Peking Opera Cat: I Became A Zi's Brother

(Three days before Sister Xiaoqing's departure)

The heat waves from the Burning Tower are the strongest winds in Dazong.

Wu Song's boots were burning painfully on the black stone, but he was unaware of it.

He had been standing on top of the platform for three hours, the whistle stick spinning rapidly in his hand, the red-gold fire flowing along the stick, like a tamed little snake, wrapped around the blue-black wooden stick, but every time when it was about to climb to the top of the stick, it suddenly lost its strength - just like his current state.

"what……"

The rhythmic force in the dantian was so surging that it almost broke through the meridians, but the meridians in the arms were like a blocked river. No matter how hard the fire force hit them, they could only move forward slowly.

"Come again!"

He growled, his voice tinged with gritted teeth.

He stepped hard on the black stone with his right foot, and the underground fire deep in the fire pit seemed to be startled. Wisps of dark red fire rose up along the cracks in the stone and wrapped around his trouser legs.

Wu Song took a deep breath, and the fire energy in his dantian suddenly surged, flowing along the meridians of his left arm to the whistle stick. This time, he deliberately slowed down the flow of the energy, his fingertips tightly gripping the anti-slip grooves of the whistle stick, staring at the tip of the stick as if he was about to spit fire.

The red-gold flame condensed at the tip of the stick, growing from a bean-sized flame to the size of a fist, and the fire pattern at the center of the flame faintly showed the unique "rhythm pattern" of the Da Zong.

Just as the power of "Hell of Fire Blast" was about to be fully charged, Wu Song's right arm suddenly felt a sharp pain, as if a red-hot needle had pierced into his meridians.

He couldn't help but groan, and his wrist shook uncontrollably. The flame on the tip of the stick exploded with a "bang", and sparks splashed on his wrist guard, burning several small charred holes, and even singed a few strands of hair on his forehead.

"Damn it!"

Wu Song poked the whistle stick into the ground, and the tip of the stick pierced into the crevice of the black stone, splashing a string of sparks.

He tugged at his collar in annoyance, revealing a red mark on his exposed neck from the backlash of the fire rhythm when he was practicing with a stick a few days ago - this was the fifteenth time he had failed that day.

Three months ago, he suddenly awakened a new rhythmic power when fighting against the Chaos Beast. The fire rhythm in his dantian increased by nearly one-fold compared to before, and the power of "Flame Prison Blast" became much stronger.

But his rhythmic power increased rapidly, but his body could not keep up. It was like putting an exquisite saddle on an untamed wild horse. It looked majestic, but in fact it was impossible to control it.

When practicing with the stick these past few days, he always felt tight all over, especially the meridians in his arms, which were like rubber bands stretched to their limit. It hurt a lot if he exerted a little force. Even the most basic "stick turning" was difficult for him to practice.

"What? You just gained some rhythmic power, but you can't practice anymore?"

An old but powerful voice suddenly came from the depths of the incinerator, with a hint of sarcasm and a hint of disappointment.

Wu Song looked up suddenly and saw that in the Holy Fire Altar - the black stone altar tempered by the fire rhythm of the successive masters of the Da Sect - the originally steadily burning red flame suddenly twisted, as if stirred by an invisible hand, and gradually condensed into a vague shadow.

The shadow became clearer and clearer, and Wu Song's pupils shrank tighter and tighter.

It was a tall figure, wearing tattered red copper armor, which was covered with scratches of varying depths, as if it had experienced countless fierce battles;

In his hand, he held a long, charred stick, which was covered with runes that had long since become blurred, but he could faintly feel a burning power.

The face of the shadow was not very clear, only a pair of sharp eyes could be seen, like the underground fire in the deepest part of the burning platform, with unquestionable majesty - this aura and this attire, it was clearly the first generation leader of the Da Sect, the legendary Yan Huang who used the "Burning Sky Stick" to pacify the chaos in the north of Maotu!

"Master Yanhuang?"

Wu Song subconsciously tightened his grip on the whistle stick and was about to salute when he felt a tingling sensation in the meridians of his right arm, causing him to pause.

Yan Huang's shadow floated in front of him, his eyes fell on his trembling right hand, and his brows furrowed even tighter.

He raised the charred long stick in his hand and gently tapped Wu Song's whistle stick with the tip of the stick. The sound was like a red-hot iron hitting a stone, with a scorching temperature:

"When did the disciples of the Da Sect become so delicate? They're shaking even when holding a whistle stick, and yet they dare to use 'Hellfire Blast'?"

Wu Song's face flushed instantly, not out of shame or anger, but because Yan Huang had hit a sore spot. He pursed his lips, stiffened his neck, and retorted:

"I'm not weak! It's just that my energy is increasing too fast, and my body can't keep up. My meridians are always hurting from the impact of the fire energy..."

"Excuse!"

Yan Huang interrupted him and stabbed the black stone with his long stick, sparks flew three feet high.

"The Da Zong's 'Burning Heaven Meridian' emphasizes 'fire veins share the same origin, force follows the staff.' Do you think the more rhythmic force, the better? Wrong! The rhythmic force is the fire, and the body is the firewood. If the firewood is not thick enough, the stronger the fire, the easier it is to burn yourself! Your 'Inferno Blast' may appear to be a fire gathered from the tip of the staff, but in reality, it relies on the staff to transmit force, the meridians to guide the fire, and the footwork to establish a foothold. All three are indispensable. But you, on the other hand, only focus on piling rhythmic force on the tip of the staff. Your wrist can't withstand the force, your meridians can't guide the fire, and your footwork can't establish a stable foothold. It would be strange if the fire rhythm isn't disrupted!"

Wu Song clenched his whistle stick tightly, his knuckles turning white. Every word Yan Huang said hit him like a hammer. He had been thinking about the problem for the past few days.

But every time I practiced with the stick, as soon as I felt the surging rhythmic power in my dantian, I couldn't help but want to practice the "Flame Prison Blast" quickly. I always felt that as long as the power was strong enough, I could make up for the shortcomings of my body.

Now that Yan Huang had pointed it out, he realized how stupid he was. He was like a young boy holding a big knife but not knowing how to hold the handle. He had all the strength but couldn't even figure out how to wield the knife.

"Alright!"

Yan Huang suddenly raised his hand, and the flames in the Holy Fire Altar instantly shot up like a long red dragon, wrapping around the charred long stick in his hand.

Wu Song's eyes lit up instantly—he could clearly see that Yan Huang's fire energy didn't just flow all at once toward the tip of the staff, but split into three streams:

One stream flowed along the lines of the long stick, forming a thin layer of fire film on the stick; another stream went up along the meridians of his arm, connecting with the fire rhythm of his dantian;

There was also a force that flowed along his left foot and into the black stone of the incense burner, as if absorbing the power of the earth fire.

"The Da Zong stick method emphasizes the 'three forces in one'."

Yan Huang's voice became deeper as he demonstrated and explained.

"The first force is 'guiding force' - use the stick as a channel, allowing the fire energy to flow along the stick's lines, and don't let it clash in the meridians; the second force is 'stabilizing force' - use the fire energy in your dantian to stabilize your foundation, and don't let external forces disrupt your rhythm; the third force is 'borrowing force' - step on the ground to borrow the ground fire, raise your hands to borrow the wind, and let the surrounding fire energy become your support, not your resistance."

He swung his stick violently, and the long stick smashed to the ground with red-gold flames, but it did not explode like Wu Song, but instead condensed into a regular fireball. When it hit the black stone, it only left a bottomless round pit. The fire slowly dissipated at the bottom of the pit, without even a trace of sparks leaking out.

What was even more amazing was that Wu Song could feel that when Yan Huang swung his stick, the surrounding earth fire was dancing to his rhythm, as if helping him.

"This is what 'Inferno Blast' should look like."

Yan Huang retracted his long stick and looked at Wu Song.

"Your current problem isn't a lack of rhythmic energy, but rather 'too much impatience.' You're always focused on becoming stronger quickly, on defeating Chaos, but you've forgotten the fundamentals of the Da Zong sect—'fire follows the person, and the person and the staff become one.' Without a solid foundation, even the strongest rhythmic energy is in vain, and will eventually backfire on you."

Wu Song looked at the remaining fire pattern on the tip of the Yanhuang stick, and his heart suddenly brightened.

He recalled that when he was a child, his master always told him when he was teaching him basic stick techniques, "Practice your mind first when practicing stick techniques. When your mind is steady, the stick will be steady."

At that time, he thought his master was nagging and always wanted to learn powerful moves. Now he understands that his master was right.

He was too anxious these days, eager to master new powers and prove himself, but he forgot the most basic things.

"Sect Master, I understand."

Wu Song took a deep breath and solemnly clasped his fists towards Yan Huang's shadow.

"I was too impetuous. I only thought about the strength of my rhythmic power, but forgot about the cultivation of my body and mind."

Yan Huang's shadow looked at him, his eyes softening a little:

"I understand. The Da Zong's inheritance was never meant for those cats who are eager for quick success. Your ability to awaken new rhythmic power shows that you have the potential to protect the Da Zong, but whether that potential can be transformed into strength depends on your ability to calm down."

He raised his hand, and a ray of red-gold fire condensed at his fingertips, and gently touched Wu Song's dantian.

Wu Song only felt a warm force spreading along his dantian and flowing through the meridians of his body. The previous tightness and soreness were instantly relieved a lot, and even the surging rhythmic energy in his dantian became gentler.

"This is the 'Burning Fire Seal'."

Yan Huang explained,

"It can help you stabilize your chaotic rhythmic energy, and it can also guide you to perceive the flow of fire rhythm when you practice with your staff. Next, you must pass two trials before you can truly master the Da Zong's inheritance."

Wu Song's eyes lit up:

"Trial? Please let me know, Sect Master!"

"The first level is 'Fire-Walking to Find the Pulse'."

Yan Huang's shadow drifted towards the Holy Fire Altar. The flames at the altar's mouth suddenly split into nine, extending along the black stone lines of the altar. Nine fire paths extended out, each of which was covered with tiny fire spikes.

"These nine fire paths correspond to the nine main meridians in your body. You must hold the whistle stick and walk along the fire paths. As you walk, use the 'Burning Fire Seal' to guide the rhythmic energy, flowing in accordance with the rhythm of the fire paths. Don't let the fire sting you, and don't let the rhythmic energy get out of control. This level teaches you to 'control the fire'—control the flow of the fire rhythm, allowing it to follow your will."

Wu Song looked at the fire paths, only to find they were so narrow that only one foot could fit. Although the fire spikes were small, they glowed a dark red, and it was obvious that they were carrying a strong fire power. He gripped his whistle stick tightly and took a deep breath.

"Disciple understands!"

"The second level is 'Breaking Chaos with a Stick'."

Yan Huang continued,

"After you pass the first level, the Sacred Fire Altar will simulate the scene of my past battle against Chaos. You must wield the whistle stick and use 'Inferno Blast' to break Chaos' illusion. This level teaches you to 'use fire'—to transform the controlled fire rhythm into a true protective force."

He paused, his eyes becoming serious:

"There's no time limit for these two levels, but if you rush for quick success and force your way through, you'll not only fail, but also be attacked by the fire rhyme, damaging your foundation. Do you understand?"

"Disciple understands!"

Wu Song's voice was firm, without the slightest hesitation.

Yan Huang's shadow nodded and gradually became transparent:

"Okay. From now on, the trial begins. I will watch over you in the Sacred Fire Altar. Remember, the fire of Da Zong is a fire of protection, not a fire of rage. Only when the heart is steady can the fire be steady; only when the fire is steady can the staff be steady."

As soon as the words fell, the shadow completely dissipated in the flames of the Holy Fire Altar, leaving only a faint wisp of fire rhyme lingering in Wu Song's dantian, as if reminding him of the existence of the "Burning Fire Seal".

Wu Song stood there, looking at the fire paths, and took a deep breath.

He raised his hand and touched the "Burning Fire Seal" in his dantian, and felt a warm power flowing through his body, which gradually calmed his originally irritable heart.

He recalled the scene three months ago when he fought against the Chaos Beast - that Chaos Beast was stronger than any he had ever seen, and the aura of Chaos was as thick as an indissoluble fog, and he was almost swallowed by the Chaos.

Only then did he understand that strength is not for showing off, but for protecting.

If you can't even control your own power, how can you protect Da Zong? How can you help Bai Tang and the others fight against chaos?

"Only when the heart is stable can the fire be stable..."

Wu Song repeated Yan Huang's words in a low voice and tightened his grip on the whistle stick.

He walked to the entrance of the first fire path, and gently stepped on the black stone of the fire path with his right foot. He immediately felt a burning force rushing up along the soles of his feet, but was gently blocked by the "Burning Fire Seal".

He took a deep breath, mobilized the fire energy in his dantian, and let it flow slowly to the meridians of his right foot along the guidance of the "Burning Fire Seal".

At the same time, the whistle stick in his hand began to rotate, and the red-gold fire rhythm flowed along the stick, gradually echoing the fire energy of the Fire Road.

"go!"

Wu Song let out a low cry, took a step forward with his right foot, and followed closely with his left foot.

His steps were not fast, and each step was steady. The whistle stick turned more and more smoothly in his hand, and the speed of the fire rhythm flowing through his meridians became more and more stable.

The fire spikes on the fire path brushed against his trouser legs, but were gently bounced away by the fire aura on his body, without hurting him at all.

The wind from the incinerator gradually grew stronger, blowing his cloak, but it could not blow away the determination in his eyes.

He knew that these two trials were difficult, but he would not give up - for the sake of Da Zong, for Bai Tang and the others, and for the entire Maotu, he had to become stronger and must master this inheritance.

The whirring sound of the whistle stick, the gentle sound of the flowing fire rhythm, and Wu Song's steady footsteps intertwined above the fire platform, like a battle song belonging to the disciples of Da Zong.

……

Meanwhile, at the other end of Cat Land, by the Shenzong's palace-protecting river, Xiaoqing was standing on the Moxi Corridor, the dark blue rhythmic energy gently pulsating at her fingertips;

In the Echo Valley of the Chang Sect, Da Fei was facing the valley, practicing his newly awakened melody.

Three different lights of inheritance echoed quietly in the sky above Maotu, as if foreshadowing that a battle to protect Maotu's future was about to begin.

……

Wu Song walked forward step by step along the fire path. With every step, he gained a little more control over the fire rhythm.

He could feel that the "Burning Fire Seal" in his dantian was slowly merging into his meridians. The path of the fire rhythm's flow became clearer and clearer, and the previous feeling of blocked meridians gradually disappeared.

When he reached the end of the first fire trail, he couldn't help but look back.

I saw a series of shallow footprints left on the fire path behind me. The fire thorns around the footprints became much docile, no longer as fierce as before.

"So... this is what 'controlling fire' feels like."

A smile appeared on Wu Song's lips, not the impatient smile from before, but a calm and confident smile.

He turned and walked towards the entrance to the second fire tunnel.

This time, he didn't hesitate and took a step forward.

The whistle stick turned faster in his hand, and the fire rhythm flowed faster in the meridians, but it was still steady, without a trace of disorder.

The flames on the incense burner seemed to be cheering for him, and the flames in the sacred fire altar became brighter.

Wu Song knew that his trial had just begun.

But he was no longer impatient or anxious - because he understood that true strength did not lie in the amount of rhythmic power, but in the control over power and the protective heart.

He will move forward step by step, pass these two trials, master the inheritance of Da Zong, and then, like Sect Master Yan Huang and Bai Tang, use the fire of Da Zong to protect the entire Maotu.

This is his mission and also the inheritance of Da Zong.