The ruins of Vein Hollow were behind them, but the weight of what came next still clung to Shang Di's thoughts like cold mist. Each step forward felt heavier than the last, the silence between him and Wei Lin only broken by the occasional rustle of wind through brittle leaves.
The path was narrow, worn by time and barely touched by travelers. Dry ridges crumbled beneath their boots, the sun resting high above but offering no warmth. The wind carried whispers of lingering Qi—a strange mixture of invitation and warning.
"So, what's the plan?" Wei Lin finally asked, glancing at him.
Shang Di kept walking, eyes scanning the terrain. "Find somewhere."
Wei Lin snorted. "Very specific."
"It has to be right," Shang Di replied. "Stable, remote, and spiritually compatible."
"And how exactly do we check that?"
He didn't respond. Instead, he veered off the trail, stepping onto a moss-covered ridge. He tapped the cracked ground beneath his boot.
A faint pulse sparked in the back of his mind.
[System Scan – Available]
25 SP to activate?
Qi Concentration: Moderate
Terrain Stability: Poor
Formation Flow: Inconsistent
Compatibility: Rejected
He turned and walked away without comment.
"Still no?"
"Not even close."
By midafternoon, they'd surveyed three more sites. One was riddled with broken formation residue. Another had strong terrain but barely any Qi. The third, despite its open space, reeked of spiritual decay.
It was starting to feel like chasing mirages.
They crested a small ridge overlooking a dead orchard. Crooked trees twisted toward the sky, branches thin as bones. The ground below was cracked and pale, like the remnants of some forgotten curse.
Shang Di frowned. "Not here either."
Before Wei Lin could respond, a voice called out.
"Hey!"
They both turned sharply.
At the edge of the orchard, a boy stood alone. No older than fifteen, he wore clothes that were rough and frayed at the hems. One sandal was broken. His face was smeared with dust, but his eyes were alert.
"Are you cultivators?" the boy asked.
Wei Lin traded glances with Shang Di. "Something like that," he replied.
They descended the slope cautiously.
Shang Di studied the boy. He wasn't malnourished, but his spiritual presence was nearly nonexistent. He carried a small cloth sack, and though he stood tall, his posture suggested days of wandering.
"What are you doing out here by yourself?" Shang Di asked.
The boy hesitated. "I was from South Bough… before it burned."
"South Bough's two days south of here," Wei Lin said, his voice lowering. "Bandits?"
The boy nodded.
Shang Di's expression didn't shift. "Family?"
The boy looked down. "…Gone."
The quiet between them deepened, filled only by the wind whistling through the orchard branches.
"What's your name?" Wei Lin asked, more gently.
"Yun."
He opened his mouth to say more—but then the trees behind him shook.
A guttural growl rose from the brush, low and vicious. Something massive pushed through the undergrowth, snapping branches like twigs.
Lucky hissed from Shang Di's collar.
"To the left!" Shang Di shouted.
From the trees burst a massive, boar-like beast. Its hide shimmered with a distorted silver tint, its tusks jagged and laced with black bone. Its eyes glowed with warped Qi.
[System Alert]
Hostile Detected: Silverback Ridge-Tusker
Rank: Late Qi Condensation
Mutation: Bone-Channel Exposure
Threat Level: Moderate-High
Wei Lin drew his blade without hesitation. "Every damn time."
"Keep the kid back!"
Yun scrambled behind a tree as Wei Lin moved to cover him.
The beast charged, its hooves cracking stone.
Shang Di's stance shifted fluidly.
[Silent Darkness Steps – Activated]
He disappeared from the beast's view and reappeared to its right.
"[Flying Darkness Sword]!"
Black Qi spiraled from his palm and slashed against the beast's flank. The blow landed—but the creature barely flinched.
It spun, faster than it had any right to, tusks sweeping toward him.
He ducked low, twisting sideways just as the ground exploded behind him.
Wei Lin shouted and struck from behind, sparks flying as his blade scraped the hide.
"No blood," he hissed. "It's plated!"
"Qi-reinforced skin," Shang Di muttered. "Go for the joints."
The beast turned again—relentless.
Shang Di sprinted in a wide arc, channeling his inner Qi.
[Darkness Swallowing Technique – Surge Initiated]
Qi Channeling: +40% (10s)
Warning: Control cost elevated. Overuse may trigger backlash.
Dark energy pulsed along his arms. He launched forward, blade of shadow slicing across the beast's hindleg.
Then again—along the spine.
The creature roared, stumbled, and collided with a tree. Bark shattered.
Another strike to the neck.
Its legs gave out. It collapsed with a final snarl.
[Beast Defeated – SP Gained: +40]
Wei Lin stepped back, panting. "That wasn't just corrupted. That thing was twisted."
"Probably soaked too long in a ruined formation field." Shang Di examined the ground. "This region's unstable."
The boy, Yun, peeked from behind the tree.
"You okay?" Wei Lin asked.
He nodded slowly.
Shang Di reached into his pouch and tossed him a small healing pill. "Rest. We'll figure out what to do with you later."
Yun caught it with both hands, eyes wide.
They sat beneath the dead trees, the beast's carcass still steaming in the cool wind.
And for now, no one said anything.
But in the back of Shang Di's mind, something had shifted.
Not just direction—
But timing.
⸻