The orange glow of dusk enveloped the mountain peak as Chen Xuwu and Lin Qianyu finally arrived back at the Green Sky Sect gate.
A pleasant fatigue washed over Chen Xuwu, not the weariness of work, but the exhaustion of achievement.
The pure aura of the restored spring still faintly lingered around him, and the Pure Qi Crystal in his pouch felt warm.
SFX: (Sound of rhythmic footsteps, tap-tap, on the path, followed by the rustle of the evening wind, whoosh)
"We should report to Elder Liu immediately," Lin Qianyu said, her voice full of excitement. "He will surely be very proud of you, Chen Xuwu!"
Chen Xuwu merely smiled. Proud? I just did what I had to do as a guardian of nature. But it does feel good.
They headed directly to Elder Liu's pavilion. The old man was meditating inside, but their approaching aura was enough to make him open his eyes.
"Lin Qianyu, Chen Xuwu," Elder Liu greeted, a faint smile gracing his lips. "You've returned. How were the results?"
"Elder!" Lin Qianyu exclaimed, unable to contain her joy. "The spiritual spring in the northern forest has been fully restored! In fact, its Qi is much purer than before! And... Chen Xuwu did it!"
Elder Liu shifted his wise gaze to Chen Xuwu. "Is that so? Explain to me, Young Man Chen."
Chen Xuwu stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Elder, the spring was contaminated by a very dense Evil Qi Root underground.
I used 'Aura of Nature Purification' and 'Touch of Life' to cleanse it." He explained the sensation of the destructive evil Qi and how he purified it, without directly mentioning the system. "That evil Qi felt... alien, Elder. Like it didn't originate from ordinary beasts."
Elder Liu listened carefully, his expression growing more serious. He stroked his white beard. "A dense Evil Qi Root, indeed? And you managed to purify it yourself? This is truly extraordinary, Chen Xuwu.
Your abilities surpass what we understand about nature cultivation. And you are right, such dense evil Qi is rarely found naturally in this forest. This indicates... interference."
Interference? So, someone deliberately planted it? Who? Chen Xuwu thought of Grandmaster Mo Xie whom he had briefly seen in the obsidian mirror. Was he the one who did it?
"This is a serious matter," Elder Liu continued, his eyes radiating deep concern. "If an evil cultivator dares to plant an Evil Qi Root near our sect's territory, that is a provocation. We must increase our vigilance." He looked at Chen Xuwu.
"You have done an excellent job, Young Man Chen. The Green Sky Sect owes you a debt of gratitude."
[System: Main Mission Complete: Restore the Spiritual Spring. Reputation in Green Sky Sect: Highly Respected.]
[Reward: 1000 Exp. Pure Qi Crystal (2 pieces).]
Chen Xuwu was slightly surprised. Two more Pure Qi Crystals? And my reputation increased? This system is indeed generous.
"Elder, I also feel... a strong surge of Qi in my body," Chen Xuwu said, feeling his Dantian pulsating faster.
"It seems I'm about to..."
Elder Liu nodded, a faint smile returning to his lips. "I can feel it. Your Qi is turbulent. You are on the verge of a breakthrough to the Initial Foundation Stage, aren't you?"
Chen Xuwu nodded. "Yes, Elder."
"Good! This is an important moment in cultivation. Do not waste it," Elder Liu said. "Return to your Jade Bamboo Pavilion. Meditate and focus. I will ensure no one disturbs you. Lin Qianyu, you can also return and rest."
"Understood, Elder!" Lin Qianyu bowed, then looked at Chen Xuwu with sparkling eyes. "Good luck, Chen Xuwu! I know you can do it!"
Chen Xuwu nodded, then hurried back to the Jade Bamboo Pavilion. He closed the door, sat cross-legged on the meditation mat, and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, feeling the pure Qi from the jade bamboo and the surrounding air flow rapidly into his Dantian.
SFX: (The intensifying hum of Qi, hummmm-zzzzzz, filling the room, followed by the sound of Chen Xuwu's heart racing, lub-dub... lub-dub...)
The Qi vortex in his Dantian spun faster and faster, growing larger and denser. A sharp yet pleasant pain spread throughout his body, as if something had shattered within him, then was replaced by a much greater wave of energy.
[System: Congratulations! You have successfully broken through to a new Cultivation Stage!]
[Cultivation Level: Initial Foundation Stage (Lv. 1)]
[Your Basic Attributes have increased drastically.]
[New skill available: 'Nature Resonance'!]
[Skill 'Nature Resonance' Description: Able to manipulate basic natural elements (plants, water, earth) on a small scale. Qi Consumption: Moderate.]
Chen Xuwu opened his eyes. A soft green light emanated from his body, illuminating the entire pavilion. He felt lighter, stronger, and his connection with nature felt multiplied. He could feel every leaf in the bamboo forest outside, every drop of dew, every particle of earth, as if they were part of him.
I did it! Initial Foundation Stage! I can feel a huge difference. My power... this is incredible! He extended his hand, and a small bamboo shoot in a corner pot grew taller in the blink of an eye. So this is 'Nature Resonance'. I can manipulate nature now.
He spent the rest of the night stabilizing his Qi and understanding his new power.
The next morning, Lin Qianyu came again. She immediately sensed the change in Chen Xuwu.
"You did it!" Lin Qianyu exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "Your aura... is so different! You've reached the Initial Foundation Stage!"
Chen Xuwu nodded, a satisfied smile on his face. "Yes, thanks to Elder Liu's guidance and the abundant Qi here."
"Amazing! This is incredibly fast progress!" Lin Qianyu praised him. "Now, with the Initial Foundation Stage, you can start learning more advanced cultivation techniques. I'll help you master that 'Nature Resonance'."
They spent the day practicing. Lin Qianyu showed him how to focus Qi to manipulate plants, and Chen Xuwu quickly mastered it. He could make plant tendrils grow and move at his will, even lifting small stones with ease.
As they practiced in the open area, several female disciples who passed by again showed the same reactions. Blushing cheeks, whispers of admiration, and gazes that were hard to decipher. This time, Lin Qianyu couldn't ignore it.
Why are they all like this? Is his aura that... attractive? I also feel a little strange when I'm near him. My heart is beating faster. It must be because of his pure Qi, right? Yes, that's all it is. Lin Qianyu tried to convince herself, but she felt a slight discomfort seeing the attention Chen Xuwu received from other female disciples.
SFX: (Whispers of wind carrying the cheerful laughter of female disciples, hehehe, followed by Lin Qianyu's faint sigh, phew)
On the other hand, Chen Xuwu, busy controlling the plant tendrils, was slightly bothered by the whispers. I need to learn to control this aura. It could be a double-edged sword.
In a Remote Valley, Far to the North...
In the depths of a cave shrouded in dense black mist, a cloaked figure sat cross-legged on an altar made of bones. Dense evil Qi swirled around him, making the air feel suffocating. The figure, Grandmaster Mo Xie, had a face obscured by shadows, leaving only a pair of burning red eyes that radiated a cold and cruel aura.
In front of him, a large obsidian mirror reflected the image of the spiritual spring that Chen Xuwu had just purified. The image flickered, showing abundant pure Qi, replacing the evil Qi he had planted.
SFX: (Sound of the obsidian mirror crackling, crackle-crackle, as if restraining anger, followed by a deep angry snort, grrrhhh)
"Interesting," Grandmaster Mo Xie's voice was hoarse and cold, like the grinding of stones in a graveyard. "The Evil Qi I painstakingly planted... purified this quickly? And by an unknown young man?"
He raised his thin hand, and the black mist around him swirled faster. "Whoever you are, little 'Nature Guardian'... you have attracted my attention." His red eyes narrowed. "Not many can purify my Evil Qi. You must possess something special."
Grandmaster Mo Xie smirked, a terrifying smile in the darkness. "Nature... is a resource, not something to be protected. True power comes from conquest, from draining essence. You will soon learn that your harmony is merely weakness."
SFX: (Grandmaster Mo Xie's hoarse laughter echoing in the cave, hahaha-hahaha, followed by the intensifying rustle of evil Qi, sssshhh)
He shifted his gaze from the mirror, staring into the darkness before him. "I will find you, 'Nature Guardian'. And when I do... I will drain every drop of pure Qi from your body, to strengthen my Dao of Darkness."
Back in the Northern Forest...
Chen Xuwu, who was practicing at the Green Sky Sect, felt a strange cold gust of wind. He frowned. Something... in the distance. A very large and dark Qi.
What is it? He tried to focus his 'Empathic Leaf Knot', but the Qi was too distant and dense to understand.
Maybe it's just my imagination. He ignored it, returning his focus to his practice.