Eloquent Ascent

Ling Lian stayed behind for a while as though ensuring that Zhang Han wouldn't return for a second round. Xu Qi took the opportunity to practice a bit more, his mind racing with the potential of his newfound power. The whispers of the elements grew stronger, resonating with his qi. Each word he spoke, each command he whispered, made the air around him pulse with a gentle yet undeniable force.

He tested every use of the primal elements that he could seduce. And each one was more effective than when he was only resonating with them.

Elemental Awakeners could tap into the power of primal elements, enhancing their offense, defense, and speed. Some used an elaborate incantation to form a spell. Or just a simple weaving of that resonance to create a martial art technique.

Every disciple of the Wandering Palace learned the most basic Earthen Fist which uses the power of the ground to amplify their punches. Obviously, they needed their qi to facilitate that resonance.

But now, with Xu Qi's Elemental Whisperer abilities. The primal elements of earth that would usually just resonate with his qi now obeyed his very words. Not only did they meld with his qi, but they also hardened completely, protecting his fist.

Then when he whispered to the primal elements of earth dormant beneath the ground where the training dummy was put up, it shuddered as if it were alive, cracking and shifting as if eager to respond to his command.

Understanding that, he decided to try again.

When threw a punch to the practice dummy, the earth beneath it trembled as it responded to his command to be unstable.

PA!

A crisp sound echoed in the training hall as his fist connected to the dummy, shooting back several feet as if it had been hit by a truck.

Ling Lian, who was watching at the side with her curious eyes, gaped in astonishment as the strength of Xu Qi's Earthen Fist seemed to not agree with her conventional knowledge.

"How did you do that?" she exclaimed, the disbelief evident in her voice.

"How? Did I not just punch the dummy?" Xu Qi tilted his head, acting oblivious to what she really meant.

But Ling Lian wasn't easily fooled.

"That was not a simple punch," She said, her eyes narrowing as she studied him closely. "What did you do?"

"Ling Lian," Xu Qi began, his voice a mesmerizing melody that seemed to dance with the very air around them, "You've seen it last night. I asked the primal element of earth to whisper to the ground beneath the dummy, to make it wobbly like a lover's heart when I whisper sweet nothings to it."

The young woman rolled her eyes, not believing him one bit, "Oh yeah? Is that so? Xu Qi, you're full of it."

Xu Qi chuckled and shrugged, "I told you, I just punched. But you won't believe me. Now that I explained it to you, you still don't."

He then stepped closer, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "But if you want to feel the power of my words, I think I can show it to you, Ling Lian. Just like last night"

Ling Lian looked at him like he was a fool or a horny dog. Her arms crossed over her chest, accentuating its plumpness, "Your words are like a serpent's tongue, Xu Qi. How do I know you're not just spinning a tall tale?"

Despite her stance, her face betrayed her. A hint of pink started to color her cheeks as she felt the warmth of his words, a stark contrast to the chilly air of the mountain.

Before long, she whispered, her voice a challenge wrapped in curiosity, "Prove it."

"How?" Xu Qi's voice caressed the air, a gentle breeze that carried the scent of blooming flowers as he stretched her arm around her.

He's not using his Celestial Eloquence, but somehow, the elements he already seduced were still following him, making this scene appear a little surreal, facilitating the easiness of his interaction with Ling Lian.

Ling Lian glanced at that sight before determination bloomed from her chest as she gently pushed him away, "I didn't mean that, you fool! I mean throw a punch at me, Xu Qi. The same punch that you threw at that poor dummy."

Xu Qi's lips twitched as he felt a pang of embarrassment that he misunderstood her. But that immediately. He smirked and carefully took her hand back before deciding to comply.

He knew better when to back down. And Ling Lian was someone he was indebted to. Not only did she help him return to his quarters last night and feed him a rejuvenating pill, but she even spent her time here watching over him, making sure that he wasn't going to be bullied by Zhang Han.

Their previous night's encounter seemed to etch something into Ling Lian's mind, making her more open to the idea of him being around.

Soon, Ling Lian stood firmly in front of him, her eyes never leaving his, challenging him to demonstrate his supposed 'normal Earthen Fist'.

Xu Qi stepped closer, his qi swirling around his hand, whispering to the earth beneath them and to the wind around them.

"Ready?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with challenge.

Ling Lian was still three stages higher than him. In terms of strength, he was far inferior. Even if he used his full power, he doubted he'd make a dent at her defense.

The young woman took up a stance, ready to receive him, "Go, Xu Qi!"

Nodding, Xu Qi threw a punch, the same punch he threw at the dummy.

His words whispered to the earth, making it just as wobbly as he had done before.

At the same time his Earthen Fist solidified as the primal elements of earth obeyed him, the wind swirled around his fist, adding speed and precision to his attack. He threw the punch with all the power he had, aiming for Ling Lian's palm.

Her eyes widened as she felt the ground beneath them shift and wobble. Her brows furrowed, wondering how he accomplished that. Then, his fist came crashing towards her palm with surprising speed and undeniable strength that far outclassed a normal 2nd stage Elemental Awakener.

The impact was like a sonic boom, a soundless explosion of energy that sent a shockwave rippling through the training hall. The earth beneath them cracked slightly, and the wind whipped around them, carrying the scent of blooming flowers and the promise of summer rain.

Ling Lian staggered back but only slightly. Her hand smoking as his fists left a small mark at the collision. She could feel a stinging sensation but not enough to make her wince in pain.

Nonetheless, that made her expression one of shock and awe.

"... You, what kind of drug did you take?" Ling Lian's voice was filled with disbelief as she stared at Xu Qi, the tremble in her hand was the only evidence of the power behind his punch.

Xu Qi tilted his head again, acting like everything he did was just normal, "Your Rejuvenating Pill?"

The corner of Ling Lian's lips twitched, she couldn't hold back the smile that was threatening to burst forth. She knew he was joking, but the way he delivered it was just too perfect.