The trees grew denser the farther east they went.
Branches like arms clawed at the sky, and the earth shifted from soft dirt to cracked stone and roots.
"We're not far from the old ridge," Wei Lin said, scanning ahead. "According to the beast hunter's map, ruins pop up in this sector every few years." He added while explaining.
Shang Di followed behind, quiet. One hand remained casually near his sleeve, where Lucky hid in with a low squeak and refused to come back out.
'A good choice, honestly.' Even he felt uncomfortable.
The forest didn't feel right.
The Qi here wasn't wild…it was… hollow.
Like something had drained the land, leaving behind only its breath.
A faint breeze pushed back the mist for just a moment, revealing it.
A ruin. Half-swallowed by vines. Stone cracked and moss-stained. An archway marked by an old, rust-colored talisman still barely hanging on its threads.
They stopped in front of it.
Shang Di narrowed his eyes.
The talisman was ancient. A beast script, eventually a warning, or a seal.
He tilted his head, letting the system scan it silently.
[Minor Formation Residue Detected]
Origin: Low-tier Beast Control Sect
Condition: Inert
Danger Level: Moderate
Entry Reward Possibility: 1x Lost Technique Chamber – Unlocked
He blinked once.
This wasn't part of the plan.
Wei Lin whistled. "Looks spooky. Let's go in."
"Wait."
Too late. The phoenix-robed swordsman was already stepping through.
Shang Di sighed. "Of course."
'Now there's no going back anyways…' Therefore, Shang Di couldn't help and followed.
…
Inside, it was darker than outside.
The stone corridor led into a single circular chamber, covered in old murals. Images of beasts kneeling to robed figures, talismans glowing in midair, and spirit flames branded into bones.
In the center, broken relics. A shattered cauldron. Clawed bones. What looked like the remnants of a training altar.
Then… growling.
Three beasts stepped from the side corners. Their forms hunched and covered with mist. Iron-colored fur, glowing green eyes, long claws stained with dried Qi.
Wei Lin turned, eyes lit up. "Finally." His eyes filled with a burning excitement.
[Spirit Beasts Detected: Iron-Fanged Mire Hounds]
Rank: Iron
Cultivation Realm: Qi Condensing – Stage 5
Pack Mentality: High
Weakness: Overlapping Disruption, Flash-Based Techniques
Shang Di summoned the Flying Darkness Sword instantly. The black Qi blade shimmered like an oil-slick reflection in dim light.
Wei Lin cracked his neck and swung his massive sword from his back, "Loud Thunder," its name was.
"Left one's mine," Wei Lin said, dashing forward.
"Of course," Shang Di muttered.
The hounds moved in sync—two leapt toward Shang Di as one circled behind.
They didn't bark. They were truly trained killers.
[Silent Darkness Steps – Activated]
Shang Di vanished and reappeared mid-step to their right, slashing toward the flank. One hound dodged, the other got grazed, its fur singed by his Qi.
But it was fast.
And it was angry.
Shang Di's foot landed wrong—he skidded back and grunted.
"Lucky!" he called. "Distract!"
From his sleeve, a flash of green.
SQUEEEEEEK!
The ear-piercing screech shattered the rhythm. The two hounds stumbled, and Shang Di seized the moment. He poured Qi into the Darkness Swallowing Technique, drawing the ambient mist's Qi into his core mid-fight.
His next swing struck clean through the injured hound's shoulder, and the beast collapsed, twitching.
Wei Lin danced across the chamber, laughing as his sword cleaved one of the other hounds in two, lightning rippling down the blade's edge.
"One left!" he shouted.
The final hound lunged at Shang Di.
He grabbed a slip from his inner robe and flicked it forward.
Boom.
The talisman exploded into a burst of compressed darkness.
The hound yelped, disoriented.
Wei Lin didn't hesitate. He finished it with one strike—fast and clean.
Silence returned.
...
They both stood there, panting.
"Well," Wei Lin said, wiping sweat. "That was fun."
"I need new talismans," Shang Di muttered, brushing his sleeve.
Lucky peeked out, chirped once, and disappeared again.
[Spirit Beast Bond Level Increased: Lucky – Lv. 2]
Skill Evolved:
Screech → Dizzy Pulse
Passive Gained: Sleeve Stealth – Slight aura dampening while gecko is hidden
[Lost Technique Chamber – Cleared]
Processing Reward Draw…
Shang Di blinked as a scroll silently manifested in his inventory.
[Reward Draw Result:
Martial Art Technique – Shadow Needle Palm
Rank: Bronze | Grade: High
Effect: Fires compressed Qi needles from palm; disrupts internal flow in early-stage cultivators.]
He memorized it quickly.
"Oh, interesting. Can't wait to use it…" Shang Di said to himself as he looked at the system panel in front of him.
"Hey," Wei Lin called from across the room. "Take a look at this."
He stood over a half-crumbled stone disk. Upon it: a sigil. Three eyes. One open. Two closed.
Shang Di narrowed his eyes.
"…The lynx."
[Ruin Insight Acquired]
Legacy Type: Beast Dominion Sect (Fragment)
Potential Unlock: Spirit Beast Fusion (Locked)
Requirements:
– Beast Bond Level 5+
– SR-Tier Beast Contract
– Compatible Core Flame
– Ancient Ritual Flame Mark (Missing)
'Too far away for now. But not impossible.' He thought and then shifted his gaze towards Wei Lin.
"Let's go," Shang Di said. "We've seen enough."
"Boring, tch." Wei Lin complained with a grin.
They climbed back out of the ruin by late afternoon.
The forest had gone quiet.
No more birds.
Just the wind, and the scent of smoke far ahead.
Wei Lin shaded his eyes.
"There," he said, pointing. "City smoke. Obsidian Root is maybe two days from here."
Shang Di nodded.
No more ruins. No more testing ground fights.
Real territory. Real players.
And real problems.
Lucky chirped quietly. Nervously.
Shang Di patted his sleeve.
"Relax. You'll get stronger."
He looked ahead.
"So will I."
...
To be continued…