The silver grove was unlike any place Zhang Xin had encountered before. Moonlight cascaded through the dense canopy above, bathing the forest in an ethereal glow. The leaves of the ancient trees shimmered like polished silver, and the faint hum of energy reverberated through the air. This was the place Master Han Lingxiu had spoken of—the home of the legendary Moonlight Dew.
As Zhang Xin stepped forward, his heart pounded. The Moonlight Dew was said to be a treasure born of pure moon essence, capable of nurturing a cultivator's body and enhancing their meridians. Yet it was not so easily obtained; Master Han Lingxiu had warned him of the overwhelming energy it carried.
Zhang Xin paused when he finally saw it—a single droplet of radiant silver dew perched delicately on a cluster of glowing leaves. Its light was soft yet so intense that it felt alive, pulsing gently as if it had its own heartbeat. The aura emanating from it was pure and overwhelming, both inviting and dangerous.
"So this is the Moonlight Dew…" Zhang Xin whispered, his voice barely audible.
He took a step closer, steadying his breath. His instincts told him this was no simple task. He extended his hand carefully, summoning all his internal strength to form a protective shield around his body. As his fingers brushed the silver dew, a blinding light erupted.
An immense surge of power struck Zhang Xin like a tidal wave. The energy exploded outward, sending him crashing back with force. His chest burned as if a thousand needles pierced him at once. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he staggered to his feet, his vision swimming.
"What... immense energy..." Zhang Xin coughed, gripping his chest. The Moonlight Dew's power was raw and untamed. If not handled correctly, it could tear through even the strongest cultivator's body.
But Zhang Xin was determined. Gritting his teeth, he forced his way forward again, every step feeling like he was wading through an ocean of invisible pressure. His meridians screamed in protest, but with one final burst of willpower, he seized the Moonlight Dew, encasing it in a jade vial.
As soon as it was secured, the overwhelming pressure lifted, but Zhang Xin could barely stand. His body was trembling, his muscles torn and meridians overloaded.
"I need to find a place to recover," he muttered, stumbling toward a grove clearing he had spotted earlier.
The Healing Grove
Zhang Xin found shelter in a small, tranquil clearing surrounded by shimmering trees. The soft glow of the forest soothed him as he sat cross-legged, channeling his energy to heal his injuries. The silver light of the Moonlight Dew had left its mark—though his body was weakened, his meridians felt slightly more refined, stronger than before.
Time passed slowly. Zhang Xin's breathing evened out as he sank into a deep cultivation state. His body gradually absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy, knitting together his injuries and replenishing his strength.
Just as his mind drifted into calm focus, a sudden chill swept through the grove. The temperature dropped sharply, and a suffocating aura descended upon him like a shadow.
Zhang Xin's eyes snapped open. Before him stood a man draped in crimson robes, a faint smile on his lips. His face was pale as the moon, with sharp, piercing eyes that seemed to look straight into Zhang Xin's soul. His very presence exuded an oppressive force that made the air feel heavy.
Zhang Xin instantly knew—this was no ordinary cultivator.
"You've been rather busy, haven't you?" the man said, his voice silky and calm, yet carrying an undertone of menace.
Zhang Xin rose to his feet warily. "Who are you?"
The man chuckled softly, tilting his head. "They call me Jiang Ren, the Blood King. I've reached the fifth level of the Blood King Realm."
Zhang Xin froze. The Blood King Realm was a realm of terrifying power, and to be at level five… Jiang Ren was a monster among cultivators.
"Blood King?" Zhang Xin muttered under his breath, feeling the weight of the man's title. He had heard rumors about Jiang Ren—a ruthless cultivator who pursued power through blood cultivation, leaving countless opponents in his wake.
Jiang Ren's smile widened. "You seem surprised, boy. Did you think no one else was hunting treasures in the Pathway of Treasures? Word travels fast. A young cultivator like you, claiming the Soulfire Essence and now the Moonlight Dew... It seems you've grown quite ambitious."
Zhang Xin clenched his fists, the overwhelming aura pressing against him like a mountain. He could feel the killing intent lurking beneath Jiang Ren's calm demeanor.
"What do you want?" Zhang Xin demanded, his voice steady despite the pressure.
Jiang Ren stepped closer, his smile never faltering. "What I want is simple. Hand over the Moonlight Dew and the Soulfire Essence, and perhaps I'll let you leave in one piece."
Zhang Xin's eyes narrowed. He knew this was no negotiation. Jiang Ren would kill him the moment he gave up the treasures.
"And if I refuse?" Zhang Xin said defiantly.
Jiang Ren's smile disappeared, replaced by a look of cold amusement. "Then I'll simply take them from your corpse."
The air grew heavier as Jiang Ren raised his hand, blood-red energy swirling around his fingers. Zhang Xin instinctively took a step back, summoning the Soulfire Essence within him.
The clearing grew silent, the tension unbearable.
"So be it," Jiang Ren said softly, his aura erupting in a wave of crimson energy.
Zhang Xin steadied himself, his flames crackling to life around him. Though his injuries were not fully healed, he knew he couldn't back down. Jiang Ren was a Blood King, a predator hunting for prey, but Zhang Xin had faced overwhelming odds before.
The fight would not be easy.
"If you want it, come and take it!" Zhang Xin shouted, his flames roaring to match Jiang Ren's blood energy.
The two forces collided, crimson and gold flames lighting up the grove like a battlefield of fire and blood.