Sindra was slightly surprised, as she never expected anyone but Kieran to speak to her directly.
"Where?" Kieran asked for Sindra, who was too shocked to even register Eir's words.
"There is something beneath the tree," Eir said, "Absorbing the energy from it allowed me to grow into what I am."
Eir flew to the tree that was now just a husk after she left and placed her tiny hands on it. The giant Angel Oak tree trembled slightly as its roots began to move, slowly pushing something out of the ground. It was an orange glowing object the size of an average human that looked a lot like the root of a giant plant.
"Root of vitality," Sindra spoke just as the same thought crossed Kieran's mind.
"Master, you are truly lucky!" Sindra was almost screaming. "This is more than enough for you to fully evolve."
Kieran put the root of vitality into the sphere with a wave of his hand, then started looking around the valley, even though he could not fully use Pellucid Insight, he could still discern that there was something special about this place. Especially considering that his clan has explored the entire mountain range numerous times but never stumbled upon this place. He looked around but couldn't find what it was that concealed this valley and made the concentration of spiritual chi so much denser.
After looking around but not being able to see what made the valley special, Kieran turned his attention to the wooden hut.
He gently pushed the wooden door, its hinges creaking softly as he stepped inside with his wives close behind. The scent of aged wood and herbs lingered faintly in the air, and the dim light filtering through the single window cast soft shadows across the interior. In the center of the hut sat a low table, where a white dust-covered sword, an emerald green cauldron, and an intricately carved jade box lay neatly arranged. A wooden barrel, sealed tightly, rested in the far corner. But what drew their eyes most was the veiled figure seated cross-legged on a cushion in the heart of the room. A silk veil hung loosely over its head, but it was immediately clear from bones barely visible beneath the dress had long since passed.
Kieran stepped closer, his eyes closely examining the skeletal remains beneath the veil. Though time had stripped the flesh away, the bones bore faint, irregular pitting—small corrosive marks that seemed unnatural. He crouched beside the figure, his fingers brushing over the exposed hands with cautious reverence.
"These marks…" he muttered, "This person was poisoned—something potent enough to linger in the marrow and corrode the bones even after death." Baixue and Roulan exchanged wary glances; the thought of something like that scared them to their very core.
With quiet reverence, he gathered the bones, gently wrapping them in a clean cloth, then he stepped outside the hut, burying the bones in the same hole the root of vitality was dug out of, right beneath the angel oak tree.
After laying the remains to rest, he bowed deeply, honoring the unknown cultivator's legacy before returning inside the hut, where he found his wives strongly mesmerized by the items. Baixue was drawn to the sword, her fingers hovering just above its intricate hilt, while Roulan stood mesmerized by the cauldron, her alchemist's heart stirring with desire.
"Both are divine-grade treasures, each housing a soul." Sindra said, "They can only be wielded by someone they accept as master."
Kieran's gaze softened as he looked at his wives. "Try offering your blood. If they choose you, they'll respond."
Baixue and Roulan exchanged a glance before biting the tips of their fingers and letting a single drop of blood fall onto their respective artifacts. The moment the blood touched metal, both the sword and the cauldron trembled lightly, shedding the dust of as a soft glow enveloped them. Baixue's sword, elegant and deadly, was a pristine white blade with delicate hints of rose that ran from the hilt through the sheath and into the very edge of the weapon. She felt a pulse, a bond forming, but nothing more.
Meanwhile, Roulan's cauldron emitted a deep hum, its emerald green surface gleaming as the coiled figure of a majestic dragon revealed itself in full detail. "Emerald Dragon Cauldron…" she breathed, her voice filled with awe.
Baixue frowned slightly. "I can feel the sword… but I don't know its name."
Kieran chuckled, gently patting her head. "Roulan's a white grade alchemist, already in tune with her craft. You're just beginning your journey with the sword. Its name will come to you as your sword realm grows... when your connection deepens."
After watching the treasures accept his wives, Kieran turned his attention to the final item resting quietly on the table—the intricately carved jade box. Lifting it with care, he immediately noticed the delicate engravings along its surface, recognizing them as advanced preservation runes intertwined with a formation designed to spiritual chi. His brow lifted slightly.
"This was definitely made to store pills," he murmured.
As he opened the lid, a rich medicinal aroma filled the hut, and inside lay a neat arrangement of nine blood-red pills pulsing faintly with vitality. From his inherited memories, Kieran instantly identified them—Blood-Essence & Marrow Enhancing Pills, potent elixirs that nourished blood essence. A pill that was beyond rare even in the past, but he now had nine.
"You're truly favored by fate,Master." Sindra's voice rang out in his mind, brimming with delight. "These pills will help stimulate your blood essence…."
A small smile tugged at his lips; the pills, together with the root of vitality, were essential for his body to evolve.
Curious about the last item in the hut, his attention turned to the wooden barrel resting in the corner. At first glance, it looked simple, but a closer inspection revealed preservation runes etched on it, along with a faintly glowing chi-gathering formation. Intrigued, he unsealed the lid, and instantly, a dense, overwhelming aura burst forth, flooding the hut with an ancient, primal pressure that made even Baixue and Roulan instinctively tense.
The barrel was filled with thick, crimson liquid that shimmered with power—it was essence blood, and by the looks of it, not from any ordinary creature, its energy refined and amplified over untold years by the constant flow of spiritual chi.
"That is phoenix essence blood." Sindra's voice echoed with excitement, "We can use it to strengthen your Divine Dragon bloodline further."
Kieran resealed the barrel with great care and, with a wave of his hand, sent it into the sphere for safekeeping.
After clearing the hut, the three explored the valley for hours, and with Eir's help, they were able to collect many spiritual herbs and fruits. Slowly increasing the size of the garden inside the sphere. Only deciding to step into the portal to leave the valley when they were sure that no stone had been left unturned.
"Master, no time seems to have passed since we went inside," Sindra points out as soon as they step out of the portal. They both immediately realize that time in the valley flows differently. It felt like they were inside for hours, but time barely passed on the outside.
Kieran called for their flying beast, and the three headed back to the clan.