Chapter 28
The morning sun never touched the land where he walked now. The mist hung thick, gray as ash, curling around Li Yuan's legs as he moved. His golden eyes scanned the twisted forest ahead, its branches bending unnaturally, as if recoiling from something deep within. The Bloom of Forgotten Dawn was somewhere in this cursed place—a relic said to bloom only where despair was deepest.
The Tear of Withered Roots pulsed faintly against his chest, and with every beat, Xiao Tianmie's voice whispered in his mind.
"You're slowing down. This relic won't be kind to your patience."
Li Yuan ignored him, crouching beside a patch of cracked soil. His fingers brushed across it gently, feeling the pulse of the land. Even here, where everything felt dead, there was still a faint rhythm beneath the rot.
> "Soil never truly dies. It just waits."
"You keep telling yourself that," Xiao Tianmie scoffed. "But what happens when the soil doesn't want to grow again? Are you ready to rip it apart, or will you keep playing farmer until you're swallowed?"
Li Yuan stood, tightening his grip on the Rootsplit Hoe slung across his back.
> "If the soil refuses, then I'll teach it. If I can't teach it… then maybe you're right."
The voice inside him went quiet for a moment, almost amused.
---
The forest deepened as he moved forward. The air thickened, pressing against him like a heavy blanket, until even breathing felt labored. Every step sank slightly into the ground, releasing a faint crimson mist. It was quiet—no birds, no rustling leaves, only the faint hum of something ancient watching.
The System flickered before his eyes:
> [Relic Detected: Bloom of Forgotten Dawn]
[Warning: Hostile Energy Concentration 92% – Strong Spiritual Interference Expected]
The deeper he walked, the more the world seemed to warp. Trees twisted into strange shapes, and their bark oozed black sap. Finally, he reached a clearing bathed in a dull, grayish light. At the center stood a single flower, petals glowing faintly like a dying sunrise—the Bloom of Forgotten Dawn.
The flower trembled as if alive, its roots buried deep into corrupted soil. But it wasn't alone.
The ground rumbled as something massive rose from beneath the clearing. A beast unlike anything he had seen before—its body was humanoid but elongated, its flesh wrapped in black vines, its face nothing but a hollow void. It moved with jerky, unnatural speed, crimson energy leaking from its every movement.
The System's warning pulsed red.
> [Guardian Class: Twilight Wraith]
[Power Level: Exceeds Previous Beast Lord]
[Recommendation: Immediate Engagement – Relic Usage Required]
Li Yuan stepped forward, his golden eyes calm, though his heart beat faster.
"You can't hold back here," Xiao Tianmie murmured, his voice lower, almost serious. "This thing won't give you time to play farmer."
Li Yuan raised his Hoe, spinning it once in his hand.
> "I'll decide when to stop planting."
The Wraith lunged instantly, moving so fast it blurred. Li Yuan twisted his body, swinging his Hoe in a wide arc. Roots erupted from the ground, golden and strong, but the creature shattered through them as if they were paper, its arm slicing through the air toward his neck.
Li Yuan ducked just in time, his Hoe meeting the blow, but the impact sent him flying backward, crashing into a tree. His ribs ached, and for a moment, his vision blurred.
The Tear of Withered Roots pulsed violently, reacting to his distress.
"Stop fighting me," Xiao Tianmie growled. "If you keep this up, you'll die here. Let me take over—just for a moment."
Li Yuan gritted his teeth, standing slowly. Blood trickled from his lip, his breath uneven. The Wraith approached again, its movements unrelenting, its hollow face staring at him with no emotion.
His golden eyes flickered—just for a second—turning faintly crimson.
The voice grew louder.
"Say yes. I'll kill it cleanly. You won't even have to dirty your hands."
Li Yuan's grip on the Hoe tightened, his other hand slowly reaching for the Tear. The Wraith charged, its claws raised high.
For a split second, time seemed to slow. Li Yuan's mind quieted. He could feel Xiao Tianmie pressing against him, ready to burst through.
And then—he moved.
The Tear's energy flared, his Hoe slicing through the air with a speed he couldn't have achieved alone. Dark roots erupted from the ground, coiling around the Wraith, draining its energy violently. The creature wailed, its body convulsing as its crimson light dimmed.
Li Yuan's eyes glowed fully crimson now, his movements too sharp, too perfect. The beast was dragged to its knees, black sap pouring from its body as the roots tightened.
"Good," Xiao Tianmie's voice purred. "Now finish it. Break it completely."
Li Yuan hesitated for a fraction of a second, his golden will pushing back against the crimson surge. His body trembled, his grip faltering slightly.
> "No," he whispered, his voice strained. "We do this my way."
Inside his mind, Xiao Tianmie laughed softly, but there was something different in the tone—less mocking, almost… approving.
The crimson glow in his eyes dimmed to gold again. The roots loosened slightly, shifting from withering black to vibrant gold. Instead of draining the creature to death, he forced the corruption out, the soil beneath them glowing as life slowly returned.
The Wraith collapsed, its body dissolving into dust, leaving behind the Bloom of Forgotten Dawn untouched.
Li Yuan approached the flower, kneeling slowly. He plucked it carefully, holding it in his palm. The System's message appeared.
> [Relic Acquired: Bloom of Forgotten Dawn]
[Ability Unlocked: Dawn's Renewal – Revive dying land or restore lost life essence at high spiritual cost.]
[Warning: Soul Resonance Increasing – Xiao Tianmie Influence Growing Stronger]
Li Yuan stared at the flower for a long moment, his expression unreadable.
"You're getting closer," Xiao Tianmie murmured softly. "And when we face the Harrower, you won't win unless you accept me."
Li Yuan didn't respond. He simply tucked the Bloom into his coat, stood, and walked out of the clearing, the soil already beginning to heal behind him.
End of Chapter 28