As dawn painted the horizon with soft hues, Mei Chen, Jin Rui, Zhou Wei, and Li Jun awoke from their deep cultivation states, refreshed but still feeling the strain of recent battles. Their senses gradually adjusted to the world around them, the familiar scents of damp earth and lingering traces of Qi in the air reminding them of their surroundings in the Endless Forest. Each of them stretched, feeling the lingering tension in their muscles—a reminder of how far they had pushed themselves.
Mei Chen was the first to notice Li Wei seated beside a pile of objects arranged with uncanny precision. At first, they looked like irregular stones scattered before him. But as she focused, a shock coursed through her as she realized what they truly were—beast cores, each emanating faint pulses of Qi. Her eyes widened as she took in the array, particularly at the sight of multiple Grade 3 cores, each marking a powerful beast Li Wei had subdued.
