Lian extended his Qi around himself, and sure enough, it was being absorbed.
His robes became ever so slightly heavier as they absorbed his Qi.
"Just what kind of game are they playing here? I need to get out, Lian thought as he climbed higher into the tree."
The view from above was marvellous. Most of the trees here were unlike anything he recognised.
"Now that I'm paying closer attention… the Qi here is strange."
His eyes suddenly caught sight of something far ahead—a cage.
"I should make that my base."
He began leaping from tree to tree as he usually did, his experience from the Forest of Toe finally showing its worth.
Suddenly—
A sharp whistling sound sliced past his ear.
Lian twisted midair, narrowly dodging it, his eyes tracing the attack's trajectory.
"What!? A hidden weapon!?"
He spread his Qi instinctively as another attack came rushing in. This time, a silver gleam caught his eye—something shot up from the ground.
"Tch—damn it."
He reached for his storage ring—
Nothing.
"I can't access it…"
Lian staggered slightly as he tried to draw his blade, only to realize it was useless—no different from a fancy piece of rock now.
"…Right."
A spark of realization flashed through his mind.
"I can use that."
In a split second, relying on the rules he had learned inside the void, he reached into the universal pocket. With condensed Qi, he tore a thick branch from the tree and shaped it, it hardened into a crude but sharp blade.
Clang!
The needles echoed sharply as Lian blocked each and every one of them.
"There—!"
He hurled the crude blade forward.
A dull thud followed, accompanied by a sharp cry from the bushes. Lian dove immediately, launching himself after the sound.
"Damn it… what kind of monster did they bring this time?" the thin man thought as he fled, clutching his bleeding shoulder.
"It hasn't even been long since they entered, and he's already moving freely…
Did he already refine the Qi here?"
The man's eyes darted wildly as he slid down a small hill—
Too slow.
Lian burst from his side.
A heavy kick smashed straight through the man's guard.
He was sent flying.
Before the man could even scream, Lian twisted mid-step. His finger was coated in condensed Ice Essence Qi—
Slash!
The man's leg was severed cleanly.
"Mercy, mercy..." the man cried but Lian paid him no heed he was consumed by his own growth.
"How convenient…" Lian thought calmly as he inspected the flow of Qi around his finger.
"This Qi… it's different from what I had after breaking through in the foundation.
It was true.
His Qi had become thicker—denser. With proper control, he could shape it into almost any form he wished. In fact, the next stage of cultivation required one to continuously condense their Qi into a weapon, refining it again and again until it became an extension of their very body.
This weapon could be stored in their dantain and become their spirit weapon.
But Lian didn't know that.
No one had ever formally taught him how to cultivate.
He pressed two fingers against the man's neck.
"Give me your jade," Lian said coldly, his eyes glinting with murderous intent.
"I—I…" the man stammered, his entire body trembling.
"What," Lian cut in sharply, "you think I won't just kill you and take it from your corpse?"
"Give it if you want to live." Lian said.
"I haven't found one yet—I'm still searching!" the man cried.
"Oh?" Lian replied flatly.
"Then what use are you to me?"
His fingers pierced forward.
The man's throat was crushed cleanly. Blood spilled as his body went limp, life draining from his eyes.
"So this is what he meant by foxes, huh," Lian thought as he withdrew his hand.
"If I hadn't been constantly spreading my Qi, I would've died. When I was talking to him… his left hand was already gathering Qi."
Before he could think further—
The corpse crumbled.
It turned to dust, scattering into the air.
"What the—hell?" Lian muttered, stepping back instinctively.
The black robe the man had worn pulsed with a faint blue light. A moment later, it collapsed inward, transforming into a small blue jade shard.
It levitated briefly—
Then dropped neatly into Lian's palm.
"What… what's going on here?" His thoughts raced.
As he held the jade, a soft wave of Qi washed over him. The crushing pressure from the robe eased slightly.
"Ha…" Lian exhaled.
"I understand it now." His hands clenched hard forming a fist.
"What a sick game they've put us in."
He slipped the jade into his pocket.
"Ohhhh…"
"How merciless."
The voice drifted down lazily from above.
Lian snapped his head up.
Perched on a tree branch overhead stood a pale man, gazing down at him with quiet amusement.
He dropped from the tree, hitting the ground with a heavy thud, and began walking toward Lian at an unhurried pace.
Lian immediately leapt backward, retrieving his makeshift blade. He raised it high as Gang Qi surged through it, the crude weapon pulsing with condensed essence.
"Whoa… whoa… whoa," the man said calmly, lifting both hands.
"Easy now."
"I'm not here to fight."
Up close, the man looked almost unreal. His skin was deathly pale—so pale he could've passed for a wandering spirit. His eyes were yellow, slit with thin red pupils that felt more like a snake than human.
Lian edged back another step, his gaze never leaving him.
"He's dangerous", Lian realized grimly.
"I didn't sense him at all before he spoke.
Even now its like he is not there I can't feel his presence"
"Oh, come on," the man said lightly. "You can put that thing down."
"My name is Shéyǎn."
He tilted his head slightly, studying Lian with open curiosity.
"I watched you when we were brought here," Shéyǎn continued.
"You didn't hesitate. You didn't cling to anyone. You moved immediately."
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"I think you're strong."
He spread his hands again, deliberately open.
"So—what do you say about forming a two-man party?"