As Daredevil departed with Jake, carrying the much-needed provisions for the village, Tyler remained behind for a while. He used the time to organize his inner world and gather the various books and scrolls he had strewn about in the cave, placing them neatly in the bookshelves inside his inner world.

Despite his inclination to engage in casual conversation and learn more about Jake's life, Tyler recognized the discomfort his overpowering aura had on the man. This realization made traveling together less than appealing, and Tyler chose to stay behind to avoid making Jake's journey awkward or unpleasant.

Tyler found it somewhat perplexing that Jake had failed to recognize Daredevil as a mighty spirit beast. Despite the obvious signs of the panther's Qi and aura, Jake had attacked him with the assumption that Daredevil was just another ordinary beast.

This observation left Tyler genuinely puzzled, as his divine sense had unmistakably detected the panther's extraordinary presence, making him wonder why Jake was utterly oblivious to it.

When everything was cleaned and neatly stored away, Tyler also stepped out and quickly located Jake walking by the side of Daredevil around 3 kilometers away. Their pace was calm, and it was slow.

Tyler had also traveled relatively slowly, but this was something entirely different. Jake was cautious and looked around a lot, spotting tracks and feeling for energy sources and doing his best to avoid all of them. This was Tyler's first time paying attention to someone who wasn't a cultivator navigating this world. Sure, he had seen tons of mortals travel with merchants and people within Edge City navigate around the safety of the mountain, but never a non-cultivator traveling alone.

Every now and then over the last few weeks, Tyler would notice cultivators flying overhead in the skies, oblivious to his presence as they were too far away to notice his aura. The only person who had bothered him or even noticed his and Daredevil's presence had been Mister Orleander. So, this experience was something new for Tyler.

Since building his own cultivation cave, Tyler had dedicated most of his time to reading three books on herbology, one book on alchemy, practicing cooking, and indulging in his favorite pastime lately: observing the intricate relationships between trees and plants while quietly petting Daredevil.

As he trailed behind Jake and Daredevil, Tyler maintained a comfortable distance of a few kilometers while watching their movements and the surrounding environment. He wasn't in any hurry, and he couldn't help but notice that the forest was teeming with low-grade spiritual herbs, many of which he recognized from the herbology books he had been studying.

He had seen Luo Pang gather herbs, and while he hadn't successfully done it himself, he now had plenty of time to do so while following his book's directives. So he got down to business and sped ahead to the nearest spiritual herb, crossing two kilometers in less than a minute. According to Herbology For Novices, this particular plant was a simple tier 1 mortal grade plant named Alterleaf.

The extraction process was straightforward, and he followed the steps. Carefully, he reached out and touched the plant's leaves, ensuring they were in healthy condition and devoid of any visible pests or diseases. Using a small pair of scissors he had gotten from one of the various dead cultivators; he began pruning the Alterleaf plant. He snipped the leaves gently, making sure not to damage the main stem or the surrounding vegetation.

The Alterleaf plant had yielded its leaves gently, and Tyler could see that the plant remained healthy and undamaged after the collection. A sense of satisfaction washed over him as he successfully harvested the leaves.

He remembered the times in the past when his attempts had killed the plants, and he felt a pang of regret. While he had never been a nature lover, sensing the plant die under his divine sense wasn't a fun experience. It wasn't like the plant had attacked him or anything. It had just died because he was greedy for its leaves.

This time, it was a different experience. It felt like a mutually beneficial exchange. He had obtained usable alchemy materials for his upcoming experiments, and the Alterleaf plant had a chance to regrow and refine its leaves, potentially becoming an even better version of itself.

Tyler paused for a moment, contemplating the fairness of the exchange. He couldn't help but feel that the Alterleaf deserved a bit more for its contribution. With a thoughtful expression, Tyler decided to take matters into his own hands. Drawing upon the Qi within his inner world, he summoned a few hundred milliliters of Qi-infused water and carefully fed it to the Alterleaf.

As he watched, the Alterleaf greedily drank up the Qi-infused waters, and Tyler could almost sense the plant's delight. A sense of satisfaction washed over him, and a small smile tugged at his lips. He felt that this act of giving back to nature was a more balanced approach, aligning with his newfound understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things.

Once again, he knew this was the case from biology classes before the Shattering. That everything was connected, but knowing something was entirely different than experiencing it through his divine sense.

Tyler persisted in this manner, moving from one herb to the next. There were moments of failure interspersed with moments of success. In the face of failure, he earnestly tried to rectify the harm he had caused by attempting to re-plant the recently harvested plant. Conversely, when he succeeded in collecting herbs, he willingly invested some of his Qi to aid in the plant's future growth.

As the hours passed, Tyler noticed that Jake and Daredevil had quickened their pace slightly. Their journey had been free of danger, evidently easing Jake's anxiety. Tyler remained vigilant, his divine sense extending across the surrounding area, ensuring their safety. The intimidating presence of Daredevil further contributed to their uneventful passage through the forest, keeping potential threats at bay.

It was a very calm journey, which was unusual for Jake in these forests. Usually, he would have to stop every few hours to rest and recover as he hid away underneath bushes or tree roots. With Daredevil present, he only had to stop after half a day because he was exhausted from all the walking and, after spending so much energy, he was starving. They still had a long road to go.

While they took a break, Daredevil took the initiative to hunt for their lunch, leaving Jake alone briefly. This solitary moment appeared to heighten Jake's wariness of his surroundings. However, in less than fifteen minutes, Daredevil returned with his successful catch—a tier 2 Stone Skin Hog and a couple of tier 1 rabbits, providing sustenance for their meal.

On the other hand, Tyler remained focused on his task, steadily collecting herbs and honing his skills. Throughout their journey so far, he had only deployed the Ten Direction Sword once, and even then, he hadn't slain the spirit beast.

As soon as the sword approached the creature, it instinctively fled. Spirit beasts possessed sharper instincts than most cultivators, and when they sensed a threat to their lives, their primal survival instincts prevailed, and they fled. These woods were relatively safe for any cultivator.

For the next three days, Tyler's routine remained unchanged. He didn't feel tired or the need to sleep daily; it was more a matter of habit than a necessity for him.

During their journey, he diligently collected all the tier 1 herbs he came across while maintaining a vigilant watch over Jake and Daredevil. Luckily, even Daredevil never had to intervene a single time other than to fetch them supper.

Eventually, the village came into the range of Tyler's divine sense. He observed a community that, despite its evident hardships, radiated a sense of unity and resilience.

The villagers appeared thin and overworked, yet their smiles and interactions with one another painted a picture of strength and happiness. They supported and helped each other, bound by shared challenges and a determination to persevere together. It was a poignant display of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Tyler observed from afar as Jake was slowly moving towards the village.

The place was small and isolated. With their sun-worn faces and calloused hands, the villagers toiled ceaselessly under the unforgiving sun. Their homes were simple wooden structures adorned with tattered straw roofs that bore the marks of years of exposure to the elements.

Every day was a battle against scarcity, as the fertile lands they relied upon had grown barren, yielding meager crops that barely sustained them.

Villagers could be seen in their modest fields, tending to the sparse crops with meticulous care, as the soil couldn't sustain much more than a few dozen plants at once. Each precious seed was sown with hope, and every tender shoot was nurtured as if it were their last lifeline.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

They labored with grim determination. Their eyes focused on the horizon, where the promise of a bountiful harvest remained a distant dream. As they toiled, their hands cradled the earth, fingers stained with the soil that held their hopes and their hunger at bay.

Amidst the forest, a group of women bent low, their backs straining as they gathered herbs and roots. These were not mere culinary ingredients but the village's sole steady source of sustenance, the meager supplements that kept the gnawing hunger at bay.

Their baskets, filled with foraged treasures, were a testament to their resourcefulness. These women were the village's silent heroes, their contributions absolutely vital to their continued survival.

Beyond the fields, in the heart of the village, others worked tirelessly to mend the walls and roofs of their homes. Resources were scarce, and every patch of straw or timber was cherished. The elderly, their faces etched with wisdom and hardship, imparted their knowledge to the younger generation, ensuring that the ancient techniques of preservation and sustenance were not forgotten.

It was a village bound by tradition, resilience, and an unwavering spirit in the face of adversity.

Tyler's heart swelled with longing as he watched the villagers go about their daily tasks. Their simple, self-sufficient life starkly contrasted the complexities and dangers of the world he now inhabited. The tranquility of this village, even in their current hardships, held an irresistible allure.

He couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to build a home here, far away from the intrigues of the cultivation world, where the only concerns were tending to the land, nurturing the earth, and living in harmony with the cycles of nature.

The idea of constructing a house with his own hands, surrounded by the quiet beauty of the woods, felt like a distant dream, a vision of a life unburdened by the weight of ascension and power struggles. Sure, he had built himself a cultivation cave, but how long would that last? How long until he was forced to relocate?

Tyler turned his attention to Jake as he approached the village, the daydreams of a simple life among the villagers fading into the background. He listened intently to Jake's account of his encounter with a powerful cultivator to the village's elder.

As the elder received the storage bag of food from Jake, his eyes widened in astonishment. It had been a long time since he had seen such a bountiful supply of sustenance. The shock soon gave way to tears of gratitude streaming down his cheeks. The villagers gathered around, their expressions a mix of awe and joy as they witnessed the miraculous abundance of food materializing before them.

In the evening, Tyler sat with Daredevil on the outskirts of the village, observing the heartwarming scene of the villagers enjoying their feast. Laughter filled the air, and the children's gleeful smiles warmed Tyler's heart.

It was a simple moment filled with the purest expressions of happiness and unity.

Tyler smiled, his gaze fixed on the village as he spoke to Daredevil. "I know you can't see the village from here. But this is what it's all about. The power we have I mean. It cost us nothing, and now this entire village is happier and will live on a bit longer. With our help, they'll probably survive this whole thing and live out their whole natural lifespans. If I can figure out their problem, that is."

Tyler paused, gently scratching Daredevil's ears. "Now, I'm going to go to sleep as I'm a bit tired. You stand watch over the village until Jake gets back in the morning, alright? The sun should still be up for another few hours." With those words, Tyler got up to find a tree some distance away and settled down for some well-deserved rest, knowing that Daredevil would keep a vigilant watch over the village and its people.

The villagers celebrated and feasted deep into the night; their spirits were lifted by the abundance of food gifted to them by the mysterious cultivator.

Children, for the first time in a while, went to sleep with full bellies, their dreams untroubled by hunger. The adults, too, rested with a newfound glimmer of hope in their eyes. The promise that a cultivator would try to resolve their village's problems was news they had never expected to hear.

It was a beacon of light in their otherwise challenging lives.

It was a good story. One that should end there, but reality had a different plan.

Tyler had woken up hours ago, and under his heightened senses, he observed the village and the surrounding land. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss since he had gotten within thirty kilometers of this place. The people appeared normal, but the land itself seemed to be afflicted with a sickness, draining his energy as he drew closer.

This sensation was not unfamiliar to Tyler, as he had encountered something similar in the Twelve Ghost Ridge, although it was much stronger there. What troubled him was that the land didn't feel dead like it did in the Ridge but rather unwell, as though some hidden malady had taken root. Tyler knew that if left unchecked, this would get much worse.

Curiosity and concern tugged at him, urging him to investigate the cause of this unnatural phenomenon. There was more to this village and its surroundings than met the eye, and Tyler was determined to uncover the truth. It wasn't until the moon rose over the horizon that something changed.

Tyler watched with a mix of fascination and apprehension as the ghostly apparitions emerged from the depths of the barren forest and encircled the village. Their spectral forms seemed to pulse with eerie energy as they conducted a mysterious ritual, their movements synchronized in an otherworldly dance.

With each motion, the very essence of the land underwent a gradual transformation. It wasn't a simple energy depletion; instead, a subtle metamorphosis occurred. Even Tyler's heightened divine sense would have missed the distinction had he not been witnessing the changes as they unfolded. It was as though an external force was overriding the governing laws within the qi, one with an unmistakable connection to death and the deceased.

Tyler continued observing the ritual while Daredevil was guarding the village. It seemed that even the panther's keen senses couldn't discern the ghosts. Tyler remained patient, his curiosity growing with each passing moment as he sought to unravel the mysteries of the land's transformation and the cryptic actions of the ghostly entities.

This kept going all night until the sun was around an hour away from breaking. The ghosts seemed to halt suddenly and started to move away.

A gust of wind flew next to Daredevil, "I've got a village to save. You take Jake to the Dancing Winds Sect to look for his sister and come back after. If you encounter danger, stay over there or hang around the cave. If I don't find you here when I return from dealing with this, I'll look for you there. Have fun, little guy. Try to learn a few words in the meantime," Tyler conveyed to Daredevil before he turned and disappeared into the depths of the forest.

Tyler shadowed the ghosts, his cultivation barely allowing him to maintain pursuit. He used a mixture of running, Mistwalker Stride, and even continually manipulating the winds to help push him forward. This chase cost him a tiny portion of his Qi, but he lacked any better techniques to go faster, unless, of course, he started wasting tons of resources to try and fly.

The ghosts were in the late Qi Transformation, and in the multiverse, all spectral races were known for their swiftness and stealth, making them difficult to track when they chose to escape any situation. Even Tyler had some difficulty keeping up, and if it weren't for his divine sense, he would have long lost trace of them.

After half an hour, the ghosts had outpaced him, but they had continued in the same direction throughout, so he followed suit. As the first rays of the sun appeared on the horizon, Tyler noticed a subtle yet significant change in the environment. The pervasive, deathly energy that had shrouded the land began to recede slowly with the sunrise.

He observed how the sun's rays tried to penetrate the ground, aiming to infuse it with life-giving warmth. However, despite their best efforts, they struggled to break through the lingering presence of death that clung to the land. The sun, governed by its own cosmic laws, emitted energy that conflicted with the prevailing essence of death in this place.

Tyler thought about this phenomenon, somewhat aware of the clash of opposing forces. Although potent and life-affirming, the laws inherent in the sun's energy seemed powerless in the face of the entrenched deathly energy. It was as if the land had become a battleground where different cosmic principles collided, yet none emerged as the dominant force.

His divine sense, typically revealing the intricacies of the cultivation world, now only scratched the surface of this perplexing phenomenon. He detected the ebb and flow of opposing energies, a delicate equilibrium between life and death, but the fundamental laws governing this remained unknown to him.

Tyler contemplated the essence of this quiet battle. Why did the life-affirming energy of the sun struggle in this conflict? What concealed force sustained the deathly qi with such unwavering persistence? Why did they have to do this to a village of mortals? Were they simply in the way? Tyler did not know.

Tyler was very aware of the complexity of this new world. With each step in his cultivation journey, he found that one answer often led to more questions. Time was what he needed most at this point. He had returned to this world less than a year ago, and each day in this new life presented its own set of challenges. Possessing divine sense had only intensified the overwhelming nature of his experiences.

He felt like everything was too much at this moment.

Tyler decided to abandon his pursuit of the ghosts temporarily. He sat down on the spot and entered a state of meditation to get his head under control.

For the first time in months, he withdrew his divine sense and focused solely on his inner world. However, a sense of fear crept over him as he did so. He realized he was now vulnerable to potential threats, as he wouldn't be aware of everything happening around him.

Images of Jake carefully navigating the world, scrutinizing every leaf, track, and tree for hidden dangers, flashed through Tyler's mind. He couldn't help but admire Jake's ways and persistence in navigating the unknown to find food for his village.

After a dozen minutes of meditation, Tyler opened his eyes again and relied solely on his normal human senses to observe his surroundings as he contained his divine sense to the inside of his body and inner world.

Everything felt quieter. Simpler.

The dry soil, aging yet still living trees, and the sun's warmth on his skin brought a sense of tranquility he hadn't experienced in a while. The multitude of various Qi, of different energies, constantly interacting with each other, had disappeared. Tyler smiled and began walking west in the direction the ghosts had vanished.

Almost simultaneously, a panther and a hunter started retracing their steps toward Daredevil and Tyler’s new home. Once they had reached their objective, they would stop to rest and head for the Dancing Winds Sect.