Chapter 77: The Offer
Wei Lin watched the battle unfold before him with growing concern. The initial exchanges had been impressive enough - Ke Yin matching Chen Wu's techniques with surprising skill. But now something had changed. The air itself seemed to grow heavier as Chen Wu's earth-attributed qi began to pour forth.
"Watch carefully," Wei Ye said, his eyes never leaving the combatants. "This is why there are stages in the Qi Condensation realm."
Wei Lin frowned, not liking the oppressive pressure radiating from Chen Wu. It reminded him uncomfortably of the few times he'd witnessed 6th Stage Qi Condensation cultivators displaying their power. The difference between stages wasn't just about raw numbers - it was about quality of energy, about reaching fundamental breakthroughs in how qi could be wielded.
But Chen Wu was only supposed to be at the peak of the 5th Stage...
"Father," he started to say, but Wei Ye cut him off with a sharp gesture of his hand.
"Good instincts," Wei Ye commented as Ke Yin narrowly avoided the stone hand that erupted from the ground. "Your friend has a natural talent for combat."
Wei Lin nodded absently, struggling to track the increasingly rapid exchanges. Even with his Third Stage cultivation, the movements were starting to blur together. How was his father, a mortal, managing to follow the battle so easily?
"Don't get distracted," Wei Ye chided. "Watch carefully. Chen Wu will end it now."
Wei Lin's frown deepened as he watched Chen Wu suddenly launch himself forward like a boulder from a siege weapon. He didn't care about losing the thousand spirit stones - he just didn't want to see his friend seriously injured. Chen Wu was clearly done holding back.