The "Surprise" in Windsong Valley and the Stalkers

Wind鸣 Mountain Valley wasn't far from Nuoding City, and Lin Kun arrived at the valley entrance before dark. Just as Director Yinshu had said, the environment here was relatively safe, with only some weak Spirit Beasts around ten years old. The scenery was quite beautiful, and the wind often blew through the valley, making whistling sounds, hence the name "Wind鸣."

Lin Kun found a sheltered spot at the base of a mountain cliff to set up a temporary camp. He started a small bonfire and roasted some dried food, feeling much more relaxed.

"Finally, some peace and quiet," he muttered as he ate, planning his itinerary for the next three days. "Tomorrow morning, I'll go look for Wind Whisper Grass, just to go through the motions. Then, I'll focus mainly on practicing the new movement technique and Mental Thread. This place is spacious and undisturbed, perfect for practicing."

After eating his fill, he sat down cross-legged and began his nightly meditation. His Book Spirit floated in his sea of consciousness, absorbing the meager energy from the air. The sound of the wind in the valley seemed to have a special rhythm, making it easier for him to concentrate.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Lin Kun woke up feeling refreshed. He used his Basic Movement Technique Mastery, darting through the valley like a nimble ape. He quickly found a few pale green Wind Whisper Grass and carefully collected them, putting them into his backpack, completing his "surface-level mission."

Then, he began his real training.

He chose an open area and unleashed his Mental Thread to its limit. Ten invisible threads acted like his tentacles, sensing everything around him. At the same time, he moved with mysterious steps, quickly maneuvering between rocks and bushes, dodging the simulated "attacks" from his Mental Thread.

"Stone block three inches to the left!" "Branch sweeping from the rear right!" "Simulated ground spikes directly ahead!"

He muttered to himself, pushing the combination of his movement technique and Mental Thread to its extreme. His movements became smoother, and his reactions quicker. From a distance, one could only see a figure flitting and dodging like a phantom in the open space, moving so fast it left afterimages, yet precisely avoiding all obstacles, as if performing an elegant and dangerous dance.

However, as he practiced, perhaps too engrossed, or perhaps because the wind in the valley was too rhythmic, his movements started to change again...

With a rapid spin followed by a slide, his arm involuntarily drew a circle, and he subconsciously started humming: "Ji Ni Tai Mei~~"

As soon as he finished humming, Lin Kun stumbled and almost fell. He quickly covered his mouth, looking around nervously. "Damn! Old habits die hard! Good thing no one saw..."

Little did he know, about a hundred meters away, behind a large rock, the academy teacher sent by Director Yinshu was watching, dumbfounded, his mouth twitching. "What kind of strange movement technique is this kid practicing? And what is that humming?"

And on a large tree even further away, a scout from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was also full of questions, diligently recording on a scroll: "Target's behavior is bizarre, dancing alone in the valley, muttering to himself, possibly performing some special prayer ritual or... having an episode?"

Lin Kun adjusted his mindset and decided to practice something "normal." He drew the ordinary dagger he carried and tried to attach his Mental Thread to it before throwing it with force!

The dagger accurately hit a large tree thirty meters away, but its power was mediocre.

"Still too weak," Lin Kun muttered, running over to retrieve the dagger. He pondered, "What if, instead of controlling its flight, I use my Mental Thread to give it a second acceleration at the moment of throwing?"

He got into position again and threw the dagger with all his might, simultaneously giving the dagger's tail end a strong "push" with his Mental Thread!

The dagger's speed suddenly increased, embedding itself deeply into the tree trunk, almost up to the hilt!

"Success!" Lin Kun exclaimed with surprise. "Although it consumes a bit more energy, both the suddenness and the power have increased! I can call this move... 'Mind Push'!"

Feeling playful, he started experimenting with various quirky uses, like using his Mental Thread to simultaneously control several daggers suspended in the air (which almost tripped him), or attempting to weave a net with his Mental Thread (which nearly exhausted his mental energy)...

The two followers in the distance, watching Lin Kun's training methods—sometimes serious and focused, sometimes gesticulating wildly, sometimes nearly self-harming—had their expressions shift from confusion to numbness.

Academy Teacher: "Is this the kind of thing Director Yinshu wants me to guard? Can I request to go back?" Sect Scout: "Is my lady sure she didn't send me to the wrong person? Is this really worth paying attention to?"

Just as Lin Kun was engrossed in his various whimsical ideas, Insight Skill and his Book Spirit suddenly issued a warning!

[Warning! Abnormal energy fluctuations detected deep in the valley! Nature: Chaotic! Violent! Rapidly spreading!] [Detecting a large number of weak Spirit Beasts fleeing in terror!]

Lin Kun's expression changed. He immediately suppressed all his playful thoughts and looked vigilantly towards the depths of the valley. He saw flocks of birds startled into flight in the distance, and the ground trembled slightly, as if something terrifying was about to emerge!

"What's going on? Didn't Director Yinshu say this place was very safe?" Lin Kun felt a sense of foreboding.

Soon, he witnessed a scene that made his scalp tingle—like a tide, rats, venomous snakes, centipedes, and various other dark-attribute Spirit Beasts from ten years old were surging out from the depths of the valley in panic, numbering in the tens of thousands!

A beast tide?! Although it was only the lowest-level beast tide, the sheer numbers were enough to drown everything!

"Not good!" Lin Kun exclaimed in alarm and turned to run!

But the moment he turned, his peripheral vision caught sight of a faint, yet exceptionally pure white light flickering behind the beast tide, completely out of place with the chaotic and violent aura around it!

What was that? His Book Spirit transmitted an extremely eager thought!

[Detected... high-purity... mental energy source... extremely rare...]

Opportunity? Or a trap?

Lin Kun's steps halted. Should he flee immediately for safety? Or risk a look at what was attracting his Martial Soul?

The two followers also noticed the abnormality. The academy teacher's face grew serious, and he immediately prepared to fire a signal flare for help. The sect scout quickly recorded the situation, preparing to report back.

All eyes were focused on the surging beast tide and that faint white light.

Lin Kun gritted his teeth. "Damn it! Fortune favors the bold! The timid starve! I'll just take a look!"

He used his movement technique, swimming against the fleeing beast tide, cautiously sneaking towards the direction of the white light.

The true danger and opportunity seemed to have arrived suddenly at this very moment.