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At daybreak.

Zhou Qiubai was already packed and ready to leave. His baggage was so meager it was almost pitiful.

Two freshly washed changes of clothes, nearly depleted rations, and half a flask of water.

But those were not what mattered. What mattered were the medicinal herbs worth a hundred gold pieces and nearly impossible to obtain.

White Clothes Sword went back into its sheath. Zhou Qiubai turned for one last look at the secluded valley that had once saved his life.

"It's time to go."

He turned resolutely and headed upstream along the underground river. Apart from the terrifying cliff, this river seemed to be the only path that could lead him back to the outside world.

The river wound between rocky walls as the light gradually dimmed.

After traveling several dozen zhang, the passage suddenly opened up.

Zhou Qiubai pushed aside the vines and narrowed his eyes as he adjusted to the outside light.

He had made it.

Looking back at the hidden cave entrance, the vines silently fell back into place, completely concealing it.

Had he not come out from here himself, he never would have imagined that this was a secret path into such a deep valley.

Zhou Qiubai silently memorized its location.

Perhaps this place would become an important stronghold for him someday.

Of course, by then, those two Spirit Beasts might no longer be his opponents.

Then he turned around and faced the unfamiliar forest.

Next, he needed to find somewhere safe to properly absorb that precious Earth Vein Lingzhi.

Three days later, in an unnamed mountain range a hundred li away.

Zhou Qiubai found a natural cave halfway up the mountain. Its entrance was well hidden, and a clear spring trickled from a crack in the rocks, forming a small pool like a paradise beyond the world.

"This will do." He nodded in satisfaction.

After carefully inspecting the cave and confirming there were no traces of Spirit Beasts, he set up several simple warning devices at the entrance.

Only after finishing all that did he find a flat spot deep within the cave and sit down cross-legged.

He gently took out the Earth Vein Lingzhi from his robes.

A ten-thousand-year one!

No wonder those two thousand-year Spirit Beasts had guarded it so tightly.

But why had those two not eaten it themselves after waiting so long?

He did not consume it immediately. Instead, he first circulated his cultivation method and adjusted himself to his best condition.

Soul Power flowed through his meridians as both the Listen to Rain soul skill and Dustless soul skill activated. He carefully sensed every movement within a hundred zhang.

Once he confirmed that the surroundings were safe, he took out one piece of the lingzhi.

Rather than swallowing the entire plant at once, he chose to take it piece by piece.

The Earth Vein Lingzhi's medicinal nature was gentle, but if he absorbed all of it at once, his current cultivation might not withstand it.

The first piece melted the instant it entered his mouth.

Zhou Qiubai clearly felt the hidden injuries within him, still unhealed, rapidly recovering under the nourishment of that energy.

New callus grew in the gaps of his fractured bones, the damaged walls of his meridians became tougher, and even the tiny injuries he himself had never noticed gradually healed.

This was true foundation strengthening and vital essence replenishment.

An hour later, the first piece's medicinal power had been completely absorbed.

Without resting, he took out the second piece.

This time, its medicinal power began to strike at his bottleneck.

Before the barrier at the peak of level twenty-eight, the Earth Vein Lingzhi's vast yet gentle medicinal power caused his Soul Power to rise naturally.

Like water flowing where the channel had been formed, it happened as it should.

Boom—

Something within his body seemed to break open softly.

Level twenty-nine.

And it was still rising.

Only thirty percent of the second piece's medicinal power had been expended. The remaining seventy percent continued nourishing his newly broken-through meridians and acupoints, stabilizing his level twenty-nine foundation.

Zhou Qiubai did not rush for further progress. He stopped cultivating and carefully savored the changes brought by his new realm.

His Soul Power was more solid, his senses sharper, and his control over his body increasingly precise.

"No wonder it's called a heavenly treasure..." Zhou Qiubai sighed. Its effects were far beyond those of ordinary medicinal herbs.

Though it could not compare to an Immortal Herb, it was not far behind.

He rested for an hour, only taking out the third piece after his condition had fully stabilized.

This time, his goal was clear: level thirty.

The transition from Soul Grandmaster to Soul Elder was the first major threshold on a Soul Master's path of cultivation.

Level thirty meant one could absorb a thousand-year Soul Ring, and it meant a qualitative leap in strength.

But Zhou Qiubai was in no hurry.

Because he already had a thousand-year Soul Ring.

He still took it one piece at a time, proceeding steadily and carefully.

His consciousness sank into his body. He skillfully guided the medicinal power accumulated from six pieces of lingzhi, sending it surging like a tide toward the level-thirty barrier alongside his Soul Power.

There was no violent impact, no earthshaking commotion.

Only a breakthrough that came naturally.

A soft chime rang out within his body.

Level thirty, Soul Elder.

He opened his eyes. The sharp gleam in them was restrained, yet his aura had become deeper than before.

But he did not stop.

The seventh piece, the final piece of lingzhi, went down.

This piece was not for a breakthrough, but solely for consolidation.

The Earth Vein Lingzhi's remaining medicinal power circulated through his body, completely stabilizing his newly attained realm and forging his level-thirty foundation as solid as rock.

When the last trace of medicinal power was absorbed, Zhou Qiubai let out a long breath.

His breath condensed in the air like an arrow and did not disperse for a long while before slowly fading.

He stood and stretched his limbs.

His injuries had completely healed. His strength had reached level thirty Soul Elder, while some of the Earth Vein Lingzhi's medicinal power remained deposited deep in his meridians, to be released gradually in his future cultivation.

The gains from this seclusion far exceeded his expectations.

"It's time to hunt my third Soul Ring."

Zhou Qiubai looked toward the cave entrance, his gaze sharp as a blade.

A level-thirty Soul Elder needed a thousand-year Soul Ring.

And the nearest place where thousand-year Spirit Beasts gathered was...

Star Dou Forest.

Seven days later, on the outskirts of Star Dou Forest.

Five people—three men and two women—were all Soul Elders around level thirty.

"We really got lucky this time. That Wind Wolf-Beast may be troublesome, but the quality of its Soul Ring is absolutely first-rate!"

"Brother Wang, once you absorb it, you'll be a Soul Elder. You have to treat us to a meal!"

"No problem! Once we're out of the forest, we'll put on a feast at Spring Breeze Pavilion!"

Zhou Qiubai lay hidden in the canopy thirty zhang away, quietly watching.

This team was fairly strong and coordinated well, but they were far too ostentatious.

They were making a fire to roast meat in Star Dou Forest without keeping watch, and they were so weak besides.

They were complete idiots.

Sure enough, before the time it took an incense stick to burn, the aura of Spirit Beasts appeared nearby.

Three thousand-year speed-type Spirit Beasts, skilled at stealth and coordinated attacks.

The soul-hunting team had not noticed yet and continued drinking, laughing, and chatting.

Zhou Qiubai hesitated for a moment before finally picking up a pebble and flicking it lightly with his finger.

The pebble struck the iron pot beside the fire, producing a clear clang.

"Who's there?" The middle-aged man at the head of the group rose alertly.

At that moment, three Shadow Wolves lunged out of the shadows!

The battle erupted in an instant.

Zhou Qiubai did not watch any longer and quietly left.

He had already warned them. Whether they lived or died next was their own affair.

On the road of the martial world, everyone had to be responsible for themselves.

The night passed without incident.

He rested on the branch of an ancient tree, keeping Listen to Rain half activated.

In the morning, he walked through the forest with footsteps as light as fallen leaves.