A grand hall of black marble stretched within the isolated mansion atop a hill. Heavy curtains blocked out the sunlight. The atmosphere was wrapped in unnatural cold and an oppressive silence.
Razor and Alexander were kneeling in the central corridor, foreheads touching the floor.
In the center of the room, seated on a dark stone throne carved with engravings of ancient symbols, was an old man with a noble appearance, well-groomed gray hair, and eyes that gleamed with arrogant lust. Two women in revealing outfits sat at his feet—one caressing his shoulders, the other toying with a wine glass.
When Razor and Alexander touched their foreheads to the ground, the old man only sighed.
"Speak," he said, bored. "What is so important that you interrupt my rest?"
Razor remained bowed.
"Master... I found a cultivator in Nova Brisa. He defeated me with a single strike."
The old man didn't even look at him. Instead, he raised an eyebrow with slight interest upon hearing the word cultivator.
"And what level is this insect?"
"I believe he's at the Gold level of the Internal Qi Realm, Master. He overwhelmed me easily."
Razor clenched his fists, shame burning in his chest. But not for a second did he dare raise his head.
The old man smiled... but it was a joyless smile.
"A mere Gold rank... and you dare waste my time?"
His eyes gleamed with a dark tone, and a suffocating pressure descended upon the hall.
Alexander collapsed to the floor, gasping, veins bulging in his neck. Razor trembled, sweat dripping from his forehead as his bones creaked under the invisible weight.
"Master, please!" Razor panted. "He's weak! But... I swear, he was just a regular person a few months ago! My companion here can confirm! This isn't natural!"
The pressure vanished as abruptly as it had come.
The old man remained silent for a moment, then spoke in a more intrigued tone:
"Hmm... such rapid advancement in such little time?"
He lifted the goblet one of the women offered him, swirling the liquid lightly. His eyes gleamed with cunning.
"Tell me everything."
Razor turned to Alexander, who, still breathing heavily, recounted Harry's story.
When he finished, the old man snapped his fingers.
The door opened, and a tall, muscular man entered. He wore a well-fitted suit, his head shaved. His eyes were cold as steel.
"Bruno Kovach," said the old man. "Follow these two to Nova Brisa. Investigate everything about this Harry. If possible, bring him alive."
Bruno nodded silently and exited the room like a shadow obeying without question.
Days had passed since the battle with Razor. In Vinícius's backyard, training continued intensely.
Rafael was sweating, concentrating as Harry had taught.
"Slow breathing, focus on your dantian. Feel the warmth... the current spiraling inside," Harry instructed, standing in front of him. "Now open the meridians... one by one."
Rafael let out a soft groan, his back muscles straining.
"Feels like my body is trying to block the Qi from flowing..."
"And it is," Harry replied. "Your body is adapting. You need to force it to accept it. It's like breaking down rusted doors from the inside."
Vinícius, on the other side, watched with crossed arms.
On the afternoon of the fourth day of training, Rafael felt a shift. He successfully drew a strand of Qi into his body.
A few days later:
"Harry... I think I... did it."
Harry smiled and approached, touching his back with his fingers.
"Yes. The Qi is flowing. Congratulations, Rafael. You've reached the First Level of the Qi Realm."
Vinícius clapped, smiling.
"Welcome to the club."
Rafael smiled with relief and pride.
But that pride soon turned into tension. Vinícius realized he was no longer the only advanced disciple, and a healthy sense of competition rekindled inside him.
The next day, Harry began the new training: awakening elemental affinity.
"Now that you control Qi, let's discover your affinity," he explained. "There are five main elements: fire, water, earth, wood, and metal. Some people are naturally attuned to one. Others, to none."
Rafael tried manipulating fire first, following Harry's gestures and techniques.
Nothing.
Then they tried water. Moisture condensed in his palm but quickly faded.
Rafael furrowed his brow.
"Maybe I have no affinity at all?"
Harry shook his head.
"We still have earth."
Rafael touched the ground, guiding his Qi to his fingers. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath... and then, the ground vibrated.
"Hmm?"
With a firm gesture, a stone wall rose from the earth with force, standing two meters tall before them.
Harry and Vinícius looked at each other, speechless.
"That... was faster than I expected," said Harry.
Vinícius nodded, looking at Rafael with respect... and a bit of envy.
"Looks like you found your element."
Rafael, unsure whether to laugh or be amazed, just stared at the stone wall before him.
"Damn... this is really real."
Harry crossed his arms, smiling.
"Real... and just the beginning."