The forest stretched endlessly before them, a maze of misshapen roots and towering trees that seemed to conspire against their sense of direction. Shadows swayed in the fragmented light, their jagged forms twisting.

Tao frowned as he unfolded their map for what felt like the hundredth time, his eyes scanning the faded lines and vague markings.

“This doesn’t make sense,” he muttered, tilting the map to catch what little light filtered through the canopy.

Jian leaned over his shoulder, his expression tight. “Are we lost?”

Tao didn’t answer immediately. The truth was, the map provided by the sect was little more than a rough sketch, its details sparse and unreliable. The dense foliage and shifting terrain made it nearly impossible to match their surroundings to anything on the page.

“I don’t know,” Tao admitted finally, folding the map with a sigh. “The landmarks aren’t clear, and the forest keeps changing. It’s like it has a life of its own.”

Jian glanced around, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “We’ll figure it out. Let’s keep moving. Staying in one place too long isn’t safe.”

They pressed on, their footsteps muffled by the thick undergrowth. The shadows grew deeper, and the air seemed to hum with a faint, unsettling energy. Tao’s eyes scanned the ground for any sign of a trail, but the forest offered no clues.

Then, Jian stopped abruptly, holding up a hand. “Do you see that?” he asked, his voice low.

Tao followed his gaze and froze. Ahead, half hidden among the roots of a massive tree, was a figure slumped against the trunk. The robes were tattered and stained with blood, but the black and red trim was unmistakable.

“Ironwood Tower Sect,” Tao whispered, his heart pounding.

They approached cautiously, their senses on high alert. The corpse was that of a young man, his face pale and lifeless, his body marked with puncture wounds and deep, jagged tears where venom had corroded the flesh. Sticky strands of webbing clung to his limbs, and his skin bore faint discolorations, as if the poison had spread through his veins in his final moments. Tao crouched beside him, noting the intricate embroidery on the robes.

“He was a core disciple,” Tao said, gesturing to the insignia on the man’s sleeve. “At least the sixth stage of Qi Condensation.”

Jian whistled softly, his eyes narrowing. “What killed him?”

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Tao examined the wounds more closely. The wounds were uneven and ragged, marked by punctures and areas where the flesh appeared to have been corroded. It was the kind of damage only venomous fangs and unrelenting force could cause. The forest had claimed its victim, but the exact circumstances remained a mystery.

“Whatever it was, it’s not here now,” Tao said, though his tone carried little reassurance. “Help me search him.”

Jian hesitated for a moment before nodding. Together, they carefully searched the body, their movements swift but methodical.

Tao’s hand brushed against something cool and metallic hidden behind the corpse. He pulled it free, revealing a sword of exceptional craftsmanship. The blade was slightly curved, its surface etched with faint runes that shimmered faintly with Qi.

“A core disciple’s sword,” Jian said, his voice tinged with envy. “Far better than the standard weapons we were issued.”

Tao set the sword aside, continuing his search. His fingers closed around a small, worn pouch tied to the man’s belt. Inside, he found a jade slip and a thin booklet.

Suddenly, his eye caught a faint glimmer on the man's hand. Leaning closer, he discovered a small storage ring, its surface etched with faint, intricate patterns.

“A storage ring,” Tao murmured, holding it up to inspect.

Jian’s eyes widened. “Low grade, but still… that’s a rare find.”

Tao slipped the ring onto his finger, his Qi brushing against it to reveal the small space within. There wasn’t much inside, just a few Qi replenishing pills, low grade healing pills and a handful of spirit stones, but the utility of the ring was undeniable.

“What’s that?” Jian asked, nodding toward the booklet Tao had emptied out of the pouch earlier.

Tao opened it, revealing neatly inscribed characters detailing a sword technique. He recognized it immediately, it was the Ironwood Tower Sect’s signature technique, a higher-grade version than anything they had access to as inner disciples.

“There’s also a cultivation method,” Tao said, holding up a jade slip. He feigned interest, though inwardly he felt a flicker of relief. His own cultivation path, gifted by the Jade Mountain, far surpassed anything this slip could offer. But he couldn’t let Jian suspect.

Jian eyed the items, his expression torn between curiosity and greed. “How do we split it?”

Tao considered for a moment. “The sword is better than anything we have. You take it. I’ll keep the storage ring. We can split the rest later”

Jian nodded slowly, his hand reaching for the sword. “Fair trade.”

Tao handed it over without hesitation, storing the jade slip and the booklet into his new storage ring. “There’s something else,” he said, unfolding a map he had found on the corpse.

The map was far more detailed than their own, its markings precise and intricate. Tao’s eyes scanned the lines, his brow furrowing as he noticed a marked location not far from their current position.

“This might help us get back on track,” Tao said, showing it to Jian. “There’s a spot marked here. It’s close.”

Jian studied the map, his expression sceptical. “Could be dangerous.”

“Could also be useful,” Tao countered.

After a moment, Jian nodded. “Fine. Let’s take a look.”

They rose and set off toward the marked location. The forest seemed to press closer around them, its energy thick and oppressive. Tao’s mind raced with questions. What had killed the core disciple? And what awaited them at the marked site?

As they moved, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the Wilds were watching, their unseen eyes judging every step they took.