arted into the dense forest, his Body Lightening Step now enhanced by Foundation Establishment energy, moving faster than a fleeting shadow, leaving no footprints or spiritual scent behind.

Not a moment too soon. Three figures in black sect robes burst into the valley a breath later, their spiritual senses sweeping the clearing aggressively. They were inner sect disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect, all at the mid Foundation Establishment realm, handpicked by Elder Wang to hunt Lin Mo down. Leading them was a tall, stern man with a scar across his cheek, named Zhao Feng, a ruthless cultivator who had long been loyal to Elder Wang.

“His spiritual energy was here just now,” Zhao Feng growled, his eyes scanning the valley with hatred. “Elder Wang said the boy is only a Qi Refining trash, but the energy signature here is pure Foundation Establishment. Did he really break through?”

One of the other disciples knelt down, placing a hand on the ground, his spiritual sense probing the earth. “Elder Zhao, the traces are fresh, but they’re fading fast. He’s using a high-level movement technique, and his spiritual energy is strange—mixed with six different auras, unlike any cultivation method I’ve ever seen.”

Zhao Feng’s scarred face twisted with fury. “No matter what tricks he’s used, he’s just a runaway disciple. The forest is surrounded by our men; he can’t escape. Split up, but stay within spiritual sense range. If you find him, don’t engage alone—send a signal immediately. Elder Wang wants him alive, but if he resists, kill him on the spot.”

The three disciples split up, rushing into the forest in different directions, their spiritual energy flaring as they chased after Lin Mo’s fading trail.

Meanwhile, Lin Mo moved swiftly through the trees, his spiritual sense spread wide, tracking every move of the pursuers. His Six Paths Immortal Root allowed him to sense not just their positions, but their weaknesses—Zhao Feng’s spiritual energy was rough and unrefined, his meridians blocked in a few spots; the other two disciples lacked speed, their movement techniques clumsy compared to his. But he knew he could not fight all three at once. He was a newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivator, while they were seasoned mid-stage experts, backed by the full power of the sect.

He needed to lead them away, to split them up and defeat them one by one.

Lin Mo altered his course, heading toward a treacherous part of the Misty Forest known as the Ghostly Thicket—a maze of twisted, thorny trees that drained spiritual energy, filled with low-level demonic beasts that attacked any intruder. It was a dangerous place for ordinary cultivators, but with his connection to the six realms, he could navigate it easily, using Spirit’s energy to calm the demonic beasts and Earth’s energy to hide his path.

As he ran, he thought of Elder Qing in the observation tower. The old elder had sensed his Six Paths Immortal Root awakening the night before; would he send help, or would he let Lin Mo fend for himself to test his strength? Lin Mo had no way of knowing. He could only rely on himself, on the power he had fought so hard to gain.

Deep in the forest, the first of the disciples caught up to him, a young man with a longsword drawn, charging toward Lin Mo with a roar. “Lin Mo! Surrender now, and you’ll die a quick death!”

Lin Mo stopped running, turning to face the disciple, a cold smile on his face. This was his chance to test his Foundation Establishment power combined with the Six Realms technique. He raised his hand, and green Spirit energy surged forth, summoning a wall of thorny vines that erupted from the ground, wrapping around the disciple’s legs and trapping him in place. Before the disciple could break free, red Demon energy ignited in Lin Mo’s palm, forming a small fireball that he hurled at the man’s sword hand.

The disciple screamed in pain, his sword clattering to the ground, his hand burned black. Before he could react, Lin Mo appeared in front of him in a flash, his palm glowing with golden Heaven energy, striking the man’s chest lightly. The disciple’s body flew backward, crashing into a tree and sliding to the ground, unconscious, his spiritual energy dispersed. Lin Mo did not kill him—he had no desire to needlessly slaughter sect disciples, but he would not show mercy to those who tried to kill him.

He erased the unconscious disciple’s spiritual sense with a wave of his hand, ensuring he could not send a signal, then continued deeper into the thicket, leading Zhao Feng and the remaining disciple toward a dead end.

Back at the Azure Cloud Sect, in the observation tower, Elder Qing stood by the window, his eyes fixed on the Misty Forest, the cloud-patterned token in his hand glowing brightly. The token pulsed with the six-colored light of Lin Mo’s immortal root, showing him every move Lin Mo made—his breakthrough, his escape, his defeat of the sect disciple.

The elder stroked his long white beard, his eyes filled with approval and a hint of worry. “To break through to Foundation Establishment under pursuit, and defeat a mid-stage inner sect disciple with ease… the Six Paths Immortal Root is even more extraordinary than the ancient texts say.” He paused, his gaze turning toward Elder Wang’s peak, where a dark, furious aura lingered. “But Wang Chong will not stop until he kills the boy. He fears the Six Paths power, fears that the boy will uncover his secrets.”

Elder Qing closed his hand around the token, his expression hardening. “I cannot intervene directly—not yet. The sect’s elders are divided, and Wang Chong has too many allies. But I can send a small gift… to ensure the boy survives this trial.” He waved his hand, and a tiny, glowing green talisman appeared in his palm, inscribed with ancient runes. With a soft whisper, the talisman vanished, shooting toward the Misty Forest at lightning speed, heading straight for Lin Mo.