Teng Lin walked away from the transformed valley, the heavy weight of the system's rewards still lingering in the air. He made his way toward the small cabin nestled at the edge of the land, trying to distance himself from the spectacle that had unfolded. The earth had shaken, the skies had darkened, and the once lifeless valley had come alive with vibrant energy. The rewards had been spectacular—too spectacular, in fact.
As he entered the cabin, he couldn't shake the feeling of discomfort that the transformation had caused. It wasn't just the size of the rewards, but the flashy display that came with them. He didn't want to be seen as someone who could wield such power. What would the others think? Chen Bo and Wei Jian already looked at him with suspicious eyes. Su Xianyu, too, had seen everything, though his thoughts remained unreadable.
With a huff, Teng Lin sat at the small wooden table and crossed his arms, glaring at the empty space before him. "Why does it have to be so flashy?" he muttered to himself. "I didn't ask for this… for all the attention. It's like I'm some sort of god. Couldn't you have given me a bit of subtlety?"
The familiar voice of the system chimed in, as flat and indifferent as ever.
System Notification:
"Are you saying you wanted worse rewards?"
Teng Lin sighed heavily, his frustration mounting. "I didn't ask for rewards like this. You could've just made the land fertile or something. Why does it have to be so grandiose? It's like… like you're showing off." He ran a hand through his hair, feeling the sting of both the earth-shaking changes and the nagging voice in his head.
The system was silent for a moment, and for a brief second, Teng Lin thought it might just leave him in peace. But that was only wishful thinking.
System Notification:
"Your task was completed. The results were appropriate for the scale of the mission."
Teng Lin slumped further into his chair, his irritation bubbling to the surface. "Appropriate? You could've just… I don't know, sprouted a few flowers. Not this… this chaos!" He thumped his fist lightly on the table, not expecting an answer, but the system didn't disappoint.
System Notification:
"Are you saying you wanted worse rewards?"
Teng Lin's eye twitched. He couldn't argue with the logic of the system—he had completed the task, and the results had been… spectacular. But the spectacle was the last thing he had wanted. He muttered something under his breath, too exhausted to continue the pointless argument. What could he really expect from something that wasn't alive, that was programmed to follow a strict set of rules?
With a resigned sigh, Teng Lin stood up and moved toward the door. "I'm done with this conversation," he said, though the system didn't respond. He stepped outside, and that's when he heard it—the shout that pierced the stillness of the valley.
"Help! Teng Lin!"
It was Chen Bo's voice. Teng Lin's heart skipped a beat. Without thinking, he broke into a run, his mind racing as he tried to piece together what was happening. What had gone wrong now?
Meanwhile, just a short distance away, Su Xianyu sat in the quiet of his cabin, his gaze trained on the changes unfolding in the valley. The land had transformed before his eyes—what had once been a barren and lifeless place was now pulsating with energy, radiating a strange power that he could feel deep in his bones. His injuries had already healed significantly, and the poison that had plagued him for so long was finally being cleared from his body.
Su Xianyu's mind raced. The spiritual energy that now filled the valley was overwhelming, far beyond anything he had felt before. It surged like a river, flowing through the land with an intensity that left him breathless. It was as though the very heart of the valley was alive, pulsing with new life. He could feel the energy wrapping around him, pulling him in, yet there was something more—something that tugged at him from deep within the soil.
The moment the transformation had taken place, Su Xianyu had felt his strength returning at an astonishing rate. The poison that had once threatened to consume him was being flushed out of his system, his injuries healing faster than he had ever imagined possible. He could already feel himself nearing 80% of his full strength, a process that would have taken years before now completed in a matter of days.
"This… this is incredible," Su Xianyu whispered to himself, his voice barely audible as he stared at the valley in awe. The power that flowed through the land was nothing short of miraculous. It was as if the valley itself had become a conduit for the world's life force.
He closed his eyes, absorbing the changes, allowing the energy to settle within him. The familiar aches and pains that had plagued him for so long were already fading, and he could sense that by the end of the day, he would be nearly whole again. In a week, he would be fully restored.
Su Xianyu's thoughts then shifted to something else—the strange energy that lingered near the graves. It wasn't a life qi that he recognized. It was different, foreign even. He couldn't explain it, but it gnawed at him, making him uneasy.
With a deep breath, Su Xianyu rose to his feet. He needed to act quickly. The surrounding monsters would surely sense the powerful spiritual energy flooding the valley, and it wouldn't be long before they came seeking to feast on it. If he didn't act, it could lead to trouble.
He decided that he would need to set up a concealing array around the valley, one that would help hide the valley's newfound power from prying eyes. He wasn't naive enough to believe it would fool the top experts, but it should be enough to hide the valley's aura from the normal sect elders in the area.
"First, I'll clear out the monsters," he murmured, already making plans in his head. "Then, I'll head into town for the necessary supplies to set up the array."
He paused, staring at the valley. Despite the danger, he couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude. What had once been a forgotten and barren plot of land was now teeming with power—an opportunity like no other.
A sudden shout interrupted his thoughts. It was Chen Bo's voice, loud and filled with panic.
"Damn it, what now?" Su Xianyu muttered, his mind immediately shifting back to the present. He knew he couldn't afford to waste any more time. The boys had to stay put for now, and he would make sure of that. As he turned toward the door, a deep sense of foreboding settled over him. Something was about to happen—and he needed to be ready.
Outside the cabin, the air was thick with tension. Teng Lin sprinted toward the source of the shout, his feet pounding the earth with urgency. As he reached the edge of the valley, he spotted Chen Bo doubled over, clutching his stomach with a strained expression on his face. His body trembled, his breaths coming in short, panicked bursts.
"Teng Lin! Something's wrong with the water! It's—it's burning me from the inside out!" Chen Bo gasped, his voice ragged with pain.
Wei Jian stood at a distance, eyes wide with shock. He had backed away from the water, his gaze fixed on Chen Bo as he writhed in agony. "What happened? What's going on?"
Teng Lin's heart raced as he approached Chen Bo, panic rising within him. The system hadn't warned him about anything like this, but it was clear that something was wrong. He knelt beside Chen Bo, his hand hovering over his friend's back, unsure of what to do.
"I—I drank it," Chen Bo gasped between pained breaths. "The water… it looked so pure. I thought… I thought it was just water." His voice faltered, then broke into a strained scream as he clutched his stomach again.
Without warning, Chen Bo sprinted to the far side of the valley, his legs unsteady as he stumbled and ran. He bent over a low stone, leaning heavily against it. The next moment, he gasped loudly, his body trembling violently as a dark, ink-like substance began to pour from him. His back arched with the pain, and he screamed as the strange liquid continued to pour out, staining the ground beneath him.
Wei Jian rushed over, trying to avoid the awful sight but unable to stay away. His eyes were filled with worry. "Chen Bo! Are you okay?" he called out, his voice quivering.
Chen Bo didn't respond, too focused on the pain coursing through his body. His breathing became erratic, his hands pressing into the earth in desperation.
Teng Lin looked around, feeling helpless. He glanced down at the water, the strange silvery hue still glistening in the moonlight. He had no idea what had happened, but he could sense something terrible unfolding right before him.
"Chen Bo! Stay with me!" Teng Lin shouted, reaching out a hand to steady him. His words seemed to fall on deaf ears as Chen Bo continued to writhe in agony.
Wei Jian's voice broke through the silence. "We need to get him help! Now!"
Teng Lin nodded, his mind racing. They had no time to lose. The valley, once a place of quiet beauty, had become an unpredictable force, and Chen Bo's strange reaction to the water was proof of that. He scooped his friend into his arms, trying to ignore the dark liquid staining his own hands.
With Wei Jian at his side, they rushed toward Su Xianyu's cabin. The old man, who had been pacing just moments ago, was now standing in the doorway, his face etched with concern.
"What's going on? What happened?" Su Xianyu asked, his voice calm but commanding.
"We—we don't know," Teng Lin panted, struggling to keep his grip on Chen Bo as he lay limp in his arms. "He drank the water from the stream, and now… now he's—he's detoxifying or something. He's ejecting this strange black stuff. It's burning him."
Su Xianyu's eyes narrowed, and he quickly stepped forward, gesturing for Teng Lin to place Chen Bo down on the ground. Teng Lin complied, his heart still racing as he watched the old man inspect Chen Bo.
"This isn't poison," Su Xianyu said, his voice low but steady. "It's the toxins in his body being expelled. The water in this valley is infused with an immense amount of life energy. When it came into contact with his body, it triggered the detoxification process. His body is purging whatever poison or impurities he's accumulated over time."
Teng Lin blinked in surprise, unsure of what to make of it. "So… he's not in danger?"
Su Xianyu shook his head. "No, but it's a painful process. The toxins are leaving his system, but it will take a while. The water here, the energy… it's forcing his body to expel everything it doesn't need. He'll be fine once it's done."
Teng Lin exhaled in relief, though concern still lingered in his mind. "How long will it take?"
"It could take a few hours or even longer, depending on how much his body has accumulated," Su Xianyu replied, his eyes studying the strange liquid still leaking from Chen Bo. "But the process is necessary. His body will be far better off once it's complete."
"Can we help?" Wei Jian asked, looking at Chen Bo with a worried expression.
"No," Su Xianyu replied firmly. "The best thing you can do is give him space. Let his body finish this. Once it's done, he'll recover quickly."
Teng Lin nodded, though he still couldn't shake the feeling of unease. Everything was happening so quickly. The valley, the water, Chen Bo's condition—it was all too much to comprehend in one moment.
"Will he be okay?" Teng Lin asked quietly.
Su Xianyu nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "He will. The energy here is purging him of whatever has been holding him back. By the time this is done, his body will be stronger for it."
Teng Lin exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, his tension easing slightly. He glanced at Wei Jian, who gave a small, relieved nod.
As they sat in silence, waiting for Chen Bo to finish the process, Su Xianyu stood by the edge of the cabin, his eyes flicking toward the valley. He seemed lost in thought for a moment before turning back to the two young men.
"We need to leave the valley soon," he said, his voice serious. "The energy here is still unstable, and we're not the only ones who have noticed it. I'll set up a concealment array, but we need to clear out the monsters around the valley before I can get started. It'll be too dangerous to stay here unprotected."
Teng Lin looked at him, his expression thoughtful. "How do we protect this place? How do we make sure no one else comes here?"
Su Xianyu's gaze turned distant, his eyes narrowing. "We can't hide it from the powerful ones. But if we make the right preparations, we can keep it hidden from the less experienced sect elders and wanderers. I'll set up a concealment array, but it won't be enough to fool top experts."
Teng Lin nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "We'll do whatever it takes to help. What should we do?"
Su Xianyu's eyes flicked toward the valley once more. "I'll clear the surrounding monsters tonight and gather the materials for the array tomorrow. You two should go into town and stay there until I get back. Bring Chen Bo to an inn and have him rest there. Keep your distance from the valley until then."