As Adam and Jordan walked back along the trail, Adam noticed how the sun now hung directly overhead, casting sharp shadows on the ground.

It was clear that it was midday. Realizing this, Adam couldn’t help but think about how Jordan always seemed to know the time, even without a clock.

Maybe it’s the position of the sun, Adam mused, recalling how his own village on Earth also lacked clocks. Yet, as someone who grew up in a more modern world, he had become used to checking the time.

The difference between his upbringing and this place struck him, but he quickly brushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the faint sensation of the weights still attached to his arms and legs.

To Adam’s surprise, the weights no longer felt as heavy as they had before. His steps were steady, and the burdens seemed almost negligible.

“When did this happen?” Adam wondered aloud. He realized he had gained more control over his energy without even noticing. The devices, which had previously drained him, now seemed to have little effect.

Even as he walked, Adam tried to activate his internal senses again, hoping to sense the world around him as he had beneath the waterfall.

However, no matter how hard he concentrated, nothing came to him. His frustration began to grow.

Why can’t I do it? he thought. Under the waterfall, it was so effortless… but now…

Before Adam could ponder further, Jordan stopped abruptly, turning to face him. His expression was calm, but his voice carried authority.

“Adam,” Jordan said firmly, “I want you to perform a task.”

Hearing this, Adam blinked in confusion. “A task? What kind of task, Master Jordan?”

Jordan’s gaze remained steady. “I want you to find your way back to the base—alone. Without my help.”

Adam was stunned. His mouth opened slightly, but no words came out. Finally, he managed to stammer, “But Master… I don’t know the way! I don’t remember it!”

Jordan didn’t respond. Instead, he gave Adam a knowing look and vanished into thin air, leaving Adam standing there, shocked and alone.

“Master!” Adam called out, turning in every direction. “Master Jordan! Where are you?”

There was no response. The only sounds were the gentle flow of the river to his left and the rustling of leaves in the dense forest to his right. The silence was unnerving, but Adam knew panicking wouldn’t help.

He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “It’s fine,” he muttered to himself. “I can handle this. No matter how big the challenge, I’ll overcome it.”

His determination reignited, Adam closed his eyes, focusing on activating his Aura Sense. For a moment, nothing happened.

But then, like a spark, the skill ignited within him. He felt the faint traces of energy around him—subtle but unmistakable.

Focusing harder, Adam sensed energy traces on the ground. He opened his eyes and looked down, spotting faint outlines of footprints glowing with white energy. These footprints led back the way he and Jordan had come.

“Wow…” Adam whispered, astonished by the sight. “So it’s possible to track energy like this…”

Excited by the discovery, Adam crouched down and touched the ground with his hand. He closed his eyes again, activating his senses further. This time, he extended his focus beyond the footprints.

Darkness enveloped his vision momentarily as he scanned his surroundings. He turned to the right, facing the forest, but saw nothing—only an empty void. Then, turning left toward the river, he sensed more footprints glowing faintly with white energy.

Opening his eyes, Adam stood up and followed the glowing trail. The footprints led him back to a familiar spot. As he walked, he noticed the area around him beginning to feel strangely nostalgic.

Finally, he reached a clearing. It was the place where he had consumed the Life Flower.

“This is where I stopped before…” Adam murmured, recognizing the spot.

He paused for a moment, staring at the clearing, his mind racing with thoughts about the journey ahead.

Adam looked around and immediately recognized the clearing. This was the same spot where he and Jordan had stopped before.

A small smile appeared on his face as the memory surfaced. Without hesitation, he closed his eyes, activating his skill once again.

Darkness enveloped his vision as the Aura Sense came alive. Slowly, he turned his head in different directions, trying to locate any traces of energy.

Soon, he spotted faint footprints glowing in the distance. Two distinct sets of prints appeared—one set was larger, the other smaller.

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Curious, Adam approached the larger footprints and observed them closely. “These must be Jordan’s footprints,” he whispered, his confidence growing. Opening his eyes, however, he saw nothing but the bare ground.

Frustration bubbled within him. “Why can’t I use this skill with my eyes open?” Adam muttered. His determination, however, refused to falter.

Closing his eyes once more, he focused on the glowing footprints and noticed that they led deeper into the forest.

“So that’s where Master Jordan and I came from…” Adam mused. “If I follow these footprints, I might find my way back to the hideout.”

This realization filled Adam with a sense of hope and purpose. With renewed energy, he shut his eyes, confirmed the direction of the glowing footprints, and opened his eyes again.

Without wasting any time, he sprinted toward the forest.

The moment Adam entered the dense woods, the atmosphere shifted. Light filtered sparsely through the thick canopy above, casting fragmented shadows on the forest floor.

The air grew cooler, and the scent of damp earth filled his senses. The ground beneath his feet was no longer flat; it was uneven and treacherous.

Fallen trees and thick shrubs sprawled across the path, forcing him to carefully navigate through the obstacles.

Occasionally, small animals darted between the undergrowth, but Adam paid them no mind. He was too focused on his task. Closing his eyes briefly, he reactivated his Aura Sense to check the glowing footprints.

Every time he saw the trail, he would reopen his eyes and move forward as quickly as he could.

Unbeknownst to Adam, Jordan was quietly observing him from behind a nearby tree. Hidden in the shadows, Jordan watched as Adam persevered through the challenge.

He’s progressing faster than I anticipated, Jordan thought. He had expected Adam to struggle, but Adam had surprised him with his determination and ingenuity. Still, Jordan stayed close, ready to intervene if Adam found himself in danger.

Adam, oblivious to Jordan’s presence, pressed on. Time slipped by as he repeated his pattern—close his eyes, locate the footprints, open his eyes, and follow.

This rhythm helped him stay on track, but it wasn’t foolproof. There were moments when he misjudged the trail and veered slightly off course, only to correct himself by using his skill again.

As more time passed, Adam noticed something troubling. The glowing footprints, which had initially been bright and clear, were now fading. The intensity of their glow was diminishing with each step he took. A sinking feeling formed in his chest.

What happens if the trail disappears completely? he thought, his heart pounding. If I lose the trail, I’ll never find the hideout.

The urgency of the situation pushed Adam to his limits. He knew he had to find a way to activate his Aura Sense with his eyes open. Shutting his eyes repeatedly was slowing him down, and time was running out.

“Focus, Adam,” he whispered to himself. “You’ve got this. Put everything you’ve got into it.”

Determined to succeed, Adam remembered a meditation technique he had learned on Earth. He focused his attention on a single point at the center of his forehead, ignoring the strain it caused in his eyes and mind. Pain began to build, but Adam didn’t stop.

The effort paid off. Slowly, faint glimpses of the glowing footprints appeared before him, even with his eyes open. However, the trail flickered inconsistently, threatening to vanish entirely.

Adam gritted his teeth and pushed harder, forcing himself to stay focused despite the growing pain. The glowing trail reappeared, faint but visible.

Adam pressed forward, chasing the faint light of the footprints that would lead him back to safety.

Adam watched the glowing footprints intently, only to see them vanish again within seconds. Frustrated, he slapped both cheeks with his hands and shouted to himself, “No! Try again!”

Adam will have to activate this skill at any cost otherwise he will be left in this jungle and there will be no one to save his family and his village.

Just a short distance away, Jordan stood silently on a tree branch, observing Adam’s struggle. His eyes remained focused, carefully noting every move Adam made without interrupting.

Adam closed his eyes again, pushing all his concentration into activating his skill. Slowly, the white footprints began to reappear in his vision.

Encouraged by this, he started following the glowing trail. The footprints flickered—sometimes vanishing and then reappearing—but Adam didn’t give up.

He maintained his focus, his determination growing stronger with each step.

Over time, Adam found himself adjusting to this constant strain. His skill began to feel more natural, and he no longer needed to focus as intensely.

The footprints now remained visible for longer stretches, allowing him to move faster. However, Adam noticed something troubling—the brightness of the footprints was diminishing.

“It won’t be long before they disappear completely,” Adam muttered, feeling the weight of urgency. Without hesitation, he broke into a sprint, following the fading trail with everything he had.

The forest grew thinner as Adam neared the edge, and soon, the long, towering trees gave way to an open clearing.

His heart leapt when he spotted Jordan’s hideout ahead. Standing by the gate, arms crossed over his chest, was Jordan himself, waiting patiently for Adam to arrive.

Adam exhaled a deep breath, his relief palpable. His face lit up with joy as he realized he had successfully navigated the forest.

However, as he approached Jordan, Adam noticed something strange—his Aura Sense skill was still active. He couldn’t turn it off. White outlines of energy surrounded everything he looked at, including Jordan.

A wave of worry washed over him. “Master Jordan, I think there’s a problem!” Adam called out, concern evident in his voice.

Jordan, the experienced swordsman, turned to face Adam. With a calm demeanor, he walked toward the house, speaking over his shoulder, “What you think is a problem is actually a gift. This is how the skill works. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Hearing this, Adam felt a sense of relief. Jordan’s reassurance eased his mind, and he followed his mentor inside the house.

As Adam stepped into the house, his eyes widened. His Aura Sense was still active, and he could see the faint, glowing outline of Jordan’s figure as he moved.

Amazed, Adam thought to himself, If I hadn’t met Master Jordan, I wouldn’t have learned so many incredible things.

Lost in thought, Adam entered the living area, where Jordan turned to him with a smile.

“The some meat earlier this morning has left, but now it’s time for us to prepare lunch. Go outside and wash your hands and feet, then come back to help me in the kitchen.”

Adam nodded obediently and stepped out. Outside, he found a wooden bucket filled with water. He washed his hands and feet, the cool water refreshing him after his exhausting trek. Once clean, he returned to the house and joined Jordan in the kitchen.

Jordan handed Adam a few ingredients and began instructing him. “Add these in slowly. Watch how the consistency changes,” Jordan explained, demonstrating each step with precision.

Adam listened intently, soaking up every bit of knowledge his mentor shared. As they worked side by side, Jordan shared more about the ingredients and their uses, offering insights Adam found fascinating.

Time passed quickly as the two prepared lunch together. The aroma of the food filled the house, a comforting sign of their efforts.

Once the meal was ready, Adam and Jordan sat down to enjoy their lunch, the moment marking a sense of accomplishment and camaraderie.

The chapter ended here as they began their meal.