The dawn sun filtered through the city's awakening streets as Ling Xian stepped out of the Cloudveil Resting Inn. The events of the previous night still clung to his thoughts—his body's struggle to contain the remnants of his old power, the resolve to earn wealth through his own means, and the plan to head into the forest for more than just a mission.
He made his way toward the bustling Mission Hall, where young cultivators of various sects crowded the stone courtyard. The hall itself was a massive, pavilion-like structure carved from dark redwood and etched with faint talismans that shimmered subtly in the light.
As Ling Xian entered, his sharp gaze scanned the dozens of mission scrolls floating mid-air in formation—each glowing slightly with spiritual energy. There were categories for everything: medicinal herb gathering, escort tasks, beast core hunting, and even secret realm explorations.
He walked toward the Beast Hunting section and examined a mid-tier mission:
"Eliminate the Fireclaw Apes near the Blazing Root Forest. Expected difficulty: Mid Body Tempering. Reward: 120 spirit stones and one body tempering essence."
"This will do," he murmured, plucking the scroll from the air.
As he turned to leave, two disciples leaning nearby scoffed.
"Hah. That one's only good for people in Mid Body Tempering at least. He doesn't even look like he's trained in muscle arts."
Ling Xian ignored them, a faint smile curling at his lips. His presence was veiled, his cultivation disguised. These people wouldn't understand even if he tried to explain.
He walked out, mission scroll in hand, already forming his own agenda: complete the mission, but also delve deeper into the forest in search of beast flames and training.
The Blazing Root Forest was a dense jungle, bathed in eternal warmth due to the volcanic leyline beneath it. Red-leaved trees stretched high overhead, and the air carried the faint scent of burning herbs. Small embers danced lazily among leaves, sustained by spiritual energy.
Ling Xian moved swiftly through the underbrush, dispatching two Fireclaw Apes with precise, minimal movement. He collected their beast cores, barely breaking a sweat.
But these beasts were not his true goal.
"I've fulfilled the mission already," he said quietly to himself, storing the cores. "Time to search deeper... for a flame."
His steps carried him far from the designated hunting zone, deeper into the misty heart of the forest where few dared tread. Here, the trees burned faintly from within, glowing like veins of lava. The energy was chaotic. Dangerous.
He used his divine sense to probe the surroundings. He felt it—a pulsing warmth, somewhere to the east. A flame. Not a divine one, but potent nonetheless.
He sat cross-legged at a distance and released his divine sense to examine the volcani leyline .
The spiritual flow surged beneath the earth, and to his astonishment, he detected a condensed treasure of immense fire elemental energy pulsing deep in the leyline.
"Blazing Marrow Core" — a rare treasure formed in volcanic leylines over thousands of years. It greatly enhances one's foundation when breaking through from Peak Core Vein Realm to Late Foundation Establishment Realm.
But as he examined it further, his expression darkened slightly.
"With my current cultivation method… the Yin-Yang Dual Cultivation Art, I won't be able to absorb it alone."
He sighed. "I'll need a partner at least at Peak Foundation Establishment or Golden Core Realm to draw out its full power."
As the treasure was still ripening within the leyline, Ling Xian carefully carved a seal using a Lunar Flame Stasis Formation, preserving its essence perfectly. He marked the area with subtle spiritual points so he could return when the time was right.
Suddenly, the air changed. A powerful roar split the sky, and the ground trembled.
From between the trees, a four-legged beast leapt forward—its fur black as coal, and flames spouting from its mane. Its eyes glowed with hostility.
"A Flamehorn Direwolf," Ling Xian whispered, recognizing it instantly. "Peak Core Vein Realm."
His gaze turned serious. "Without using Sword Qi or relying on my old abilities, I can't handle this with physical strength alone."
Without hesitation, he pulled out a talisman from his robe. This talisman wasn't random—it had been crafted the night before, using his remaining spiritual energy to draw the formation with utmost care. Even Yan Ruyin, who had noticed his preparation, had given him some healing pills in case of danger.
With practiced ease, he flicked the talisman toward the ground.
Boom!
Smoke erupted, blinding the beast momentarily as Ling Xian shot upward into the trees and vanished into the foliage, executing a high-level escape technique.
He leapt from branch to branch with practiced grace, the heat of the chase cooling behind him. After a while, he dropped silently to the ground again, panting lightly.
"That was too close. I still can't risk direct battle against such foes."
Just as he was about to retreat back to safer terrain, something odd caught his eye: the forest was unnaturally quiet ahead. No beasts. No birds. Not even insects.
"Strange…"
He moved cautiously, pushing through the bushes—and froze.
In the clearing before him stood a cave.
Its entrance was hidden behind thick vines, but even from a distance, Ling Xian could feel the overwhelming energy pulsing around it. The temperature dropped, and the spiritual pressure thickened.
His eyes narrowed as he stepped closer.
Then he saw it: a formation—a massive, ancient array carved into the rocks surrounding the cave's mouth. It shimmered faintly, still active.
He extended his divine sense toward it… and reeled back.
"What… how can this be?"
His heart pounded. The formation was one he hadn't seen in countless years, one even lost to the higher realms.
"Heaven's Silence Binding Array" — a formation designed to seal places or beings of unimaginable power. It required extreme mastery to even activate, let alone maintain.
"This formation… It shouldn't exist here," he whispered, disbelief in his voice. "Even in my previous life, only a few ancient sects had the knowledge to create it."
He took a step back, breath shallow.
"What lies within this cave…?"
His gaze lingered on the cave , heart steady once more.
The forest rustled lightly behind him, but he paid it no mind.
Ling Xian stood still, eyes locked on the cave, mind racing.
This wasn't just a lucky find.
To be continued…