The thick canopy of the Eldergrove Forest broke the sunlight into scattered patches on the ground below.
Towering trees with twisted roots stretched high, their branches weaving together like a natural roof over Rinne’s head. The air smelled of wet soil, moss, and faint traces of wildflowers. It didn’t take Rinne long to pinpoint her location within the forest.
With the memories she’d taken from Elder Soryn, she had pieced together a detailed map of the area. Comparing landmarks came easily, and soon, she recognized a distinct rock formation—a unique feature in this part of Eldergrove. It was enough to confirm where she stood.
"Good. I’m not lost,"
Now that her position was clear, Rinne began planning her next steps.
There was no need to worry about food. The fasting pill she took before the second trial kept her hunger at bay and would continue to do so for the rest of the trial. Technically, she could sit idle for the week and still pass as an outer disciple. But since she had time, she might as well make use of it.
The first two days went into gathering herbs and poisons. Eldergrove was filled with medicinal plants, and Rinne’s sharp eye easily identified the most useful ones. Her hands moved swiftly and carefully as she collected herbs, leaving as little disturbance behind as possible. Once gathered, she processed them with precision.
Using simple alchemical methods, she crafted several poisons—some deadly, others meant to paralyze or cause intense discomfort. As she ground a toxic herb into powder, she thought.
''Well, it''s better safe than sorry.''
With a mortal body like hers, direct combat was out of the question. She might know advanced martial techniques, but her muscles weren’t trained for them. If she tried anything too demanding, she’d risk pulling a tendon or worse. Even more limiting was the absence of spiritual energy. Many of her techniques required it, so she fell back on what she knew best—traps and poisons.
Some might call her methods dishonorable, but she didn’t care. They worked.
As she prepared her supplies, her mind wandered to a larger issue: spiritual roots. Without spiritual roots, she couldn’t progress in cultivation. Her knowledge included many unconventional methods for acquiring them, but each came with risks.
She’d already tried Gu cultivation once, but the experience left her teetering on the edge of death—a risk she wasn’t eager to take again.
Another option was transplanting someone else’s spiritual roots, but that was a delicate and dangerous procedure. It wasn’t something she could do on her own. Even if she managed to get someone else’s roots, rejection was a real possibility, like her heart problem in a different form. The thought of enduring constant pain during cultivation was not appealing.
Alchemy seemed like her best bet. Creating her own spiritual roots with a carefully crafted pill was far safer than any of the other options. The process would take time and resources, but it was manageable.
Among the countless recipes she knew, one stood out: the Verdant Meridian Pill. This pill could convert a person’s meridians into wood-attributed spiritual roots—a necessary step toward advancing her cultivation. However, the materials needed for the pill were rare, almost impossible to find in her current circumstances.
She mentally listed the ingredients:
<ul style="text-align: left">
<li style="list-style-type: none">
<ul>
<li>Thousand-Year Green Lotus:
A lotus that had absorbed the essence of nature for a millennium, highly potent in wood energy.</li>
<li>Jade-Leaf Vine:
A mystical vine thriving in areas dense with wood elemental energy, for stabilizing and harmonizing meridian transformations.</li>
<li>Emerald Heart Ginseng:
A ginseng plant nurtured in wood-attributed soil for centuries, containing immense vitality and healing properties.</li>
<li>Verdant Soul Sap:
A drop of sap from the Sacred Verdant Tree, imbued with pure wood essence.</li>
<li>Evergreen Pearl Mushroom:
A mushroom that grows in the shade of ancient trees, filled with concentrated wood spiritual energy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Rinne sighed. None of these ingredients was lying around there.
Luckily, the knowledge she absorbed through soul search didn’t just include memories—it also held insights from other cultivators. One of those insights involved material substitution: using more common ingredients to mimic the effects of rare ones, as long as they were gathered in large enough quantities to match the required potency.
After going over her mental library of recipes, Rinne devised an alternative version of the Verdant Meridian Pill.
<ul style="text-align: left">
<li style="list-style-type: none">
<ul>
<li>Hundred-Year Spirit Grass (Substitute for Thousand-Year Green Lotus):
While not as potent, it could be harvested in larger quantities to match the required wood energy.
— Quantity Required: 15 stalks of Hundred-Year Spirit Grass.</li>
<li>Ironbark Creeper (Substitute for Jade-Leaf Vine):
A vine commonly found in dense forests, containing a moderate amount of wood elemental energy.
— Quantity Required: 20 meters of Ironbark Creeper.</li>
<li>Mountain Root Ginseng (Substitute for Emerald Heart Ginseng):
A ginseng plant found in mountainous regions, with decent vitality properties.
— Quantity Required: 105 plants, each at least 15 years old.</li>
<li>Wood Essence Resin (Substitute for Verdant Soul Sap):
Resin extracted from trees with a strong wood elemental affinity, though less pure.
— Quantity Required: 250 drops of Wood Essence Resin.</li>
<li>Mossy Cap Fungus (Substitute for Evergreen Pearl Mushroom):
A fungus that grows on the bark of ancient trees, holding wood energy, though less concentrated.
— Quantity Required: 48 Mossy Cap Fungus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
She quickly decided, her mind already racing with the next steps.
"I’ll have to do with these,"
If the trial had taken place in volcanic mountains, she would have chosen fire-attributed roots instead. But since the forest was rich with wood energy, this was the most practical choice.
Gathering materials was one thing, but storing them properly was another. To preserve their potency, Rinne needed containers, and she had no time to waste.
Using a knife scavenged from a junkyard, she cut bamboo and carved out small bottles for the resin. She also whittled logs into makeshift wooden boxes to store the other ingredients. Her hands moved with practiced efficiency, muscle memory guiding her every motion. In just a few hours, the containers were ready.
The low-grade spatial bag she carried solved the problem of transporting everything.
By the time the sun began to set, the forest shifted into twilight. Shadows lengthened, and the air grew cooler. Rinne found a small clearing surrounded by thick undergrowth, a natural barrier against curious animals. She set a few simple traps around the area, more to ward off pests than anything dangerous, and settled in for the night.
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On the second day, Rinne continued her methodical gathering of herbs and poisons.
The day unfolded much like the first, with her carefully selecting and storing ingredients essential for her future alchemical work. The forest thrived with creatures—wolves, snakes, rhinoceroses, and other low-level spiritual beasts—but none dared approach her. She had already sprinkled her clothes with a mixture of herbs that gave off a scent repulsive to beasts, ensuring her safety.
As she glided silently through the underbrush, Rinne spotted several participants scattered throughout the forest. Most were strangers, not from Elaria Town, and she knew better than to reveal herself. Each time she noticed someone drawing near, she quickly hid, hiding behind dense foliage or scaling the nearest tree with the ease of someone used to evading sight.
Rinne watched as some of the participants teamed up, forming temporary alliances to hunt spiritual beasts. She observed one such group from her hiding spot, concealed behind a thick cluster of leaves. Two boys and a girl were quietly discussing their strategy.
“Focus on its legs first! If we cripple it, the fight will be over before it begins.”
The leader’s voice was calm, yet carried an air of command, as if he was used to issuing orders.
His sharp eyes darted to the clearing where the spiritual beast, a large horned wolf. The tension in his stance revealed the weight of responsibility, knowing one misstep could put them all in danger.
"Got it, I’ll circle around and attack from the back. Be ready."
The girl adjusted the grip on her curved dagger, her voice low but confident. She gave her teammates a curt nod, her determined expression framed by sweat-matted strands of hair. As soon as the leader gestured, she silently disappeared into the surrounding foliage, her steps light and purposeful.
"I’ll create a barrier if it charges. Just be quick."
The second boy held up a glowing talisman with both hands, his fingers trembling slightly. He muttered under his breath, calming his nerves as wisps of spiritual energy gathered around the talisman’s surface. Though he spoke with resolve, the flicker of anxiety in his eyes betrayed his inexperience, making it clear he was relying heavily on the protection his talisman offered.
The trio moved in unison, like a well-oiled machine. The girl dashed behind the wolf, striking its hind legs with swift precision, forcing the beast to stumble. At the same moment, the leader lunged forward, his spear aimed at the wolf’s exposed side. The talisman user stayed at a distance, his focus trained on the wolf’s movements. Whenever the beast tried to counter, a shimmering barrier sprang to life, stopping the creature’s attacks in their tracks.
Within moments, the horned wolf was incapacitated, its large body crumpling to the ground with a thud.
"Good work! This should be enough to get us through."
The leader gave a rare smile as he bent down to extract the beast core. It glimmered faintly in the dim light of the forest, a coveted prize that could significantly improve their chances of success. The three exchanged satisfied glances, the camaraderie between them evident in the way they moved and spoke.
Rinne remained absolutely still as they passed by her hiding spot, their chatter fading into the distance. She watched them leave with an impassive expression, the faint sounds of their steps blending into the rustle of leaves.
''Trust is a luxury I can''t afford.''
She thought bitterly, the sight stirring memories of alliances forged out of necessity, only to end in betrayal. Once she confirmed that the trio was gone, she slipped silently from her hiding place, moving toward the discarded wolf carcass.
They had only taken the core, leaving behind the beast’s body—a wealth of usable materials wasted.
Rinne crouched beside the remains, her hands working swiftly to extract valuable components: sharp teeth, fur with spiritual properties, and a small pouch of blood that could be used for poisons.
This scene repeated several times throughout the day. Many participants discarded valuable remains, focused solely on the beast cores. Each time, Rinne quietly collected the remnants, steadily filling her spatial bag with useful materials.
As the sun dipped lower, Rinne stumbled upon a different, more unsettling encounter. She was perched on a tree branch, scouting the area, when the sound of hurried footsteps and labored breathing reached her ears. Peering through the foliage, she spotted a lone boy sprinting through the forest, clutching a low-grade spatial bag to his chest. His face was pale with fear.
Behind him, another boy emerged—taller, broader, and moving with the deliberate ease of someone confident in their victory. His smirk was cruel, his eyes gleaming with malice as he closed the distance between them.
“Give it up! You can’t outrun me!”
The bandit boy''s taunt rang through the forest, filled with smug amusement. His pace remained steady, as if savoring the thrill of the chase. He knew he didn’t need to hurry—his prey was already worn down.
“Please, just let me go! I need this!”
The fleeing boy’s voice cracked with desperation.
His grip on the spatial bag tightened, knuckles turning white, as if the small pouch was the last shred of hope he had. He stumbled over a root but managed to keep his footing, though it was clear he wouldn’t last much longer.
The bandit only laughed, a harsh sound that echoed in the quiet forest.
“Need? What you need is to learn your place. Hand it over, and maybe I’ll let you leave with your limbs intact.”
His voice was calm, almost conversational, as though he was discussing the weather rather than threatening someone’s life. The victim hesitated, his gaze flickering between his pursuer and the forest path ahead.
The victim hesitated for a moment, then, with a defeated sigh, tossed the bag toward his pursuer. The bandit snatched it, a triumphant sneer spreading across his face as he checked its contents.
“Good choice. Now get lost before I change my mind.”
The victim staggered away, crushed and humiliated. The robber didn’t spare him a second glance, more interested in the spoils he had claimed.
Rinne’s eyes followed the boy as he disappeared into the trees. The forest was merciless, and weakness invited exploitation. She stayed hidden, letting the bandit leave before descending silently from her perch.
By dusk, Rinne had gathered everything she needed for the Verdant Meridian Pill.
The materials were safely stowed in her spatial bag, and her focus shifted to finding shelter for the night. Darkness crept in, bringing with it the sounds of nocturnal creatures stirring.
Navigating the dense forest, Rinne made her way to a small cave tucked behind a waterfall. She had scouted the area earlier, memorizing the path in preparation. The waterfall concealed the entrance perfectly, and she knew that this cave would remain hidden from the prying eyes.
She knew that the interior of this cave would remain unseen by the mirror viewing platform due to the way it functioned. The platform relied on a spiritual bird’s vision that spread across the trial site, but these birds couldn’t enter the cave, allowing her a unique sanctuary away from the eyes of others.
Once inside, she let out a breath she didn’t realize she had been holding. The darkness was comforting, wrapping around her like a protective shroud. Here, away from the gaze of participants and overseers, she was free to think and plan.
''Finally, a moment of solitude.''
The immediate task of gathering materials was complete, but a new challenge presented itself—the pill-making process. Rinne had the knowledge and skill, but she lacked an essential tool: an alchemy cauldron. Even worse, without cultivation, she couldn’t ignite a fire, which was necessary to refine the ingredients.
Her mind raced with potential solutions.
''If there’s no cauldron, I’ll make one. And if I can’t start a fire, there’s always the fireball talisman... though triggering it might take some trick.''
The thought of creating the pill right here, right now, was tempting. The sooner it was made, the sooner she could use it to enhance herself. Yet hesitation gnawed at her.
Is it worth the risk? What if I ruin the materials?
She bit her lip, torn between acting immediately and waiting for a safer opportunity.
If she could join a sect, she’d have access to proper alchemical equipment, drastically improving her success rate. But time was precious, and waiting meant wasted opportunity. After a long moment of deliberation, she made a decision.
''I’ll build the cauldron first. If it works, I’ll try making the pill. If not, I’ll wait until I can access better tools.''
With her resolve firm, Rinne began laying out the materials she would need to construct a makeshift cauldron. This was a temporary solution, but it was enough to give her options. She couldn’t afford carelessness, but neither could she afford inaction.
The night stretched on, and with each passing moment, she worked with quiet determination. Time, as always, was against her—but Rinne was no stranger to making the most of every second.