Night had fallen over Blood Valley, shrouding the jagged peaks in shadows that moved like living things. Liang Feng sat atop a rocky outcrop, the wind whipping through his hair, the crimson glow of his Blood Qi faintly illuminating the valley below. Master Shen had instructed him to meditate and refine his newly absorbed essence, but sleep had eluded him. His mind was restless, alive with anticipation and a dangerous thrill.
"They're coming," Master Shen's voice cut through the night, calm but deadly. He emerged from the shadows like a ghost, staff in hand. "The Blood Warlords will not allow your rise without interference. Five assassins have been dispatched to test your strength tonight. If you survive, you will know the true weight of your Blood Qi. If you fail… you will die, and your blood will feed the valley."
Liang Feng's eyes glimmered red in the moonlight. "Let them come. I've walked through blood before. I will not fear humans any more than beasts."
A faint rustle echoed from the treeline below. Shadows coalesced into figures, silent and precise. The assassins—five warriors clad in black, their faces hidden beneath cruel masks—moved like wraiths, each carrying a blade designed to slice life itself.
Liang Feng's Blood Qi surged, the aura around him flaring like a storm. He leapt from the rocks, landing amidst the mist with the grace of a predator. His dagger gleamed in the moonlight, each breath synchronized with the pulsing rhythm of his Qi.
The first assassin struck like lightning, blade aimed for his throat. Liang Feng barely twisted aside, his dagger flashing in a deadly arc that sliced across the attacker's forearm. Blood sprayed, and the assassin hissed in pain but did not falter.
"Good," Master Shen murmured from a distance. "Remember, they are faster, smarter, and more deadly than beasts. Control your Qi, anticipate their moves, and strike without hesitation."
Liang Feng's eyes narrowed. Each movement was calculated, a deadly dance of attack and defense. The second assassin lunged, kicking off the misty ground, but Liang Feng sidestepped and rammed his dagger into the attacker's chest. Blood sprayed in a crimson arc, and the assassin collapsed, convulsing. Liang Feng's Blood Qi flared, feeding off the life essence, surging through his veins with excruciating intensity.
But the battle was far from over. The remaining three assassins struck simultaneously, surrounding him like shadows of death. Liang Feng's body moved with terrifying precision, deflecting blades, slicing tendons, and delivering crushing strikes. Each drop of blood spilled only made him stronger, sharpening his senses, quickening his reflexes. Pain was no longer a deterrent—it was a weapon, a fuel for his Blood Qi.
One assassin managed to graze his shoulder with a poisoned blade. The searing pain shot through his arm, threatening to paralyze him. His vision blurred, his Blood Qi flickering as the venom sought to corrode his internal energy.
"Control it!" Master Shen's voice snapped in his mind. "Pain is your teacher. Fear is your enemy. Let the Blood Qi consume the poison before it consumes you!"
Liang Feng clenched his teeth and forced his Qi to flow, directing the Crimson energy to his wound. Blood and heat surged together, neutralizing the venom, burning with a ferocity that left a scar across his shoulder. He roared and struck back, one, two, three assassins falling in a blur of steel and blood.
The final assassin, taller than the rest, stepped forward, his blade humming with a cold, dark aura. He circled Liang Feng, analyzing, probing for weaknesses. Liang Feng's Blood Qi flared in response, a red storm surrounding him, crackling like lightning.
The duel was a savage ballet. Steel clashed, sparks flew, and blood sprayed like a storm. Liang Feng was cut, bruised, but his Crimson Qi absorbed the essence of every strike, every drop of blood spilled. Pain fused with power, and finally, with a leap and a twisting strike, his dagger pierced the assassin's chest. The last foe collapsed, and the valley fell silent.
Liang Feng fell to his knees, chest heaving, the ground around him slick with blood. He tasted it, the metallic tang of life and death, and a grim smile spread across his face. He had survived his first human adversaries. He had tasted the power that came from embracing Blood Qi fully.
Master Shen approached, his eyes gleaming in approval. "Well done. You fought with skill, ferocity, and control. Remember this night—the moment you realized your Blood Qi could turn the tide against both beasts and humans alike. But know this: the world is far more brutal than any trial in Blood Valley. You have only begun your journey. Every step forward will demand more, and every drop of blood spilled will carve your path further into darkness and strength."
Liang Feng stood, wiping the blood from his dagger. His muscles ached, his body screamed, but inside, he felt alive. The hunger of the Blood Qi had been satisfied tonight, but only partially. The storm inside him raged, reminding him that survival required constant growth, constant struggle.
He looked up at the distant mountains, toward the territories of the Blood Warlords. His red-glowing eyes reflected the moonlight. "I will not falter," he whispered. "I will grow stronger than any hunter, any warlord, any beast. And one day… I will drown the world in blood for those who deserve it."
The valley fell silent once more, but the aura of blood and power lingered like a living entity, waiting, watching, and growing…
The Hunters in the Mist had been slain, but Liang Feng's journey—of pain, power, and ruthless cultivation—was only beginning.