The thick, silvery mist of the Misty Forest swallowed Lin Mo whole the moment he stepped off the plateau, its cold tendrils wrapping around his body and muffling the roars and clangs of the chaotic battle behind him. His chest burned with every ragged breath, and the dull ache in his arms lingered from blocking Elder Wang’s Foundation Establishment strike, but the golden spiritual wisp in his palm pulsed steadily, pouring warm, pure energy into his meridians to mend his injuries bit by bit. His Body Lightening Step remained activated, his feet barely touching the moss-covered ground as he darted between towering ancient trees, their gnarled branches twisting like giant claws through the mist.

Behind him, the furious snarl of Elder Wang cut through the fog, growing fainter but still laced with murderous intent. “Lin Mo, you insignificant brat! I will hunt you to the ends of the Misty Forest, tear out your immortal root, and make you suffer a fate worse than death!” The sound of spiritual energy exploding and the Spirit-Eating Beast’s pained roars echoed intermittently; the beast, wounded but ferocious, had latched onto Elder Wang’s leg, refusing to let go easily, buying Lin Mo precious time to escape. The greedy faction disciples, too, had turned on each other mid-chase, fighting over the scraps of spiritual energy left by the altar and the fallen inner sect disciples, their greed overriding their loyalty to Elder Wang.

Lin Mo did not slow down until he could no longer hear the sounds of battle. He ducked into a narrow cave hidden behind a curtain of hanging vines, its entrance concealed by dense foliage and thick mist—perfect for temporary seclusion. He pressed his back against the cold stone wall, sliding down to sit cross-legged, and finally relaxed his grip on the golden spiritual wisp. The radiant energy hovered above his palm, glowing brighter in the dim cave, its power intertwined with the Six Paths Immortal Root in his dantian, which hummed with a steady, ancient rhythm, no longer suppressed by the Spirit Vein Concealment Art.

His cultivation had stabilized at the late stage of Qi Refining, but he could feel the latent power of the immortal root still untapped, and the altar’s spiritual wisp held a vast reservoir of celestial energy waiting to be fully refined. He knew he could not rest for long—Elder Wang would eventually break free from the Spirit-Eating Beast and the chaotic disciples, and his spiritual perception would sweep the forest relentlessly. But for now, he had to seize this fleeting chance to consolidate his gains and temper his newfound strength.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Mo closed his eyes and channeled the Six Paths Immortal Root’s power, guiding the golden spiritual wisp into his dantian. The energy flowed smoothly through his meridians, no longer clashing with his own spiritual power but merging with it, purifying his cultivation base and strengthening every vein in his body. The faint pain in his arms vanished completely, and his exhausted spirit felt refreshed, as if he had slept for days. He could sense his control over spiritual energy growing sharper, his perception of the surrounding mist and tree spirits expanding far beyond that of an ordinary late-stage Qi Refining disciple.

Outside the cave, the mist swirled unnaturally for a moment, a faint trace of gentle spiritual energy brushing past the entrance—Elder Qing’s silent protection, ensuring no wandering disciples or demonic beasts stumbled upon his hiding spot. Lin Mo’s lips curled into a faint, grateful smile; he knew the elder was watching over him, but he also understood he could not rely on others forever. This trial was his fight, his chance to break free from the shackles of being a weak outer sect disciple.

Hours passed, and the golden spiritual wisp was fully refined, its power now a part of his Six Paths Immortal Root. Lin Mo opened his eyes, a faint golden light flashing in his pupils before fading away. His aura was calm but profound, no longer the flustered, pressured aura of a fugitive, but the steady, determined aura of a cultivator who had faced death and emerged stronger. He reached into his waist pouch, touching the Foundation Establishment Elixir and the forbidden scroll hidden inside, feeling a newfound confidence surge in his chest.

A low, menacing growl suddenly echoed from outside the cave, jolting Lin Mo to his feet. A low-level demonic beast, drawn by the faint spiritual energy leaking from the cave, stood at the entrance, baring its sharp fangs. Without hesitation, Lin Mo raised his hand, a wisp of golden spiritual energy coiling around his fingers—far more condensed and powerful than before. He flicked his wrist, and the energy shot forward, piercing the demonic beast’s forehead in an instant, killing it silently. He did not even flinch; this was the change the immortal root and the altar’s treasure had brought him—he