"Wait!" Shi Zi’s voice broke the silence between the thudding of the horses' hooves, and he pulled on his reins, slowing his pace.

  Zhi Xuan turned back for a moment and pulled his reins, slowing his horse down. There, He Xin turned around and stopped his horse, then dismounted to approach something he saw on the ground.

  Zhi Xuan waited, his right hand gripping the reins with steady calmness, while his sapphire-blue gaze swept the dense bushes surrounding them.

  After the experience at the Shadow Cliff, Zhi Xuan’s vigilant instinct had sharpened drastically. He no longer took every gust of wind for granted.

  He Xin knelt in the grass, on the edge of the horse path they had just traversed. He put on his leather gloves and carefully picked something up from the ground.

  “This is strange,” He Xin muttered, holding the object up. It was a shard of a sword the size of a fingertip, stained with blood that looked like a battle had just taken place on the path they were on.

  Shi Zi immediately dismounted, walking closer. He stared at the sword shard, then touched it with the tip of his glove. The blood there looked dark red, but was still smeared, not yet fully dried.

  "Fresh blood," Shi Zi whispered, horror in his eyes. "And this sword shard... it's not mortal iron. Look at the veins, this must have been forged with spiritual essence."

  Zhi Xuan dismounted. His movements were calm, but his Heavenly Samsara Wheel spun one full rotation, releasing an extremely subtle wave of spiritual consciousness. The wave swept the surrounding area, searching for anomalies or signs of presence.

  "A forged sword shard," Zhi Xuan confirmed, his voice cold and analytical. "Shi Zi is right. This sword belongs to a cultivator, not a mortal hunter. And this blood... it doesn't smell like Gold Foundation blood."

  "Does that mean," He Xin asked, his voice choked, "the guards at the Broken Bamboo Gate? Were they attacked?"

  Zhi Xuan shook his head. "The guards at the Gate don't use weapons forged with spiritual essence. They are just mortal Gold Foundations. This was a fight between outside cultivators, and it happened not long ago. Less than an hour."

  He looked toward the deeper forest, which was an alternative path to the Shadow Cliff. "Whoever fought here, they moved quickly, and they hid. The remaining essence is minimal."

  Suddenly, Zhi Xuan's eyes narrowed. He didn't detect a presence, but he felt an extremely brief spiritual anomaly in the air, as if a bubble of energy had popped. He walked slowly to the edge of a thick bush and pushed it aside with the tip of his foot.

  There, among the hidden tree roots, was another drop of blood, this time dark bluish-black. The blood emitted a dense and toxic essence aura, much stronger and purer than mortal blood.

  "This blood..." Zhi Xuan muttered. "It’s not human blood. This is the blood of a Spiritual Creature or a high-level Blood Transformation Cultivator. Its blood contains a potent poison."

  He Xin and Shi Zi were now completely silent, their fear much greater than when they faced the Jade Snake. The Jade Snake was merely animal instinct; this was a cultivator conflict, bringing unpredictable danger to their village.

  "I also feel something strange, why is this path so quiet today? This is usually a busy hunter's path," He Xin said, his voice filled with astonishment.

  Shi Zi, hearing He Xin's words, turned his head to look around. "You're right, only our horses' hooves are imprinted on this path. It's like the hunters are on holiday?"

  "Yes, at dawn when we left, we didn't find any of these traces," He Xin said again, his voice filled with hidden knowledge. "Could it be... The fight happened while we were still at the Shadow Cliff?"

  Zhi Xuan nodded, his expression serious. "Most likely. And if cultivators were involved, this wasn't a random fight. Cultivators wouldn't fight on the main path unless they were forced to, or they were hiding something very valuable."

  He pointed to the dark bluish-black blood that was slowly seeping into the ground. "This poisonous blood... the injured cultivator is the stronger party, or at least, more special. And he is moving toward... the South."

  He Xin and Shi Zi followed the direction Zhi Xuan pointed, leading to the Southern Edge Grassland commonly used by herders to graze their livestock.

  Zhi Xuan turned to look at them. "I used to herd goats there with Mingling, but... I don't know why this blood leads there."

  Shi Zi frowned. "The grassland? Aren't the Lu twins herding goats there? They must be in danger!"

  Zhi Xuan immediately realized the implications. The Lu twins were just mortal children. Although the new Gold Foundation essence had purified the village aura, the danger from the outside world still had to be faced. He acted without hesitation.

  "Mount your horses," Zhi Xuan commanded, his voice now urgent yet controlled. "Shi Zi, you are the fastest. Get back to the village as fast as you can. Inform Teacher Bao and the other Gold Foundations, as well as Grandpa Wu, about this sword shard and the dark bluish-black blood."

  Shi Zi shook his head. "But, Zhi Xuan! I have to help you!"

  "No," Zhi Xuan cut him off firmly. He touched his Spiritual Pouch containing the Nine Dew Leaf. "The first priority is the safety of the Gold Foundation and the village. The second priority is securing this herb. If the three of us are here, we are too vulnerable."

  Shi Zi swallowed, seeing the seriousness in Zhi Xuan's eyes. He knew this was not the time for bravado. "Alright, Zhi! I will move as fast as my Divine Wheel can carry me!" He leaped back onto his horse.

  "He Xin, you come with me," Zhi Xuan continued, his eyes focused sharply southward. "We will follow this blood trail. We won't fight, but we will find out what happened. We must secure the Lu twins."

  He Xin nodded, his expression methodical and cold, setting aside his fear. He was the stable Gold Foundation; he would follow orders. "Understood."

  Zhi Xuan nodded, appreciating He Xin's composure. He leaped back onto his horse.

  "We move in silence," Zhi Xuan whispered.

  Shi Zi, without waiting for further instruction, released his Divine Wheel. He shot down the path like a golden arrow, heading back toward the village.

  Zhi Xuan and He Xin moved south, infiltrating the bushes, staying off the main path. They led their horses, careful not to let their hooves leave too obvious a trail. The trail of dark bluish-black blood was faint, but enough for diligent Gold Foundation cultivators to follow.

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  After about ten minutes of moving in chilling silence, they arrived at the Southern Grassland.

  The herded goats and buffaloes roamed restlessly. The air was filled with the smell of animal fear and, more disturbingly, the faint aroma of blood and burned metal.

  In the middle of the grassland, under the old banyan tree known as the herders' resting spot, a sight made He Xin gasp.

  The Lu twins—Luzi and Luan, who were barely ten years old—were hiding behind the wild bushes, their faces deathly pale.

  They shot out from the wild bushes. When they saw Zhi Xuan, their eyes lit up with hope, leaping from the bushes and running toward Zhi Xuan.

  "Brother Zhi Xuan! Help!" cried Luzi, the shorter one, his voice breaking with sobs.

  "Shhh," Zhi Xuan whispered, immediately dismounting and with a quick motion pulling both children into an embrace and covering their mouths with his hand, hiding them among his black robe. "Calm down. Where is Luan?"

  "I'm here, Brother," Luan replied, his voice trembling. He tried to calm Luzi, his big eyes filled with horror. "Please, Brother Zhi Xuan. Someone is hurt!"

  He Xin dismounted, immediately taking a position beside Zhi Xuan, his eyes scanning the banyan trees. His Divine Wheel spun, radiating controlled spiritual essence, ready to burst into standby mode.

  "Who is hurt?" Zhi Xuan asked, keeping his voice low.

  "Over there," Luan whispered, pointing with his chin toward the pond where the livestock usually drank water. "There was an Uncle. He came suddenly. He was emitting blue light, and he was bleeding a lot. His blood was black!"

  "That Uncle..." Luzi began to sob again. "He told us to run, but he couldn't move anymore!"

  Luan nodded, confirming Luzi's statement. "Yes! Then he submerged himself in that pond!"

  "In the pond?" Zhi Xuan repeated, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the shallow, muddy pond. The water surface looked calm, reflecting the bright morning sky, without any ripples indicating disturbance.

  He Xin, standing alert, shook his head. "That pond isn't deep enough to submerge someone, Zhi Xuan. At most, it's only knee-deep for an adult."

  "That's exactly what's strange," Zhi Xuan countered, his tone cold and tense. He immediately pulled Luzi and Luan from his embrace.

  "Luzi, Luan, both of you run north. Hide in Grandpa Ling's hay shed. Don't come out until Uncle Chen comes to pick you up. Understand?"

  The two children nodded, their eyes radiating obedience and fear. They shot off, running as fast as they could toward the forest in the north.

  Zhi Xuan then walked slowly, his Heavenly Samsara Wheel spinning, emitting an extremely thin and focused wave of spiritual consciousness toward the pond.

  "He Xin, stand guard," Zhi Xuan whispered. "There is something in that pond. Not just muddy water."

  As Zhi Xuan approached, he felt an anomaly. The spiritual essence around the pond, though faint, felt incredibly dense—not like the natural essence of earth and water, but forcibly compressed essence.

  Zhi Xuan stopped right at the edge of the pond. He stared into the water. The muddy bottom of the pond should have been vaguely visible, but he saw nothing.

  "Can't see anything?" Zhi Xuan sharpened his vision, the water was too murky for his eyes to penetrate.

  Just at that moment, the sky, which had been clear moments ago, was suddenly covered by thick gray clouds. The change happened so quickly, as if a curtain was drawn over the Southern Grassland. The gentle morning light was replaced by a grim shadow, making the pond look darker and more threatening.

  He Xin approached Zhi Xuan, his gaze focused on the pond. "The sky is overcast. It feels strange, Zhi Xuan. This pond... it feels like a center of pressure."

  "I agree," Zhi Xuan replied. He turned to the side. "Grab that large stone over there, He Xin. The one almost the size of your head. Use your Divine Wheel strength. Throw it as hard as you can, into the center of the pond."

  He Xin nodded without question. He walked toward the pile of stones, chose the largest one, and channeled essence into his arms and legs. His Divine Wheel spun rapidly. With a suppressed roar, He Xin threw the stone.

  BLARR!

  The stone hit the surface of the pond with immense force. The muddy water exploded into the air, and the mud at the bottom of the pond split momentarily by the shockwave.

  In that split second of water clarity, Zhi Xuan's and He Xin's eyes widened in unspeakable horror.

  At the bottom of the pond, among the raised mud, lay a body.

  Not a submerged body. It was the upper half of a cultivator's body. The section from the waist down was gone. The cultivator's face was unrecognizable, his skin having been corroded by something horrific. A sharp, foul stench—the smell of rotting, toxin-ridden flesh and stale mud—immediately assailed them.

  "What... what is this?" He Xin whispered, his voice trembling. He unconsciously took a step back.

  "C-corrosion," Zhi Xuan mumbled, his eyes wide in shock. "Luzi and Luan said he just submerged himself! But, this body... has been decaying for days!"

  The reality was far more terrifying than a random fight. The power that injured and corroded a Blood Transformation body this badly, in such a short time as reported by the children, surpassed their mortal understanding.

  "Impossible," He Xin hissed, stepping back again. "That dark bluish-black blood... Was the poison so strong that it destroyed his body?"

  Zhi Xuan didn't answer. He backed away, his steps slow, but his eyes never leaving the pond. His body—even his Heavenly Samsara Wheel—felt a piercing cold, a pure fear that far surpassed the fear of ordinary death. It was the fear of unimaginable corruption.

  "We must not stay near here," Zhi Xuan commanded, his voice sharp and slightly strained. He turned to He Xin, his eyes showing a cold urgency. "We must leave immediately. That poison might still linger in the air."

  He Xin nodded quickly. His face was ashen, and he didn't need to be told twice. His newly stabilized Gold Foundation body trembled.

  "He Xin! You take both our horses!" Zhi Xuan commanded. "Take the northern path. Go to Grandpa Ling's hay shed. Make sure Luzi and Luan are safe. If Uncle Chen hasn't arrived, take them back to the village, and don't stop for any reason. Hurry!"

  He Xin was already leaping back onto his horse. "What about you, Zhi Xuan?"

  Zhi Xuan looked around. Hundreds of herded goats and buffaloes, including Grandpa Wu's one-eyed goat, wandered unattended. This livestock was a vital asset to Star Village.

  "I will gather this livestock," Zhi Xuan replied, immediately activating his Heavenly Samsara Wheel. Pure silver essence radiated outward. "They cannot be left here! Quickly, He Xin! The children's safety is paramount!"

  He Xin nodded and shot off, leading two horses at Gold Foundation speed, heading north.

  Zhi Xuan, alone on the grim Southern Grassland under the overcast sky, immediately directed his attention to the livestock. Gathering dozens of restless goats and buffaloes manually was a difficult task usually done by three herders.

  "Damn it!" Zhi Xuan hissed, immediately gliding toward the center of the herd. He channeled essence into his voice, emitting a gentle yet firm command.

  "Hey! Come here! Come here! Blind goat! You're the oldest! You must lead!"

  He had to circle the goats with rapid running, using his Heavenly Samsara Wheel to create a gentle pressure wave to make the goats move in the direction he wanted.

  Zhi Xuan moved tensely, his blue eyes constantly scanning the surrounding forest. He knew the real danger was not a spiritual creature, but the cultivator who committed such an atrocity. It took twenty chilling minutes, and finally, Zhi Xuan successfully steered the entire herd onto the northern path, away from the accursed pond.

  Zhi Xuan closed his eyes for a moment and took a long breath, calming himself down even though his hands still trembled faintly. He stared back toward the accursed pond, which was now calm again, reflecting the gray clouds' shadow.

  "I... I can't believe I just saw that," Zhi Xuan whispered to himself, his voice barely audible amidst the herd's grumbling.

  He had seen the same thing, an injured cultivator in the Jade Valley, but not this badly corroded. That cultivator was just an intact, dry, and cold corpse, lying in the eternal snow. But the sight in the pond just now... it was an abomination.

  Is that what awaits failed Gold Foundation cultivators? The thought pierced his mind. Is that the destiny of a Protective Foundation if it cannot protect itself?

  In his Sea of Consciousness, the Heavenly Samsara Wheel spun a little faster, as if instinctively cleansing that horrific memory from the core of Zhi Xuan's awareness.

  "Devil Monument... Jiejie..." Zhi Xuan whispered, his eyes open, staring at the path he was on. "You saw it, didn't you? That's no ordinary poison. That is spiritual decay. A power that transcends mortal toxins."

  There was no response from Ruo Xianxue. Usually, the Sacred Devil would immediately respond, demanding, or mocking. The silence itself was more disturbing than any whisper. That silence meant this danger was either too profound or too beneath the Sacred Devil to comment on.

  Zhi Xuan sighed. He didn't have time to contemplate the philosophy of decay. His priority was to safeguard the livestock and quickly get out of the contaminated area. He began to jog, circling the flock of goats and buffaloes. He let his Heavenly Samsara Wheel spin, radiating a soft, silvery aura that felt warm and calming to the animals.