There they stood—two boys and two beasts—facing each other beneath the golden morning light. The entire backyard shimmered faintly with the intricate formation Yuanhai had drawn, its lines pulsing softly with spiritual energy.
Chi's eyes locked onto Liora's calm, alert gaze. Yu stood opposite Buddy, who crouched low, tail swishing with anticipation. All in 6th stage of foundation establisnlsment
"Begin," haoran's voice echoed, and the air itself seemed to tighten.
Chi dashed forward first, his feet gliding lightly over the ground. He threw a series of sharp, precise punches, each blow cutting through the air with force—but Liora moved like wind. Every strike missed by a hair's breadth as she twisted, ducked, and sidestepped effortlessly, her movements graceful yet wild.
Chi gritted his teeth, trying to predict her next step, but she was everywhere and nowhere at once—one moment in front of him, the next already at his side.
A faint smile flickered across Liora's face—or maybe it was just his imagination—before she leapt back, her golden eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Damn it, she's fast," Chi muttered, dropping back into stance.
Meanwhile, Yu faced his own challenge. Buddy lunged forward with lightning speed, forcing Yu to react instinctively. Their fists and claws clashed midair, the impact echoing through the formation like a thunderclap.
Both pairs were locked in motion—boy and beast,bonds—testing not hatred, but connection.
Chi steadied himself and stepped back into an offensive stance. His breathing slowed, eyes narrowing on Liora.
Then it hit him—his punches had landed before, yet not once did they truly connect.
It wasn't a lack of power… it was something else.
His strikes collided not with flesh, but with something more elusive—Liora's undefined form.
Her body shimmered faintly as his fist passed through the ribbons of ethereal light that wove around her, like strands of silk alive with their own will.
Each time he attacked, her form shifted, ribbons fluttering as if mocking the laws of solidity itself. They twisted gracefully, deflecting the force, dispersing it, then reassembling into her shape again.
Chi's eyes widened. "So… that's what you are."
Liora's eyes glowed gold, her lips curling into a knowing smile. The ribbons pulsed faintly, reacting to her emotions, their movements like an elegant dance.
Chi lowered his hands slightly, mind racing. If she doesn't have a fixed form… then I can't fight her like this.
He inhaled deeply, letting his Qi settle, spreading it through his arms—not to strike, but to feel.
The air around him vibrated, responding faintly to his intent.
This time, when he moved forward, his punch didn't aim for her body—it aimed for her Qi flow.
The moment their energies touched, a small shockwave rippled through the ground, light flickering around them like sparks.
Liora blinked, taken aback for the first time. Chi smiled faintly.
"Guess I finally figured it out."
On the other hand, Yu and Buddy were locked in a completely different kind of fight.
Where Chi's match with Liora looked like a dance of rhythm and realization, Yu's was pure chaos. Dust flew in every direction, scorch marks spreading across the ground as bursts of flame erupted from Buddy's mouth.
"Buddy! You're not supposed to burn the entire field!" Yu yelled, jumping sideways to avoid another blast.
Buddy's head wagging,a little immature, as if to say, That's how real power looks!
Yu sighed, wiping soot off his cheek. "You've really gotten cocky after learning flame control, huh?"
He lifted his palm, a small orb of flame forming above it. His control was more refined now, stable and deep orange—evidence of his growth.
Buddy tilted his head, eyes glinting with challenge. The beast inhaled deeply, flames swirling around its muzzle like a miniature sun.
Yu grinned. "Alright then… let's see whose fire burns brighter."
They clashed—Yu's precise, controlled flames against Buddy's wild, instinctive inferno.
Every collision created a shockwave of heat. The ground sizzled, air shimmered, and even Haoran had to raise a barrier to keep the grass from burning.
Yet amidst the chaos, Yu's eyes sharpened. He noticed something—Buddy's flames weren't just wild; they pulsed with emotion, reacting to Yu's own intent.
So it's not about overpowering him… it's about syncing with him.
Yu exhaled, calming his racing heart. He let his flame flicker lower, matching Buddy's rhythm instead of opposing it.
In that instant, their fires intertwined—wild and calm, reckless and steady—fusing into a single golden blaze that burned brighter than either could alone.
Haoran's eyes widened with pride. "They did it… perfect harmony."
But of course, Yu and Buddy were having the time of their lives, their battle more like a playful spar than a real fight. Laughter mixed with bursts of flame as the two charged at each other again and again, neither wanting it to end.
Meanwhile, Chi wasn't nearly as lucky. He was on the defensive, barely managing to dodge Liora's quick movements. Her ribbons flowed like water, yet every strike carried the sharpness of steel.
Chi stumbled back, gritting his teeth as another hit grazed his shoulder. She's learning… no—she's copying me!
Liora's punches mirrored his own techniques, every motion like a reflection of his past attacks. Her expression remained calm, almost teasing, as if she was showing him just how predictable he'd been.
"Not bad," Chi muttered, wiping a trickle of sweat. "But two can play that game."
He inhaled deeply, shifting his stance. Instead of forcing an attack, he watched—waiting, reading the flow. When Liora's next ribbon strike came, Chi stepped in instead of dodging, moving with the flow rather than against it.
In that brief instant, the tides turned.
Chi's instincts screamed—this was his only chance. If he missed it, he wouldn't even have time to block, let alone dodge Liora's next attack.
Gathering the last of his stamina, Chi channeled every ounce of focus he had. His steps flowed into Water Steps, smooth yet sharp, followed immediately by Azure Gale Step—this time, faster, tighter, and more controlled than ever before.
Wind coiled around him as his body blurred into motion, weaving between Liora's ribbons.
Then a momentary halt just for a second , a thought flickered across his mind.
What if… I embed that Qi into my technique?
Chi thrust both palms forward.
A torrent of shimmering blue-and-white energy erupted, spiraling outward like a living storm. Each strand of Qi twisted and curled midair, coiling with intent as if it had its own consciousness.
The wind howled in response, whipping through the backyard with fierce determination. Water essence sparkled like a cascade of diamonds in moonlight, each droplet reflecting the sheer force of his cultivation.
But this was no ordinary blast. It was aggressive, precise, and imbued with the dignity of his new-found power. It wasn't just energy—it was an extension of Chi himself, every bit of his spirit, will, and mastery condensed into a single, devastating strike.
Chi's eyes gleamed—not with arrogance, but with clarity.
Chi's gaze darted forward, expecting to see Liora, but she was nowhere in sight. His head tilted, scanning the air, searching for any sign of her ribbons or ethereal form.
A faint shimmer behind him caught his attention. He spun around—and there she was. Liora, both exhilarated and exhausted, hovered lightly above the ground, her ribbons fluttering like restless streams of starlight.
"…How are you here?" Chi asked, eyes wide with both awe and confusion.
Liora let out a soft, playful laugh, her energy crackling faintly around her. "You took a pause," she said, her voice dancing like wind through leaves, "and that was enough. I didn't want to get hit… so I teleported it was a first time for me it happened naturally."
Chi's eyes widened further, a mix of amazement and the thrill of challenge sparking inside him. Teleportation?
Liora tilted her head mischievously, her ribbons swaying. "Come on, don't just stand there. You're up next."
Chi grinned, his heartbeat racing. The battlefield had just grown infinitely more dangerous—and infinitely more exciting. His energy seemed renewed he pushed passed his limits.
In the other corner of the backyard, Yu and Buddy were a spectacle in themselves. Buddy's form shimmered, shifting subtly with every movement, like liquid shadow and light fused together...