The dawn light filtered through the jagged peaks of Blood Valley, casting long shadows over the rocky terrain. Liang Feng sat cross-legged on a stone slab, blood still drying on his clothes from the duel with Han Yue. The fight had left him bruised, his body screaming in pain, but inside, the Blood Qi burned brighter than ever. It was alive, hungry, and waiting for guidance.
"Enough rest," Master Shen's voice rang from the ridge above. His staff tapped sharply against the stone. "Fighting is not the only path to power. Strength must be refined, channeled, and controlled. Today, you will learn your first cultivation technique: the Crimson Pulse Method."
Liang Feng's eyes narrowed. "A technique? How will it help me kill my enemies faster?"
Master Shen's gaze was stern. "It will help you survive against enemies stronger than you, against cultivators like Han Yue, and beasts far deadlier than those you have faced. Blood Qi is fire—but fire without direction burns you as much as your enemies. The Crimson Pulse Method teaches you to harness your Qi, to make it a weapon, a shield, and a force that extends beyond your body."
Liang Feng clenched his fists. He had survived through instinct and rage alone. Now, it seemed, he would learn to fight like a true cultivator.
The old master led him to a narrow plateau, the valley stretching below. "First, you must attune to your own blood. Feel it. Flow with it. Your heartbeat is your rhythm, your pulse the key to controlling the Qi within you."
Liang Feng closed his eyes, lowering his dagger, and focused. He felt his blood coursing through his veins, hot and thick, each beat echoing like a drum in his chest. The Blood Qi responded, glowing faintly, a soft crimson aura wrapping around his body. Pain flared where his wounds had not fully healed, but he ignored it. The Qi whispered, guiding, alive.
"Good," Master Shen murmured. "Now, project it outward. Not with strength, but with intent. Let the Blood Qi flow in waves, pulsing with your heartbeat. Feel its energy extend beyond your body, striking at the air, the stones… even the creatures in this valley."
Liang Feng's body trembled as he pushed his consciousness into the Blood Qi. The aura flared, radiating outward, rippling through the air. He could feel the pulse brushing against the rocks, the mist, and the valley floor below. It was subtle at first, but unmistakable—a tremor of power.
"Focus," Master Shen said. "Synchronize your pulse with your intent. Control the rise and fall. Each surge can strike, shield, or consume. But if your mind wavers… it will backfire, harming you instead."
Sweat poured from Liang Feng's brow as he concentrated. The Blood Qi flared violently, then receded, then flared again in perfect rhythm with his heartbeat. His chest heaved, and he could feel the energy coursing through every fiber of his body.
"Now… strike," Master Shen commanded.
Liang Feng projected the pulse forward. A crimson wave of energy shot across the plateau, striking a boulder at the far edge. The rock shattered, dust and fragments scattering into the mist. His pulse raced, the Blood Qi resonating with the destruction. For the first time, he felt not just power, but control.
Master Shen nodded, approval gleaming in his eyes. "Excellent. That is the essence of the Crimson Pulse Method. It is simple in principle, but mastering it requires precision, endurance, and absolute focus. With this, you can strike from a distance, protect yourself, and even absorb life essence more efficiently."
Liang Feng's pulse still burned, the aura around him flickering like wildfire. He felt stronger, sharper, more alive than ever. But he knew the training had only begun. Control was the difference between survival and death in this world, and the Crimson Pulse Method was only the first step.
"Tomorrow," Master Shen continued, "you will train with live targets—beasts, cultivators, and ultimately, humans who underestimate you. The Blood Qi will test you, push you, and tempt you to overreach. You must not falter."
Liang Feng stood, feeling the raw energy thrumming through him. His wounds throbbed, his muscles screamed, but the Blood Qi responded to his intent, like a living weapon. His eyes glowed faintly red, reflecting his determination.
"I understand," he said, voice low but unwavering. "Blood will guide me. Pain will sharpen me. And every enemy will fall before my Qi."
Master Shen's lips curled into a faint, grim smile. "Good. You are learning. But remember—power is a path with no end, only progression. Each step forward will demand more. And in time, your name will be feared, not just by beasts or assassins, but by the warlords themselves."
Liang Feng looked over the valley below, the mists curling like living serpents. He felt alive, more than he had ever felt. This was only the beginning—the first spark in a journey of blood, rage, and ruthless cultivation.
The Crimson Pulse Method had been awakened. And with it, Liang Feng's path toward power, revenge, and domination had truly begun.