Li Wen parted ways with the three humans and made his way back to his room, his mood light and his humming a small tune. He was certain they would agree to his offer because they had no other choice.
The so-called "solution" the Fox Queen mentioned was nothing more than a desperate gamble. She planned to seek help from the Stone Barbarian Tribe, believing they possessed a secret realm where they could break through to the True Source Realm, even within the sealed mortal world. It was a logical assumption. After all, the Stone Barbarians had consistently produced True Source Realm powerhouses despite the world's suppression.
But Li Wen knew better.
Thanks to Qingying, who had whispered secrets to him under the moonlight the previous night, he had learned the truth. The Stone Barbarians did not have a secret realm. Instead, they possessed a relic of their ancient lineage—a sacred artifact of the Stone Race, the 'Sacrificial Altar'.
They could forcefully ascend to the True Source Realm through the altar's power, even in the mortal world. But there was a catch—a crucial one. Only those who carried the 'blood of the Stone Race' could harness the altar's blessings.
And the Fox Queen? She could never meet that condition.
Li Wen smirked as he settled into a chair, pouring himself a cup of wine. The Queen would soon realize that her supposed solution was nothing but an illusion. And when that moment came, she would have no choice but to turn to him.
Just as he and Qingying had planned.
Li Wen had no reason to refuse her proposal. His original goal was simple—escort the humans to Erasth City, then venture into the 'Evil Lake' to hunt fierce beasts for 'Golden Dewdrops. ' But Qingying's target was the Illusion Lake. '
She sought something even more precious than Golden Dewdrops—Water from the Illusion Lake. '
A single jar of that water could 'enhance spiritual strength, ' making it invaluable for anyone seeking a breakthrough. Qingying, already at the 'peak of the Source Realm, ' was desperate to advance to the 'True Source Realm. ' But unlike Innate Demons, she was an 'Acquired Demon, ' meaning she had started as a demon spirit before ascending into demon lord.
Her path had been one of survival—ruthless and unforgiving. When she first entered the human realm, she followed the methods of the 'Charm Demons', absorbing 'Yang energy' to repel the 'Yin within her body'. But she had lacked control, and in her hunger, she had drained too many, leaving behind lifeless husks. Those deaths had tainted her, allowing resentment to fester within her spirit—a flaw that now threatened to halt her cultivation.
Only the 'Water of the Illusion Lake' could cleanse her of that lingering 'resentment', allowing her to 'truly step into the True Source Realm'.
Unlike many demons who relied on 'faith' to ascend, Qingying was following a different path—one of 'comprehending unique rules. ' When Li Wen had faced her last night, he had sensed the essence of 'Charm, Yin, Blood, and Darkness' woven into her being.
Her approach intrigued him.
He, too, had long set his cultivation path after 'comprehending the Plague Rule. His next step was to understand the Disease Rule, Kill Rule, and Illusion Rule. ' That was why he also sought a jar of water from the Illusion Lake—it would be instrumental in helping him grasp the Rule of Illusion in the future. '
When he had offhandedly mentioned "taking a dip" in the Illusion Lake, it had been nothing more than a 'provocation to rile up the Queen'. In reality, doing so would be a 'shortcut to his death'.
Li Wen smirked at the thought and reached for his wine—only to find his glass empty. ' Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he set it down on the table before letting his gaze wander around the lavishly decorated room. The 'intricate white stone carvings' on the walls reflected the sunlight streaming in from one side, where an 'open balcony' overlooked the city.
He walked toward it, stepping out onto the balcony where the crisp morning air greeted him. The city of Erasth stretched before him, bathed in golden light.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the 'Stone Rose', its surface cool against his fingertips.
He turned the 'Stone Rose' over in his palm, watching as it was absorbed into his 'Spirit Seed. Almost instantly, he sensed a shift—his progress in the 'Initial Spirit Seed Realm' had reached '5%'.
With a casual wave of his hand, a 'Stone Stick' materialized before him. The moment it appeared, he could 'feel the vitality pulsing from it'. Holding one end, he pointed the other toward the sky and channeled 'demon energy' into it. In response, a soft green light radiated from the tip—a glow of pure healing energy. '
Intrigued, he retracted the energy, watching as the stick dissolved back into 'demon energy' and was reabsorbed into his body. He turned his palm upward, noticing the same 'green healing light' flickering across his skin.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Perhaps I can choose the first method as well…"
With this ability to 'heal', he could play the role of a 'God of Healing'—the perfect counterbalance to his 'authority over the Rule of Plague'.
Amused by the irony, he let his 'Soul Chip' evolve his 'Plague Bacteria', ensuring it could now infect 'Stone Rose plants'. The thought of 'disease spreading through vitality itself' intrigued him—an experiment for another day.
Next, he retrieved two objects from his storage space—an 'Enlightened Stone' in one hand and a '1,000-Year Turtle Shell' in the other.
He studied the 'Enlightened Stone' for a moment before deciding against using it for now. "Better to save this for when I reach the 'Intermediate Source Realm, '" he muttered, tucking it away once more.
Shifting his focus to the 'Turtle Shell, ' he let his 'Spirit Seed' seep into it, initiating an 'analysis. '
The shell pulsed with an overwhelming force.
A '1,000-Year Turtle' wasn't simply a turtle that had lived for a thousand years—it was a 'Spirit Beast' that had achieved that cultivation level. 1-Year Cycle—The beginning of a beast's transformation into a 'Spirit Beast'. 10-Year Cycle—Advancing into the 'Mortal Realm'. 100-Year Cycle—Advancing to the 'Enlightenment Realm'. 1,000-Year Cycle—Reaching the 'Source Realm'.
The turtle shell contained 'condensed energy from the Source Realm', making its analysis 'exceptionally difficult' for his Spirit Seed.
Sensing the challenge, Li Wen sat down in a 'meditative posture', steadying his breathing.
"If I focus my energy, I can accelerate the analysis—first the energy, then the material composition."
Closing his eyes, he let his 'Spirit Seed' work, determined to uncover the 'secrets hidden within the shell'.
----
The afternoon sun cast golden rays through the wide-open windows of the guest house, illuminating the polished wooden floors. The house, nestled within the vast canyon city of Erasth, stood near the edge of a slow-moving river that split the city in two. The gentle sound of water flowing echoed through the open space, mixing with the occasional distant chatter of fox race citizens outside.
Reiko stepped inside, her sharp golden eyes scanning the empty living room. She carried a small wooden box, its dark lacquered surface reflecting the afternoon light. Behind her, two fox guards followed silently, their expressions unreadable.
Her gaze landed on a servant dressed in the traditional attire of the fox race, tending to a table near the far wall. Without preamble, Reiko spoke, her tone laced with authority.
"Call the humans."
The servant flinched slightly at her directness but quickly composed himself, offering a respectful bow.
"Lady Reiko, shall I summon all the humans or just the important ones among them?"
Reiko's golden eyes narrowed slightly as she recalled her observations from when she had escorted Li Wen and the humans to Erasth. There had been ten of them, but only five had spoken, while the others remained quiet, acting more like guards than companions.
"Call the important ones," she commanded, her tone leaving no room for question.
The servant bowed once more before turning swiftly on his heel, disappearing through a side door that led to the guest quarters.
Reiko exhaled lightly and took a seat on one of the intricately carved wooden chairs in the living room. The two fox guards remained standing behind her, their presence a silent but firm reminder of her authority. She drummed her fingers lightly against the armrest, her gaze settling on the box she had placed on the table before her.
A few minutes later, the sound of measured footsteps echoed from the stairs. Reiko's ears twitched slightly as two figures emerged—Wei Xuan and Zhu Pan.
Wei Xuan, the one who had spoken to her the most during their journey, carried himself with a quiet confidence, his gaze sharp yet unreadable. Beside him, Zhu Pan, the Divine Warrior, exuded a steady, imposing presence.
As they approached, Reiko stood, offering a slight bow—the formal greeting of her race. The two humans returned the gesture, mirroring her movements with precision.
"Sit," she said, motioning to the seats arranged beside hers.
Without hesitation, they took their places.
Moments later, two more humans descended the stairs, their expressions neutral but observant. Reiko greeted them the same way and gestured for them to sit.
Finally, the last figure appeared—a young woman.
Reiko repeated the greeting, and the girl responded in kind before taking a seat beside her, an unspoken acknowledgment of her standing among the group.
With all five now seated, a tense yet expectant silence settled over the room.
Reiko reached for the box she had placed on the table earlier and carefully slid it toward the humans. The wooden exterior was unadorned, but a faint energy pulsed from within, hinting at the rare treasure inside.
Wei Hong, seated beside her brother Wei Xuan, hesitated for only a moment before lifting the lid.
Inside lay a six-petaled lotus, white as freshly fallen snow, its delicate petals emanating a subtle, bitter fragrance that curled through the air. Despite its unassuming appearance, the Bitter White Lotus was an item of great rarity—one that could cleanse impurities and enhance cultivation.
Reiko watched their reactions as she spoke. "Keep the box closed unless necessary. The lotus will begin to lose its essence if left exposed for too long."
Wei Hong and Wei Xuan exchanged a glance before bowing deeply in unison. Their gratitude was evident, their voices steady yet filled with sincerity.
"Lady Reiko, we are truly grateful for this gift," Wei Hong said. "If there is anything we can do for you in return, please tell us."
Reiko waved a hand dismissively. "No need. Consider it a gesture of goodwill."
Wei Xuan, however, was not so easily deterred. "Lady Reiko, we insist. This lotus is too valuable for us to accept without repaying the favor."
She hesitated, her fingers lightly tapping the armrest of her seat. Then, after a moment of consideration, she finally spoke.
"Very well," she said, meeting Wei Xuan's gaze. "Tell me about Li Wen."
At once, the humans exchanged glances, silent yet communicating among themselves.
Wei Xuan was the first to answer. "We met Li Wen when we first entered the Ancient Mountain Range. It was by chance—he was traveling alone."
Zhu Pan picked up where he had left off. "We left him behind at a hill and continued toward a Stone Barbarian Tribe. That night, while we were staying there, the tribe was attacked by a Source Realm ferocious beast. Most of the warriors were away at the time, leaving the village defenseless. We had no choice but to flee toward where we had last seen Li Wen, hoping for a chance to escape." He paused, his voice steady. "We met in the middle of our retreat… and Li Wen killed the beast."
Fang Xin, who had remained quiet until now, continued, "A few hours later, we learned of the Bitter White Lotus at Evil Lake. But there was a problem—Source Realm ferocious beasts guarded the lake. Knowing the danger, we invited Li Wen to come with us, offering rewards in return for his help."
Reiko's ears twitched slightly, but she said nothing as he continued.
"We reached Evil Lake two days later," Fang Xin went on. "That very night, we saw a tribe fleeing the area, screaming of an attack. Before we could react, we were ambushed by forces from the Arachne Kingdom—their half-spider, half-human puppets attacked us relentlessly. Amid the chaos, we learned from the surviving tribespeople that Bitter White Lotus does not bloom in autumn—only in spring. Realizing our mistake, we turned back toward Erasth, where we heard the lotus could be found." He gestured toward Reiko. "Then, as you know, we arrived inside your territory… and the rest, you witnessed yourself."
Reiko processed the information in silence before directing another question at them. "And during your journey, what did Li Wen do?"
Wei Hong answered this time. "Mostly, he practiced or spent time reading a book."
Reiko frowned slightly. "Did he ever mention his past? His intentions?"
The humans shook their heads.
"Nothing beyond what we've told you," Wei Xuan replied.
Reiko studied their expressions carefully, searching for any sign of deception. Yet, despite her scrutiny, their words seemed genuine. It appeared that whatever secrets Li Wen held, these humans were unaware of them.
Finally, she nodded. "Very well."
With that, she rose to her feet, signaling the end of the conversation. The humans followed suit, bowing once more in thanks before quietly departing.