The sound of the night watch drum echoed once more. In the courtyard, Han slowly completed his martial arts routine, anticipation gleaming in his eyes.

Though it was still dark, a new day had begun, and that meant one thing: he could chop the Sacred Tree again!

Wasting no time, Han returned to his room and logged into the Mystic Realm of the Immortal Tree. Without the thrill of chopping trees, he felt as if his soul were incomplete.

As always, he first appeared in the dark space, where he could clearly see the magnificent silhouette of the Immortal Tree in its entirety. Moments later, he was transported into the mystic realm.

The realm looked the same as it had during his last visit: the boundless Immortal Tree, the endless flowing rivers, and the familiar axe embedded in the stone slot.

[Player: Han]

[Life: Postnatal]

[Soul Realm: Sensing Phase]

[Physical Realm: Skin Stage (Initial Entry)]

[Stamina: 2/2]

[Items: Sanguang Spirit Mirror (Magical Artifact)]

Han immediately noticed some changes in his stats. While his physical realm progression was expected, the increase in stamina was a pleasant surprise.

“Nice! Looks like my hard work and sweat yesterday weren’t wasted!”

Without hesitation, Han grabbed the axe and swung it forcefully at the Immortal Tree.

Bang!

As before, the impact sent him stumbling back a few steps, and the tree remained completely unscathed.

This tree... its mystery was unfathomable.

Two light orbs emerged from the Immortal Tree, just like last time.

[Common Artifact: Hundred-Refined Inner Armor]

“A piece of inner armor forged by the Immortal Tree’s power, comparable to one crafted from expertly refined steel. It offers strong defense against physical attacks and moderate resistance to internal energy strikes.”

[Magical Artifact: Fragment of the Water-Repelling Pearl]

“A fragment of the renowned Water-Repelling Pearl, imbued with some of its original abilities. It repels ordinary water but has a limited duration of effectiveness.”

Han examined the items and nodded in approval—they were valuable.

Although these items weren’t as extraordinary as his first drops (thanks to the "first-drop bonus"), they were still excellent treasures.

The Hundred-Refined Inner Armor was particularly practical. Many martial artists sought such items, but this one, crafted by the Immortal Tree’s power, was even more precious. Han could use it for a long time, and it might even save his life one day.

If he had to commission something of similar quality, the cost would be astronomical—far beyond his current means.

Getting it for free was a stroke of luck, and Han couldn’t help but feel smug. Any martial artist would envy him to the point of madness.

As for the Fragment of the Water-Repelling Pearl, its function was self-explanatory.

The full version of the Water-Repelling Pearl was a legendary artifact. Although this fragment had limited usefulness now, it might prove invaluable in the future. Han made a mental note to test its duration and effectiveness later.

Stowing the items away with satisfaction, Han gripped the axe again and swung it with all his might.

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“Come on, give me something amazing this time!”

[Low-Grade Spirit Plant: Foxtail Grass]

“A spirit plant manifested by the Immortal Tree’s power. Though low-grade, it strengthens internal energy upon consumption.”

“...”

A weed? Seriously?

Han looked at the plant in his hand. It was unmistakably a foxtail grass, though its surface shimmered faintly with a mystical glow.

This wasn’t an ordinary foxtail grass—it was the kind poets would write odes about.

“I’ll ask Senior Sister Bai about spirit plants tomorrow,” Han thought.

He could make some educated guesses about its properties, but Bai Ruoyue would have more precise knowledge.

Without further hesitation, Han popped the plant into his mouth and chewed.

It tasted... bitter.

Once again, the food in this Mystic Realm defied normal expectations. First glowing beans, now glowing grass.

As the spirit plant’s energy surged through his body, Han felt waves of heat coursing uncontrollably within him. He immediately began practicing the Flat Sky Bull Demon Refinement, channeling the energy to maximize its benefits.

During the process, even his lingering injuries started to heal at an accelerated rate.

After some time, Han fully absorbed the plant’s medicinal properties.

“Mission accomplished!”

Checking his internal energy flow, Han’s eyes lit up with joy.

Where he once had only a single thread of internal energy after his breakthrough, he now had over a dozen. His progress was remarkable, and even his skin and muscles showed signs of refinement.

However, he was still far from achieving the Minor Accomplishment stage, where internal energy could flow seamlessly through his entire body.

Reaching that level required years of dedicated practice under normal circumstances.

“Cultivating secret techniques is all about tempering the body and fortifying internal energy. The stronger the internal energy, the greater the tempering effect on the body—and vice versa,” Han mused.

“Still, achieving a physique or energy level beyond your current stage isn’t easy.”

Han knew his body surpassed his current realm, but not every martial artist could be as naturally gifted as he was.

Placing the axe back into the stone slot, he gazed up at the boundless Immortal Tree and sighed in admiration.

"This Immortal Tree is truly incredible. I can't even imagine what level of existence it represents. If only I could keep chopping it forever..."

Suddenly, a spark of inspiration flashed in Han’s mind.

The Great Immortal Tree was clearly an existence far beyond his imagination. What if he could...

Contemplate the Great Immortal Tree?

Wasn’t that infinitely better than contemplating some Night Demon or other trivial figure?

The thought made Han feel a rush of excitement.

In the cultivation system, particularly in soul cultivation, the object of contemplation was crucial. The more powerful the object, the greater the benefits.

The Great Immortal Tree was undeniably the perfect subject for Han’s contemplation!

Han paced beneath the tree, pondering the possibility of contemplating it. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became.

“I wonder if I can return to the dark space where I could see the entire tree?”

As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Han found himself flying out of the Immortal Tree Realm, landing once again in the dark space.

The once boundless and distant tree was now fully within Han's view. He could see the trunk’s shape, the intricate patterns on the leaves, and how the roots spread beneath the ground.

The clarity was astounding, and Han couldn’t contain his joy.

All the necessary conditions for contemplation were now met.

Han was genuinely excited.

He quickly left the space, returned to reality, and pulled out the Night Demon Contemplation Technique, carefully scanning it for any useful information.

----------------------------------------

The next morning, Han arrived at the Taibai Martial Arts Academy.

Inside the hall on the first floor, the regular apprentices were still diligently practicing, hoping to break through their limitations and become true martial artists.

“Look, Han’s here!”

A voice spoke up, drawing attention. Everyone turned toward the entrance, where Han walked in casually, hands behind his back.

“Hey, look at what he’s wearing—those are the academy disciple robes!” someone exclaimed, noticing something important.

As soon as the words were out, those who hadn’t been paying attention now focused their eyes on Han.

It was indeed the disciple’s uniform!

"Senior Brother He."

"Junior Brother Zhou."

The two main disciples greeted each other, and all the apprentices fell silent.

Just a day ago, Han had been a regular apprentice who had just signed up. Now, in the blink of an eye, he was wearing the robes of the academy’s most prestigious disciples.

Everyone was stunned.

Han glanced at the apprentices. Their eyes were filled with complex emotions.

In just one day, his status had shifted dramatically.

Han smiled but didn’t say anything. He simply walked over to find Bai Tian.

By the way, Han did have to admit—the Taibai Martial Arts Academy robes looked pretty good. He was quite fond of them.

"With such fine attire, I must live up to the standards!"