Mount Tai's eastern slope was shrouded in mist, quiet except for the faint sound of wind across ancient stones. Fang Ze moved deliberately, leading Su Qingxue away from the main trail. Each step was measured, his Qi Gathering Realm at the 5th layer allowing him to sense subtle spiritual currents, far stronger than ordinary beginners could detect.
"This place… it feels alive," Su Qingxue whispered.
Fang Ze's fingers traced arcs in the air as he practiced the Sword-Drawing Gesture Technique, a simplified sword-based technique derived from the sword Dao he had mastered in his past life. Each gesture coiled Qi in elegant spirals, ready to strike, defend, or sense the flow of energy around them. Unlike the full Heaven-Encompassing Dao, this was a practical method for exploration, combat, and testing environments.
They arrived at a partially hidden platform. The ground vibrated faintly with Qi. Fang Ze pressed his palm against the stone; a thin distortion formed, revealing a hidden chamber. Inside, golden runes glimmered on cracked stone walls. At the center rested a black Sword pulsing faintly with energy, the handle encrypted with a st of words —Eclipse Veil—alongside crystalline vials of refined elixirs.
"This place is… more than a beginner's node,"
Fang Ze said softly. "Take only what is manageable."
Su Qingxue's eyes lit on a faintly glowing scroll tucked near the pedestal. As she touched it, Qi resonated with her meridians—a female-specific martial technique, Lotus Whisper Steps, focusing on agility, grace, and subtle energy amplification. Her fingers tingled as her Qi responded, advancing her cultivation to the 2nd layer.
From the corridor, faint chaotic energy hinted at Zhuo Tianming. Fang Ze's eyes darkened.
The minor villain had tracked them here. Yet he did not act immediately; his movements remained calm, calculated, and restrained.
Nearby, Zhang Rui, Liu Wenhao, and He Yun approached along distant trails. Each had followed faint rumors of spiritual energy:
Zhang Rui with his wealthy Beijing family's knowledge of hidden sects, Liu Wenhao with ties to the Huaxia Sky Guard, and He Yun with her grandfather's ancient compass. None had yet reached the chamber, but the energy pulses drew them closer.
The Golden Era's first threads began to tighten.