Chapter 30

In the dimly lit confines of an enclosed space, the surrounding open air was heavy with the scent of blood and the palpable tension of impending violence. In the centre of this space stood an enormous sleek, four-legged black creature. It’s jagged claws and razor-sharp teeth, prowled the area like a malevolent predator. Its hardy hide glistened in the wind with a sickly sheen, and its pungent breath hanging heavy in the air.

The creature was locked in a desperate struggle against a mysterious assailant, a shadowy figure that seemed to materialize and disappear at will. With each sudden appearance, the shadow launched a relentless assault on the abomination, striking at its weak spots with uncanny precision. In return, the creature would roar in agony as the shadow's blows landed, its once-mighty form weakening with every passing moment.

What was most unsettling was the manner in which the shadow fought. It wielded no weapons, relying instead on bare-handed strikes infused with supernatural force. With each impact, the creature staggered and faltered, its monstrous bulk unable to withstand the relentless onslaught.

Yet despite its obvious advantage, the shadow remained an enigma, its features obscured by darkness and its motives shrouded in mystery. It moved with an eerie grace, darting in and out of the shadows with preternatural speed, leaving only confusion and fear in its wake.

As the battle raged on, the enclosed space reverberated with the sounds of struggle: the creature's enraged roars, the sickening crunch of bone meeting flesh, and the haunting echo of the shadow's relentless impacts.

621 retreated back into the shadows, his figure melding seamlessly with the darkness as he contemplated silently. His mind raced with calculations, his thoughts a whirlwind of strategy and analysis as he assessed his newfound strength in the wake of reaching the Qi Condensation realm.

As he stood there, hidden from view, 621's memories flickered back to a time before his advancement, when each strike landed with bone-crushing force, often resulting in painful injuries to his own hands. He recalled the frustration of broken fingers and bruised knuckles, the physical toll of his own power.

But now, in the present moment, as he flexed his fingers before him, 621 marveled at the pristine condition of his hand.

"Feels... different," he mused.

There were no signs of injury, no traces of the damage that had once plagued him. It was a testament to the progress he had made, a tangible reminder of his newfound mastery over his own abilities.

Meanwhile, the creature staggered and snarled, its enraged search for him yielding no results. With each passing moment, it grew more frustrated, its primal instincts driving it to seek out its elusive prey. But 621 remained hidden, his presence a mere whisper in the darkness, his focus unwavering as he studied the creature’s state before him.

His hands were bathed in the subtle glow of infused Qi as he reflected on the profound difference between his current state and his former self. The energy flowed through him, infusing his strikes with an otherworldly force that surpassed anything he was familiar with. With each punch he threw, he could feel the energy coursing through his veins, bolstering his strength and enhancing his endurance.

This was the first time he had truly tested out his Qi capabilities in combat, and the difference was staggering. No longer was he at the mercy of his own physical limitations; now, he wielded a power that transcended the boundaries of his previous state.

"Intriguing," he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible over the sounds of the ongoing struggle.

"The integration of Qi into physical strikes significantly enhances their effectiveness. It gives me greater control over the force exerted in combat as well as strengthening the overall structure of my body, minimizing unnecessary strain and injury."

As he clenched his fists, he assessed the situation before him with a cool detachment. Looking at the creature thrashing and flailing about in its search for him, he felt a creeping surge of confidence welling within him, for he felt that he could defeat it with minimal effort.

And as if responding to 621’s thoughts, the creature suddenly charged forwards in his direction with thunderous determination, its eyes darting frantically into the darkness. Perhaps its primal instincts had remarkably pointed out 621’s hidden presence by chance.

But nonetheless, 621 remained unfazed, he stood poised, his mind focused and his breathing steady as he began the process of Qi infusion into his legs. It was a technique he had recently been practicing. Closing his eyes, he centered his awareness on his dantian, the energy center located deep within his lower abdomen where his Qi was stored and cultivated.

With a gentle yet deliberate intention, he activated the dormant reservoir of Qi within him, igniting a spark of energy that emanated from the core of his being. As the Qi began to flow outward from the dantian, 621 felt a subtle shift in his internal landscape.

Unlike the meridian-dantian system where Qi flowed from the atmosphere and into his meridians, eventually being stored into his dantian—the dantian by itself had a more complex system.

It is innately connected to all of the body’s energy fields on a deeper and mysterious level acting out as the heart, or the nexus of the entire energy field complex. Through this, 621 understood that the Qi stored in this reservoir actually bypasses the inherent barriers to each organ energy field by unknown means, directly leeching into it’s intended destinations with nothing but a thought from himself.

Focusing his intent on his legs, 621 envisioned the Qi streaming forth from the dantian like a river of light, cascading down through the depths of his being to reach its destination. With each breath, he felt the energy pulsating through his leg muscles, suffusing them with a newfound vitality and strength.

Unlike the reverse Qi flow method, where he used a whirlpool to create momentum in order to redirect the flow of energy, this process was instead marked by a seamless, streamlined and intuitive connection between the dantian and the energy fields of the body.

It was a harmonious dance of intention and receptivity, guided solely by the innate wisdom of the practitioner's innermost self. Subsequently, 621 innately found that visualization was key in this entire process, most precisely speaking, he understood that it had to do with ‘self-will.’

As the Qi continued to flow into his legs, 621 sensed a deepening connection to his lower physical form. He felt the muscles respond to the influx of energy, becoming imbued with a sense of power and resilience. All of this occurred in the span of a mere thought.

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With the preparation complete, 621 instantly coiled his body like a spring, drawing upon the reservoir of Qi now infused within his legs. Thus, with a sudden burst of power, he unleashed the stored energy, propelling himself forward with astonishing speed and force.

As he soared through the air, he could feel the Qi pulsating within him, propelling him onward with a sense of effortless grace and power. With each leap, he intrinsically became aware of the synergy between mind, body, and spirit, a testament to the profound connection forged through the art of Qi manipulation.

And with another powerful leap, he soared gracefully back into the shadows, his body blending seamlessly into the darkness like a ghost, as his form gradually disappeared from view. He couldn't help but marvel at his newfound speed, the result of his Qi-infused limbs propelling him forward with effortless grace.

"Hmm, not bad," he murmured to himself, a faint grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Definitely an improvement."

Meanwhile, the creature continued its frenzied charge, its movements becoming increasingly frantic as it searched for its elusive prey. But 621 remained one step ahead, his form dancing through the darkness with a fluidity that seemed almost unnatural.

It was all thanks to the techniques he had learned from the Veiled Serpent Path, most specifically, it’s first volume; the mystical cultivation art that had unlocked the secrets of stealth and deception for all pawns alike.

With each passing moment, 621 felt a sense of exhilaration coursing through his veins, his every movement a psychological taunt to the abomination chasing after his blurring steps.

He now focused on the teachings of the Veiled Serpent Path, polishing his learned abilities and testing their new limits. With a subtle manipulation of his Qi, he began to distort his surroundings, bending the very fabric of reality to his will.

The very air around him seemed to shimmer and warp, casting strange illusions that confounded the senses of any who dared to peer into the darkness. Shadows danced and twisted, obscuring his form from view as he moved with silent grace through the encroaching gloom.

But it wasn't just his surroundings that he manipulated; 621 also honed his ability to erase his own presence from the perception of others. With a focused concentration, he willed himself to become as insubstantial as a whisper, blending seamlessly into the shadows with practiced mastery.

His every step was akin to a ghost's whisper, his form flickering in and out of existence as he eluded the creature's frantic search. It was a testament to the power of his training, the culmination of years spent mastering the art of stealth and subterfuge.

621 observed the creature's futile attempts to locate him, a sense of quiet satisfaction washing over him. The enhancements his Qi had brought to his stealth techniques were undeniable. With each calculated movement, he felt the subtle but profound difference in his ability to manipulate the shadows and distort his presence.

"The Qi has brought a new level of refinement to my stealth techniques. The distortions are more subtle, the illusions more convincing," he thought meticulously.

With a sense of clarity born from experience, he analyzed the nuances of his newfound abilities. Gone were the days of relying solely on his physical prowess; now, he wielded the power of Qi to bend reality to his will.

“I wonder what the difference would be If I successfully eliminate the presence of Qi from my dantian as the ancestor foretold…”

621 stood rooted to the soil beneath him as he vividly imagined a scenario. “Would I be able to stand in front of someone, whilst totally invisible?” he pondered unknowingly.

“A shadow among shadows, unseen and untouchable," he murmured silently.

Emboldened by his views, 621 prepared to launch another precision strike against the creature, confident in the superiority of his Qi-enhanced stealth techniques.

…

621 stood before the familiar door, its wooden frame weathered and worn from years of use. With each knock, he felt a sense of anticipation mingled with apprehension. This encounter had the potential to be just as volatile as their last, but 621 remained steadfast in his resolve.

As the echoes of his knocks reverberated through the quiet street, he could almost sense the irritation building on the other side of the door. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the voice of the merchant pierced through the thick wood, tinged with annoyance and impatience.

"Fine, fine! Come in and disturb my rest why don’tcha!"

Without waiting for a response, 621 pushed open the door, revealing the cluttered interior of the merchant's establishment. The air was thick with the scent of musty books and ancient artifacts, a stark contrast to the chaos that seemed to permeate the room.

Before him stood the familiar figure of the unruly merchant, dressed in garish attire that seemed more suited to a carnival than a place of business. His brows furrowed in irritation as he leaned against his desk, glaring at 621 with undisguised disdain.

Despite the merchant's abrasive demeanor, 621 remained unfazed, his gaze sweeping across the shelves of mystical curiosities that lined the walls. It was clear that nothing had changed since his last visit; the same items sat gathering dust, untouched by the passage of time. He even began to wonder if the man was serious at his job at all.

"Well, if it ain't the pain in my ass back for another round. What do you want this time, huh? More trouble cunt?", the shopkeeper scowled, it appeared that his odd behaviour was still as lively as before.

“Carefree and uncouth, I agree with the handler”, 621 thought pensively. He was keenly aware that this was the person that the handler had talked about.

“The practitioner of taboo arts…”, he sighed mentally remembering the handler’s promise for increasing potential.

“I want to sell this Goric soul core”, 621 replied simplistically seemingly unfazed by the former’s outburst. He took out a dimly glowing sphere about the size of his hand from his dimensional bag and placed it before the merchant.

Yet, the other party paid him little heed, preoccupied with the mundane task of picking at his nose hairs, his expression one of exasperation. Afterwards, with a dismissive snort, he glanced at the object before replying mockingly.

"A Goric soul core? You think I'm that desperate? Last time you were here, you practically begged me to buy some random crap. And now you're back with trash? Give me a break."

Internally perplexed at the shopkeeper's words, "I didn't beg," he thought to himself, his gaze lingering on the soul core he had just retrieved from the abomination that struggled to find his trace but his thoughts faded as the man continued to berate him.

"Moreover, do you think I’m dumb or something? I can pluck a hundred Goric soul cores from the training grounds myself with nothing but a mere thought" the merchant remarked, his tone dripping with toxicity.

"What gave you the audacity to try and sell me something that I can easily access? Do you have peas for a brain?"

"I've had better deals from slaves, you cunt!"

621 maintained his outward composure as he patiently said, "I don't recall begging, but if you're not interested..."

However, the shopkeeper was uninterested in what he had to say as he abrasively antagonized 621 with an accusation, cutting him off abruptly.

"Shush! You think you can come in here, peddling your soul cores and playing your little games?" the shopkeeper spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "I see through your bullshit, boy. So spit it out. What the fuck do you really want?"

Though caught off guard by the shopkeeper's aggressive tone, 621 knew that the time had come to reveal his true purpose. Indeed, he had merely used the Goric soul core as an excuse to try and interact with the supposed practitioner of the dark arts; 621 simply didn’t know how to tackle such a demanding request.

Now presented with this opportunity, 621 decided to not beat around the bush any longer. And so, with a steely resolve, he uttered the words that had been weighing on his mind.

"I wish to learn the taboo arts pertaining to the meridians," 621 declared, his voice firm and unwavering.

Yet immediately, the atmosphere shifted palpably in the wake of his confession. An icy chill seemed to settle over the cramped confines of the mystical shop, sending a shiver down 621's spine. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as a sense of foreboding washed over him like deja vu, a warning of impending danger soon lurked in the shadows.

The shopkeeper's response was a menacing silence, his unserious gaze now piercing through 621 with a predatory intensity. In that moment, 621 suddenly realized the gravity of his request and mentally braced himself for whatever consequences it might entail.

“What did you say?”