Vinícius, curious as always, discreetly approached a gossiping nurse who was murmuring with a colleague about the newly discovered body. Using a casual and concerned tone, he said:
— "Miss, where did that happen? I just want to avoid going there... what if it's dangerous..."
The nurse, thrilled by the attention, promptly replied:
— "All three cases happened in the southern part of the city... that poorer region, you know? It's not the first time this month..."
Thanking her with an awkward smile, Vinícius returned to Harry and shared the information:
— "All three cases were in the southern district... something's definitely happening there. I'll dig around online and focus more on cultivation — this is getting serious."
He said goodbye to Harry and left determined, leaving his friend deep in thought. Lying in the hospital bed, Harry held the necklace and the ring on his finger with his good hand. He thought about everything that had happened: his simple life, the sudden change, the dangers faced, the death of his uncle, and the cruel doubt about continuing down this path.
— "Should I really...?" — he asked himself.
But then he gave himself a light slap on the face and said in a low voice:
— "I may be weak now, but one day I'll be the strongest and most powerful... I'll protect everyone around me!"
At that exact moment, the skies above the city echoed with a thunderous roar, lighting up the buildings as if the heavens themselves approved of his decision. Harry, however, didn't notice the phenomenon.
In a remote and dark place — a damp, silent cave — the wounded demon opened its only remaining eye. Watching the sky, it let out a scornful smile. Then, it dropped a single drop of its black blood onto a rat.
The creature writhed in agony, dying with its body soaked in putrid blood. Other rats approached and devoured the corpse and the contaminated ground. Gradually, their bodies grew to the size of rabbits, revealing that the mutation had only just begun...
Back at the hospital, Harry closed his eyes and entered meditation. The pain in his shoulder slowly faded as Qi flowed through his meridians more strongly than ever before. After three hours of intense cultivation, Harry broke through to the Second Level of Qi Refinement. Now, he felt the Qi cycling fully between his Dantian and his meridians, strengthening his vitality, resilience, and body awareness.
When he opened his eyes, a spark gleamed in his gaze, even if he didn't notice it. His shoulder no longer hurt like before. Excited, he delved into the technique left behind by Long Hai, and new information emerged:
🌟 The Elements that Shape the Cultivation Path
In the beginning of time, the world was not made only of flesh, stone, or soul — but of Primordial Essences. Everything that exists was given form by the Five Fundamental Elements:
🔥 Fire: Destruction and rebirth. Burning will.
💧 Water: Wisdom and adaptation.
🌱 Wood: Growth, poisons, and healing.
🪨 Earth: Stability and balance.
⚔️ Metal: Discipline and cutting.
In addition, there are rare and powerful elements:
⚡ Lightning (Heavenly Thunder): Divine punishment, pure destruction.
❄️ Ice: Freezes time and soul.
🌪️ Wind: Invisible, swift, and sharp.
🕯️ Shadows: Concealment and death.
🌞 Light (Sacred): Purification and healing.
☠️ Poison: Corruption and toxins.
Each cultivator carries, to a greater or lesser degree, the seed of these elements within their Qi. Mastering an element means aligning with nature, turning weakness into strength, and paving the way to ascension.
Harry recalled that he possessed the five basic Qi spells, inherited from the basic Qi technique that Long Hai had implanted in his mind:
🔥 Fireball
💧 Water Jet
🌱 Binding Root
🪨 Earth Wall
⚔️ Spiritual Blade
Determined to master them all, Harry made a promise to himself — he would train to his limits.
The next morning, he was discharged from the hospital and headed to Vinícius's house, ready to take the next step on his journey.