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Jade Mountain Cultivator
Chapter 25: Heading Out

Chapter 25: Heading Out

The sun cast a pale glow over the Verdant Dawn Sect as Tao and Jian moved through the winding paths of the outer courtyard. Morning mist clung to the ground, curling around their feet like sluggish serpents. Tao adjusted the strap of his satchel, its weight heavier than it should have been, though its contents were meagre.

The supply hall loomed ahead; a modest structure built of dark wood reinforced with iron bands. Its roof sagged slightly under the weight of moss and time, and the faint hum of Qi-infused talismans hung in the air. Inside, shelves stretched to the ceiling, filled with tools, talismans, and provisions. The smell of dried herbs and oiled leather lingered in the dim light.

Tao scanned the shelves, his eyes lingering on the gleaming rows of Qi-replenishment pills and finely crafted talismans. Each item seemed to mock him, their polished surfaces a stark reminder of his lack of spirit stones.

“Anything catching your eye?” Jian asked, leaning casually against a nearby post.

Tao shook his head, his gaze falling to a corner where the cheaper supplies were haphazardly stacked. He picked up a pair of crude beast traps, their rusted hinges creaking as he tested their mechanisms. Nearby, a roll of thin bedding sat among other worn items. He added it to his bundle and carried it to the counter.

The attendant, a middle-aged man with a perpetually sour expression, barely looked up as he tallied the cost. “Using sect points, I assume?” he asked, his tone flat.

Tao nodded, handing over his sect token. The attendant waved it over a glowing jade orb, and Tao felt a faint pang as the points were deducted.

“That it?” Jian asked as they stepped outside.

“It’s all I can afford,” Tao replied, his voice tight.

Jian frowned but didn’t press further.

Their next stop was the library, a sprawling building of grey stone with narrow windows that allowed thin beams of light to cut through the shadows. Inside, the scent of old parchment and ink filled the air. Rows of shelves stretched into the gloom, each crammed with scrolls and tomes. Tao moved quickly, his fingers trailing over the spines of the books as he searched.

“What are you looking for?” Jian asked, his voice echoing softly in the stillness.

“An array to repel spirit beasts,” Tao replied, pulling down a thick tome bound in cracked leather.

The book was filled with intricate diagrams and dense text, most of which described arrays far beyond Tao’s ability to craft—or his means to acquire. He flipped through page after page, frustration mounting, until he came across a Beast Repelling Array. It was a basic design, requiring minimal resources and effort, but the description was clear: it would only deter low-level spirit beasts. Anything stronger would barely notice its presence.

Tao studied the instructions, committing the details to memory. “This will have to do,” he muttered.

“Think it’ll work?” Jian asked, leaning over his shoulder.

“It’s better than nothing,” Tao replied, though his tone betrayed his doubt.

As they left the library, Tao couldn’t shake the sense of unease settling in his chest. The Wilds were already dangerous enough without going in so poorly equipped.

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By mid-morning, they stood at the edge of the sect grounds. The air was cool and still. Tao adjusted the strap of his satchel, feeling the weight of the traps and bedding pressing against his shoulder.

“You’ve got everything?” Jian asked, his tone lighter than before.

Tao smirked faintly. “Not much to forget.”

Inside his satchel his sparse belongings were packed with care. Despite the cool breeze, the weight on his shoulders felt heavier than it should have.

Jian walked beside him, his sword slung lazily across his back. “you’ve been out there before, haven’t you? The outer Wilds?”

Tao nodded. “I’ve ventured to the edges. The sect sends us there often enough, herb collection, basic hunting missions. It’s not exactly safe, but it’s manageable.”

Jian grinned. “The outer Wilds might’ve been manageable, but the Black Hollow Forest is another beast entirely. This time, you’re heading into the heart of the unknown. The beasts there won’t just scare you; they’ll eat you.”

Tao gave him a sidelong glance. “Comforting. Thanks.”

As they passed the sect gates, the faint hum of the protective array resonated in the air, its energy shimmering faintly before them. Beyond the gates, the familiar landscape of the outer Wilds stretched out its towering trees forming an impenetrable wall of green. It was a place Tao knew well, though it never felt welcoming.

The dirt path stretched before them, winding through the rolling hills that marked the boundary of the Verdant Dawn Sect.

“This is it,” Jian said moments later as they reached the forest’s edge. His voice was low, almost reverent. “The Untamed Wilds.”

The forest seemed to breathe, its presence pressing against Tao’s senses like a living thing. The air was thick and humid, carrying the faint scent of moss and decay. Shadows danced beneath the canopy, their movements unnatural and unsettling.

Unbeknownst to them, Yun Fei stood in the shadows of a nearby pavilion, his sharp eyes following their every step. A female disciple stood beside him; her arms crossed as she watched with mild curiosity.

“They’re really going,” she said, her tone tinged with doubt.

Yun Fei smirked, his gaze fixed on Tao and Jian. “Let them. The Wilds don’t spare the weak. If they die, it saves me the trouble. If they survive…” His smirk widened. “That’s when we’ll act. Whatever they bring back will be mine, and they’ll have nothing to show for their efforts.”

The disciple hesitated, her brows furrowing. “What if they return stronger?”

Yun Fei’s expression darkened, his voice sharp. “Stronger? Tao? He’s barely clinging to his cultivation. The Wilds will strip him of whatever hope he has left.”

The disciple nodded, though a flicker of doubt lingered in her gaze. Yun Fei’s attention, however, was locked on the two figures disappearing into the forest’s shadows.

Tao and Jian stepped into the Outer Wilds, the air growing colder as the dense canopy swallowed the light. Every rustle of leaves and distant cry of a spirit beast set Tao’s nerves on edge.

“This place is alive,” Jian muttered, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Tao nodded, gripping his own weapon tightly. The forest pressed against them, its energy oppressive and suffocating.

The first day of their journey stretched out before them, the Wilds waiting patiently to test their resolve.

From a high balcony overlooking the sect grounds, Elder Jianyu stood with his arms crossed, his sharp eyes following the two figures as they disappeared into the forest’s shadowy embrace. The faint wind rustled his robes, carrying with it the distant hum of the protective array that marked the boundary of the sect.

“They’re heading out,” he murmured, his tone unreadable. Beside him, another elder, robed in the red of the Pill Hall, frowned slightly.

“They’re unprepared,” the elder said, shaking his head. “Even with Jian there, they’re not equipped for the Black Hollow Forest.”

Jianyu smirked faintly, the expression tugging at the edges of his weathered face. “That’s what makes it a test. Strength isn’t just about power, it’s about resourcefulness and resolve. Tao’s rough, but there’s something in him… a fire that won’t be snuffed out so easily.”

“And if they fail?” the elder asked, his voice edged with doubt.

“Then they were never meant to stand in the face of what’s coming,” Jianyu replied, his gaze unwavering. “The Untamed Wilds reveal the truth of all who enter. Let’s see what kind of truth Tao discovers.”

With that, he turned and strode back into the hall, his figure vanishing into the shadows.