Makoto and Airi continued their careful journey through the Moonlit Forest, their surroundings becoming increasingly foreboding as they approached the rumored location of the Lunar Essence. The air was thick with tension, the spiritual energy in the atmosphere so dense it seemed to slow their movements.
"The Lunar Essence…" Airi murmured, her tone filled with awe and trepidation. "It's said to be an artifact born of the moon's blessing. Its restorative properties are legendary, capable of healing even the most grievous injuries."
Makoto's heart stirred. Restorative properties? Could this be the key to fully repairing my shattered meridians?
As they drew closer to the essence's location, Makoto and Airi found themselves at the edge of a large clearing bathed in a silvery glow. At the center, the Lunar Essence hovered above an ancient altar, its radiant light pulsing softly, illuminating the area like a second moon.
The clearing was already occupied by powerful cultivators from across the dynasty:
The Azure Sun Sect, Makoto's sect, with its top three core disciples and an elder presiding over their group. The core disciples stood tall, exuding an aura of superiority, while the elder surveyed the scene with a stern expression.
The Ethereal Blossom Sect, renowned for its all-female disciples, had also arrived. Their leader, a dignified woman with a calm demeanor, kept her disciples close.
Members of the Crimson Blade Sect and the Emerald Flame Sect, both third-class sects, waited in tense anticipation.
The four great families of the dynasty, with their young prodigies, radiated arrogance as they stood apart from the sects.
Makoto's eyes narrowed as he observed the factions. This is no ordinary treasure hunt. The Lunar Essence has drawn the attention of the most powerful groups in the region.
As they lingered at the edge of the clearing, a senior disciple from the Silver Blossom Sect noticed Airi and signaled for her to join their group.
"That's Senior Sister Lin," Airi whispered. "I should go. If I stay with you any longer, it'll draw unnecessary suspicion."
Makoto nodded, though he couldn't shake a sense of unease. "Be careful, Airi. These people won't hesitate to use violence to secure the Lunar Essence."
Airi hesitated, her gaze softening. "You too, Makoto. And… thank you for accompanying me this far."
She quickly made her way toward her sect, leaving Makoto hidden in the shadows of the forest.
Makoto's gaze shifted to his sect. The elder of the Azure Sun Sect, a man of imposing stature, stood at the forefront, his expression unreadable. The core disciples flanked him, their spiritual energy radiating an aura of authority.
One of the core disciples, Shen Wei, glanced in Makoto's direction. His lip curled in disdain as he muttered to his companions, "An outer disciple skulking about like a rat. He doesn't even deserve to be here."
The others chuckled, their laughter filled with scorn. Makoto clenched his fists but remained silent.
The Moonlit Forest trembled under the spiritual pressure emanating from the gathered cultivators and the Lunar Essence, whose silvery glow pulsed in waves. The air was thick with anticipation as representatives from the four great families and the three third-class sects, including the Azure Sun Sect, the Emerald Flame Sect, and the Crimson Blade Sect, waited for the event to unfold.
Makoto remained concealed near the edge of the battlefield, observing with a look of calm disdain. He glanced at the gathered cultivators, his sharp eyes dissecting their techniques and formations.
"These so-called powerhouses of the modern era..." Makoto mused, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Their techniques are but watered-down versions of the ancient arts. They're fighting with broken swords, unaware of the true edge they lack."
The ground trembled as an ear-splitting roar shattered the tense silence. From the depths of the forest emerged a massive Moonlit Direwolf, its silvery fur shimmering with a cold light. The spiritual energy it emitted was suffocating, its presence alone enough to send shockwaves through the gathered cultivators.
Following the Direwolf, a horde of smaller spirit beasts poured into the clearing, ranging from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation levels. Their glowing eyes reflected a primal hunger.
The elder of the Azure Sun Sect, standing at the forefront of his disciples, shouted, "A peak Nascent Soul-level beast! This won't be easy. Focus on the lesser beasts; leave the Direwolf to the senior masters!"
The disciples of the various sects and families immediately sprang into action, engaging the smaller beasts in fierce combat.
The elder of the Azure Sun Sect, alongside the patriarchs of the great families and the leaders of the Ethereal Blossom Sect and the Crimson Blade Sect, moved to confront the Direwolf.
Makoto watched with an appraising gaze as the battle unfolded.
The elder of the Azure Sun Sect unleashed the Blazing Sun Palm, a technique designed to overwhelm opponents with sheer heat and force.
The Emerald Flame Sect's leader utilized the Verdant Pyre Arts, summoning a green inferno that burned fiercely despite the damp forest air.
The patriarch of one of the great families displayed a profound mastery of Sky Cleaving Swordsmanship, his blade carving arcs of silver light through the air.
The leader of the Ethereal Blossom Sect moved with unparalleled grace, her Moon Petal Dance creating a whirlwind of razor-sharp energy.
Makoto scoffed softly. "All this wasted energy. If only they knew the original techniques, this fight would already be over."
The combined might of the powerhouses seemed to push the Direwolf back, but Makoto's trained eye noticed the beast's calculated movements. "It's testing their strength. They're walking into its trap."
As the fight raged on, Makoto's mind dissected every movement and technique. His ancient knowledge allowed him to see through the weaknesses in each method.
"The Blazing Sun Palm? A flawed imitation of the original Solar King Fist. Too much force, not enough precision."
"The Sky Cleaving Swordsmanship? They've lost the true essence of its flow. It's no wonder their strikes lack lethality."
"And the Moon Petal Dance? Beautiful, but fragile. It'll crumble under sustained pressure."
Makoto's disdain deepened as he realized how far the world had fallen from the heights of cultivation during his era.
Makoto's musings were interrupted when a smaller Core Formation-level beast lunged at him. Without hesitation, he sidestepped gracefully, delivering a precise strike to its vital point. The beast collapsed instantly, its spiritual energy dissipating.
"I don't have time for distractions," he muttered, his eyes fixed on the altar where the Lunar Essence hovered.
He moved through the battlefield with practiced ease, avoiding unnecessary confrontations while continuing to observe the chaos around him.
The powerhouses began to gain the upper hand, forcing the Direwolf to retreat slightly. But Makoto's sharp intuition told him the battle was far from over.
The Direwolf let out another earth-shattering roar, and the atmosphere grew colder. Its fur bristled with silver light as it unleashed a devastating technique: Lunar Howl, a sonic wave infused with concentrated spiritual energy.
The attack sent shockwaves through the battlefield, forcing even the most powerful cultivators to falter. The elder of the Azure Sun Sect barely managed to deflect the brunt of the attack with a barrier of blazing energy.
Makoto, hidden in the shadows, smirked. "A classic tactic of the Moonlit Direwolf—feigning weakness before unleashing its trump card. If they don't adjust their strategies, they'll lose more than their pride today."
Amid the chaos, Makoto's attention returned to the altar. The Lunar Essence began to pulse more violently, as if reacting to the intense spiritual energy in the air.
"This is my chance," he whispered, his gaze narrowing.
Using the chaos of the battlefield as cover, Makoto moved closer to the altar. He avoided drawing attention, his movements precise and deliberate. As he neared the altar, the radiance of the Lunar Essence enveloped him, its restorative energy washing over him.
Makoto hesitated for only a moment before reaching out to the Lunar Essence. The moment his hand made contact, a surge of energy flooded his body.
The process was agonizing, but Makoto endured it with gritted teeth. His meridians, long shattered, began to repair themselves completely. The energy flowed through him like a river, restoring his body to a state it hadn't known in centuries.
When the process ended, Makoto felt a surge of power unlike anything he'd experienced since his reincarnation. His meridians were whole, his Qi flowing freely.
He clenched his fists, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. "Finally, a step closer to regaining my former strength."
As Makoto retreated into the shadows, the battle continued to rage. The major powers pressed their assault on the Direwolf, their combined efforts finally driving the beast back. The Direwolf, sensing it could no longer protect the Lunar Essence, let out one last defiant roar before retreating into the depths of the forest.
The factions gathered around the altar, only to find the Lunar Essence gone. Confusion and frustration rippled through the crowd.
Makoto, hidden among the trees, watched with a faint smirk. "Let them squabble over the scraps. The true treasure has already served its purpose."