The morning mist hung low over the Blood Valley, curling around jagged rocks like serpents of smoke. Liang Feng's body ached from yesterday's battle. Every muscle screamed, every joint protested. The blood of the wolf he had slain still clung to his clothes, crusted and stiff. Yet, the fire within him—the Crimson Qi—was alive, pulsing stronger than ever. Pain no longer deterred him; it drove him forward.
Master Shen's silhouette appeared at the mouth of the canyon, leaning on a gnarled staff. "Today, your trial begins in earnest," he said, his voice like gravel. "You will face the Blood Beasts' pack. Five creatures, more cunning and vicious than the one you killed yesterday. You will not retreat, and you will not falter. Only through surviving them all will your Qi temper further."
Liang Feng nodded, gripping his dagger tightly. His vision flickered with the red glow of his Blood Qi. Fear had once lived in his chest, but it had been replaced with a raw hunger, a desperate drive to grow stronger. He was no longer the frightened boy who had lost his village; he was a weapon forged in fire and blood.
The first howl shattered the silence—a chorus of hunger and malice. From the shadows emerged the pack: three towering blood wolves, each larger and more grotesque than the last, their eyes glowing like molten rubies. Behind them, two hulking, wolf-like creatures with jagged horns and dripping fangs lurked. Their bodies radiated a dark, almost tangible energy, and their growls rumbled through the valley like distant thunder.
Liang Feng dropped into a crouch. His dagger gleamed as the Crimson Qi flared, wrapping his body in a scorching red aura. He could feel the life force of the beasts, pulsing like drums in his mind, calling to him. The Blood Qi fed on it, and with every pulse, he felt his own power surge.
The first wolf lunged. Its speed was terrifying, teeth snapping within inches of Liang Feng's face. He sidestepped, slashing his dagger across its side. Blood sprayed, sizzling as it met the aura around him. The beast yelped, recoiling, but its ferocity did not wane. It came again, relentless. Liang Feng's dagger flashed in the mist, moving faster than the eye could follow. Another slash, another gush of crimson, and the first wolf collapsed, twitching.
No time to rest. The second wolf was already upon him, jaws snapping. Liang Feng pivoted, striking upward, his Blood Qi bursting into a vortex around the blade. The dagger sank into its throat, and the aura consumed the spilling blood, burning into his skin. He inhaled sharply, tasting the iron tang, feeling power flood through him.
The remaining three beasts hesitated for only a fraction of a second before coordinating their attack. They circled him, testing his defenses, moving with a terrifying intelligence. Liang Feng's body burned with exhaustion, but his mind was razor-sharp. Every movement was deliberate; every strike a promise of death. The Blood Qi hummed violently, responding to his will.
He leapt, spinning through the air, dagger slicing the air as it struck the largest beast—the horned abomination—square in the chest. Blood sprayed, its roar shaking the valley. Liang Feng landed, only to feel a massive weight slam into his back. Pain exploded through his ribs. He hit the ground hard, gasping, struggling to draw breath.
The remaining wolves lunged. His vision blurred with red, his heartbeat echoing in his ears. And then… he felt it. The Blood Qi surged, instinct guiding his body. With a violent twist, he brought his dagger up, piercing the closest wolf's eye, then drove it downward into another's neck. The final beast hesitated, sensing the power radiating from him. Liang Feng didn't hesitate. With a roar that tore through his throat, he channeled all the accumulated Blood Qi into a single, devastating strike. The beast's head split open, and crimson mist enveloped him, feeding the fire within.
When the dust settled, Liang Feng stood amidst the corpses, his body battered, torn, and soaked in blood. Every breath was a struggle, every movement agony, yet the Crimson Qi within him pulsed stronger than ever. He could feel the power of the fallen beasts coursing through his veins, integrating with his Blood Qi. Pain had become fuel, blood had become strength, and the boy who had entered the valley was no longer the same.
Master Shen approached, his staff tapping against the rocks. "Well done," he said, eyes glinting with approval. "You survived. You felt fear and pain, yet you rose above it. This is the essence of Blood Qi cultivation. Each life you take, each drop of blood you absorb, sharpens your body, soul, and Qi. But remember—do not let it consume you. The Blood Qi can grow stronger than you, and if you falter… it will devour you whole."
Liang Feng wiped blood from his face, staring at the valley floor. He felt exhausted, but exhilarated. He understood now—the Blood Qi was more than power. It was hunger, it was fire, and it was life itself.
"I understand," he said, voice hoarse but unwavering. "I will not falter. I will become stronger… stronger than anyone who dares to challenge me. I will walk this path of blood, and I will not stop until every last one of them pays."
Master Shen's gaze lingered on him for a long moment. "Good. Tomorrow, you will face a challenge far greater than this. But tonight, rest. Let your wounds and your Qi meld. The path ahead is brutal, but you… you are ready to embrace it."
Liang Feng knelt amidst the carnage, crimson mist swirling around him. The Blood Valley had baptized him in pain, in fury, and in raw power. His journey into the world of cultivation—of life and death, of blood and battle—was only just beginning. And as the moon rose over the misty peaks, he swore an oath that would echo through the mountains and valleys alike:
Blood will answer blood. And the world will tremble before Liang Feng.