When Lin Rui returned to his room and pushed open the door, a tranquil atmosphere greeted him. The room was sparsely furnished, with a few plain pieces arranged neatly in their respective places. A lantern in the corner emitted a dim, yellow glow, its light falling softly on the wooden floor and casting gentle shadows. Yet, despite this serene setting, the storm brewing in Lin Rui's mind refused to settle, his growing doubts and unease becoming impossible to ignore.

The air in the room felt heavy, as though the stillness carried a foreboding weight. Even the rustling of the bamboo forest outside the window seemed muted, like a silent warning that nothing about this situation was as simple as it appeared. Standing in the center of the room, Lin Rui replayed the information he had gleaned from Wang Ting at Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Wang Ruohan had circumvented family rules last autumn to take something valuable. Lin Yueyao started meeting him frequently around the same time. Coincidentally, that was also when Lin Rui had broken through to Spirit Origin Tier One. These interconnected details felt far too coincidental, like an unseen hand weaving an invisible web around him.

As an outsider in the Lin family, Lin Rui had little opportunity to interact with its core members, let alone someone like Wang Ruohan. His life was one of independence; he had no personal servants, and his meals were prepared by himself or his father, Lin Yuntian. Rarely relying on others for daily needs, Lin Rui knew Wang Ruohan and Lin Yueyao would have had few chances to act against him directly.

A heaviness settled on his chest as if the room's air was growing dense, an invisible pressure surrounding him. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Lin Rui tried to untangle the threads of his suspicions. One memory stood out—an important clue.

The family's rules clearly stated that the elders would present a congratulatory gift when a descendant broke through to the first level. Lin Rui vividly remembered the gift he had received after his breakthrough. Though it was far less lavish than what more talented family members were given, it had still marked his first encounter with family resources—a rare opportunity for someone of his standing to access external goods.

He slowly walked toward the wooden cabinet in the corner, each step deliberate and cautious, carrying the weight of his deep-seated suspicion. The cabinet, cloaked in shadows, seemed to harbor secrets as if waiting for him to uncover the hidden truths buried within. As Lin Rui pulled open the bottom drawer, the faint creak of the door echoed in the room, mirroring the unresolved puzzles in his heart. He reached inside and retrieved the gifts the various branches of the family had given him.

The items lay quietly in the wooden box, emitting a faint spiritual glow under the warm light of the room. Though they appeared ordinary at first glance, Lin Rui knew they might conceal far more than met the eye.

Carefully, he took the items out of the box and placed them on the table as he tried to recall their origin and purpose. Every gift carried its unique spiritual energy and symbolism, reflecting the intent and support behind it. Yet, these seemingly simple items might hold the key to unraveling the mysteries surrounding him.

Lin Rui's fingers brushed against one particular item—a talisman. It was a Mortal-Tier Mid-Grade Five-Element Spirit Convergence Talisman, a gift lovingly prepared by his father, Lin Yuntian. The talisman could help a Five-Spirit-Root cultivator absorb and harmonize the five elements of spiritual energy, significantly enhancing energy absorption efficiency during cultivation. The original Lin Rui had cherished this talisman so profoundly that he had never used it, leaving it intact until now.

Running his fingers over the faintly glowing runes, Lin Rui felt a wave of warmth rise in his heart. His father had always cared about his cultivation, fully aware of his challenges due to his Five-Spirit-Root constitution. This talisman was a testament to that love—a tool designed to make Lin Rui's difficult path a little easier, offering tangible support in his arduous journey.

Another item caught his eye: a small black array disk resting quietly at the table's edge. Lin Rui recognized it immediately—a Mortal-Tier Mid-Grade Five-Element Array Disk, a gift from the family patriarch, Lin Tianhua.

This array disk was a rare and valuable treasure. When activated, it could create an array to balance the spiritual energy flow during cultivation, preventing disruptions or imbalances that were especially common for Five-Spirit-Root cultivators. The disk could be used three times in total, and the original Lin Rui had already used it twice, leaving just one use remaining.

Lin Rui noted the thoughtful precision behind the gift. Despite rarely meeting his grandfather due to his inferior talent, the patriarch had still chosen a practical and high-quality item for him. It showed that, at least on the surface, the family did not entirely abandon its less-gifted descendants.

On the other side of the table lay a pair of Spirit Qi Bracers embedded with intricate Five-Element runes. Lin Rui picked them up, sensing the faint spiritual energy flowing within. These were gifts from his eldest uncle, Lin Tianhong—Mortal-Tier Mid-Grade Five-Element Spirit Qi Bracers. Their function was to enhance the flow of spiritual energy during cultivation, preventing energy stagnation in the meridians and ensuring smooth and efficient progress.

Examining the bracers, Lin Rui couldn't help but notice a pattern: nearly all the gifts he received were tailored specifically for a Five-Spirit-Root cultivator like himself. It was clear that the family's intention, at least superficially, was to support his cultivation.

His eyes shifted to a small bottle of pills resting nearby. It is a Mortal-Tier Mid-Grade Five-Element Spirit Qi Pill, a gift from his second uncle, Lin Tiancheng. These pills were specially crafted for Five-Spirit-Root cultivators to quickly replenish and harmonize their spiritual energy, ensuring balance during cultivation. The bottle was now empty, and from the original Lin Rui's memories, he recalled consuming the pills during earlier cultivation sessions.

Stolen novel; please report.

Lin Tiancheng was known for his low-key and steady demeanor and shared a harmonious relationship with Lin Yuntian. To Lin Rui, this bottle of pills symbolized not just a practical aid for his training but also his second uncle's quiet support and goodwill.

Finally, Lin Rui's eyes fell on a translucent, glistening orb—Mortal-Tier Low-Grade Five-Spirit Transformation Orb. This gift stood out immediately because it wasn't from a senior family member but Lin Yueyao herself. According to family traditions, only elders could present gifts to disciples upon their breakthroughs.

However, Lin Yueyao presented the orb as a "token of affection," a gesture Lin Yuntian had supported at the time as “a sincere expression of Yueyao’s goodwill.” The original Lin Rui was deeply moved by this and accepted the gift with gratitude.

Now, as Lin Rui held the orb, he couldn't help but feel a trace of irony. The same person who had made such a show of goodwill may be harboring darker motives.

Lin Rui recalled the sensations he experienced while using the Five-Spirit Transformation Orb. As a specialized artifact for Five-Spirit-Root cultivators, it was supposed to enhance his absorption and conversion of spiritual energy. Yet, after every use, his cultivation progress inexplicably slowed down, and the flow of spiritual energy became sluggish. Although the effects hadn't seemed blatantly apparent at the time, in hindsight, it was clear that something was amiss with the orb.

Unwilling to speculate further, Lin Rui immediately summoned Chickpedia. With a flash of light, the cheerful chicken-shaped encyclopedia system appeared, flapping its wings energetically as it hovered before him.

"Master, what do you need Chickpedia to help with?" it chirped brightly.

Lin Rui held out the Five-Spirit Transformation Orb and said gravely, "Take a look at this orb. Is there anything wrong with it?"

Chickpedia fluttered around the orb, carefully sensing the spiritual energy within. Suddenly, it stopped mid-air, and its playful demeanor turned serious. "Hmm... Master, this orb has indeed been tampered with. It contains a toxin called Phantom Blood Spirit-Dampening Powder."

Lin Rui's brows furrowed. "Phantom Blood Spirit-Dampening Powder? What kind of toxin is that?"

Chickpedia perched on Lin Rui's shoulder and explained in its usual lively tone: "Phantom Blood Spirit-Dampening Powder is a subtle and hard-to-detect poison. It's not lethal. Its primary purpose is to slow down the victim's cultivation and make spiritual energy sluggish."

Lin Rui's mind immediately flashed back to his prior cultivation struggles, and realization dawned upon him. "So that's why my cultivation progress kept slowing down!"

Chickpedia nodded. "Exactly. This toxin only takes effect with prolonged contact or ingestion. Once the contact or intake stops, the body naturally metabolizes the toxin over time, leaving no lasting damage. The residual poison in your body from before was precisely this substance."

Lin Rui’s eyes glinted with a cold light. “Wait. So this poison wasn't meant to kill me but rather to slow down my cultivation deliberately?"

Chickpedia nodded solemnly. "Correct, Master. This toxin doesn't act immediately or cause obvious physical harm. Its purpose is solely to suppress your cultivation progress gradually. Most of the toxin has already been metabolized by your body, so your spiritual energy flow has started to return to normal. This poison isn't deadly."

Lin Rui’s mind raced as he analyzed Chickpedia's explanation. He had assumed the Five-Spirit Transformation Orb contained a lethal poison, but now it was clear that the true intent of the toxin was far more insidious: to hinder his cultivation progress over time.

"They're playing games with me, aren't they?” Lin Rui said coldly, his voice filled with suppressed anger. "Stalling my cultivation without killing me. This way, they avoid suspicion while ensuring I struggle to advance."

Chickpedia flapped its wings lightly as if offering comfort. "But Master, the poison in this orb is no longer a threat. Most of it was already absorbed during your previous cultivation sessions!"

However, this only deepened Lin Rui's confusion. If the poison within the Five-Spirit Transformation Orb wasn't lethal, then what had caused his near-death experience?

"Chick, you're sure that the Phantom Blood Spirit-Dampening Powder slowed my cultivation, but that can't be the poison that nearly killed me, can it?" Lin Rui asked in a low voice.

Chickpedia perched on his shoulder, its tiny wings tapping him in helplessness. "Master, you're correct. Phantom Blood Spirit-Dampening Powder only slows cultivation and isn't deadly. However... regarding the poison that caused your previous death, it must have been a different substance."

Lin Rui's heart tightened. "Then what was the fatal poison in my body?"

Chickpedia tilted its head, its wings scratching at its beak in apparent thought. "Apologies, Master, but my analysis time is up for today. I'll need until tomorrow to continue helping you analyze the other poison clues."

Hearing this, Lin Rui felt a wave of helplessness. Although he had unraveled the secret of the Phantom Blood Spirit-Dampening Powder, the actual fatal poison remained a mystery. He could only wait for Chickpedia to provide more answers the following day.

"Chick, your timing is impeccable," Lin Rui said with a wry smile, shaking his head. However, he knew there was nothing else he could do now.

The dim light of the lantern cast shadows over the items on the table, their elongated forms resembling lurking dangers and conspiracies surrounding him. Lin Rui tightened his grip on the Five-Spirit Transformation Orb, his thoughts gradually crystallizing. Though this orb was merely a tool to hinder his cultivation, the broader scheme behind it had yet to surface. The room seemed cloaked in the oppressive weight of mysteries, growing even more stifling.

The lethal poison mentioned in Lin Yueyao's letter had sounded far more dangerous. Could someone else have interfered with the scheme? It was clear the puzzle pieces had yet to align fully, Lin Rui mused.

A chilling thought suddenly struck him. He placed the orb back on the table, gazing at the other gifts. What once symbolized blessings now seemed like harbingers of a meticulously planned conspiracy. Hidden within them were countless treacheries and dangers waiting to be uncovered.