Tao sat cross legged, his breathing steady but shallow. Though the battle was behind them, its toll lingered in the deep aches of his muscles and the sluggish flow of Qi in his meridians. Across from him, Jian flexed his fingers, testing his strength. He still felt weak, but the worst had passed.

The silence between them stretched until Jian finally spoke. “We need to get stronger.” His voice was quiet but firm.

Tao nodded. “I know.”

Jian leaned forward, his eyes flicking to Tao’s hand. “Take them out.”

Tao hesitated, then reached into his storage ring. A moment later, he pulled out the beast cores and the fruits they had risked their lives for. The air between them seemed to hum as the potent energy within the items filled the cave. The fruits, still gleaming with golden light, pulsed softly, while the cores, dark, crystalline spheres, radiated an eerie pressure.

Jian picked up one of the fruits, rolling it between his fingers. “How long do you think these will last before they spoil?”

Tao studied the fruit. “Days? A week at most? The Qi inside is still vibrant, but it will start to leak away eventually.”

Jian frowned. “Then we don’t have much time.”

“We also don’t have much choice.” Tao met his gaze. “If we eat them now, our bodies won’t handle the intensity. It would be like trying to contain a flood in a cracked pot.”

Jian exhaled sharply. “Then what about the cores?” He picked one up, feeling its cool surface. “Beast cores can be refined into Qi, right?”

“Yes,” Tao admitted, “but it’s dangerous. The Qi inside isn’t like the Qi in the air, it’s wild, aggressive, and still carries traces of the beast’s essence. If we absorb it directly, it could damage our meridians.”

Jian clenched his jaw. “So what? We just sit here, waiting to recover naturally while power sits in front of us?”

Tao’s eyes narrowed in thought. “Not necessarily. If we can find a way to purify the Qi, make it more suitable for us, then we could use it.”

Jian looked sceptical. “How?”

Tao tapped a finger against the stone floor. “Some sects use formations or alchemy, but we don’t have access to those. However… I remember reading that certain spirit plants in the Wilds can neutralize the beastly nature of Qi. If we can find the right ones, we might be able to refine the cores safely.”

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Jian sat back, considering the idea. “So we’d be filtering the Qi before absorbing it?”

“Exactly.” Tao picked up a core, rolling it between his palms. “It’s a theory, but it’s worth trying.”

Jian watched as Tao closed his eyes and channelled a tiny wisp of Qi into the core. Almost immediately, the energy inside reacted, pushing back violently. Tao’s face tensed as he tried to suppress it, guiding it carefully toward his meridians. But the moment it touched his Qi pathways, pain shot through him like a searing blade.

He gasped and cut off the flow, his chest rising and falling as he steadied himself. “It’s… too unstable,” he admitted. “I can control it, but only in small amounts. Any more, and it could damage my meridians.”

Jian’s expression darkened. “So we really do need a purification method.”

Tao nodded. “And fast.”

Jian pushed himself to his feet. “Then we should start looking. There have to be spirit plants nearby that can help.”

Tao smirked despite his exhaustion. “Unless you’d rather risk your meridians exploding?”

Jian sighed. “Fine. But if we run into another giant spider, you’re handling it.”

Tao chuckled, but their moment of levity was short lived. In the distance, a low, guttural howl echoed through the Wilds, reminding them that danger still lurked beyond their cave.

Steeling themselves, they stepped out, determined to find what they needed to grow stronger.

Moonlight filtered through the thick canopy, casting jagged shadows across the forest floor. Every rustling leaf, every distant cry of a beast, set their nerves on edge.

Tao crouched near a cluster of gnarled roots, running his fingers over the thin, glowing veins of a Golden Root Orchid.“This might work,” he murmured. “It’s said to stabilize Qi, but we’ll need more than just this.”

Jian scanned the area, blade half drawn. “Then let’s hurry.”

As they moved deeper, Tao spotted another useful plant, Mistshade Ivy, its deep green leaves damp with morning dew. He carefully plucked a few sprigs, slipping them into his pouch.

A sudden snap of a branch made them both freeze.

Low, guttural breathing rumbled through the undergrowth. A Shadowfang Lynx slinked from the darkness, its fur blending seamlessly with the night. Its eyes glowed faintly; sharp fangs bared in warning. A low level spirit beast.Injured as they were, it wouldn’t be an easy fight.

Jian moved first. The lynx lunged, but he twisted aside, slashing a precise arc with his blade. Tao followed, shifting into Tranquil Pool, his sword gliding in smooth, fluid strokes. When the beast recoiled, he switched to Raging Waves, striking with sudden force.

The lynx hissed, blood staining its sleek fur, before collapsing.

Jian exhaled, wiping his blade. “At least we have something to eat.”

Tao smirked. “And we just found another way to replenish our Qi.”

With their spoils in hand, they made their way back to the cave, ready to experiment.