Qin Mo remained silent after Bai Xue's visit. The weight of his thoughts was almost tangible, like a burden that forced him to stay alert.
Three months.
That was the time he had before the Heavenly City Tournament, the event where Ye Fang, the true protagonist, would make his grand debut. In the original story, Qin Mo would participate with blind confidence in his mediocre talent, only to be publicly humiliated by Ye Fang in front of the entire city's elite.
But now, things were different.
He couldn't afford to sit back and wait for his defeat. He needed a plan, a way to strengthen himself quickly.
He sat cross-legged on the bed and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm in his mind. Then, he began to sift through the memories of the other soul with which he had merged.
Advanced techniques.
Cultivation principles that defied everything he knew.
Fatal mistakes that ordinary cultivators made without even realizing it.
Each fragment of knowledge was like a piece of a puzzle that slowly began to fit together. His breathing deepened as he absorbed all this information, as if he were unearthing a treasure that had been hidden deep within his mind.
But there was a problem.
"My talent is still trash," he muttered, frowning in frustration.
In the novel, Qin Mo didn't have an exceptional physique or a powerful lineage. His progress in cultivation was solely due to his clan's resources, but his potential was mediocre compared to prodigies like Bai Xue or Ye Fang.
If he wanted to reach Ye Fang's level in just three months, he needed more than just techniques. He needed a real advantage, something that would put him ahead of everyone else.
"First, let's assess my current state," he said to himself, closing his eyes again.
He channeled his Qi, allowing his consciousness to flow through every corner of his body. His current cultivation level was...
☯ Spiritual Foundation, Stage 5.
A decent level, but insufficient.
If he stayed like this, Ye Fang would surpass him effortlessly during the tournament. He needed to reach at least the Golden Core stage in three months, something that seemed almost impossible for someone with his limited talent.
Unless...
The memories in his mind rearranged themselves, as if being organized by an invisible force. Suddenly, a crucial piece of information emerged, clear and sharp.
"The Black Moon Treasure."
In the novel, there was an ancient relic sealed in a secret cave near the city. Ye Fang would find it in two months, giving him an overwhelming advantage in the tournament.
But now, Qin Mo knew exactly where it was and how to obtain it before him.
"Hah..." A sharp smile appeared on his face, filled with determination and a touch of irony. "Sorry, Ye Fang, but this fortuitous encounter will be mine."
The moon hung high in the sky, casting its silvery light over the quiet streets of the city. Qin Mo slipped stealthily out of the Qin Manor, wrapped in a black cloak that concealed him in the shadows. Every step he took was careful, calculated, avoiding the guards patrolling the streets. He couldn't afford to be seen, especially not by anyone from his family. Any questions or suspicions could ruin his plans.
The Black Moon Cave was hidden in the Misty Mountains, an hour's journey from the city. According to the memories now residing in his mind, Ye Fang would find the cave thanks to a mysterious voice guiding him from the depths of his soul. There, he would discover an invaluable treasure and an ancient cultivation technique that would propel him to unimaginable levels of power.
But this time, things would be different.
Qin Mo moved with agility, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, but his body wasn't used to such exertion. One of the many flaws of his original self was that he had never trained his endurance, relying solely on pills and his family's resources to progress.
"Tsk, what a waste of potential," he thought, gritting his teeth as he forced his body to keep going. Every muscle ached, but he couldn't stop. Not now.
After what felt like an eternity, he reached the Misty Mountains. The air was thick, heavy with fog, and the ground was covered in twisted roots and sharp rocks that made progress difficult.
"The cave should be... around here," he muttered to himself, recalling the details from the novel.
Finally, he found it.
A narrow crack, almost invisible between two massive boulders, hidden behind a curtain of overgrown vegetation. Without prior knowledge of the story, no one would have suspected that this place held something important.
Qin Mo didn't hesitate. With one last glance around, he entered the cave.
The interior was cold and damp, with a strange blue glow illuminating the stone walls. As he ventured deeper, a shiver ran down his spine.
"...The spiritual energy here is denser than normal," he murmured, confirming he was in the right place.
He pressed further into the cave, following the blue glow, until he reached a vast underground chamber. In the center, floating in the air as if defying the laws of nature, was a dark pearl emitting a faint, pulsating light.
☯ The Black Moon Treasure.
Qin Mo took a step forward, but at that moment, the air in the cave trembled.
"Intruder…"
An ancient, resonant voice filled the space, causing Qin Mo's heart to race. In the novel, Ye Fang would face a guardian spirit that would test his resolve. If he failed, he would die. If he succeeded, he would obtain the treasure.
But Qin Mo already knew what to do.
He stood tall and calm, looking into the darkness from where the voice emanated, and said firmly:
"I am no thief. I have come to claim what is mine."
The cave shook, and two golden eyes glowed in the darkness, watching him intently.
"Are you worthy?" the voice asked, filled with skepticism.
Qin Mo smiled faintly, small but full of determination.
"Test me and see."
The golden eyes in the darkness blinked slowly, as if assessing Qin Mo with a gaze that pierced through his very being. The air in the cave grew heavy, almost suffocating, as if the walls themselves were watching and judging.
"Very well…" The guardian's voice resonated, deep and ancient, like thunder rumbling in the distance. "If you wish to claim the Black Moon Treasure, you must prove yourself worthy."
Qin Mo remained unfazed. He knew this trial wasn't just about brute strength or physical power. In the novel, Ye Fang had overcome this challenge not through combat skill but through unyielding willpower.
"Go ahead," Qin Mo replied, his voice steady and confident, leaving no room for doubt.
The shadows in the cave suddenly came to life, twisting and writhing as if they were alive. From the darkness emerged a tall, slender figure, draped in a black robe that billowed without wind. It had no face, only a dark void where its features should have been, making it all the more unsettling.
"The first trial…" the figure whispered, its voice cold and piercing. "Fear."
Before Qin Mo could react, the cave distorted around him.
The ground vanished beneath his feet, and suddenly, he was no longer in the cave.
He was back in the Qin Manor.
But something was terribly wrong.
Around him, dark shadows moved like specters, whispering and laughing cruelly. He heard the voices of his clan's elders, cold and filled with disdain.
"Qin Mo is a disgrace!" one mocked, his voice dripping with scorn.
"He can't compare to Ye Fang. What a waste of resources!" another laughed, as if his existence were a joke.
Then, he saw her.
Bai Xue.
She stood beside Ye Fang, her gaze cold and distant.
"I was never yours," she said, her tone sharp enough to cut like a blade. "You were just a pathetic obstacle."
Qin Mo felt a burning anger rise in his chest, but it wasn't the blind rage of before. This time, it was something deeper, more controlled.
This was the scene of his humiliation in the novel, the moment when his former self would have fallen into despair, defeated by his own fear of failure.
But this Qin Mo was not the same.
"Is this supposed to scare me?" he said aloud, his calm voice resonating in the air.
The shadows froze. Ye Fang and Bai Xue looked at him in surprise, as if they couldn't believe his reaction.
Qin Mo smiled coldly, his expression filled with determination.
"What a boring farce."
The scene began to crumble. The shadows cracked like glass, disintegrating into pieces.
"NO!" the faceless figure screamed, its voice filled with frustration. "You must fear!"
But Qin Mo had already won.
He was not afraid.
The false world collapsed completely, and suddenly, Qin Mo was back in the cave.
The faceless figure staggered back, as if struck by an invisible force. Qin Mo had defeated it without raising a single fist.
"…Interesting…" the guardian spirit whispered, its voice now weaker but still filled with intrigue. "You have passed the first trial."
The golden eyes glowed once more, illuminating the darkness of the cave.
"But two more remain."
Qin Mo smiled, his expression a mix of confidence and defiance.
"Bring them on."