeling of hammer blows to his head ceased. Duan Liyang took a deep breath; his body was still slick with sweat, but this time he wasn't exhausted. Instead, a strange energy, a newfound vitality, flowed within him.
He opened his eyes. The familiar cracks in the room, the texture of the wood – everything was still visible with the same clarity as with his newly awakened senses. But now, he could see even more. The smallest dust particles in the air, which before merely seemed to float, he could now see with incredible clarity, as if they had grown larger. He could hear the sounds from outside the room even more distinctly, every whisper, every subtle movement.
He raised his fingers before his eyes. The microscopic blue particles swirling in the very center of his dark pupils now seemed slightly brighter and more active. As he focused on them, his vision took another leap. He felt as if he could see inside his palm. He could discern the faint glow of subtle energy flowing beneath his skin, coursing through his veins.
Duan Liyang looked at an old, flimsy table in the corner of his hut. His eyes seemed to pierce into the table's wood, and he could see a faint glow of earth energy slowly flowing within its fibers. This was incredible!
Quickly, he rushed out of his hut. In the courtyard outside, some other outer disciples were going about their work. Duan Liyang looked at one of them. Through his eyes, he could clearly see the internal energy flowing within that disciple's body, a steady, but weak current.
"This..." Duan Liyang whispered. He could now not only control his heightened senses but also see the internal energy flowing within others' bodies. He could even discern how powerful they were, based on the flow and density of their internal energy. He could now identify any cultivator's cultivation level just by looking! This was an ability he had never imagined.
He focused inward. The faint hum was still there, but now it wasn't just a hum. It was a clear flow, a warm current coursing through his veins. He felt as though his "cultivation foundation" – the unseen bedrock upon which cultivation is built – had become more solid, more stable. It was as if a thin thread had now become a strong rope. This was no illusion. Duan Liyang clenched his fists. He felt a new strength in his fingers, in his arms. It was more than physical power; it was an internal energy that felt more accessible than ever before. He didn't know when he had reached Level 1, but this pain and the new ability that followed had only served to strengthen the power within him further.
The first rays of sunlight had entered his hut. Duan Liyang rose from his cot, a new vigor in his body. He needed to understand what all this was, but for now, he had to go to work. A new resolve had settled within him.
For the next few days, Duan Liyang fully exploited the benefits of his new energy and the 'Nectar Wind Pellet'. Every morning, upon waking, he would first go to a small, secluded forest behind his hut. This place was quite far from the main Xiao family compound, where no one disturbed him.
Here, beneath the dense canopy of trees, he focused on his practice. He closed his eyes and concentrated on his internal energy. He could now feel the faint hum more clearly, as if it were a microscopic vortex of wind within his body. He drew air into his lungs, and this time, instead of just inhaling it, he allowed it to merge with his internal energy within his body.
As he did so, he felt a strange sensation. The air around him, which had previously been just air, now felt 'alive' to him. He could perceive the subtle particles of wind, their movement, their flow. He raised his hands and slowly moved them. He felt as if the air was responding to his gestures, forming a light, invisible shroud around his hands.
"This... this is it," Duan Liyang thought, a new understanding shining in his eyes. This was the first step of his unique power. It was the ability to control wind, to integrate it with his internal energy.
He continued his practice. He tried to deepen his connection with the wind, to make it an extension of his body. He began to run, but this time, he wasn't just running. He was running with the wind, trying to make it an invisible support beneath his feet. His speed gradually increased; he could run faster than ever before, as if the wind were pushing him forward.
He also worked on his agility. He leaped between trees, using the wind to help him rise and control his descent. Many times he would fall, but the effects of the 'Nectar Wind Pellet' healed his injuries quickly, allowing him to continue practicing without fear. The faint headache was still there, but the 'Nectar Wind Pellet' had certainly made it far more bearable, allowing him to better align with his unusual practice.
Within the Xiao family, the challenge between Duan Liyang and Li Xiao had become a hot topic.
"Did you hear? That little Duan Liyang, who shamed Ren Hao, has challenged Li Xiao!" one disciple told another.
"Yes! He's completely mad! Li Xiao is a Level 3 cultivator! Duan Liyang is barely Level 1, if he even is."
"I think he's just waiting for his death. Li Xiao will teach him a lesson he'll never forget."
Some people felt a little concern for Duan Liyang, especially those who knew his determination despite his past failures. But most saw him as a fool digging his own grave.
Xiang Rui heard these conversations, but she showed no reaction. Her face held a serene expression, but deep in her heart, there was a profound concern for Duan Liyang. She knew how ruthless Li Xiao could be. But she had also seen that unwavering resolve in Duan Liyang's eyes, and she had a strange faith in that 'little brother.'
The chubby boy, Duan Liyang's only true friend, was also worried. He often came by Duan Liyang's hut to see if he was alright. He was happy to see that Duan Liyang now seemed more energetic and focused than ever, but Li Xiao's power still loomed large in his mind.
As days turned into weeks, Duan Liyang's training deepened. The blue particles in his eyes had become even more distinct, and the headache was no longer as intense, but rather a constant, subtle pressure. He felt as if these particles had become an integral part of his cultivation, helping him strengthen his connection with the wind.
He tried to gather wind in his fist, to make it an invisible force. He observed that when he did so, the air around his hand would slightly twist, as if forming a microscopic vortex. It was a small effect, but for Duan Liyang, it was a huge success.
His body began to feel lighter, almost ethereal. He could now climb trees effortlessly, and his leaps were higher and longer than ever before. He was still far from Li Xiao's Level 3 power, but he had found a path different from others, a path that was allowing him to grasp the power of the wind in his fist.
The one-month challenge period was quickly passing, and Duan Liyang knew he had to utilize every single moment. He had no other option.
One afternoon, as he was engrossed in his practice in the forest, he felt a rustle in the nearby bushes. His heightened senses immediately warned him of danger. A large, furry beast emerged from the thicket. Its eyes were red, and its claws were sharp – it was a Level 2 Furry Wolf, rarely seen in the outer parts of the Xiao family forest.
Duan Liyang looked at the wolf for a moment, then focused his eyes on its body. His new ability allowed him to clearly see the flowing internal energy within the wolf – it was a solid, powerful current, equivalent to a Level 2 cultivator. This was a chance to test his abilities.
"Perhaps this is an opportunity to test my speed and evasion," Duan Liyang thought. He prepared for a fight.
The wolf pounced on him, its sharp teeth glinting in the air. Duan Liyang reacted. His vision had slowed down every move of the wolf, and he was using the subtle flow of the wind to shift from side to side. The wolf attacked many times, but each time, Duan Liyang would narrowly avoid it by less than an inch. He would sometimes step aside, sometimes duck, sometimes lightly leap into the air to evade the wolf's attacks. It was an astonishing sight, as if the wind itself stood in his defense.
The wolf growled, its frustration mounting. Duan Liyang realized that his speed and evasion had indeed increased incredibly. He began to circle the wolf, dodging its attacks, his agility like an invisible dance.
Finally, Duan Liyang decided to attack the wolf's head. As the wolf lunged again, Duan Liyang swiftly moved beside it and, swinging his fist through the air, delivered a powerful punch to the wolf's head.
The punch landed. A faint thud echoed.
But the beast showed no reaction. The Furry Wolf merely let out a low growl; the punch to its neck had no effect whatsoever. It didn't even spare a glance for Duan Liyang. His fist held no power, no real force that could harm a Level 2 beast.
Duan Liyang was in shock. His speed was incredible, his evasion amazing, but his attack power... it was still like a child's. He understood that his insight had helped him comprehend the flow of wind and evade, but it hadn't given him sufficient strength to strike back.
"This... how can this be?" he whispered.
The wolf turned to attack him again. Duan Liyang retreated, fleeing rapidly deeper into the forest. There was disappointment and anger in his eyes, but also a new understanding.
"Just you wait, beast!" Duan Liyang shouted as he fled, his voice echoing through the forest. "I w
ill kill you one day!"
End of Chapter 7