Lin Li came from the Verdant Peak Sect, situated in the Green River Valley. It held dominion over the entire Eastern Spirit Province, and he had been a trial disciple for over five years.

  Five years spent cultivating, and all he had to show for it was the Meridian Opening Realm—the third minor realm of the Mortal Foundation Realm. He would have said that his aptitude was trash, but the truth was, he just wasn’t rich enough.

  Once in a while, trial disciples like him would accept missions—most of which required traveling to the mortal world—to earn contribution points, which could then be used to purchase resources.

  Lin Li had been eyeing the Dantian Opening Elixir for a while now, which would help him break through to the fourth and final realm of Mortal Foundation: Dantian Establishment. But it required over 50 contribution points, and he had only amassed a little over 40. Then, one day, he came across a mission on the Mortal Hall’s mission board.

  The task was to investigate why the Spirit Stones excavated from the mines of Red Moon Town were dwindling. The elders were too proud to look into the matter themselves, and any prospective disciple would much rather spend their time cultivating than running to the mortal world for a mere 20 contribution points.

  That left only the servant and trial disciples. Lin Li had been lucky to chance upon the mission before anyone else. As, he hadn’t expected the situation to run so deep.

  What he had taken for a ragtag group of thieves turned out to be a band of cultivators in disguise—and their leader, a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator. How unfortunate was that?

  That was why Lin Li was certain he couldn’t run away from them. That, and the fact that all the exits leading out of this small town would be guarded by their men. Unfortunate, indeed.

  Lin Li settled on the bed, satchel in hand, and pulled out a crinkled piece of paper. He dusted off the spots of mud and turned it over, his brows knitting into a frown.

  It had been three weeks since he left the mountain, and a week after that, he had arrived in this town. He had been lucky enough to chance upon the Red Wolves and conduct his investigation quietly. He had seen their leader interacting with strangers—and with men he recognized. Men from his sect.

  The revetion had been shocking, but even more so was what he discovered next. The real buyer—and possibly the head of this entire operation—was the Yi Cn.

  A prestigious cn from the Central Domain, their power alone could make an average cultivator tremble in either fear or awe. Though they were strong, they weren’t as strong as the Verdant Peak Sect.

  Lin Lin suspected that was precisely why they were acting in secret. And even if they were caught, unless the sect provided undeniable evidence, nothing could be done. They weren’t mere bdes of grass that could be trampled underfoot; they were a towering tree with roots that ran deeper than the Green River of the Eastern Spirit Province.

  He could have gone back, reported his findings to the elders, and cimed his reward. But then he remembered the words of a senior from long ago—that living in the world of cultivation was like walking on a thin rope. One misstep, and you would plummet to your doom. Cultivation wasn’t just an art of patience; it was a race against the heavens. If you wanted to reach the top, you had to accept certain risks—and run straight through them.

  So, Lin Li ran.

  He ran into the Red Wolves’ ir, stole the bag that contained the evidence, and fled. Even now, he was still on the run. Yet, Lin Li wasn’t sure if running had really been the right choice.

  'Come to think of it, that guy also died shortly after,' Lin Li mused. 'Am I an idiot for believing him?'

  Either way, he had made his bed. Now, he had to lie in it.

  Sighing, Lin Li unfolded the letter and began to read.

  After reading the letter, Lin Li sighed once more and folded it shut. He slipped it back into the satchel when his hand brushed against something. Frowning, he carefully pulled it out—only to find what appeared to be a rock.

  'A strange rock,' he thought as he inspected it. It was round, entirely bck, with scattered golden spots glinting under the dim light. It was small, no rger than his thumb, yet Lin Li was certain it wasn’t a marble.

  "A Spirit Pill...?" His eyes narrowed as he peered closer, doubt and suspicion creeping in. Had he unknowingly stolen something precious from the leader? Was that why they were chasing him so relentlessly?

  "But that can't be..." Lin Li muttered, shaking his head. He could sense a faint aura wafting from it, but it was so weak that, had he not been scrutinizing it so closely, he might have missed it entirely. The question was: what was he supposed to do with it?

  "I could eat it...?" If it really was a Spirit Pill, consuming it could potentially help him break through—boosting his chances of survival. On the other hand, if it turned out to be a Poison Pill, he’d be dead in moments.

  'So, it's a 50-50,' Lin Li mused, rubbing his chin. But if he didn’t take it, the leader would catch him sooner or ter. In fact, that felt like more than a 50% chance of dying.

  "To do or not to do, that is the dilemma," he muttered, shaking his head. Yet, suddenly, he recalled that senior’s words again.

  That guy may have died, but at least he had struggled—at least he had lived a meaningful life.

  "This might be the end of my path or the beginning of a new journey... but I’m willing to see it through. For that is my Heart of Martial Will."

  Drifting_Embers