The journey back to the Verdant Dawn Sect was grueling. The forest seemed denser than before, and the jade mountain within my dantian hummed faintly, as if testing my endurance. I clutched my robes tighter against the morning chill, my steps hurried but careful.

It had been nearly half a day since I awoke in the forest, disoriented but determined. The sect lay nestled in the foothills beyond Emerald Hollow City, and though the distance wasn’t insurmountable, the weight of my thoughts made it feel endless.

The jade mountain was now a part of me. Its power lingered, like an ember waiting to ignite, but I dared not draw upon it. Not yet. The voice’s command to find spiritual herbs echoed in my mind, filling me with a sense of urgency. But first, I had to face the sect.

The Verdant Dawn Sect

The Verdant Dawn Sect wasn’t grand, at least not compared to the great sects of legend. It occupied a modest compound near the city, surrounded by rolling hills and patches of farmland. Stone walls enclosed the sect, offering both protection and seclusion, while simple wooden buildings dotted the grounds.

At its heart stood the Verdant Hall, where the sect’s Patriarch Yu Tian—a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment level—resided. Though not powerful by the standards of larger sects, the patriarch was respected for his fairness and steady leadership. Beneath him were the elders, all at various stages of Qi Condensation, who oversaw the sect’s daily affairs.

The sect was split into three tiers:

1. Outer Disciples – The majority, tasked with menial labor and basic cultivation.

2. Inner Disciples – More advanced students, responsible for specialized tasks like refining pills, crafting talismans, or tending the herb gardens.

3. Core Disciples – The elite few who had proven their worth and cultivated beyond the first few levels of Qi Condensation.

I was an inner disciple, but barely. My rank was near the bottom, and I had languished at the peak of the first level of Qi Condensation for years. The frustration of my stagnation had driven me to the forbidden forest, a risk I knew could end in punishment—or worse.

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Emerald Hollow City

Emerald Hollow City was the lifeblood of the sect. A medium-sized city bustling with merchants, artisans, and cultivators, it was known for its proximity to two rival sects: the Verdant Dawn Sect and the Ironwood Tower Sect. The two competed fiercely for recruits, resources, and influence, though the Ironwood Tower Sect, with its stronger patriarch, often had the upper hand.

I had grown up in Emerald Hollow, the son of a shopkeeper who sold mundane herbs. When I was accepted into the Verdant Dawn Sect, it had been the proudest day of my family’s life. But years of mediocrity had dulled their pride—and my own.

The Return

The sun was low on the horizon when I reached the sect gates. Two outer disciples stood guard, their post more ceremonial than functional. They glanced at me but said nothing as I passed.

The inner courtyard was quiet, the disciples scattered about their duties. I headed toward the Herb Pavilion, where I worked cultivating spiritual plants used in pills and elixirs. The familiar scent of soil and herbs calmed my nerves, but I knew it wouldn’t last.

As I entered the pavilion, Elder Hua, the overseer of the herb gardens, spotted me immediately. She was a stern woman with sharp eyes that missed nothing.

“You’ve been gone too long, Tao,” she said, her voice clipped. “Where were you?”

I hesitated. “I went to the forest to gather herbs, Elder Hua. I lost track of time.”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’ve been warned about wandering too far. What did you find that took so long?”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing for an answer. “Just some low-grade herbs. Nothing of value.”

Her gaze lingered, and I forced myself to remain still. Finally, she sighed. “Return to your duties. But don’t let this happen again. The sect has no place for those who shirk their responsibilities.”

“Yes, Elder,” I said, bowing deeply.

Back in my small corner of the gardens, I knelt by a row of Spirit Lotus Saplings, my hands moving automatically as I tended the plants. The jade mountain in my dantian pulsed faintly, as though mocking my mundane tasks.

The voice’s command was clear: I needed spiritual herbs strong enough to thrive in the energy of the spirit peak. But how could I gather them without drawing attention? The sect’s resources were limited, and Elder Hua would surely notice if I took anything valuable.

My gaze drifted toward the distant Verdant Hall, where the sect stored its most prized herbs. The idea was absurd, dangerous—but the jade mountain burned with potential, urging me forward.

I clenched my fists. For now, I would wait, plan, and bide my time. But deep down, I knew the mountain had set me on a path that would change everything.