Elder Wei's attack came with blinding speed. One moment he was standing several feet away, the next his fist was inches from my face. I barely managed to twist away, feeling the wind of his strike brush against my cheek.
"Too slow," he commented, his voice eerily calm.
I retaliated with a quick combination of punches, each one powered by my cultivation energy. To my frustration, Elder Wei deflected them effortlessly, his weathered hands moving with practiced precision.
"Is this all the famous Liam Knight can do?" he taunted.
His next strike caught me in the ribs. Pain exploded through my side as I staggered back. The power behind his punch was unlike anything I'd experienced before—this wasn't just physical strength but concentrated "Inner Strength," the hallmark of an advanced cultivator.
From the corner of my eye, I could see Isabelle watching anxiously from the car, her hands pressed against the window. Her presence steeled my resolve. I wouldn't fail her. I couldn't.
