A few hours later…
A streak of azure light shot across the sky as Rin Tianhai stood atop the Lubeck Sword, descending into a small valley more than twenty miles south of Lubeck Town.
This was the outer region of the Whirlwind Mountain Range, an endless stretch of hills shrouded in lush vegetation and dense foliage, dotted with mountains hundreds of feet tall.
Having scouted the surrounding hundred miles and cleared out numerous mortal beasts, he ensured no immediate threats remained that could disturb his training journey.
From killing the Striped Crocodile, he obtained valuable forging materials. Its hide could be refined into defensive inner armor of considerable strength, while its long tail could be crafted into a whip-like spirit weapon. It's worth a good number of spirit stones and not to be wasted.
As dusk approached, Rin Tianhai decided against venturing deeper into the mountains. Demonic beasts were largely nocturnal; entering at night would be unwise. It was far safer to begin after dawn.
Landing atop a small mountain, he drew the Lubeck Sword and struck more than ten times, chiseling a cavern into a stone wall large enough to serve as a crude cave mansion. He then wove a few hand seals, setting up simple illusion arrays at the entrance. From the outside, the spot seemed nothing more than dense forest, the rock wall hidden behind dozens of trees. Such defenses would fool lesser beasts, though not stronger ones or cultivators.
Inside, Rin Tianhai wore an expression of hesitation.
This journey had to be brief. He bore responsibility for protecting the town. If he remained away too long, and calamity struck, it would be difficult to explain to his clan. Yet exploration carried inherent uncertainty, so no one could predict what lay ahead.
His cultivation was sufficient for the outer regions. Though the Whirlwind Mountain Range was not large enough to house many high-order beasts, second-order demonic beasts were common, as proven by the Striped Crocodile he had just slain. At least his target lay in the outer range.
After half an hour of deliberation, Rin Tianhai resolved to explore alone. Involving his clan meant forfeiting most of the gains, and seeking his father's help was too risky. If both suffered misfortune, the family would be devastated.
He would limit his trip to three months and avoid aimless wandering. The map obtained from the red-robed cultivator is likely drawn by the man himself. It marked the ruins of the cave mansion.
"Since they explored it once and returned safely, it shouldn't be overly dangerous," Rin Tianhai murmured, spreading the map before him.
Several circled points indicated demonic beast territories. He carefully memorized the routes, resolving that if the danger seemed too great, he would postpone entry until reaching Foundation Establishment. For now, mere scouting would suffice.
After finalizing his plan, he entered meditation to restore his condition.
At dawn, sunlight poured into the valley as flocks of birds soared overhead.
Rin Tianhai emerged, dispelled the illusion, and felled several trees to further conceal the cave's entrance. After confirming his bearings with the map, he began his journey.
He avoided sword flight, flying was akin to announcing one's presence in beast territories, inviting attacks. Instead, he dashed forward at full speed, swift and agile as a beast.
After half a day, he reached the edge of the Stone Forest. Here, sparse trees gave way to jagged boulders scattered in eerie silence.
By now, he had crossed beyond the periphery, encountering only a few lesser demonic beasts along the way. He avoided conflict where possible, killing only when relentlessly pursued, swiftly seizing the demon core before departing.
Extending his divine sense, he scanned several miles ahead. From here, he would be stepping into the inner regions.
"Hm… Earth Spirit Ganoderma."
On a stone wall crevice, seven Earth Spirit Ganoderma grew, each as large as a brick, their dazzling colors radiant against the grey rock.
Guarding them were more than thirty Earth Mysterious Mice. Most were First Order Initial Phase, but three were at Middle Stage, with one nearly touching Late Stage.
The Earth Spirit Ganoderma was a superior-grade First Order spiritual medicine, one of the key ingredients in refining the Origin Expansion Pill. Rin Tianhai had already gathered Golden Flower Grass, Fire Element Grass, and Shuiyun Grass. With this Ganoderma, only the Mystical Vine Flower remained.
The Earth Mysterious Mice, however, were formidable. Earth-attributed demonic beasts, they possessed thick hides, sharp teeth, and blistering speed. Fond of consuming earth-element ores and herbs, they were clearly guarding the Ganoderma as food.
Rin Tianhai weighed his options. Most of the mice were weak, but their sheer numbers posed danger. If surrounded, even escape might prove difficult.
Yet abandoning the Ganoderma was equally painful. Such a chance was rare. With the pill's ingredients nearly complete, he couldn't afford to let it slip away.
He tightened his grip. He had already bought several higher-grade talismans from the clan for this endeavour. If pressed, he could expend one or two. So long as he avoided entrapment, he could retreat.
Decision made, he acted.
In a flash, Rin Tianhai surged forward, streaking toward the herbs.
The three Middle Stage mice reacted first, lunging with gaping maws.
"Clang!"
The Lubeck Sword swept out, unleashing arcs of Sword Qi that cleaved into the horde. Several weaker mice screamed as they slammed into stone, writhing in agony.
The three stronger ones weathered the strikes, their defenses formidable. Rin Tianhai's brows furrowed. Even his full-strength blows merely wounded them.
He pressed harder, slashing thrice more, driving the horde into evasive leaps. Seizing the brief opening, he dashed to the stone wall.
Within three breaths, five Earth Spirit Ganoderma were scooped into his storage bag. Two remained, but there was no time.
The enraged mice spat jade-like stones with lethal force. A single strike could cripple him. Rin Tianhai instantly activated a defensive talisman, conjuring a glowing shield before him.
"Boom!"
The stones collided in an explosion that shook the forest. Using the shockwave as cover, Rin Tianhai mounted his sword and retreated at breakneck speed.
The mice gave chase but halted after a distance, unwilling to leave their territory.
Half an hour later, Rin Tianhai alighted inside a temporary cave. Pain lanced through his body, the aftershock of the explosion, but his injuries were not severe.
He exhaled in relief. The risk had been worth it. Against weaker mice, his sword inflicted heavy wounds, but against the stronger ones, he would have been hard-pressed to prevail in direct combat.
The price: a high-grade defensive talisman. The gain: five century-old Earth Spirit Ganoderma, far outweighing the loss.
Smiling faintly, Rin Tianhai carefully sealed the herbs within jade boxes to preserve their potency. With only the Mystical Vine Flower remaining, he was a step closer to refining the Origin Expansion Pill.
Satisfied, he closed his eyes atop the pine, entering meditation to restore his strength for the journey ahead.