Lin Tian slowly walked out of the secret passage. The slightly cool evening wind brushed his face, carrying a hint of dampness, causing him to become vigilant. The woods around were silent, as if even the chirping of insects was concealed beneath the night. This unusual silence made Lin Tian's heart sink. He knew that the abnormal movement in the underground space earlier might have attracted the attention of powerful experts. "This place is not suitable for staying for long." He decided secretly in his heart, planning to leave this area as soon as possible, find a more secluded place, and carefully explore the mystery of the precious treasure. However, just as he was about to set off, he suddenly felt a strong fluctuation of spiritual power rapidly approaching from afar. "A Golden Core stage monk!" Lin Tian was startled in his heart and quickly concealed his own aura to the extreme. The entire person merged into the shadows of the trees like a ghost. Before long, a cyan figure rapidly swept over from the horizon. It was a middle-aged monk dressed in a cyan Taoist robe. His gaze was as sharp as that of an eagle, scanning everywhere as if searching for something. Lin Tian felt the immense pressure emanating from the other party and couldn't help but feel heavy-hearted. "This person has ill intentions." Lin Tian judged and became secretly vigilant in his heart. He knew that his current situation was extremely dangerous. If the other party detected the aura of the precious treasure, it would be difficult for him to retreat unscathed. The middle-aged monk circled above the ruins for a moment, then slowly landed. His gaze was fixed tightly on the entrance of the secret passage that Lin Tian had just exited, and a strange light flashed in his eyes. Lin Tian watched as the other party entered the secret passage, his heart filled with solemnity. "He must be here for the precious treasure." Lin Tian understood that staying here would only be more dangerous. However, just as he was about to take the opportunity to leave quietly, he suddenly felt an extremely weak but familiar aura coming from afar. Lin Tian turned and looked, only to see a monk wearing a gray cloak slowly walking from the depths of the dense forest. The monk's figure was tightly covered by the cloak, and his face was hidden in the shadow of the cloak, making it impossible to see any details. However, Lin Tian vaguely felt that the other party's aura seemed familiar. "Who is it? Why do I have a familiar feeling?" Lin Tian was puzzled in his heart, but the current situation prevented him from acting rashly. The monk in the gray cloak stopped at a distance and didn't seem to be in a hurry to approach. The two confronted each other across a certain distance for a moment. Then, the monk in the cloak nodded slightly, seemingly indicating for Lin Tian to follow him. "He wants me to follow?" Lin Tian was filled with doubts and vigilance, but in the end, he decided to temporarily trust the other party. After all, now he was in the open, and the enemy was in the dark. If he could get the help of this mysterious monk, perhaps he could escape the current predicament. Lin Tian suppressed the doubts in his heart and quietly followed behind the monk in the gray cloak. The two walked one after the other through the dense forest, gradually moving away from the area of the ruins. The monk in the gray cloak led the way in front. His steps were steady and slow, as if he wasn't in a hurry to reach the destination. Lin Tian closely followed behind, maintaining a not-too-close and not-too-far distance, but his heart was filled with vigilance. Although he temporarily chose to follow the other party, he didn't completely lower his guard. The forest became denser and denser. The moonlight was blocked by the thick tree canopies, and only a little weak light could seep through the sporadic gaps. A layer of mist pervaded the surroundings, gradually blurring Lin Tian's vision. Lin Tian had to be more vigilant and sense the movements around to prevent being ambushed. Suddenly, the monk in the gray cloak who was walking in front stopped. He stood still as if waiting for something. Lin Tian also stopped, his heart full of confusion but not daring to speak rashly. After a moment, a vague shadow faintly emerged in the mist, seemingly an ancient stone bridge spanning between two cliffs. Beneath the bridge was an unfathomable darkness, as if leading to a bottomless abyss. The monk in the gray cloak gently waved his hand, and the mist dissipated accordingly. The outline of the stone bridge gradually became clearer. "Follow me." The voice of the monk in the cloak was low and calm, carrying a hint of inexplicable authority. Lin Tian didn't immediately follow but carefully observed the stone bridge. The surface of the stone bridge was covered with traces left by years, simple and vicissitudinous. But there was a faintly disturbing fluctuation of power on the bridge. "This stone bridge is no ordinary thing." Lin Tian thought secretly in his heart. Without saying much, he carefully took a step and followed closely behind the monk in the cloak, stepping onto the stone bridge. As the two moved forward, the surrounding scene gradually blurred, as if the two ends of the bridge connected two different worlds. Lin Tian felt a slight dizziness, as if crossing the barrier of space and entering a completely strange realm. Finally, the two crossed the stone bridge and entered a dark valley. The valley was filled with mist, as if hiding countless unknown secrets. The monk in the cloak stopped in the valley, turned to look at Lin Tian, and there was a hint of profound meaning in his gaze. "This place is safe. You can rest here temporarily." The monk in the cloak said calmly, his tone revealing an unwavering determination. Lin Tian nodded. Although there were still doubts in his heart, he could feel that the spiritual energy here was rich and it was indeed a suitable place for recuperation. "Why did you help me, fellow Taoist?" Lin Tian finally couldn't resist asking the question in his heart. From the appearance of this monk until now, he had always maintained a mysterious posture, making it impossible for Lin Tian to see through the other party's true intention. The monk in the cloak didn't answer directly but turned to look at the mist in the distance as if thinking about something. After a moment, he slowly said, "In the world of cultivation, disputes are continuous. Everyone has their own stance and choice. The reason I helped you is because of the precious treasure in your hand." "The precious treasure?" Lin Tian frowned, and his vigilance rose again. He wasn't clear about how much this monk knew about the precious treasure, but the other party's words clearly concealed a deeper meaning. "Don't be nervous." The monk in the cloak seemed to have sensed Lin Tian's vigilance and smiled slightly. "I have no greed for the precious treasure. On the contrary, I hope you can master its power as soon as possible to deal with the upcoming storm." Lin Tian's mood became even more complicated. He vaguely felt that the words of this monk seemed to imply some major change, but the other party didn't explain clearly. "Next, you need time to recover your spiritual power and understand the mystery of the precious treasure. During this period, I will temporarily protect you." The monk in the cloak said calmly, his tone carrying a hint of unwavering authority. Lin Tian nodded. Although there were many doubts in his heart, he knew that in the current situation, he had no other choice. "Thank you for your help, fellow Taoist." Lin Tian cupped his hands in thanks, trying to remain calm. The monk in the cloak nodded slightly and then turned and walked towards the depths of the valley. His figure quickly disappeared in the mist. Lin Tian looked in the direction he left, his heart filled with questions and complex emotions. "Who is he exactly? Why does he know so much about the precious treasure?" Lin Tian knew that his encounter with this monk was by no means accidental, and the secrets hidden behind it might be far more complex than he imagined. Lin Tian didn't continue to ask but chose to find a relatively flat place in the valley, sat cross-legged, and began to adjust his breath and recover. As his spiritual power gradually recovered, his thoughts also gradually became clearer.