Tian Ling crossed the portal to the Mythic Realm, but his mind was still in turmoil from the recent battle with the Green Demon. Although he had emerged victorious, the cost had been higher than expected. The exhaustion from draining nearly all his spiritual Qi left him uneasy. Even with victory, the satisfaction he expected was missing. Something didn’t feel right.

As soon as he stepped into the Mythic Realm, the atmosphere shifted abruptly. An oppressive sense of danger enveloped him, freezing him in place. His eyes instinctively rose, and he stood paralyzed by the sight in front of him.

Above him floated a man, like a figure out of an ancient legend. The black cloak, adorned with subtle purple engravings, shimmered faintly, as though woven from darkness itself. The man’s silver hair swayed gently, defying gravity. His effortless movement through the air was both mesmerizing and terrifying, as if he belonged to a realm beyond mortal comprehension.

Tian Ling’s heart raced, each beat thundering in his ears. He struggled to control his breathing, but fear spread like a storm in his mind.

"Who... are you?" His voice faltered, trembling with anxiety.

Thoughts raced through his mind: Who is this person? How did he enter my Mythic Realm? Is he an enemy? Damn it... I’m exhausted from the last fight. For a moment, he felt the instinct to attack, but his body hesitated.

The figure, initially facing away, slowly turned. The tension in the air thickened with every passing second, and Tian Ling felt a suffocating pressure. He instinctively lowered his head, as if bowing before a predator.

Could the Green Demon have an ally like this? I’m finished... The thought cut through him like a blade. His body refused to respond, paralyzed by an invisible force. With just a glance, the figure seemed capable of erasing his existence entirely. Tian Ling knew that if the man wished it, he would already be dead.

Even so, he fought against the fear paralyzing him. Trembling, he forced himself to raise his head, trying to glimpse the man’s face. However, no matter how hard he tried, the face remained a mystery, hidden beneath an aura that defied all natural laws.

In desperation, Tian Ling summoned the system, hoping it could shed some light on the situation.

"System... Who is he?" he whispered, barely audible.

Nothing. Absolute silence. The system, usually responsive, didn’t even appear.

This can’t be... Panic swelled within him. The system doesn’t detect him? What is he? The realization hit like a cold wave. Standing before an entity that even the system couldn’t recognize, Tian Ling felt as insignificant as a grain of sand lost in the ocean.

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The man hovered in silence for a moment longer, as if evaluating something. Then, a soft chuckle escaped his lips, a sound both light and heavy, carrying the weight of an existence beyond comprehension. Without uttering a word, the figure turned and continued walking through the air.

Tian Ling watched helplessly as the mysterious figure vanished into the horizon, dissolving like smoke in the wind. The suffocating pressure lifted, and Tian Ling collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. The encounter had left him shaken, as if he had stood at the edge of oblivion.

What... was that? He tried to organize his thoughts, but all that remained was confusion. After catching his breath, he scanned the sky of the realm with his spiritual sense, searching for signs of enemies.

There were none. Everything was silent, as if the encounter had never happened. But Tian Ling’s vigilance remained high. In the cultivation world, peace often masked unseen dangers.

Returning to his palace, he sat in the main hall, trying to make sense of what had just occurred. After a deep sigh, he consulted the system once more.

"System, why didn’t you detect that existence?" His voice was steadier this time.

[The system detected no existence to analyze.]

Tian Ling frowned in confusion. He didn’t exist? But I saw him... I felt his presence. The thought unsettled him. How could something so real escape the system’s notice? The system had always been accurate—why had it failed this time?

He asked more questions, but none received answers. Frustration grew until a new notification appeared.

[You successfully defended the Misty Serenity Sect and defeated the Green Demon. You will receive a system upgrade and a random natural treasure.]

[System Upgrade: Detection Field activated. You can now view the status of all individuals within the detection field. Current range: The entire Misty Serenity Sect.]

[Congratulations! You obtained: Heaven and Earth Flower – a natural treasure nourished by spiritual Qi from both heaven and earth. It generates spiritual Qi naturally when planted.]

Tian Ling’s eyes widened as the flower materialized in his hands. The white petals of the Heaven and Earth Flower radiated a serene aura, a soft spiritual glow surrounding every detail. Holding it, he felt the energy resonate with his spiritual core.

"Who is the strongest person in the sect?" he murmured, testing the new system feature.

A transparent screen appeared before him, providing a simple response.

[Xue Yunzhi: Sect Master of the Misty Serenity Sect. Ninth level of the True Soul Realm.]

The feature’s simplicity pleased him. Though not as detailed as a full status screen, it was practical and efficient. Satisfied, Tian Ling turned his attention back to the flower.

He carried it to the courtyard and carefully planted the Heaven and Earth Flower. As soon as its roots touched the ground, a dense spiritual mist formed around it. The spiritual Qi in the air became palpable, and a gentle, Qi-infused breeze swept through the realm. The scene was enchanting, as though the realm itself were being rejuvenated.

Tian Ling watched in awe. This will speed up my cultivation significantly.

With the flower planted and the energy flowing more intensely, he returned to the palace. Sitting in a meditation posture, he closed his eyes and organized his thoughts. The battle with the Green Demon had been more challenging than expected. Draining all his spiritual Qi showed him how much he still needed to improve. But the encounter with the unknown figure disturbed him even more. For the first time in a long while, he felt insignificant.

"I need to get stronger... fast," he murmured, determination thick in his voice.

With renewed resolve, Tian Ling dove back into his cultivation. He knew that to survive the dangers ahead, he needed to grow. The unknown existence he encountered was a stark reminder that in the vast world of cultivation, he was still just a beginner.