Tao stepped forward trying to explore the boundaries of the Lower Herb Garden, mist curling around his ankles like grasping fingers. The realm stretched out before him, but he could barely see beyond a few paces. A pale, diffuse light hung over everything, yet no sun burned in the sky. The air smelled ancient, rich with forgotten power, tinged with the faintest trace of decay. It seemed that there was a limit to how far he could explore before the mist blocked his path.

Somewhere in the distance, a rustle, too deliberate to be the wind. Tao tensed.

A chuckle, deep and knowing, curled through the air like smoke.

"So slow," the voice mused, smooth as silk yet sharp as a blade. "For someone so eager to wield the realm’s power. Why are you hesitating?"

The mist shifted. A shape emerged, tall, sleek, otherworldly. Shenli. His silver-white fur shimmered like starlight, tails drifting behind him as if caught in an unseen current. His eyes, molten gold, held the weight of ancient amusement.

Tao forced himself to relax. "I’m assessing the situation."

Shenli laughed, the sound low and mocking. "Assessing? You haven’t even stepped past the threshold, and you think you grasp anything about this place?" He circled Tao, his movements fluid, predatory. "Foolish. Ignorant. But that’s to be expected."

Tao ignored the provocation. "You told me before, the lower garden needs to be restored before anything valuable can grow. What do I need to do?"

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Shenli tilted his head, tails flicking. "Oh? Suddenly you listen? But why should I simply hand you answers?" He leaned closer, voice a whisper against Tao’s ear. "Knowledge is earned, not begged for."

Tao exhaled sharply, biting back his frustration. He wouldn’t let Shenli drag him into another game of words. "The shack. The books. The answers are in there."

Shenli smirked, his fangs just barely visible. "Perhaps. But you don’t have much time, I put your little cultivator friend to sleep but who knows how long it will last?"

The mist thickened again, swallowing him whole.

Tao didn’t waste time. He strode toward the shack, its wooden frame weathered but sturdy. Pushing open the heavy door, he was met with the scent of old parchment and lacquered wood. Shelves lined the walls, stacked with scrolls, bound tomes, jade slips. A treasure trove of forgotten wisdom.

But he had no time to marvel.

His heartbeat quickened. Jian was still in the cave. He would wake up and notice his absence soon, if he hadn’t already. Tao had no idea how time flowed here. Was it the same as the outside world? Faster? Slower?

A single miscalculation could expose everything.

He grabbed the nearest book, fingers tight around the aged leather binding. Flicking through the pages, he scanned the first few lines. Soil refinement, spirit enrichment, balance of Yin and Yang energy…

It wasn’t enough. He needed to know more, faster.

A soft chuckle drifted from the mist outside.

Tao gritted his teeth. He could feel Shenli’s presence, watching, waiting. Mocking him.

"Better hurry, little cultivator," Shenli’s voice purred from the shadows. "You don’t have the luxury of time."

And Tao knew he was right.