"Ha, it seems we were separated."
"I should scout the surroundings."
Tianyu stood up and began dusting himself off. He then leapt into the air.
"What's this..."
Swooosh!!!
A shadow swooped down from the grass.
"Astral Blade: First Form!"
Tianyu 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…"
Tianyu landed lightly on the ground, exhaling.
"…What?!"
From the corner of his eye, something caught his attention.
Along the riverbank were flowers glowing with an icy blue light; they radiated a chilling energy so dense that no grass dared grow near them.
"Ying Lilies, "His eyes widened.
"Finally, it seems the god of fortune has smiled at me?!"
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.
"This will do for now." He slung it over his shoulder.
"Hello, young cultivators."
A deep, booming voice echoed through the ruins.
Tianyu'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 Maikagure of my Sive flower Sect. You will realise that, as far as the eye can see, there are many spiritual herbs and spirit treasures. You may keep them if you are willing to risk your life."
The voice continued, calm and authoritative.
"Wah… the voice is coming from my head, and Sive flower? Same as the information earlier"
Tianyu centred himself, listening more carefully now.
"But for the hidden 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 Tianyu.
"The true treasure of Mount Maikagure 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 was a Martial Supreme cultivator."
Hearing those words, Tianyu'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, and most fail the heavenly tribulation.
"But if you manage to obtain the treasure, I ask that you continue the toast teachings of the Saint Maikagure sect and restore the Sive flower 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.
"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. My brothers will decide that."
Tianyu's breath caught.
"Lastly… be careful of the South Haven Emperor. 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, Tianyu 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 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 it 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.
….
"Hu… that's the second one. These star-rabbits sure move fast."
Tianyu sighed as he finished off his second level two fledgling beast.
"This is interesting. Every time I kill a beast, a star forms on the back of my palm?"
He frowned, rubbing at the red star tattoo that had appeared on the back of his hand.
"I wonder if it will come off."
He drove his Qi into the stars. They pulsed faintly, glowing for a moment, before returning to normal.
"…So that won't work."
"I haven't seen anyone since I arrived here. Just how vast is this place?"
Lost in thought, Tianyu moved through what appeared to be an old, overgrown garden, stone paths cracked and swallowed by weeds.
"I thought by now I would've at least met some peo—"
His gaze suddenly shifted.
Near an old, broken fence stood a tall stalk, its leaves faintly shimmering with spiritual light.
"…This place really is a treasure trove."
Tianyu leapt down from a nearby tree, moving swiftly toward the plant.
"Shia-feng grass."
He worked quickly and precisely, uprooting it while coating the roots in Frost Qi to prevent it from withering.
"What a great harvest…"
He carefully placed the herb into his bag and moved on.
"Hey, you!!!" a voice boomed from behind him.
"Those are mine. What do you think you're doing with them?"
Tianyu turned.
A group of three cultivators stood a short distance away. The one speaking had blond hair and carried a rather peculiar weapon, a crescent-shaped double blade, its edges humming softly as his hands moved through the air.
To his left stood a young woman. Her bangs fell over her left eye, and at her waist rested a flout decorated with delicate floral patterns. She said nothing, merely watching in silence.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Tianyu snapped.
"I got here before you. What right do you have over them?" His gaze shot at the people.
"Oh… really?" The blond cultivator smiled faintly.
"Hey, Bou fang, didn't I say earlier that I lost my bag? Doesn't that one look like the one I lost?"
"Y-yeah, Brother Mo feng… I-it is. That's the one."
Bou Fang spoke with a foolish grin. He was built like a brute, his head round, a single bundle of hair hanging from his crown while the rest was shaved clean. One finger rested in his nose as he giggled softly.
"I thought so as well."
Mo Fang's gaze hardened as he stepped forward, raising one hand.
"Give me back my bag before I decide to kill you."
"Oh?"
Tianyu rose slowly to his feet, his expression cold.
"So that's your intention. Just a bunch of petty thugs," he thought.
"Well, if you want it so badly," Tianyu said aloud, lifting his blade high,
"Come and take it. I dare you."
A chilling aura erupted from him, thick with killing intent.
"Huu—!"
Mo Fang staggered back half a step, his face paling.
"W-what pressure…"
"Ah—ah… Bou fang," Mo fang snapped, masking his fear,
"Go on. Get my bag for me..."