Night Whispers by the Spring, Faint Furnace Fire

Lin Chen sat upright on a massive rock, his breathing long and steady. The guards around him were either asleep or awake, while the campfire crackled, casting its glow over one exhausted face after another. The night wind had been weakened by the valley walls, leaving only a soft whimper mingled with the murmur of the clear spring.

He had not fallen asleep. His consciousness sank into his Dantian Sea of Qi, where the phantom of an ancient furnace floated silently. The Glimmerstone he had obtained during the day was kept close to his body. A faint yet pure sensation of energy, like a tiny stream, continuously seeped into his awareness.

I have to try.

Carefully, he separated a thread of Furnace True Qi as fine as a hair. Like an extended feeler, it gently touched the Glimmerstone in his robes.

The instant his true qi came into contact with the Glimmerstone, there was no violent eruption—only a warm sense of fusion. The stardust-like points of light within the stone suddenly brightened, like sparks being kindled.

The next moment, a strange energy far purer than the world's spiritual energy, and far gentler than the energy within the Scaled Earth Dragon Beast's demon core, followed that thread of true qi into Lin Chen's meridians as though drawn by an invisible force.

This energy was not violent, yet it carried an indescribable weight and purity. The moment it entered his body, the Myriad Dao Furnace in his dantian emitted an almost inaudible hum. A faint sheen seemed to flow across the surface of its phantom. The furnace actively drew in the energy, with scarcely the slightest obstruction.

The refinement process was astonishingly fast.

The world's spiritual energy that normally required several circulation cycles to fully refine was like ice and snow beneath a blazing sun before this strange energy. With just a slight turn of the furnace, the energy was completely broken down and purified, transformed into incomparably pure true qi that merged into Lin Chen's own sea of qi.

That tiny strand of energy alone had yielded as much true qi as he would normally gain from meditating for an hour. More importantly, this energy seemed to nourish the furnace itself, making its phantom a little more solid and its operation a little smoother.

It truly was a priceless treasure. Lin Chen understood. This thing might not directly help him break through a realm, but if used to assist cultivation, improve the quality of true qi, or even accelerate the smelting of other heavenly treasures, earthly materials, or demon beast blood essence, its effects would be extraordinary.

He did not continue drawing from it. This item was precious, and its use required caution. Besides, there were too many people around; any anomaly might draw unwanted attention. He slowly withdrew that thread of true qi. The points of light inside the Glimmerstone dimmed accordingly and returned to normal.

Suppressing the joy in his heart, Lin Chen continued breathing steadily, using that trace of refined true qi to repair the minor depletion caused by the earlier battle and his suppression of the mosquito venom.

Inside the carriage, Su Ling'er was not deeply asleep. The compartment was cramped, and the air somewhat stifling. Quietly, she lifted a corner of the curtain and looked toward the figure sitting in meditation in the corner of the valley.

The campfire outlined his indistinct silhouette, leaving his expression unreadable. Yet for some reason, she felt that this senior was even more tranquil now than he had been during the day, as though he had completely melded with the rock beneath him and the surrounding night, carrying an indescribable sense of weight. Was it an illusion? Or was he truly engaged in some unknown cultivation method?

She watched in silence, the questions in her heart growing and winding around one another like creeping vines.

After a long while, Su Lie, who was keeping watch for the first half of the night, carefully inspected the surrounding perimeter once more and added several dry branches to the fire. After hesitating again and again, he finally walked toward Lin Chen.

He softened his footsteps and stopped three paces away from Lin Chen, bowing respectfully. "Senior."

Lin Chen lifted his eyelids and looked at him calmly. In the night, his eyes appeared especially deep.

"What is it?" His voice was not loud, yet it reached Su Lie's ears clearly.

Su Lie straightened, his face carrying a trace of anxiety and a request for instruction. "Senior, we have rested here for several hours. The brothers' injuries have been temporarily stabilized, and they have recovered some strength. But... Luofeng Gorge is fraught with danger. I wonder if Senior has any instructions regarding our next course of action?"

He paused, then added, "According to the original plan, we intended to pass through this area and head deeper into the gorge in search of Purple Cloud Mushrooms. But after the dangers we encountered earlier, this subordinate is worried..."

"Other than Purple Cloud Mushrooms, what else is there in the depths of the gorge?" Lin Chen interrupted, asking what concerned him more. "Do you know where stronger demon beasts may be lurking in this place? Or where there might be other valuable heavenly treasures and earthly materials?"

Su Lie froze, not expecting the senior to ask this. He carefully recalled the information the family had provided before their departure, along with some things he had heard in passing over the years.

"Reporting to Senior," he said after weighing his words, "the deeper one goes into Luofeng Gorge, the more complicated the terrain becomes, and the stranger the winds grow. It is said that the deepest part of the gorge is shrouded year-round in a peculiar energy known as Gale Sha Qi. Ordinary cultivators simply cannot approach it. As for powerful demon beasts... there are rumors that second-rank and even third-rank demon beasts appear in the depths of the gorge, such as the Wind Splitter Eagle, which excels at controlling the wind, and the immensely powerful Rockhide Lizard. But their locations shift unpredictably, making them extremely difficult to find."

After thinking for a moment, he added, "As for heavenly treasures and earthly materials, aside from Purple Cloud Mushrooms, it is said that Wind Spirit Grass may grow on sheer cliffs where Gale Sha Qi gathers. It is the main ingredient in pills that increase movement speed. There are also rumors of mineral veins, but none have been confirmed. The places are too dangerous, and few dare to investigate them."

Wind Splitter Eagles? Rockhide Lizards? Wind Spirit Grass?

Lin Chen silently committed these names to memory. Second-rank demon beasts, and perhaps even third-rank ones—these were exceedingly appealing targets to him. The Myriad Dao Furnace needed stronger energy to "feed" upon.

"In your current condition, you should not go deeper." Lin Chen made his judgment. "Rest here for another day. At dawn tomorrow, wait here while I go ahead alone to scout the way."

"Senior intends to act alone?" Su Lie was startled and hurriedly said, "How can that be? The depths of the gorge are far too dangerous. You..."

"My decision requires no questioning." Lin Chen's tone allowed no argument. "Rest here and ensure your own safety. If I have not returned after one hour, decide for yourselves whether to stay or leave."

His words were cold, even carrying a trace of heartlessness. But this arrangement best served his interests. Taking this group of burdens along would only tie his hands and feet.

Su Lie opened his mouth, but in the end swallowed the words of dissuasion. This senior had his own methods and was by no means a rash person. Since he had decided to go alone, he must have his confidence. Moreover, Su Lie vaguely sensed that the senior's interest in this gorge far exceeded the purpose of their own journey.

"Yes... this subordinate understands." Su Lie nodded with difficulty. "We will wait here for Senior's return."

Just then, a somewhat slender figure came over from the direction of the carriage, carrying a waterskin and a small bundle of dried meat wrapped in clean cloth.

It was Su Ling'er.

Her complexion was still somewhat pale, but she appeared much more alert. She walked up to the two of them, first dipping slightly in a respectful curtsy to Lin Chen, then offering him the waterskin and dried meat.

"Senior, please have some water and something to eat." Her voice was soft, with a trace of timidity, but she gathered her courage and looked at Lin Chen's face.

Lin Chen's gaze fell upon the things she offered, but he did not take them immediately.

Su Ling'er's hand trembled slightly, as though she were nervous. In a low voice, she said, "Thank you, Senior... for helping us during the day, and for... suppressing the venom in me."

Her gaze darted quickly toward Lin Chen, then immediately lowered again, as if afraid she might see an expression that would disappoint her.

Lin Chen looked at her.

The young girl's face was somewhat hazy beneath the firelight. Her eyes held curiosity, gratitude, and a trace of something difficult to name... expectation?

Three years.

Her features still faintly bore the shadow of the past, but there was now more frailty and sorrow between her brows.

It was as though a small stone had been cast into the still lake of Lin Chen's heart, sending out a ripple too faint to notice. Yet it was swiftly covered by boundless calm.

Now was not the time.

He reached out and took the waterskin, but did not touch the dried meat.

"No need." He said only two words, then unscrewed the waterskin and took a drink. The crisp spring water slid down his throat, carrying away some of the dryness.

Su Ling'er's hand holding the dried meat froze in midair, and a flicker of disappointment crossed her face. He was still... so cold.

She bit her lower lip, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end she remained silent. She merely stepped back two paces and stood beside Su Lie.

Su Lie took it all in and sighed inwardly. The young lady seemed exceptionally concerned about this senior, but the senior's attitude... was truly impossible to fathom.

After finishing the water, Lin Chen handed the waterskin back to Su Ling'er.

Su Ling'er silently accepted it.

"Get some rest early." After saying that, Lin Chen closed his eyes once more, as though their conversation had never happened. The presence around him sank back into silence, as if he had melded into the night.

Seeing this, Su Lie gave Su Ling'er a meaningful look, signaling for her to return and rest first. Su Ling'er nodded, glanced once at Lin Chen's back, then turned and silently returned to the carriage.

Su Lie also retreated to one side, though he continued pondering the senior's earlier words. Exploring ahead alone... it seemed this senior truly had other designs on Luofeng Gorge.

The night deepened.

The glow of the campfire gradually dimmed, leaving only a stubborn cluster of flames dancing at its center. The night guards changed shifts, yawning as they watched the darkness with vigilance.

The sound of the spring's flowing water seemed to grow clearer.

Lin Chen remained seated in meditation. Most of his focus was devoted to silently recovering and consolidating the slight improvement brought by the Glimmerstone's energy. At the same time, he mapped out the next day's route in his mind.

The information Su Lie had provided about the Wind Splitter Eagle and the Rockhide Lizard was valuable. As second-order demonic beasts, the energy contained within their essence blood and demon cores was far beyond that of the first-order Wind Viper Snake. If he could kill one or two of them, with the Glimmerstone's support, the Myriad Dao Furnace might receive another substantial boost.

As for those Purple Cloud Mushrooms... if they lay along the way, he did not mind lending the Su Family a hand. If they did not, then they had nothing to do with him.

His goal had always been to grow stronger. In this world fraught with dangers on every side, only sufficient strength was the foundation for survival and standing tall; only then could he peel back the layers of mist shrouding both his family and himself.

Luofeng Gorge was merely a new starting point on his path toward becoming strong.

This night beside the spring was destined not to remain entirely peaceful. Silent plans were brewing, hidden emotions were flowing, and in the distant darkness, the gorge's true dangers might have only just awakened.