Dragon's Descent [Xianxia, Reverse Cultivation]

The flood arrived like an accusation written in liquid fury.

Xiaolong stood beside the eastern barrier, watching supernatural currents carve through landscape that had remained stable for centuries. These were not the seasonal floods that villages learned to accommodate through patient negotiation—this water moved with the fury of something driven from its rightful territory, seeking recompense.

The river's spiritual signature blazed against her enhanced senses. Where normal floodwater carried the chaotic essence of storm and snow-melt, this surge rippled with elemental forces displaced by recent conflicts. It roared like a wounded beast, surging against confines in search of release that would not come.

Li Feng positioned himself at the formation's central nexus, his wooden sword gleaming as water-element qi flowed through its grain. The weapon had evolved since his meridian reconstruction, its patterns resembling those inscribed on spirit-realm artifacts. He held it with steady hands, qi channels pulsing in response to the flood's arrival.

"Nine Streams Convergence—formation positions!" Li Feng's voice carried across the village, clear despite distance and howling storm. "Remember, maintain steady circulation! Let the formation amplify your energy, don't force individual techniques!"

The villagers moved to their assigned positions.

Wong planted his feet beside the eastern barrier's primary anchor point, his earth affinity providing stable foundation for the entire defensive network. Lingxin stationed himself where wooden frameworks would bear the greatest stress, his wood-joining techniques ready to provide flexible reinforcement. Widow Cai took position near the overflow channels, her water sensitivity allowing her to detect dangerous pressure buildups before they threatened structural integrity.

Elder Duan supervised civilian evacuation to higher ground, her authority ensuring that non-combatants remained clear of areas where spiritual energies might prove hazardous to ordinary human physiology.

The three displaced water spirits materialized at their designated positions, their forms solidifying from mist and current as they prepared to defend territory they had claimed through negotiation rather than conquest.

Lord Cascade manifested above the eastern barrier like a living waterfall. His towering column of rushing water maintained humanoid features despite its liquid composition, massive hands capable of redirecting flood surges that would demolish stone and earth construction. The spirit's presence transformed the barrier from static defense into active redirection—a massive valve that could channel water away from vulnerable structures.

"Young cultivator," Lord Cascade rumbled, his voice carrying the thunderous authority of water falling from great heights, "the approaching deluge carries malice beyond normal seasonal flooding. We detect three hostile spirits riding the surge—refugees like ourselves, but desperate rather than reasonable."

Mother Deep-Current flowed into position along the underground channel network she had carved during the previous day's construction. Her riverine form disappeared into the earth, becoming invisible to normal perception but blazingly obvious to Xiaolong's draconic senses. The spirit's essence spread through hidden waterways like blood through veins, creating a secondary defensive system that would relieve pressure from surface barriers.

"Pressure release channels prepared," Mother Deep-Current's voice echoed from drainage outlets throughout the construction site. "Underground flow capacity exceeds surface calculations. We can handle overflow that would overwhelm traditional barriers."

The Laughing Rapids materialized near the northern approach, its form shifting between states like water transitioning from liquid to mist. The stream spirit bounced excitedly, apparently viewing the coming crisis as entertainment rather than catastrophe.

"Oh-such-serious-preparation-for-such-obvious-solutions!" The Rapids sang, its tumbling words creating ripples in nearby puddles. "Angry-water-comes-fast-and-hard, cooperative-water-goes-slow-and-smart! Why-fight-current-when-you-can-become-current?"

Li Feng's formation activated as the villagers began their qi circulation.

Xiaolong felt the energy streams converge toward his position—amateur cultivation from multiple sources combining into something greater than the sum of individual contributions. Wong's earth essence provided stability, Lingxin's wood affinity added flexibility, Widow Cai's water sensitivity offered precision guidance.

The collective energy flowed through Li Feng's new meridian pathways, transformed by his sect training from raw power into refined technique. His wooden sword traced patterns through the air, each movement creating invisible currents that would guide the formation's output toward optimal defensive configurations.

The first wave struck with the force of a collapsed mountain.

Water crashed against the eastern barrier in a wall of liquid fury that rose higher than the village's tallest structures.

Lord Cascade met the assault directly, his waterfall nature allowing him to absorb the impact's full force without yielding ground. The spirit's massive form channeled the surge upward and outward, transforming destructive pressure into spectacular display as redirected water arced over the village in crystalline cascades.

"Maintain stability!" Li Feng shouted over the roaring flood. "Lord Cascade, hold the initial surge! Mother Deep-Current, prepare release channels!"

His commands resonated with qi-infused intent—cooperative manipulation of elemental essences rather than unilateral control. The water spirits responded with precision born from negotiated agreement rather than subservience.

Mother Deep-Current's underground network activated in response, hidden passages opening to drain excess water away from surface defenses. The spirit's river expertise allowed her to predict flow patterns and counter the flood's attempts to find weak points in their preparations.

Li Feng's sword moved in the classical patterns of River Cutting Sword Art, but his technique had evolved beyond traditional sect methods. Each motion coordinated not just his own qi, but the collective energy of everyone participating in the defense. The formation amplified individual abilities while maintaining harmony between disparate cultivation styles.

Xiaolong observed this cooperation, pleased with its effectiveness. She stood ready to provide direct assistance if needed—though she hoped Li Feng's newfound spirit alliances might prove sufficient to weather this storm without exposing her capabilities further than intended.

The second assault came from multiple directions simultaneously.

Three hostile spirits manifested within the flood surge, their displaced rage seeking new territories through violent conquest.

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The first attacked as concentrated spite—water that moved against natural law, flowing upward and sideways to bypass the earthworks protecting the village's northern edge.

The second spirit assaulted the barriers through direct spiritual pressure, attempting to shatter defensive formations rather than overcome them physically. The third manifested pure chaos, transforming orderly flood patterns into unpredictable torrents that shifted from moment to moment.

The Laughing Rapids intercepted the first intruder midway across its vertical ascent.

"Going-the-wrong-way-angry-foam?" the Rapids sang, its mischievous nature translating into playful mockery. "Water-flows-downhill-you-twisted-surf-foam!"

The attacking spirit responded with fury, but lacked coherent focus to contest the stream spirit's natural advantage. It struggled to reform its substance after each disruption from The Laughing Rapids' interference.

Mother Deep-Current opposed the second attacker—the one who sought to undo the barriers from within through spiritual pressure alone.

"You are too far from your natural domain," the river spirit declared, her tone indicating contempt for this hasty challenger. "This is not some muddy trickle you can dominate with overbearing force; these waters will be won through understanding, not aggression."

She deflected the intruder's pressure with her own subtle influence, channeling power through underground flow-routes rather than confronting it head-on—a delicate dance of redirection and avoidance that denied opportunities for decisive victory while preventing catastrophic collapse.

The Laughing Rapids darted between crisis points, its chaotic nature perfectly suited for responding to unpredictable attacks. The stream spirit met disorder with deliberate randomness, its playful techniques confusing the hostile spirit's attempts to create cascading disasters.

"Formation holding steady," Li Feng announced, his voice carrying strain but not desperation. "Maintain circulation—the worst surge is yet to come."

The villagers responded to his leadership, their amateur cultivation sustaining the energy flows that allowed their supernatural allies to coordinate effectively. Wong's earth-working created temporary berms where Lord Cascade's redirections proved insufficient. Lingxin's wood-joining techniques allowed rapid reconstruction when barriers failed, his frameworks flexing rather than breaking under pressure.

Xiaolong watched these engagements while maintaining her stance as a ready reserve.

She observed Li Feng's technique—not only the visible motions of sword and arm, but the subtler patterns of meridian routing, qi circulation, and spirit alliance. His newfound ability to manipulate multiple essences simultaneously offered tactical flexibility beyond his sect training.

Her senses traced the intersecting flow of powers as Li Feng and the water spirits cooperated without giving way to command. The villagers held steady, their amateur efforts amplified by cooperative formations. Behind her, the remaining villagers watched anxiously, hands clutching charms and talismans acquired throughout their lives.

"Magnificent coordination!" Lord Cascade boomed as he deflected another assault. "Your young cultivator demonstrates wisdom in harmonizing mortal technique with spirit essence!"

"Underground channels holding steady," Mother Deep-Current reported through drainage outlets. "Pressure distribution prevents catastrophic failure!"

"Best-flood-fighting-ever!" The Laughing Rapids cheered, apparently having the time of its existence. "Cooperative-spirit-human-cultivation-makes-everything-more-interesting!"

Li Feng's expression reflected the strain of sustained effort, but his movements remained controlled, his breathing steady despite exertion. He guided the formation's energies toward specific tactical objectives, allowing cooperative synergy to reduce human contribution.

"Angry-foam-spirit-fading!" The Laughing Rapids declared after repelling another chaotic assault. "Soon-it-will-fly-away-like-drifting-waves!"

Their triumph rang hollow against what Xiaolong's enhanced senses detected approaching from the north.

The Jade Serpent's presence pressed against the spiritual landscape like a mountain preparing to fall. Its cosmic authority stretched across multiple valleys, rewriting elemental law through proximity alone. Where it passed, water spirits that had held territories for centuries either fled or submitted to power that predated their existence by millennia.

The displaced spirits currently attacking their defenses were refugees from this same entity. Their desperate aggression came not from malice but from terror—they sought new territories because returning to their original domains meant annihilation.

Li Feng coordinated the defense with growing confidence, his newfound mastery of joint cultivation proving effective against these lesser threats.

But against the Jade Serpent, their efforts would burn like matchflames before a bonfire. Li Feng's courage would only ensure his destruction alongside everyone he sought to protect.

Xiaolong calculated distances and timing. The Jade Serpent would reach this valley within two hours, its influence preceding its physical manifestation by perhaps thirty minutes. The entity moved deliberately, consuming territories rather than simply conquering them, each claimed domain strengthening its expanding authority.

"Pressure holding steady in all sectors," Mother Deep-Current reported through her underground network. "Hostile spirits show signs of retreat."

"Good work," Li Feng replied, his voice strained but confident. "If you can hold the attacks for another hour, we should weather this storm."

Wong grinned as his earth-working created another temporary berm. "Never thought I'd be working alongside water spirits to save my own fields."

"Cooperation transcends species boundaries," Lingxin added, his wood-joining techniques providing flexible reinforcement where rigid barriers would have failed.

Their celebration was premature and heartbreaking.

Xiaolong watched Li Feng's face glow with achievement, his transformation from sect student to community protector representing exactly the sort of growth that made mortal existence precious despite its brevity. His leadership inspired continued cooperation between beings who had learned to trust each other through shared struggle.

That growth would end when cosmic indifference crushed it beneath coils that spanned valley to valley.

Her protective instincts blazed against the approaching threat. Power could solve this crisis, but only power applied without the careful limitations that defined her reverse cultivation journey.

She stepped backward from the defensive perimeter, her movement deliberate but unremarkable amidst the organized chaos of flood management. The villagers remained focused on their assigned tasks, their attention absorbed by immediate challenges that demanded total concentration.

Li Feng continued his coordination with the water spirits, channeling their combined energy into barriers that held back this lesser flood. His growth represented triumph of human determination over natural limitation—exactly the sort of achievement the approaching entity would dismiss as irrelevant.

She retreated another step, then another, her movements masked by the constant motion of people adjusting positions and responding to changing flood conditions. Hui Yun materialized beside her, sensing her intent with irritating perceptiveness.

"You are planning something dangerous," the fox spirit said softly, his expression flickering between amusement and worry.

"Yes," she acknowledged, aware that denying him straight answers would be pointless. "Distract Li Feng if he notices my absence."

Hui Yun nodded, understanding her concern without needing explanations. "You intend to face that powerful being alone?"

"No." She smiled—her true draconic smile, not the one she had grown comfortable using in human form. "I shall offer it the respect due to one of its power, and it shall make its own choices."

"Ah, the old dragon approach: Tell powerful spirits what you're going to do, then do it." Hui Yun shook his head in mock admiration, his tails fluffing out for extra dramatic effect. "Do keep yourself intact for our return trip, Longying Huaxia."

He winked and bounded off toward Li Feng, his foxlike gait drawing the attention of nearby villagers with his oddity.

She vanished from the village under cover of this misdirection, knowing that no one's life should depend upon the capriciousness of cosmic beings with their own agendas.

She was a dragon, and that carried weight beyond human comprehension.