The dawn light filtered softly through the borderland forest, but Li Chen was already awake. The first wave of mist had dissipated, leaving the scent of scorched earth and broken foliage lingering in the air. For most disciples, this would have been an unsettling morning. For Li Chen, it was routine—the calm after a storm.
Xu Ming stood nearby, still tense, his hands subconsciously tracing the protective talismans. Something inside him had shifted overnight. The breakthrough to Qi Condensation had left him energized yet unstable; his five-element chaos physique buzzed with untamed potential. He knew instinctively that he could no longer rely on simple defensive tactics—his new stage demanded mastery, not survival.
Li Chen observed him silently for a moment, noting the faint tremor of excitement mixed with hesitation. "Your qi has condensed," he said finally, voice low and controlled, "but condensation alone is not cultivation. You must integrate it with your sword qi, or any battle will overwhelm you."
Xu Ming's eyes widened. "Integrate… my sword qi?"
Li Chen's expression remained neutral. "You've learned how to defend, how to survive, but sword qi is how you impose control. Without it, even condensed qi is like a river without direction—it flows, but it accomplishes nothing."
Li Chen led Xu Ming to a clearing that had been marked with small, glowing talismans—protective wards to shield them from beasts while training. The morning mist curled around the boundaries, giving the space an ethereal quality, but Li Chen's focus remained sharp.
"First," he instructed, "breathe. Feel your five elements. Don't force them. Let them circulate naturally."
Xu Ming exhaled, closing his eyes. The chaos physique that once seemed unwieldy now felt… alive, like five different currents flowing through his veins. He sensed fire, water, wood, metal, and earth, each moving in harmony, though still unevenly.
Li Chen continued, "Sword qi is an extension of your intent. It is the shape your will takes when it leaves your body. Until you can project it intentionally, your attacks will lack precision. Watch me first."
Li Chen extended his hand casually. Sword qi radiated outward, invisible to the naked eye but unmistakable in pressure. The surrounding mist rippled subtly, and Xu Ming felt a faint vibration in the ground beneath his feet.
"This is controlled release," Li Chen explained. "I am not striking. I am guiding energy. You must do the same."
Xu Ming exhaled sharply, attempting to shape his newly condensed qi into a sword form. At first, nothing happened. A faint ripple emerged—unstable, flickering—but it dissipated almost immediately. Frustration burned in his chest, but Li Chen remained calm, watching carefully.
"Your qi flows, but your intent wavers," Li Chen said. "Focus not on strength. Focus on direction. Sword qi follows intent."
Xu Ming clenched his fists, eyes narrowing. This time, he visualized the path he wanted the qi to take—a clean, straight line cutting forward, precise, controlled. A faint silver-white arc extended from his palm, small but solid. He gasped.
Li Chen inclined his head slightly. "Better. Now, extend it, but do not overexert. Sword qi is an extension of life, not a replacement."
Integration
For hours, Li Chen guided Xu Ming. Each attempt refined his control. At times, arcs of sword qi cut harmlessly through the air, creating faint streaks of light. Other times, his five-element qi surged, destabilizing the sword qi, forcing him to recalibrate instantly.
Finally, near dusk, Xu Ming stood panting, sweat dripping, yet something had changed. He could feel the flow—not just of his qi, but of his intent. Sword qi no longer required conscious shaping; a thought projected it. The arcs he released were precise, lethal in form, and perfectly aligned with his five-element chaos physique.
Li Chen nodded, stepping back. "You are ready to apply it. But remember, sword qi is not for show. It is for control. Use it to protect, to dominate the battlefield—not to flaunt skill."
Xu Ming's eyes shone. For the first time, he understood the synergy of his condensed qi and sword qi. The power he once feared now felt like an ally, obedient to his intent, disciplined and focused.
That evening, as the group set up camp, Xu Ming remained near Li Chen, practicing silently while observing the other disciples. His confidence had grown. He no longer felt like a dependent follower—he was becoming a cultivator capable of contributing meaningfully to the mission.
Li Chen watched him from a distance, expression calm but approving. Xu Ming still had far to go, but for now, the chaos physique had been tamed enough to be an asset rather than a liability.
And tomorrow, when the third wave of the borderland beasts emerged, Xu Ming would fight—not just survive.