The dense forest of the Verdant Mist Sect's forbidden ground shimmered faintly in the morning light. Ethereal mist coiled through the ancient trees like silent snakes, and spiritual energy hung in the air so thick it was almost visible.
Long Tianyan moved silently through the trees, his aura restrained, his eyes sharp. After the battle with Liu Feng and Liu Yan, he had taken time to cleanse his robes, store their remains deep within the forest, and suppress his presence.
Yet, even in silence, fate had its own path.
A rustle ahead made Tianyan pause.
From between the towering spiritwoods, a familiar voice called out.
"Tianyan!"
He turned.
Chen Yixuan stepped out from a clearing, her face lit with relief. Beside her was a tall, composed young man in silver robes—Chen Xuanming, her older brother and one of the top-ranked core disciples of the Verdant Mist Sect. Three others followed, all wearing core disciple emblems, each with calm yet powerful auras.
Tianyan gave a slight nod. "Chen Yixuan. Chen Xuanming."
Yixuan hurried closer. "You disappeared after the teleportation. Are you okay? You left before I could find you again."
Before Tianyan could answer, Chen Xuanming spoke with a casual confidence. "No need to worry, Yixuan. Tianyan is more than fine." He glanced at Tianyan and smiled faintly. "He's already stepped into the 1st Layer of the Heavenly Passage Realm."
The other core disciples glanced at Tianyan, interest flashing briefly in their eyes.
Chen Yixuan blinked in surprise. "Heavenly Passage Realm already? That's…" She stopped herself, smiling brightly. "That's amazing."
Tianyan nodded slightly. "I had some fortunate encounters. What brings all of you here?"
Chen Xuanming looked toward the deeper parts of the forest and gestured for the group to walk. Tianyan fell into step beside them.
"There's a spirit herb that blooms here once every ten years," Chen Xuanming explained. "Its name is Emerald Soulgrass. It's said to absorb the vitality of the forbidden land and forms a pure core that, when refined into a pill, can increase the success rate for breakthrough to the Spirit Transformation Realm."
Another core disciple added, "For cultivators at the Peak of the Heavenly Passage Realm, that herb can save years of effort. Even those with solid foundations can benefit from it."
Tianyan nodded slowly but said nothing.
He wasn't interested in the herb. He had already reached the Heavenly Passage Realm, and with two dragon souls and the Nine-Heaven Ascension Scripture, ordinary resources no longer held the same weight.
Yet something tugged at his senses.
As they walked, he suddenly paused. A strange pulse passed through his chest—subtle, ancient, and wild.
The Azureflame Dragon Soul stirred inside him.
"There's something here… Something hidden beneath the soil. Not the herb. Something older."
Tianyan narrowed his eyes, turning slightly toward the east. He felt it clearly now. A faint vibration in the spiritual field, like a heartbeat buried deep underground.
Chen Xuanming noticed his change in expression. "Something wrong?"
Tianyan shook his head slowly. "No. I just... have a feeling I should be there when the Emerald Soulgrass appears."
Chen Xuanming raised a brow but didn't press. "Then stick close. We expect it to appear near the Stonewater Basin, just beyond the ridge. The mist grows thicker there—many who go in alone get lost."
As they moved deeper, Tianyan kept his thoughts guarded. While the others discussed formations, strategy, and where to search, his mind was elsewhere.
The dragons within him were restless again. The Azureflame King had disappeared, but his legacy continued to echo.
What lay buried beneath this part of the forbidden ground?
A tomb? A trial? Or another dragon soul?
He didn't know yet. But he could feel it—something more important than a spirit herb awaited.
Within a sealed underground chamber beneath the Stonewater Basin, an ancient sigil glowed faintly on a monolithic stone. A claw mark had long ago carved through its center, and a single drop of crimson essence pulsed in rhythm with Tianyan's approach.
Far above, among the trees, a ripple of fate stirred.
Back in the forest, Chen Yixuan quietly walked beside Tianyan while the others forged ahead. Her eyes kept drifting to him—his calm demeanor, his steady steps.
"You've changed," she said softly.
Tianyan looked at her.
"You feel… different. Heavier, like you're carrying something."
Tianyan didn't respond at first.
Then he said quietly, "Maybe I am. But that's not something I can put down."
She nodded, understanding more from his silence than his words.
The wind stirred, carrying the scent of rare herbs and dew.
And with each step they took, they moved closer—not just to the Emerald Soulgrass, but to the deeper truths that lay hidden beneath the ground of the forbidden zone.
Something ancient had awakened.
And Long Tianyan… was being called.