The forest was alive with the sounds of distant creatures and the rustling of leaves in the wind. Jiang Tao leaned against the tree, feeling the rough bark press into his back.

He had expected the expedition to be more thrilling, but the day had mostly comprised walking and avoiding dense patches of thorny underbrush.

Li Hua approached her presence calm and unruffled as always. She settled beside him; her gaze wandering over the camp’s preparations.

“Already so winded?” she asked, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Jiang Tao chuckled softly, running a hand through his hair. “It's mentally exhausting, not physically.”

She hmmed softly at that. “We haven't spoken much before…”

He nodded in agreement “We haven't,”

Li Hua regarded him with a thoughtful expression. “Not to offend, Jiang Tao but you’re quite refined for someone who is peasant-borne.”

“Thank you?” he replied unsure how to take the comment. He could understand the intention though, he was far from the average peasant because he had been reincarnated from a world where education was mandatory.

She flushed red, “That was ill-spoken, my apologies!”

Jiang Tao waved off her apology with a smile. “It’s fine. I understand what you mean.”

He had never seen her so flustered it was surprising. She always seemed in control so the fact that he had her on the back foot was pretty interesting.

As the night deepened, the air grew colder, and the sounds of the forest became more pronounced. Crickets chirped rhythmically, and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures echoed through the trees. The flickering fire in the center of the camp cast long shadows, dancing wildly with every gust of wind.

The group had settled into their meditative positions, trying to harness the calm of the night for their own cultivation. He wanted to set up the serene pond formation, but he didn't want to show all his cards yet especially amongst strangers.

He stood making sure to be as quiet as possible and made his way towards the edge of the camp where the forest was thicker and the darkness more profound.

He found a secluded spot behind a cluster of dense bushes, where the darkness was more all-encompassing and the noise of the campfire faded to a murmur.

“Perfect,” He murmured.

He took a deep breath, drawing in the crisp night air. The serenity of the forest at night was both calming and invigorating. Jiang Tao closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, allowing himself to merge with the surrounding environment.

Cultivation was best done alone, communal cultivation wasn't really his thing. It felt odd like they were just exchanging qi in a big chain. It didn't work like that but he couldn't stop his mind from drifting.

He drew a deep breath, letting the cool air fill his lungs. As he exhaled, he began to channel his energy, feeling the familiar flow of qi through his body.

----------------------------------------

The subtle crunch of leaves underfoot roused him from his meditation. The first rays of dawn were beginning to pierce through the canopy when Jiang Tao slowly opened his eyes, letting the tranquility of the forest seep back into his awareness.

He took a moment to appreciate the serene beauty of the morning light filtering through the trees, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor.

Elder Ji had already made it past him. The expedition had resumed, and he quickly got onto his feet. There was no need to freshen up or eat, at this stage of his cultivation eating was barely something he needed to do with frequency.

He couldn't really overstate how cool being a cultivator was. No need to carry cumbersome gear cause everything was all stored in his storage ring.

Jiang Tao moved swiftly through the underbrush, his steps light and silent as he rejoined the group. The forest was still waking up; the mist clinging to the low branches and the air crisp with the promise of a new day.

“Come,” Elder Ji’s voice rang out. “That's enough rest.”

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Tao noticed the other imperial disciples trailing behind after him.

“We’ve covered a lot of ground already, but we need to push further north,” The Elder said.

As they moved north, the forest began to change. The trees grew taller and the underbrush more sparse. The group was now traversing through a more open section of the woods, with sunlight streaming through the canopy in golden shafts. The morning mist began to lift, revealing the lush green landscape in all its glory.

As they pressed on, the forest floor began to show signs of recent disturbance. Broken branches, trampled foliage, and the occasional sign of a large creature’s passage indicated that something significant had recently happened in this area.

Suddenly, a low growl rumbled through the air, causing the entire group to halt in their tracks. Elder Ji’s expression hardened as he raised a hand for silence.

"Stay close and be ready," he instructed.

Jiang Tao’s heart quickened. He scanned the dense undergrowth, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound.

A few moments later, a massive beast emerged from the shadows, its eyes glowing with an eerie luminescence.

It was a creature unlike any Tao had seen before—its fur was a mottled mix of greens and browns, blending seamlessly with the forest, and its size suggested it was not something to be trifled with.

Peak foundation stage. He noted its aura. Should be a cakewalk for Elder Ji.

The beast let out a piercing roar, challenging the intruders. The group tensed, preparing for the confrontation.

“Well?” Elder Ji turned to face the imperial disciples with an expectant look. “What are you waiting for?”

It was clear he and the core formation disciples would not do anything about it. Li Hua was the first to act a sword materializing in her hands as she dashed forward to meet the creature mid-leap.

Yu Hongyi and Tao followed suit. Tao quickly equipped Yixings saber taking a slash at the beast's face, he was pretty bad at actual swordplay so he was using the saber as a conduit for his wind blades.

The massive beast roared in pain as Li Hua’s sword struck its side, causing it to stagger slightly. Its fur bristled and its eyes narrowed, focusing on the threat that Li Hua posed. With a low growl, it swiped a powerful claw in her direction. Li Hua deftly dodged, her movements smooth and practiced as she landed several more blows, each cut leaving a deep gash in the beast’s hide.

Yu Hongyi, standing beside Tao, wove through the air, his sword striking with precision as he unleashed sword qi in rapid succession. The sword-shaped constructs him their mark slicing through the beast’s defenses and forcing it to rear up on its hind legs.

A flying talisman from Yiren hit it square it’s before exploding into a brilliant burst of light, sending the beast crashing to the ground. They had it on the back foot with their relentless flurry of attacks.

Partially blinded it tried to swipe at Li Hua unsuccessfully but she managed to block the frantic swipes. Yu Hongyi continued to dart around, his sword qi forming a deadly dance of lights.

The beast, now clearly enraged, and desperate, swung its massive claws wildly. Tao moved slashing at the beast’s exposed flank. The wind blades he conjured from the saber sliced through the creature’s hide, drawing blood and forcing it to stagger.

Li Hua, seeing the opening Tao had created, sprang forward with renewed vigor. Her sword met the beast’s shoulder with a resounding clang, the impact causing a deep wound. The beast roared in pain, its strength visibly waning.

“Keep pressing!” Li Hua shouted over the din of battle. “We need to end this quickly before it can recover!”

Yu Hongyi nodded, and then he appeared to make an inhaling motion, a wave of qi was sucked from the creature. His technique drained the beast of its energy, visibly weakening it as its movements became sluggish. The creature let out a low, pitiful growl as its strength ebbed away.

Jiang Tao, seizing the opportunity, channeled his qi through Yixing's saber with focused precision.

“The south wind heralds the Storm,” he chanted as he unleashed his strongest attack. The blade of wind went straight for the creature's underbelly.

The result was a gory explosion of blood.

Elder Ji approached the fallen beast, his eyes scanning the creature for any signs of additional threats or abnormalities. “Well done,” he said, his voice carrying a note of approval. “You’ve handled this well.”

“These juniors are so impressive,” Ma De muttered.

Jiang Tao glanced at Elder Ji. “What exactly was this creature? I’ve seen nothing like it before.”

“It’s a Forest Wyrm,” Elder Ji explained, crouching beside the beast and surveying it. “They’re territorial and aggressive, especially in the northern parts of the forest.”

Yu Hongyi dusted off his clothes and gave a small, satisfied smile. “It was a good practice. May I have the core?”

“If your fellows allow it,” Elder Ji replied.

Hongyi turned to face them, staring them down, daring them to object. Li Hua scoffed then gave a dismissive wave.

Yu Hongyi's gaze fell on Jiang Tao, a hint of challenge in his eyes. “What about you…Jiang Tao? Any objections?”

He briefly contemplated saying no but thought better of it. I value my peace of mind. For now. Jiang Tao shook his head.

“Perfect,” he said not even asking Ning Yiren.

Yu Hongyi moved with practiced ease, retrieving a small, ornate dagger from his belt. He approached the fallen Forest Wyrm, carefully slicing into its tough hide to extract the core. The creature's core was a pulsating orb of deep green, slick with blood and other fluids.

He held it up triumphantly before stuffing it in his mouth.

Ew! Jiang Tao thought a shiver traveling down his spine at the sight. Why?

Hongyi noticing the unsettled expression on his face gave him a bloody grin. “The Dao of the Devourer,”