Master of Origin: Path to Eternity

Chapter 08: Forging Resolve in moonlight

Ye Tian placed the letter aside, setting it on the old wooden table in his worn-down residence. As he glanced around, the dilapidated state of his house caught his eye. The walls were cracked and chipped, and the roof had a sizable hole, allowing the cool moonlight to stream through. Shadows danced across the floor, the soft moonlight emphasizing just how fragile his home had become. He let out a soft sigh.

"This place is falling apart, just like I almost did," he muttered under his breath, remembering the days when he had been stuck at the peak of the Qi Condensation stage. Those were hard times, and no matter how much he tried to push forward, he couldn’t break through.

During those frustrating days, he would frequently engage in duels, only to lose every time. "Always the same result," he thought bitterly. With each defeat, his heart grew heavier, until the day came when he stopped visiting the practice hall altogether. It wasn't that he didn’t want to improve—it was that the constant failures gnawed away at him. Yet, even after withdrawing, some disciples would still come to challenge him. Their relentless confidence contrasted sharply with his quiet struggles. Each time they left, he was left behind with another bitter loss.

"Those days…," Ye Tian shook his head, his fists clenched. But now, things had changed. He had changed. He was stronger, more determined. The recent invitation for the duel stirred something within him. It wasn’t fear or trepidation—it was a burning desire to prove himself, to show that he was no longer the same Ye Tian, the one who cowered under defeat.

"I’ll show them," he whispered, a sharp edge of resolve cutting through his voice. With newfound determination, Ye Tian decided to practice. He knew the duel ahead would be crucial, and he could not afford to be complacent. Although Ye Tian wasn't battle crazed but he wasn't someone to leave it if he was provocted , he wasn't the past ye tian who was stuck at qi condension stage.

Sitting cross-legged on the cracked floor, he closed his eyes and began to focus, his breathing deep and steady. His awareness sank into his sea of knowledge, where the five elemental qis—the energies representing fire, water, earth, metal, and wood—swirled and surged. He had an idea—something he hadn’t tried before.

"What if I could control them?" he mused silently, his brow furrowing. "What if I could shape these elemental qis into something… more?"

Taking a deep breath, Ye Tian began. One by one, he attempted to form spheres out of each element. At first, the qi responded eagerly, gathering into small orbs of energy that floated gently in his sea of knowledge. But then, without warning, the spheres burst apart, scattering the elemental energy chaotically, leaving him panting from the mental effort.

"Too unstable," he murmured, shaking his head in frustration. "Why does it keep slipping away?"

He didn’t stop. Undeterred, Ye Tian tried again, gathering the qi once more, but the result was the same. His mind raced, searching for what he might be doing wrong. Was he trying to control too much at once? Was his approach flawed?

After several more failed attempts, he changed his strategy. "Let’s try one element at a time," he told himself. Instead of dividing his focus among all the elements, he chose to concentrate solely on one—the fire element.

Summoning the fire qi, he concentrated all his mental energy on forming a single sphere. His breathing became labored, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead as his entire focus honed in on the task at hand. His body trembled slightly under the strain, but he didn’t waver. Slowly, the fire qi began to condense, the heat building around him. It started small, just a flicker of warmth, but gradually it grew into a vibrant, glowing sphere that hovered in front of him, radiating intense heat.

"Come on… just a little more…" Ye Tian whispered through clenched teeth, feeling the weight of the energy pressing down on him.

With immense difficulty, the sphere stabilized, floating smoothly now, its form solid and controlled. Soon, it began to circle around him, casting an orange glow against his closed eyelids. Ye Tian felt a surge of excitement. He had done it. His understanding of the fire element had deepened significantly.

"I did it…" His voice was barely above a whisper, but there was a sense of triumph in it. He could feel the power of the fire element coursing through him, more controlled and potent than ever before.

A grin spread across his face. "So, this is what it feels like…" he muttered to himself, eager to test his newfound ability.

When he finally opened his eyes, the first rays of dawn were breaking through the hole in the roof, bathing the room in soft light. "Time flies when you're focused," he mused. But there was no time to rest now. He had to see just how strong he had become.

Without hesitation, Ye Tian grabbed his sword, the blade worn but familiar in his hand, and headed out towards the nearby waterfall. It was a place he often visited when he needed to clear his mind, but today, he wasn’t there for reflection—he was there to test his new power.

The roar of the rushing water greeted him as he approached. Standing at the edge of the waterfall, he took a deep breath, calming his mind. The fire qi stirred within him, and he focused on channeling it into his sword. The blade began to glow, faintly at first, then more intensely as the fire qi flooded into it.

"Let’s see what this can do," he muttered, raising the sword above his head. With a sharp slash, the fire-imbued blade cut through the air, striking the waterfall. The moment the fire qi made contact with the rushing water, it vaporized the liquid, sending a brief cloud of steam into the air as the waterfall recoiled under the heat.

Ye Tian watched with satisfaction as the water hissed and steamed. "Not bad," he murmured, his lips curling into a small smile. His control over the fire element had improved drastically, and he could sense that this was only the beginning. The potential was immense, and the thought of what he could achieve with more practice made his heart race.

He took a short stroll around the area, letting the morning air clear his thoughts. "I’ll need to be at my best for the duel," he reminded himself, turning his mind back to the challenge ahead. The time for showing weakness was over. It was time to prove his strength.

Returning to his residence, Ye Tian sat down cross-legged once more, this time with a different purpose. He retrieved the herbs he had collected on his previous trip. These herbs would enhance his cultivation, allowing him to make even more rapid progress. He studied them for a moment, his fingers lightly brushing over the White Spirit Grass.

"This will help with qi absorption and control," he noted to himself, feeling a sense of calm as he prepared to refine the herbs. Carefully, he began extracting the essence, his movements precise and practiced. He could feel the energy of the herbs flowing into him, merging with his own qi. Almost immediately, the effects became apparent.

"My qi… it's flowing faster," he whispered, feeling the surge of power within him. His connection to the fire element became more solid and precise, his control tightening as his body absorbed the potent energy. His senses sharpened, and his body felt lighter, stronger.

"These herbs really are incredible," he remarked, taking a deep breath as the last of the energy settled into him. His progress had been significant, and he knew that this would give him an edge in the duel.

Glancing at the remaining White Spirit Grass, Ye Tian realized he had more than enough for future cultivation. "I’ll save the rest for later. No need to rush," he thought, carefully storing the herbs away.

For now, though, it was time to rest. The duel was tomorrow, and he needed to conserve his strength. With his body and mind more attuned to the elements than ever before, Ye Tian lay down on his simple bed, his thoughts already turning to the challenge that awaited him.

"Tomorrow…" he murmured, closing his eyes, "I’ll show them what I’m really capable of." A quiet determination settled into his heart, and for the first time in a long while, Ye Tian slept with a sense of peace.