The forest road grew quieter as the three travelers continued deeper into the wilderness.
Tall trees stretched high above them, their branches forming a natural canopy that dimmed the sunlight into scattered beams. The air here felt cooler than the open farmland they had left behind, and the smell of damp soil and moss filled the surroundings.
Chen Yu rode his horse with noticeably different posture now.
Earlier that morning he had still been a nervous village youth stepping beyond familiar fields for the first time. But after facing the spirit wolf, something inside him had changed.
It wasn't arrogance.
It was awareness.
He had seen real danger.
And he had survived it.
Chen Yu looked down at the small crystal resting in his palm—the spirit beast core Zhao Ren had given him earlier.
The faint glow inside the crystal pulsed softly.
"Senior," Chen Yu said, turning toward Lin Tian who rode beside him, "what exactly is inside this thing?"
Lin Tian glanced at the core briefly.
"Condensed spiritual energy."
Chen Yu frowned slightly.
"But how does a wolf create something like this?"
Zhao Ren answered before Lin Tian could speak.
"Spirit beasts absorb the spiritual energy in their environment as they grow."
Chen Yu nodded slowly.
"That part makes sense."
"But when enough energy accumulates," Zhao Ren continued, "it forms a stable core inside the beast's body."
Chen Yu looked impressed.
"So it's like… their cultivation?"
"Something like that," Zhao Ren said.
Lin Tian remained silent for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"The process is more natural than human cultivation."
Both Zhao Ren and Chen Yu looked at him.
"What do you mean?" Chen Yu asked.
Lin Tian gestured toward the surrounding forest.
"Spirit beasts evolve directly in response to their environment."
Chen Yu listened carefully.
"They do not rely on formal techniques or structured training."
Zhao Ren raised an eyebrow.
"That's true."
Lin Tian continued calmly.
"But their bodies adapt instinctively to handle spiritual energy efficiently."
Chen Yu tilted his head.
"So they're better at it than humans?"
"In certain ways, yes."
Zhao Ren seemed surprised by the statement.
"In my experience," he said, "most cultivators consider spirit beasts crude creatures driven by instinct."
Lin Tian looked toward the trees.
"Instinct is not the same as inefficiency."
Chen Yu studied the glowing crystal again.
"So this little thing… formed naturally?"
"Yes," Lin Tian replied.
"And its internal structure is surprisingly stable."
Zhao Ren glanced sideways at Lin Tian.
"You can tell that just by looking?"
Lin Tian nodded.
"The energy inside it follows a clear pattern."
Chen Yu held the crystal closer to his eyes.
"I just see a glowing rock."
Zhao Ren chuckled.
"That's because you're still at the very beginning."
Chen Yu sighed.
"Right."
The road curved slightly as they continued traveling.
Bird calls echoed faintly through the trees.
Small animals occasionally darted across the forest floor.
But none approached the travelers.
Spirit beasts rarely attacked large groups unless they were extremely aggressive or territorial.
After another hour of riding, Zhao Ren slowed his horse slightly.
"We should rest for a while."
Chen Yu looked relieved.
"My legs were starting to feel numb."
They stopped near a small clearing where a narrow stream ran through the forest.
The sound of flowing water created a peaceful atmosphere.
Zhao Ren dismounted and tied his horse to a nearby tree.
Chen Yu stretched his arms.
"That fight earlier really took a lot out of me."
Lin Tian walked toward the stream and crouched beside the water.
He dipped his hand into the cool current.
The water carried faint traces of spiritual energy.
Small amounts, but noticeable.
This entire region seemed to contain natural energy channels beneath the surface.
That explained why spirit beasts appeared here.
Zhao Ren sat on a fallen log.
He watched Lin Tian quietly for a moment before speaking.
"Sir… there's something I've been wondering."
Lin Tian looked back at him.
"Yes?"
Zhao Ren hesitated slightly.
"You mentioned earlier that human cultivation techniques are inefficient."
"That is correct."
Zhao Ren leaned forward.
"How can you be so certain?"
Chen Yu looked curious too.
Lin Tian stood up slowly.
"For millions of years—"
He paused.
Then corrected himself.
"For a very long time, I have studied how energy moves."
Zhao Ren listened carefully.
Lin Tian continued.
"Energy systems appear across many different environments."
He pointed toward the stream.
"Water flow follows patterns."
Then toward the trees.
"Plant growth follows patterns."
Then toward the sky visible through the canopy.
"Even weather systems follow patterns."
Chen Yu nodded slowly.
"Okay…"
Lin Tian folded his arms.
"But the cultivation methods I have seen here ignore many natural patterns."
Zhao Ren frowned.
"You're saying our techniques are incomplete?"
"Yes."
Chen Yu scratched his head.
"That sounds like a big claim."
Lin Tian looked at him calmly.
"It is not a claim."
Chen Yu blinked.
"It is an observation."
Zhao Ren crossed his arms.
"I've trained for nearly fifteen years."
"And I still consider myself a low-level cultivator."
He looked directly at Lin Tian.
"If what you say is true… then the entire cultivation system in this region might be flawed."
Lin Tian shook his head slightly.
"Not flawed."
"Just… unfinished."
Chen Yu's eyes widened.
"Unfinished?"
"Yes."
Lin Tian crouched down and drew a diagram in the dirt.
Once again, it was the shape of a human body.
But this time the network of lines representing meridians was even more detailed.
Chen Yu leaned closer.
"That's way more energy channels than before."
Lin Tian nodded.
"Earlier I showed you only the primary ones."
He pointed at the new lines branching across the figure.
"These secondary pathways are rarely used in current cultivation methods."
Zhao Ren stared at the diagram carefully.
"I've never seen a meridian chart like this."
Lin Tian continued.
"But if these pathways were activated…"
He traced a line across the drawing.
"The body could circulate energy far more efficiently."
Chen Yu looked amazed.
"So cultivators could become stronger faster?"
"Yes."
Zhao Ren studied the drawing more intensely.
"But if something like this existed… wouldn't sects already know about it?"
Lin Tian answered calmly.
"Not necessarily."
Both of them looked at him.
"Civilizations often discover knowledge gradually," Lin Tian said.
"Some information is lost."
"Some is rediscovered."
"And some is simply never noticed."
Zhao Ren leaned back slightly.
"You speak like a scholar."
Lin Tian did not reply.
In truth, his knowledge came from observing cosmic energy structures far more complex than anything on this planet.
But he could not explain that here.
Chen Yu looked excited.
"Senior… does that mean you could create better cultivation techniques?"
Lin Tian looked thoughtful.
"In theory, yes."
Chen Yu's eyes sparkled.
"That's incredible!"
Zhao Ren, however, looked more cautious.
"If what you're suggesting is correct…"
He glanced at the meridian diagram again.
"…then anyone who masters such knowledge could completely change the balance of power in the cultivation world."
Lin Tian erased the drawing with one sweep of his hand.
"Perhaps."
Chen Yu stood up energetically.
"Then you should definitely go to Iron Ridge City!"
Zhao Ren smiled faintly.
"That was already the plan."
The three of them rested for another few minutes before continuing their journey.
As they rode deeper into the forest, the sunlight began to fade slightly.
The trees grew denser.
And the air felt heavier with spiritual energy.
Lin Tian's senses expanded outward again.
Something unusual appeared at the edge of his perception.
Very faint.
But present.
A group of human figures moving through the forest several hundred meters away.
Their energy signatures were stronger than ordinary villagers.
But different from Zhao Ren's structured cultivation flow.
More chaotic.
More aggressive.
Lin Tian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Bandits," Zhao Ren suddenly said.
Chen Yu blinked.
"You sensed them too?"
Zhao Ren nodded.
"They're not very subtle."
Chen Yu looked nervous again.
"Are they dangerous?"
Zhao Ren smiled slightly.
"That depends."
He glanced toward Lin Tian.
"Sir… I believe you mentioned earlier that real combat experience is necessary for growth."
Chen Yu groaned.
"Please don't tell me we're fighting again."
But Lin Tian's expression remained calm.
"Conflict appears unavoidable."
The rustling of branches grew louder.
Several rough-looking men stepped onto the road ahead.
Each of them carried weapons.
Their eyes quickly focused on the three travelers.
The leader stepped forward with a crooked grin.
"Well, well."
"Travelers on the forest road."
Chen Yu whispered nervously.
"Definitely bandits."
The leader's gaze landed on Zhao Ren's sword.
Then on the horses.
Then on Chen Yu's travel pack.
"You look like you're carrying supplies."
He smiled wider.
"Why don't you leave them here and continue walking?"
Chen Yu gripped his staff again.
His earlier confidence was already fading.
But Lin Tian simply watched quietly.
Observing.
Analyzing.
Learning.
Because every new encounter in this world revealed something about its people… and its cultivation system.
And this time—
The lesson would involve human greed.