"Ha, it seems we were separated."
"I should scout the surroundings; there is no use looking from them in this vast place when I don't even understand the environment."
Lian stood up and began dusting himself off.
"Ha!"
He leapt into the air—
"Whoa! I just got here, and a magic beast is already attacking me?!"
A shadow swooped down from the grass.
"Flame Dance — First Form!"
Lian roared, hurling two slashes of blue flames from the air. They struck a crocodile-like magic beast, the fire searing into its scales.
"RRAAAOOOAAAH!"
The beast wailed in agony before turning tail and fleeing toward a nearby river.
"Huff…"
Lian landed lightly on the ground, exhaling.
"…What?!"
From the corner of his eye, something caught his attention.
Along the riverbank grew five flowers glowing with an icy blue light, radiating a chilling energy so dense that no grass dared grow near them.
"Yin Lilies, finally, it seems the god of fortune has smiled at me?!"
His eyes widened.
"What luck they seem to be over a hundred years old as well."
He leapt forward and carefully plucked the flowers.
"If I had my storage ring, I'd be rich by now…" he muttered. "But—alas. I'll take what I can carry."
He moved to the nearby trees, tearing down branches and vines. Using flame to fuse and seal them, he hastily crafted a makeshift pack, binding it together with roots and weeds from the water.
"Ha! This will do for now."
He slung it over his shoulder.
"Now then… let's see where I a—"
"Hello, young cultivator."
A deep, booming voice echoed through the ruins.
"What—where is that voice coming from?"
Lian's eyes darted in every direction as he searched for the speaker, but as far as he could see, there was nothing. He was the only human for miles.
"I would like to welcome you all to Mount Hua of my Plum Blossom Sect. You will realise that, as far as the eye can see, there are many spiritual herbs. You may keep them."
The voice continued, calm and authoritative.
"Wah… It's coming from my head," Lian realised. "It's inside my mind. How is he doing this?"
He listened more carefully.
"But for the treasures that lie deeper, you will have to prove yourselves."
"Mmm… so I'm not the only one he's talking to," it finally clicked for Lian.
"The treasure of Mount Hua is hidden deep within the temple. Only those who are qualified may enter and earn a chance to obtain it. And trust me—you would very much like it. The previous wielder even managed to become a Martial Supreme cultivator."
Hearing those words, Lian's ears perked up.
It was said that less than half of all martial cultivators ever reached the Martial Supreme Realm. One needed exceptional martial roots just to attempt the breakthrough.
Which meant,
That treasure was very likely tied to the martial roots of a former Supreme cultivator.
"But if you manage to obtain the treasure, I ask that you continue the toast teachings of the Saint Hua sect and restore the Plum Blossom way as its successor. Though I do not know who will inherit this title, I hope they are a good person.
The voice grew faint, as if carried away by a dying wind.
"Mmm… my time is almost up. This last wisp of Qi I placed here has endured for the past thousand years, but it has finally been exhausted. Before I fade, I will tell you two things."
The air grew heavy.
"To qualify, you must either kill one five-tier beast, or five one-tier beasts—or anything equivalent."
Lian's breath caught.
"Lastly… be careful of ************. That man is a traitor… a demon. He changed the cultivation rules of the heavens."
"Be wary of the heavens' way." The voice faded, then it
Vanished completely.
Silence returned to the ruins, leaving everyone behind with far more questions than answers.
"Damn it—if I had killed that beast, I'd be one step closer. I need to hurry. I can't let this opportunity pass me by. I'm sure I can even find cultivation manuals there."
With that thought, Lian surged forward, rushing toward the place where the spiritual Qi was most densely concentrated.
"This might be the only chance I get to get stronger, I will not miss this opportunity, everyone one be damned.
Elsewhere, Shéyǎn heard the same broadcast.
"A chance to become a Supreme…" His eyes narrowed. "If I obtain that treasure, I'm certain the spiritual roots will be enough to stabilise Momo's constitution."
His expression hardened.
"I have to get it before anyone else does."
A killing intent seeped from his body as he stepped forward.
"And anyone who stands in my way will die. I will not let this opportunity pass me by."
Steeling himself, Shéyǎn disappeared into the wilderness, moving like a predator on the prowl.