The morning after securing the spirit vein, Riu Xian stood beside a gently flowing river near his cave abode. The crisp air carried a faint hint of spiritual energy, invigorating his senses. He watched as the sunlight danced on the river's surface, casting shimmering patterns that reflected the hues of orange and gold from the horizon. The map he had studied the night before lingered in his thoughts, guiding his next steps.
"The Silent Forest is the fastest route," he murmured to himself. "It’s dangerous, but with proper preparation, I can navigate it safely."
Adjusting the spatial ring on his finger, he felt a faint pulse of energy from the treasures stored within. Confident in his resources and abilities, Riu Xian set out, his resolve firm as he began the journey toward the Azure Immortal Sect.
By midday, Riu Xian reached the outskirts of the Silent Forest. Towering trees with thick canopies loomed above, their shadows intertwining with the dense undergrowth below. The forest’s stillness was unsettling, its silence unbroken by birdsong or the rustling of leaves.
Riu Xian paused, expanding his spiritual sense to scan his surroundings. The forest teemed with traces of Qi, hinting at the presence of spiritual beasts. His senses picked up faint movements, a soft rustle from something prowling nearby.
His muscles tensed as a Shadowfang Panther emerged from the underbrush, its sleek black fur shimmering faintly with Qi. The beast’s golden eyes locked onto him, and it began to circle, its tail flicking in anticipation.
"You’re a mid-Foundation Establishment beast," Riu Xian said calmly. "Strong, but predictable."
The panther lunged at him, its claws slicing through the air. Riu Xian sidestepped with practiced precision, activating the Murim movement technique Shadow Glide. His body blurred as he shifted positions, avoiding the panther’s strike entirely.
As the beast turned for another attack, Riu Xian countered with the Fiery Tiger Palm. A surge of fire Qi ignited around his hand as he struck, landing a blow on the panther’s flank. The beast howled in pain, retreating momentarily before charging again.
This time, Riu Xian combined his footwork with precise strikes, wearing down the panther’s defenses. Finally, with a powerful burst of fire Qi, he delivered a decisive blow, sending the beast crashing to the ground.
Breathing steadily, Riu Xian retrieved the panther’s core, its faintly glowing energy pulsating in his hand. "A good resource for crafting or bartering," he noted before moving deeper into the forest.
Hours later, Riu Xian sensed a strong fluctuation of Qi to the east. Intrigued, he followed the trail and stumbled upon a hidden grove. The air here was rich with spiritual energy, and clusters of rare herbs glowed softly in the shadows of the ancient trees.
"Clouddew Lotus, Spiritvine Grass, and even a Bloodroot Orchid," he murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips. As he carefully harvested the herbs and stored them in jade boxes to preserve their potency, memories flooded his mind.
The original owner of this body had roamed the forests around Cloudspring sect tirelessly, gathering herbs in hopes of exchanging them for resources or using them to aid his cultivation. Believing himself to be talentless, he had turned to the forest as his only chance to survive in a harsh world of cultivation. Despite his limited knowledge at the time, he had painstakingly memorized the appearances, properties, and uses of countless herbs.
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Now, those memories resurfaced with startling clarity, as if a hidden vault of knowledge had been unlocked. Riu Xian could recall every detail, the subtle variations in leaf patterns, the faint fragrances, and the best methods to preserve each herb’s potency.
"This grove alone makes the journey worthwhile," he said softly, feeling a pang of gratitude toward the body’s original owner, whose perseverance and knowledge now served as a vital resource on his path forward.
As he worked, his spiritual sense picked up the faint presence of another cultivator. He straightened, his gaze scanning the grove, and soon a young man in dark robes emerged from the shadows. The man’s cold expression and calculating eyes were a clear warning of hostility.
"You’ve stumbled upon quite the treasure trove," the stranger said, his tone dripping with arrogance. "But I’m afraid you’ll have to leave it behind."
Riu Xian’s expression remained calm. "And you are?"
"Wei Feng," the man replied with a smirk. "A rogue cultivator. And this grove belongs to me."
Riu Xian’s expression remained calm. "And you are?"
"Wei Feng," the man replied with a smirk. "A rogue cultivator. And this grove belongs to me."
After hearing this, Riu Xian's thoughts briefly turned inward. Now that he was sectless, he realized he too had become a rogue cultivator, untethered from any sect or alliance. When I was in the Cloudspring Sect, they never truly supported me. Now, as an independent cultivator, I must rely solely on myself. Yet, I can’t help but wonder what will happen if I reach the Azure Cloud Sect. Its reputation is far better, and it’s a high-grade sect compared to the Cloudspring Sect. Perhaps there, I might find a place to cultivate freely—or face even greater challenges.
With those thoughts grounding him, Riu Xian met Wei Feng’s gaze, his tone even. "A rogue cultivator, you say? Then it seems we have more in common than you think."
Wei Feng wasted no time, channeling Qi into his palms as he launched a series of attacks. Riu Xian quickly activated his Murim technique, Ironwood Barrier. For a few brief seconds, his body became as hard as iron, the technique giving him a brief moment of impenetrable defense. The rogue cultivator’s attacks were powerful, but his techniques lacked refinement and focus.
"This body is not yet adapted to my Murim technique," Riu Xian thought, feeling the technique flicker out after only three breaths. "But it was enough to withstand his blows." His enhanced body remained firm, though the technique’s limited duration reminded him of the adjustments he still needed to make in combining his Murim skills with techniques from this world.
Wei Feng wasted no time, channeling Qi into his palms as he launched a series of attacks. Riu Xian activated the defensive technique Ironwood Barrier, creating a shimmering layer of Qi around him that deflected the strikes. The rogue cultivator’s attacks were powerful, but his techniques lacked refinement and focus.
"He’s strong but lacks discipline," Riu Xian assessed, his movements fluid as he countered each strike.
Switching to offense, Riu Xian activated the Fiery Tiger Palm again, his strikes precise and calculated. Wei Feng faltered under the relentless assault, his frustration mounting as his attacks grew wild and desperate.
Seizing an opening, Riu Xian combined his footwork with a burst of fire Qi, delivering a devastating strike to Wei Feng’s chest. The rogue cultivator was sent sprawling, his body hitting the ground with a heavy thud.
Panting and defeated, Wei Feng glared up at Riu Xian. "Take the herbs and go," he muttered bitterly.
Riu Xian lowered his stance but kept his guard up until Wei Feng retreated into the forest. Only when the rogue cultivator’s presence faded did he relax, storing the remaining herbs before continuing his journey.
As the first light of dawn filtered through the trees, Riu Xian felt a sense of accomplishment. The Silent Forest had tested him, refining his skills and adding valuable resources to his collection.
He adjusted his spatial ring, feeling the faint pulse of the spirit vein stored within. "The journey to the Azure Immortal Sect is still long, but I’m ready for what lies ahead."
Though he had made progress, the dense forest stretched out before him, its path winding further into the unknown. With the treasures of the forest secured and a renewed sense of determination, Riu Xian pressed forward. The distant mountains on the horizon were still a far-off promise, marking the next leg of his journey.