The stillness of Elder Kong's meditation chamber shattered beneath a furious storm of Qi and motion. The harmonious silence, carefully preserved for decades, unraveled rapidly like threads of silk caught in flame. Bestial howls echoed within the dark stone walls, reverberating with a primal ferocity that shook loose centuries of dust, scattering ancient, forgotten secrets into chaos.
Yet amidst the cacophony, one serene rhythm endured—steady, resilient, and fluid: the element of water, Elder Kong's lifelong companion and guardian. From the ornate basin in the chamber's center, streams of crystalline water rose in graceful arcs, swirling and dancing like serpents awakened from peaceful slumber. Responding to the elder's silent command, they twisted and glided effortlessly through the air, each movement embodying grace and fluidity, weaving an elegant ballet amid violence.
Han Long snarled fiercely, frustration barely concealed beneath a carefully cultivated mask of composure. He was accustomed to swift victories—his bestial Qi, savage and relentless, had overwhelmed countless opponents. But here, against Elder Kong's gentle mastery of water, his vicious strikes evaporated harmlessly. Each attack, fueled by hatred and power, collided with flowing streams of serene water that dissolved his feral Qi instantly, leaving behind only tendrils of mist and an infuriating sense of impotence.
He paused briefly, circling Elder Kong like a predator denied its prey. His eyes, dark and calculating, narrowed dangerously as he sought an opening, any weakness in the elder's calm, precise movements. Coiled around him, dark silhouettes of monstrous beasts formed from his corrupted Qi—phantom wolves with razor fangs, serpentine dragons crowned with thorn-like horns, bears with claws dripping darkness—all symbols of his unchecked aggression.
Elder Kong stood at the chamber's heart, unmoved. The elder's silver hair cascaded gracefully down his shoulders, his long robes of midnight blue billowing gently around him. His posture remained relaxed yet vigilant, left hand extended forward gracefully as if conducting an orchestra. A subtle glow emanated from the ancient Water Ring upon his finger, resonating softly in tandem with the graceful arcs of water that shielded him.
His voice, gentle yet commanding, echoed clearly through the chaos. "Violence without wisdom is futile as wind raging against a river. The more you thrash, the more surely you drown."
Han's lips twisted into a sneer. His bestial Qi subsided slightly, replaced by an ominous stillness—a sinister calm before a renewed assault. Elder Kong sensed it immediately; Han wasn't retreating, merely recalculating his next, more devastating move.
Slowly, deliberately, Han raised his hand, fingers curling inward like claws grasping at something unseen. His Qi stirred again, but this time it was different—no longer just raw and feral, but focused, refined through intense focus. A violent resonance built around him, each pulse of energy rippling with blistering heat and primal fury. Qi flames flickered to life along his arm, forming ethereal shapes—ferocious beasts forged from fire and rage, their eyes glowing with hunger.
He raised his palm toward the chamber's vaulted ceiling, eyes alight with burning resolve. The air thickened, pressing in from all sides.
"Beast Flame, Flow Severance."
His voice, though whispered, carried like thunder across the chamber.
In an instant, a devastating pulse burst forth from Han's palm, erupting with the force of an unchained inferno. From the center of his being, multiple flaming bestial manifestations exploded outward, lions wreathed in flame, serpents of molten coil, wolves howling with fire instead of breath. The Qi beasts swept through the chamber in a chaotic storm of heat and destructive intent.
Elder Kong barely had time to react. He felt it at once, the subtle threads of water Qi he guided with such grace shuddered under the weight of the assault. The serene, floating streams faltered mid-air, their fluid forms collapsing, breaking apart as if scorched from within. In moments, they splashed uselessly to the stone floor in formless puddles.
The fiery beasts circled the chamber with predatory zeal and the heat they radiated was merciless. The puddles on the floor bubbled and boiled before evaporating completely, leaving nothing but scorched outlines. Even the water within the meditation basin vaporized in an instant, rising in a brief plume of white steam.
Elder Kong's heart clenched with solemn understanding. Han had eradicated his elemental advantage.
Elder Kong watched the basin at the chamber's center begin to bubble violently, water vaporizing instantly into a dry void. Even the moisture within the chamber vanished swiftly, leaving the air painfully dry, robbing lungs of comfort, causing lips to crack and skin to tighten uncomfortably.
Elder Kong's calm expression shifted, ever so slightly, but enough for Han to notice. "Without water, what remains of your power?"
Han lunged abruptly, swift as lightning, his earlier patience discarded entirely. Without the flowing defenses of Elder Kong's water arts, Han unleashed the raw fury of his bestial Qi with terrifying speed. Every strike became a blur of savage motion—razor-sharp claws slicing through air, kicks and punches infused with the fierce power of wolves and dragons. Each attack carved the air itself, leaving trails of corrupted energy crackling ominously.
Elder Kong dodged and parried swiftly, utilizing the subtlety and experience gathered from decades of cultivation. Yet without his elemental water shield, each strike from Han Long now posed deadly consequences. A sharp claw of corrupted Qi tore painfully across the elder's shoulder, slicing through silk and flesh alike. Crimson blood erupted instantly, staining the chamber's pristine stone floor.
Another savage strike gouged deeply into his chest, ripping fabric and flesh, carving fresh agony into the elder's aging body. Elder Kong gasped sharply, staggering backward under the brutal assault. Each injury drew blood freely, painting vivid crimson lines of suffering onto the chamber floor, leaving dark, glistening pools of scarlet in their wake.
Han Long roared triumphantly, his aggression intensifying further. He pivoted swiftly, spinning into a vicious kick imbued with the ferocity of a wolf's snapping jaws. Elder Kong barely raised an arm in time—bone cracked audibly as he was hurled backward violently, striking the stone wall with sickening force.
Pain radiated sharply through Elder Kong's aging body as he collapsed heavily to one knee, breath wheezing painfully from fractured ribs. Blood dripped steadily from multiple wounds, running freely down his face, mingling with sweat and fatigue. His vision blurred slightly as dizziness overtook him momentarily.
Han Long stepped forward slowly, standing tall and victorious over the wounded elder, eyes gleaming.
Elder Kong lifted his gaze slowly, meeting Han's triumphant glare with surprising calmness despite his injuries.
Han said triumphantly. "Your calmness can't protect you any longer."
With ruthless finality, Han lunged once more, delivering a savage strike aimed directly at Elder Kong's heart.