The moment I stepped into the hollow of the tree, the Shadow Moth lurking outside reacted instantly. Its glowing, eerie eyes locked onto mine as it rushed toward me, its wings beating violently against the air, creating a gust of wind that rustled the dried leaves around me. Its movements were sharp yet unrefined, a creature driven purely by instinct.

Without hesitation, I materialized my staff, its familiar weight grounding me amidst the growing tension. My grip tightened, my body tensed, and I positioned myself for the impending strike.

As soon as the moth reached the entrance, I hurled my staff forward with precision. The weapon whistled through the air, cutting through the dim light of the forest. Though the moth registered the incoming attack, its body, limited by its cultivation level, failed to react in time. The staff struck it squarely in the head with a sickening crack, sending it hurtling backward. It collapsed onto the damp forest floor, twitching briefly before falling still.

I exhaled sharply, but before I could catch my breath, a chorus of shrill screeches echoed through the trees. My senses flared with alarm. A dozen more Shadow Moths, their dark silhouettes merging with the dense foliage, surged toward the tree. The air grew heavy with their combined aura, the pressure pressing against my chest like a looming storm.

Unlike the first moth, these were larger, their bodies exuding a more potent energy. Their presence alone sent a shiver down my spine. A quick appraisal revealed their strength—mid and peak-stage Essence Gathering Realm. With their combined power, they could pose a threat even to a low Energy Transformation Realm cultivator.

A direct confrontation inside the hollow would be suicidal. There was no space to maneuver, no room to evade their swarming attacks. Staying here meant certain death.

I sprang into action, stepping out of the tree’s confines and into the open. The moths shrieked again, their crimson eyes glowing with malice as they followed my movement. My fingers tightened around my staff as I took a defensive stance, bracing for battle.

Even though I could refine spiritual energy to create my staff, my body was still at the level of a mortal. Unlike these creatures, I couldn't rapidly heal from wounds. The only way I could compensate was by selectively enhancing my body functions using spiritual energy—but that required careful control. I could boost my strength, speed, or endurance, but never all at once.

This was going to be a grueling fight.

I took a deep breath, then darted behind the tree, seeking the cover of its shadow. The moths, seeing me retreat, immediately gave chase, their wings producing a low, droning hum that vibrated through my bones.

The first one rounded the tree, its claws extended, aiming straight for me.

I pivoted sharply and swung my staff with all my strength, channeling a burst of spiritual energy into the strike. The impact sent a tremor up my arms as the staff connected with the moth’s head, crushing it with a dull thud. The creature let out a garbled screech before crashing onto the ground, twitching in its final moments.

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But I had no time to celebrate.

The rest of the moths split into two groups, flanking me from both sides. My mind raced. If they attacked from multiple angles, I wouldn’t be able to defend properly. I needed to shift the battlefield in my favor.

I took off in a sprint, moving around the tree to force them into a tighter formation. As expected, they followed, their movements frenzied. I turned sharply, dropping low to avoid a pair of snapping mandibles, then countered with a swift upward strike, sending another moth tumbling.

But the drain on my spiritual energy was becoming apparent. My breathing grew heavier, and my arms ached from the repeated exertion. Unlike cultivators in the Energy Transformation Realm, I couldn’t freely circulate energy throughout my body—I had to channel it in bursts, and the strain was already catching up to me.

I needed to end this quickly.

Steeling myself, I shifted my focus, pouring energy into my legs. A burst of power surged through me, and I propelled forward at an unnatural speed, bypassing the next wave of incoming attacks. Using this momentum, I spun mid-air and brought my staff crashing down onto another moth. The force of the impact sent a shockwave rippling through the air, and two nearby moths recoiled from the pressure alone.

Their formation was breaking.

Sensing the shift in battle, the remaining moths hesitated. I could see it in their erratic movements—their instincts screamed danger. I had to capitalize on that moment of uncertainty.

I surged forward, relentless. My staff became a blur, each strike calculated and precise. Another moth collapsed, then another. Their numbers dwindled, their once overwhelming advantage crumbling before my counteroffensive.

Until only one remained.

It hovered just beyond my reach, its wings trembling. A flicker of intelligence flashed in its glowing eyes as it assessed its fallen kin. For a moment, I thought it might retreat.

Then, with a final, piercing screech, it lunged at me in desperation.

I didn’t back down.

Planting my feet firmly, I met its charge head-on, swinging my staff in a wide arc. The final blow landed with a resounding impact, and the moth crumpled mid-air, its lifeless body falling to the ground with a dull thud.

Silence settled over the battlefield. My heavy breaths were the only sound amidst the stillness. The aftermath of the fight sank in—my arms ached, my legs felt sluggish, and the last remnants of my spiritual energy flickered weakly inside me.

I had won.

But I couldn’t stay here any longer. The sounds of battle, the scent of blood—these would attract more beasts. I couldn’t afford another fight in my current state.

Without hesitation, I retreated into the hollow of the tree, sinking onto the rough bark, exhaustion weighing me down. I closed my eyes, slowing my breathing, beginning the process of meditation to recover my depleted energy.

Yet, as I sat in silence, my thoughts churned.

This fight had made one thing painfully clear—I was still weak. I could barely fight a low Energy Transformation Realm beast or cultivator. Against anything stronger, I would die.

I had to grow stronger quickly. If I didn’t, the beasts within this trial would eventually consume me. My ability to refine spiritual energy with a mortal body gave me an edge, but it wasn’t enough. I needed more than this.

I needed knowledge that would help my body become stronger.

Reaching into my belongings, I pulled out the ancient book I had obtained earlier. If I wanted to survive, I had to learn. Mantras, techniques—anything that could give me an advantage.

With that thought, I focused on the text before me, determined to carve my path forward.

Because in this trial, hesitation meant death.