Encountering the Forest Serpent Wolf

Approaching Inner Region of Yinwu Forest

....

The morning sun filtered through the trees as Bai Jian and the group of outer disciples ventured into the heart of the Yinwu Forest. The air grew thick with mist, veiling the path ahead in shades of gray and green. Every step deeper into the forest seemed to increase the tension, as if the trees themselves were watching them, waiting.

Li Feng took the lead, his gaze steady, while the other disciples followed closely, moving cautiously and alert for any signs of danger. Shen Liang, his expression set with faint annoyance, occasionally threw Bai Jian sidelong glances, still not convinced that he belonged with them.

Bai Jian ignored the staring from him and focused on his condition. As the forest closed in around them, Bai Jian adjusted his footing, conscious of every shift in weight, every breath, every sensation.

The group moved forward, keeping quiet to avoid attracting unwanted attention. Soon, the usual sounds of small animals gave way to an eerie silence, and Li Feng raised his hand, signaling the group to stop. 

"We're entering the deeper regions now," he whispered. "The Twilight Orchids are near a small ravine up ahead, but it's also known to be a nesting ground for stronger spirit beasts. Stay alert and keep your senses sharp."

They continued forward, but the silence made Bai Jian uneasy. His instincts were heightened, the faintest sound sending his attention darting toward shadows in the trees.

"I need to get a feel for the White Mist Step here, he thought, taking deliberate steps that were light, quick, and silent, attempting to mimic the drifting movement of mist.

As the forest began to thicken further, Li Feng's sharp whisper cut through the silence. "Something's up ahead."

Peering through the dense trees, Bai Jian spotted the target — a cluster of Twilight Orchids nestled between rocks on the opposite side of the ravine. Their faint glow pulsed in the dim forest light, signaling their rarity and the reason they were so prized. But just as the group approached, a low growl reverberated through the air.

Emerging from behind the rocks was a shadowy beast with glowing eyes and a serpentine tail, its body covered in rough, moss-like fur. Bai Jian's heart skipped as he recognized it — a Forest Serpent Wolf, known for its speed and powerful jaws. It was one of the stronger spirit beasts lurking in the Yinwu Forest, and a single bite could leave even the best outer disciples critically injured.

Li Feng drew his weapon, signaling the others to stand ready. "It's only one," he murmured, assessing the situation. 

"Shen Liang, Bai Jian — cover the left flank. Lian Huaixin, you take the right. The rest of you, hold back but be ready to assist if things turn sour."

Shen Liang gave a dissatisfied grunt but nodded, positioning himself to Bai Jian's left. Bai Jian steadied his breath, feeling the familiar hum of qi gather in his core as he prepared to activate the White Mist Step. Lian Huaixin, on his right, moved smoothly into position, her movements quiet and poised, her hood still concealing her features.

The Forest Serpent Wolf's gaze locked onto them, its muscles tensing as it prepared to lunge. Without hesitation, it bolted forward, its movements blindingly fast.

The disciples scattered, trying to avoid its deadly bite and claws. Bai Jian's heart raced as he pushed his qi down through his legs, activating the White Mist Step. He felt himself moving lighter than usual, almost gliding as he sidestepped the creature's charge.

Lian Huaixin, meanwhile, was a blur on the right flank. Her movements were precise, her body almost blending into the shadows as she darted forward with a quiet grace that caught Bai Jian's attention. She was quick, evading the wolf's strikes and moving fluidly, her poise and balance seemed almost natural.

As the wolf lunged again, Bai Jian forced his qi to follow his movements, keeping his steps light. The wolf's tail lashed out, and he barely dodged, feeling the strain as he maintained his balance and adjusted his stance.

"This isn't looking well," he thought, gritting his teeth. "I need to be faster. My qi isn't flowing well enough to keep up with my movements."

Lian Huaixin gave him a brief glance, her eyes unreadable under the hood, before calling out softly, "Don't force it. Let your energy follow your intent, not the other way around."

Her advice struck a chord within him, reminding him of the fluidity he'd been aiming for. He adjusted his focus, letting his qi flow naturally instead of forcing it, and he noticed an improvement in his movements. His steps became smoother, lighter, and he dodged the beast's next attack with greater ease.

Shen Liang scoffed before lunging at the beast with a spear, aiming for its legs. The creature dodged, snapping its jaws in retaliation, but Shen Liang skillfully avoided the strike.

The wolf suddenly shifted its attention, lunging at Bai Jian with its claws. Instinctively, he activated the White Mist Step, his body gliding backward with a newfound lightness. He felt the shift in his balance and noticed how his qi was starting to align more naturally with his movements. The wolf's claws missed him by inches, and he released deep breath.

But the beast was relentless. It snarled and charged again, this time with even more ferocity. Bai Jian realized that mere evasion wouldn't be enough; they needed to take decisive action.

"If we don't stop it now, someone could get seriously hurt," he thought, urgency gripping him. His gaze hardened as he made a swift decision.

"I need more power," he thought desperately, his grip tightening. "I need to push past my current limits…"

Bai Jian cleared his thoughts and focused. A sudden surge of energy pulsed through him. He could feel the familiar blockage within his meridians beginning to shift, as if his qi were trying to break free, to surge beyond his current level. The intense pressure built inside him, and he felt his entire body vibrate, his qi pushing with a force he hadn't felt before.

He took a deep breath, allowing the energy to circulate more smoothly. It was as if the battle itself was catalyzing a breakthrough. With the forest alive around him and the wolf's threat pushing him to his limits, he felt his qi break through the bottleneck at last.

The surge was immediate. In that moment, he realized he had ascended — he was now at the 8th level of Qi Condensation.

He planted his feet firmly, grounding himself as he began to channel his qi into his right fist. The air around him seemed to thicken as energy gathered, coalescing into a palpable force.

"Cover me!" he shouted to the others.

Li Feng glanced at him, eyes widening slightly as he recognized the shift in Bai Jian's stance. "Everyone, give him an opening!"

Shen Liang and Lian Huaixin moved in tandem, distracting the beast with feints and swift attacks. The wolf snapped and lunged at them, but they skillfully avoided its strikes, drawing its attention away from Bai Jian.

"Heaven-Shattering Fist," Bai Jian murmured under his breath, feeling the immense power building within him. His fist began to glow faintly, a subtle aura emanating from it.

As the beast momentarily turned its side toward him, Bai Jian seized the opportunity. With a powerful leap forward, he closed the distance between them in an instant.

"Now!" he roared, thrusting his fist toward the wolf's torso.

His fist connected with a thunderous impact, the force of the Heaven-Shattering Fist unleashing a shockwave that rippled through the air. The ground beneath them trembled, and leaves shook loose from the surrounding trees.

The Forest Serpent Wolf let out a pained howl as it was propelled backward, crashing into a thick tree trunk with a resounding thud. The sheer power of the blow left it dazed, struggling to regain its footing.

The other disciples stared in astonishment. Even Shen Liang couldn't hide his surprise. "What... was that?" he muttered, disbelief evident in his eyes.

Li Feng didn't waste the moment. "It's weakened! Everyone, now!"

The group sprang into action. Shen Liang lunged forward, his spear piercing the beast's shoulder. Lian Huaixin moved with lethal grace, her blade slicing precisely across the wolf's hind legs, crippling its mobility.

Together, they overwhelmed the creature, coordinating their attacks until it collapsed, lifeless, onto the forest floor.

Breathing heavily, Bai Jian lowered his fist, the residual energy dissipating. His arm throbbed from the exertion, but a sense of accomplishment warmed him.

Li Feng seized the opening, slashing at the beast's side and drawing a yelp from it as it staggered back. 

 "Good work, everyone," he called, his voice steady but tense. "We've weakened it — now, let's finish this."

Finally, with coordinated attacks from the group, the Forest Serpent Wolf fell, collapsing in a heap beside the rocks. Bai Jian breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the ache in his muscles from the strain of using the technique.

Li Feng approached him, admiration clear on his face. "That was incredible, Bai Jian. Not many people are able to break through during battle. Seems like many people are mistaken about you."

Bai Jian offered a modest nod. "Thank you Senior Brother Li Feng."

As they moved forward to collect the Twilight Orchids, Bai Jian glanced toward Lian Huaixin, wondering about her quiet strength and how she seemed to understand his struggle. She met his gaze briefly, offering a slight nod, before turning her attention back to the forest.

"There's more to her than meets the eye," he thought, a faint sense of admiration stirring within him. 

This encounter had shown him not only his own limitations but also a glimpse of what the road to true mastery looked like — and he was determined to reach that level, no matter the cost.