The perilous and eerie depths of the ancient forest were drenched in a torrential downpour, with lightning streaking across the sky and thunder rumbling ominously.


    In a murky pool, a young man floated lifelessly.


    Hey on his back, his delicate features softened by the relentless rain that pounded his face, washing away the crimson blood that had seeped from his lips.


    The blood, mingling with the rain, dripped from his finely chiseled chin into the filthy pool below.


    The water of the pool was as dark as ink, exuding a pungent, rotting stench that even the heavy rain could not dispel.


    On the nearby shore, a massive ck serpenty gutted, half of its body submerged in the pool and the other half sprawled on the bank. It seemed as though it had been trying to escape but had sumbed to its fatal injuries midway.


    The rain grew heavier, and the fierce wind swayed the towering trees surrounding the area. Countless leaves were torn from their branches, only to be mercilessly pounded into the ground or the pool, where they floated on the surface, spinning slightly, much like Shen Jizhi himself.


    The wooden hairpin Shen Jizhi had used to tie his hair had snapped during his battle with the ck Rock Serpent. Now, his long, ink-ck hair spread across the water’s surface like aquatic weeds.


    Shen Jizhi’s condition was dire.


    His body, d in ck robes, had been corroded by the serpent’s venom, leaving much of his flesh ravaged. His breathing grew shallower and weaker.


    His consciousness began to waver.


    For a moment, he felt as though he was looking down at himself, seeing his own body floating in the pool and the surroundings around him.


    He had only the faintest trace of strength left within him.


    Though his eyes remained closed, his fingers twitched slightly beneath the water’s surface.


    A wisp of multicolored spiritual energy, like a flickering candle in the wind, trembled as it made its way to the serpent’s corpse. It slipped into the open cavity and drew out a demon core, gently encased in the serpent’s flesh.


    The core was slowly brought to Shen Jizhi, who consumed it.


    The moment it entered his mouth, it dissolved, unleashing an immense surge of spiritual energy that rushed toward his dantian!


    The wind around him grew even fiercer.


    Suddenly, a bolt of lightning as thick as a fist shot down from the ink-ck clouds, striking Shen Jizhi in the pool.


    The muddy water exploded like fireworks, and the force of the lightning shattered every meridian in Shen Jizhi’s body. Yet, under the influence of the demon core and the cultivation technique within him, his meridians began to reform, only to be shattered again by the lightning… This cycle of destruction and renewal repeated endlessly, bringing unbearable pain.


    …


    At dawn, the wind ceased, and the rain stopped. A ray of morning light pierced through the branches, illuminating the raindrops on the leaves, making them sparkle like the dazzling golden core within Shen Jizhi.


    Shen Jizhi sat in the muddy pool, examining his golden core.


    There was something unusual about it.


    In one corner of the core, a small multicolored stone was embedded, emanating the aura of his master, Gu Shan.


    Shen Jizhi had always had an impable memory, recalling even the smallest details from his childhood. Yet, he had no recollection of his master ever mentioning this multicolored stone.


    What was going on?


    Shen Jizhi focused his mind, probing the stone with his thoughts.


    The stone remained inert.


    After some consideration, Shen Jizhi decided to set the matter aside for now. He would ask his master about it once he returned.


    The sound of water sshing echoed as Shen Jizhi rose from the pool and made his way to the shore.


    Frowning, he cast numerous cleansing spells on himself, finally feeling somewhat relieved.


    The golden core tribtion from the previous night had wreaked havoc on the surroundings.


    The massive serpent’s corpse had been charred by the lightning, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation.


    Shen Jizhi crouched down, sifting through the ckened remains of the serpent, but found nothing of value.


    He closed his eyes, rubbing his temples, his expression grim.


    It had been a year and a half since Jian Huan went into seclusion. A month ago, she had survived her golden core tribtion, but she had yet to emerge.


    Shen Jizhi had asked the sect leader about it, and the leader had exined that it was likely Jian Huan was refining her core manifestation.


    Afterward, Shen Jizhi had taken on a mission from the Immortal Storage Tower to hunt the ck Rock Serpent in this forest, with a bounty of 150,000 spirit stones.


    The ck Rock Serpent was an incredibly formidable opponent, and Shen Jizhi had spent a month here, narrowly escaping death the previous night after a fierce battle.


    Now, the most valuable part of the serpent, its demon core, had been consumed by him, and its body had been destroyed by his tribtion. This trip had yielded nothing but his sessful advancement to the golden core stage.


    However, he had spent a considerable amount on travel expenses and had lost some small spiritual tools during the hunt, totaling over 2,000 spirit stones.


    Shen Jizhi was unwilling to return empty-handed.


    This forest was home to other, even more powerful beasts.


    Now that he had reached the golden core stage, he could take the risk.


    A monthter, as thenterns lit up the night, Shen Jizhi emerged from the Immortal Storage Tower.


    The Approaching Immortal City was bustling with activity, the streets adorned with colorful decorations, and the faces of the people, young and old, were filled with joy.


    Shen Jizhi, d in ck and wearing a ck mask, moved silently through the crowd.


    The warm glow of the variousnterns reflected off his mask, giving it a cold, eerie sheen.


    The air around him was distant, carrying an unspoken sense of danger.


    Passersby who caught sight of him instinctively held their children closer and stepped aside.


    Shen Jizhi paid them no mind.


    Before he had worn the mask, his striking appearance had often drawn people to strike up conversations with him. But now, with the mask on, it had been a long time since anyone had spoken to him.


    It had also been a long time since he had spoken to anyone.


    After Jian Huan went into seclusion, Shen Jizhi’s world had returned to silence, save for the asional necessary exchange.


    Just like the years before he met Jian Huan, Shen Jizhi walked alone through the bustling streets, the myriad lights of the city none of which belonged to him.


    He had never thought much of it before.


    But now, having experienced a time when someone had constantly called out to him, “Shen Jizhi, Shen Jizhi, Shen Jizhi…”


    He sometimes found himself missing that voice.


    Shen Jizhi turned into a familiar alley, moving slowly through the darkness.


    If any cultivators were present, they would have noticed something amiss.


    His steps were slightly unsteady, and though he tried to mask the scent of blood with his spiritual energy, it was still faintly detectable.


    “Boy, do you really think this is your home?” Medicine Granny, a thin, elderly woman, was having her dinner when she noticed Shen Jizhi stumbling in through the door, copsing to the floor. Her appetite vanished instantly.


    Shen Jizhi’s mask fell off, revealing a pale but strikingly handsome face. He clutched his abdomen, his slender fingers quickly stained with blood. “Thank you, Medicine Granny,” he whispered.


    Medicine Granny could see at a nce that Shen Jizhi was seriously injured. She set down her chopsticks and fetched her medicine box, asking, “Do you know what day it is today?”


    Shen Jizhi shook his head.


    “It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival!” Medicine Granny sighed, shaking her head as she examined Shen Jizhi’s injuries. She was momentarily surprised. “Huh, you’ve reached the golden core stage…”


    But her surprise turned to exasperation as she saw the extent of his wounds. “You’re being reckless!”


    A long, deep gash ran across Shen Jizhi’s abdomen, the sharp ws of the beast having torn through his flesh, revealing his internal organs.


    If the wound had been slightly to the side, it would have damaged the golden core in his dantian, and even Medicine Granny would have been powerless to help.


    As she used her spiritual energy to heal Shen Jizhi, she asked with a raised brow, “When will this cycle of severe injuries end? Give me a straight answer.”


    Shen Jizhiy on the bed, replying, “Soon.”


    Medicine Granny was skeptical. “Really?”


    Shen Jizhi didn’t borate. “Yes.”


    “I know you’re helping your master repay his debts,” Medicine Granny said as she finished stitching his wound and went to fetch medicinal herbs. “But I’ve never seen you in such a hurry before. There’s no need to rush, is there?”


    Medicine Granny had known Shen Jizhi for years. The boy had always lived frugally, but he had never taken on more than he could handle, repaying his debts methodically and at his own pace.


    But in the past year or two, he had suddenly be frantic, frequently dragging himself to her with severe injuries.


    Medicine Granny, having lived a long life and seen much, had a heart as hard as stone. But even she couldn’t help feeling a pang of pity after witnessing Shen Jizhi’s struggles over the past couple of years.


    Shen Jizhi turned his head, gazing out the window.


    Boom, boom, boom.


    In the dark night sky, dazzling fireworks exploded, painting the horizon with a dreamlike brilliance.


    The moon was full tonight.


    Its light, tinged with the vibrant hues of the fireworks, filtered through the small window, gently illuminating Shen Jizhi’s eyes.


    The young man lowered his gaze, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips, and replied slowly, "No, I''m in a hurry."


    Autumn passed, winter came, spring flowers withered, and then summer arrived.


    In the heat of summer, the cicadas'' incessant chirping filled the air.


    Jian Huan let herself lie in the embrace of Mother Earth, the wind brushing past her as she swayed gently like a de of grass.


    During her seclusion, Jian Huan allowed her consciousness to immerse itself in the rhythm of the seasons, feeling the transitions of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.


    Finally, she understood the pulse of the world, and she formed her own flourishing golden core.


    In the dim and silent cave, Jian Huan suddenly opened her eyes, a glimmer of joy shing in her lively gaze.


    Sess!


    Jian Huan twisted her neck, moved her hands, and stretched her legs, loosening her stiffened muscles.


    The dust that had umted on her body and the gray impurities expelled from her pores fell like snowkes, the swirling particles making her cough a few times.


    With a thought, she cast a cleansing spell over herself.


    After tidying up her appearance, Jian Huan rose from the meditation cushion and walked over to the small opening in the cave to take a look.


    These items had been delivered by people from outside. Jian Huan had been in deep meditation for a long time and hadn’t dealt with them, so they had piled up into a small heap.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    There were letters from Jiang Mian, written monthly, filled with jaw-dropping gossip from the Jade rity Sect and even the entire Nine Provinces Continent.


    There were various spirit pills generously thrown in by Gong Feihong. Among the people Jian Huan knew, only Gong Feihong had the wealth to afford such expensive gifts.


    There were small presents from Wen Jiu, Yang Ye, and others.


    There was even a letter from Niu Zizhao, asking when she would finally emerge from seclusion.


    And, of course, there was something from Shen Jizhi.


    He had sent in an ount book and a wooden box.


    The box had a piece of paper attached, with Shen Jizhi''s name scrawled boldly across it, as if he wanted to make sure Jian Huan knew it was from him.


    Jian Huan clicked her tongue, squatted down, and opened the box to find a Ground Fruit inside.


    Ground Fruits were helpful for oveing tribtions during the Golden Core stage, but Jian Huan didn’t use it.


    They were worth a hundred thousand spirit coins each on the market—only a fool would use one.


    Jian Huan carefully stored the Ground Fruit away, then turned to the ount book.


    It detailed the various spirit wood materials and furniture he had purchased for building a house, totaling around ny-six thousand spirit coins for three rooms, which was close to Jian Huan’s estimate.


    In the ount book, he wrote that his own room’s furniture was kept simple, costing a total of twenty-three thousand spirit coins. She needed to pay him twenty thousand for the construction. After all the calctions, including previous debts, he owed her a total of one hundred and two thousand five hundred spirit coins.


    Jian Huan nodded as she read, but when she reached thest page, her eyes suddenly paused. Written there were the words:


    [Number twenty-one, it’s your turn.]