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Jade Mountain Cultivator
Chapter 42: Time’s Up

Chapter 42: Time’s Up

A sharp pulse rippled through the pocket realm, stirring the dense mist that obscured its boundaries. Tao stood at the heart of it, breath slow, eyes narrowed. The air here was thick with untapped power, the kind that made the skin prickle, made the soul feel exposed. The scent of old earth and forgotten time lingered, and somewhere beyond the mist, unseen things moved.

Shenli loomed nearby, his nine tails curling idly through the air. His golden eyes flickered with amusement. "You don’t have long," he mused, his voice a languid drawl. "The boy won’t stay asleep forever."

Tao clenched his jaw. "How long do I have?"

Shenli tilted his head, feigning thought. "Hm. A little while… or a moment. It depends."

"Depends on what?"

Shenli smirked. "How interesting you are."

Tao didn’t waste time pressing him. He turned back to rummaging through the contents of the shack. The scent of dust and parchment filled his lungs. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with books of varying sizes, their spines faded, their titles unreadable under layers of grime.

No clear order. No guide. No shortcuts.

His fingers traced along the shelves before plucking a book at random. The leather cover was cool to the touch, its weight substantial. He flipped it open.

‘The essence of soil is the foundation of all growth.’

His pulse quickened. He scanned further, flipping pages with growing urgency.

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‘To cultivate heaven grade herbs, one must first restore the land and make sure it is of the appropriate spiritual quality.’

A step he had expected. But the book only spoke in vague principles, cycles of vitality, the decay and renewal of spirit energy. It lacked methods. No details on how to achieve it at his level.

Tao exhaled sharply. He needed more. He reached for another book, but before his fingers could close around it…

The air shifted.

A low hum, subtle at first, then rising into a resonant thrum. The mist outside thickened, pressing against the shack’s walls, seeping through cracks like a living thing. The weight of the realm suddenly bore down on him, making his breath hitch.

Shenli chuckled from the doorway. "The realm doesn’t like being taken lightly, little mortal. It will not offer its secrets so easily."

Tao turned sharply. "What do you mean?"

Shenli’s tails flicked, his grin widening. "This place is alive. It watches. It decides." His golden eyes gleamed. "And you? You are barely tolerated."

A slow realization crept into Tao’s mind. The pocket realm was rejecting him, or perhaps, testing him. It would not grant knowledge freely. He had to prove himself.

A deep vibration rolled through the space, and the mist surged inward. Tao felt the tug immediately, a force pulling at his very essence. A warning. A command.

Time was up.

The world around him twisted, his vision distorting as if he were being yanked through water. Shenli’s laughter rang in his ears, distant yet sharp.

And then…

Cold stone beneath his hands. The damp air of the cave.

Tao gasped, body jerking upright as he returned to reality. Sweat clung to his skin, his heartbeat pounding like a war drum. The transition left him disoriented, but he forced himself to focus.

A rustle. A sharp intake of breath.

Jian stirred, his eyes fluttering open. They were still slightly unfocused from his earlier ordeal, but they sharpened as they fixed on Tao.

His voice was hoarse, but the suspicion was clear. "Where did you go?"

Tao swallowed, his mind racing. He needed to be careful. Needed to hide the truth. Because if Jian knew, if anyone knew, they would want it for themselves.