With the river murmuring nearby and the sky locked in perpetual twilight, I entered meditation. My breath slowed. Thoughts faded. My soul, though fractured, began to synchronize.
Seven days passed.
No food. No movement. Only stillness—and the silent conversation between my Qi and this world's essence. I felt the world breathing around me: the life within the soil, the hum of insects, even the distant pulse of spiritual beasts.
By the end of the seventh day, my soul dominance rose to 75%.
A subtle warmth surged through my veins. My dantian, once hollow, now roared with activity. My cultivation surged—breaking through to the ninth stage of the Third Realm. It wasn't just strength; it was clarity. My senses expanded, attuned to vibrations I had never felt as a human on Earth.
Hunger returned next.
With controlled movements, I hunted fish from the stream, using sharpened branches and enhanced perception. Cooking was crude—just stones and fire—but the act rooted me deeper into this body. Into Eryndor Vaal.
As I finished eating, a strange energy tingled at the edge of my senses. I looked up. Leaves rustled unnaturally. Three figures emerged from the woods, each wearing matching green uniforms adorned with a silver serpent sigil.
One of them, the leader, stepped forward.
"Who are you? This is Jade Serpent Clan territory."
A Jade Serpent Clan?
I didn't know why, but I smiled mockingly. Eryndor's memories surged within me—memories of clans powerful enough to shatter planets. And yet here, in someone's inner world, a minor serpent clan dared to act proud.
Before I could say anything more—
That was enough.
Blades were drawn. I could feel it. I moved instinctively—sidestepping the first swing, ducking under the second. My Qi flared as I struck back with a brutal palm, knocking one student unconscious. The second launched a fire spell—too slow. I slid inside his guard and cracked his ribs with a side-kick. The last tried to flee, but I closed the distance in just two steps. I grabbed his head and twisted.
It was over.
The food still sat heavy in my throat. It had been brutal—for Ethan. But Eryndor's instincts lived in me now.
I didn't think it was bad. You don't waste time on scum like that.
But...
A chill crept over me.
If the clan finds out, they'll investigate. Elders of the 4th or 5th Rank... I'm not ready for that.
Activating the system, I pressed my hand to the ground. Qi surged through my palm like roots sinking into the planet.
[Planetary Scan Initiated...]
[Mapping Surface... Complete.]
Nearby locations pulsed in my mind:
West: Small village (2.3 km)
Northwest: Market center (5.8 km)
South: Sect hall (3.1 km)
East: Dense, uninhabited forest (9.4 km)
The forest seemed safest.
But before disappearing, I needed knowledge.
hiding my aura, I moved toward the market under dusk's cover. I watched. Listened. Learned. Discussions of clans, beasts, pills, and sect politics filled my ears.
I heard that the Jade Serpent Clan's petriac broke through to the Sixth Rank just last year.
Then I left.
I vanished into the east—
Toward the forest.
---
The forest swallowed me whole. Towering trees blocked the sky, their leaves whispering with secrets. I moved quickly, my presence hidden beneath the veil of a stealth technique buried deep in Eryndor's memory. The technique blurred my Qi signature and muffled my steps, letting me blend into the wilderness like a shadow.
Twice, I caught glimpses of danger—beasts prowling in the distance, their auras heavy and threatening. One of them, a panther-like creature with silver fur and molten eyes, radiated the oppressive might of a Seventh Rank beast. I froze, heart pounding, breath still. It sniffed the air… then turned away.
I didn't linger.
My footwork carried me faster than any human had a right to move. Qi flowed into my legs with almost negligible cost, and I weaved between trees like a phantom, covering ground at nearly 300 kilometers per hour. For three relentless hours, I ran—until instinct told me to stop.
There, half-hidden beneath a curtain of vines and moss, was the mouth of an underground cave. Its entrance exhaled faint warmth, unnatural and ancient.
Could be a beast's den, I thought.
Cautiously, I pressed my palm to the forest floor. Qi spread through the soil, sinking into the roots and stone.
[Scanning Subsurface Layers...]
[No active life signatures detected within 500 meters.]
It was safe. At least for now.
I entered.
The cave's interior was surprisingly spacious, shaped by time and pressure rather than claws. Stalactites dripped quietly from the ceiling. Dust blanketed the floor, undisturbed for years. I found a dry corner, cleared a space, and sat cross-legged.
Time to cultivate.
I opened my senses and let the world flow into me. The forest's natural Qi was dense and wild, but with effort, I filtered it—pulling it into my core. Hours blurred into days. My body adjusted to the cave's rhythm. Hunger became manageable. Silence became strength.
On the second day, I stumbled upon a cluster of luminous herbs growing behind a crack in the cave wall. Their scent was sharp and spicy—Silver Flame Grass, if Eryndor's memory served me right. Good for Qi restoration.
I harvested it carefully and refined a crude elixir using a stone bowl and low flame. It wasn't elegant, but it worked. The moment the warm liquid touched my throat, I felt my meridians stir.
A minor breakthrough followed.
My Qi flow stabilized. My senses sharpened. Muscles and mind aligned just a little more perfectly.
Nothing world-shaking—but progress, nonetheless.
For now, the cave was my sanctuary.
A place to rest.
To grow.
To prepare for what was coming.
--
Days passed.
I immersed myself in cultivation, pushing deeper into the 3rd realm. On the fifth night, the breakthrough came like a silent wave—smooth, yet powerful. My body shivered as I stepped into Stage 4.
The energy within me churned with greater intensity. But I'm not satisfied.
This is just the beginning.
Strength meant survival in this world. And I was still prey.
I resumed my meditation. Qi flowed into my core, cycling through the newly widened channels in my dantian. Only after several more breakthroughs—nudging me toward the peak of the 4th realm—did I finally pause.
Hunger called.
Leaving the cave at dawn, I roamed carefully, using stealth and speed to avoid beasts. Near a moss-covered cliff, I discovered a fruit-bearing vine twining around the rocks—Crimson Dew Berries, rich in spiritual nutrients. Further along a streambed, I found fat insects hiding under stones. Disgusting by human standards, but packed with protein.
I returned to the cave with my modest harvest, cooking what I could over a small fire. The meal replenished my strength and sharpened my mind.
Before resuming cultivation, I decided to explore the cave more thoroughly.
Deeper in, the air grew colder. The stone walls shifted from gray to black—obsidian-like, smooth, unnaturally carved. Strange markings etched into the rock glowed faintly, their light hidden unless closely inspected. Dust covered most of it, but there were signs—old boot prints, scraps of fabric, even a broken jade slip.
Someone had been here.
Recently or long ago, I couldn't tell.
Then I felt it.
A faint ripple in the air—barely noticeable, like stepping through a spider's web. My Qi jolted, reacting.
A formation.
I placed my hand on the floor again, activating the system.
[Analyzing Formation...]
[Inheriting Dormant Memory Fragment: Formation Arts — Tier 1-3]
[Alchemy Basics — Indexed and Stored.]
A rush of knowledge surged into my mind. Eryndor's memories bloomed—symbols, patterns, calculations. His understanding of formation scripts and alchemy merged into mine.
This formation… it blocks spiritual sense and hides spiritual energy. A concealment array. Expert-level.
I traced the runes, adjusted the flow of my Qi, and gently dissolved the veil.
The wall ahead shimmered and parted like mist, revealing a hidden chamber.
Stepping inside, I placed my hand on the ground again.
[Scanning Subsurface Energy Lines...]
The result stunned me.
[Spiritual Vein Detected — Grade: Mid-Tier]
[Surface Qi Density: +320%]
A spiritual vein—an underground river of pure energy. Rare. Precious. Coveted.
No wonder someone had hidden this place.
This cave… it wasn't just shelter anymore. It was a cultivation haven.
And now, it is mine.