The vision of the radiant figure during his Nascent Soul Awakening, whether real or a product of his fervent imagination, had left Li Wei with a profound sense of progress. The hidden valley, with its shimmering pool, ancient tree, and glowing blossoms, seemed to hum with approval, its mystical energy amplifying the warmth in his dantian—a warmth he believed was the seed of his Golden Core, now nurturing a nascent soul. Azure Dragon, his scruffy spirit beast, remained a loyal companion, curled by the stone altar as Li Wei pored over the scroll, its worn bamboo slats a testament to his journey. The scroll's next passage unveiled a new challenge: "Seek the Ancient Tomb, where the bones of immortals guard secrets of the Dao. Enter with reverence, for wisdom lies in the shadows."
In the cultivation novels Li Wei had devoured in Beijing, ancient tombs were legendary repositories of power—hidden crypts filled with relics, forbidden techniques, or the lingering qi of long-dead masters. The scroll's description was less grandiose but equally compelling: "Beneath the earth, where time stands still, the cultivator finds the echoes of eternity. Seek the tomb, but beware its trials." Li Wei's heart raced at the prospect. Mount Tai, steeped in spiritual history, was the perfect place for such a tomb, perhaps concealed in the valley's cliffs or beyond. His body, weakened by fasting, alchemical mishaps, and relentless trials, protested, but his spirit was alight with purpose. With Azure Dragon at his side, he resolved to find this tomb and claim its wisdom.
Li Wei prepared meticulously, treating the quest as a sacred pilgrimage. He reinforced his altar with fresh stones, placing the scroll, jade slip, and stolen booklet at its center, surrounded by the last of his wilted "Spirit Root Herbs." He packed his tattered backpack with essentials: a makeshift torch crafted from a branch and dried moss, a small knife for foraging, and his notebook to record any discoveries. Azure Dragon, sensing adventure, wagged his tail, his limp less pronounced as if the valley's energy had invigorated him. Li Wei studied the valley's cliffs, their jagged faces shrouded in mist, and recalled a narrow cave he'd glimpsed during his foraging—a dark maw hidden behind vines, its entrance barely wide enough for a man. The scroll's mention of "shadows" convinced him this was the tomb's entrance.
He set out at dawn, the valley bathed in a golden haze. Azure Dragon trotted beside him, sniffing the air as they approached the cave. The entrance was overgrown, vines curling like guardians, and a cool, damp breeze carried the scent of earth and something acrid. Li Wei's pulse quickened—this was no ordinary cave. The scroll had warned of trials, and he visualized the tomb as a labyrinth of tests, perhaps guarded by spiritual traps or the spirits of ancient cultivators. He lit his torch, its flickering light casting eerie shadows, and squeezed through the entrance, Azure Dragon hesitating before following with a low whine.
Inside, the cave was narrow, its walls slick with moisture and etched with faint, weathered carvings—spirals and symbols that resembled the scroll's script. Li Wei's torch illuminated a tunnel that sloped downward, the air growing colder and heavier. His footsteps echoed, and Azure Dragon's claws clicked softly, the only sounds in the oppressive silence. As he ventured deeper, the tunnel widened into a small chamber, its floor littered with broken pottery and what looked like animal bones. At the far end, a stone slab bore more carvings, and beside it, a pile of dark, pungent material glistened in the torchlight. Li Wei's heart leapt—this was the tomb, and the material must be a relic, perhaps the "essence" the scroll described.
He knelt by the pile, expecting jade or sacred ash, but the smell hit him—rank, organic, unmistakably bat guano. Disappointment stung, but Li Wei's imagination, fueled by the scroll, reframed it as "spiritual essence," a substance imbued with the cave's ancient qi. He scooped a small amount into a cloth, ignoring the stench, and examined the stone slab. Its carvings depicted a figure meditating, qi lines flowing from its body, eerily similar to his scroll's diagrams. He traced them with his fingers, feeling a faint warmth, as if the stone resonated with his dantian. Was this the tomb's secret, a fragment of immortal wisdom?
A sudden rustle broke his focus. Azure Dragon growled, and a swarm of bats erupted from the shadows, their wings battering the air. Li Wei ducked, dropping his torch, which sputtered out, plunging the chamber into darkness. Panic surged, but he clutched the jade slip, its faint warmth grounding him. He chanted the scroll's incantations, visualizing his qi as a protective shield. The bats swirled, their screeches deafening, but they soon dispersed, leaving Li Wei trembling but unharmed. Azure Dragon pressed against his leg, whimpering, and Li Wei laughed shakily. "Another trial passed," he whispered, retrieving the smoldering torch.
Back in the valley, Li Wei placed the guano—his "spiritual essence"—by the altar, convinced it held latent power. He brewed it into a potion, following the stolen booklet's recipes, and sipped it cautiously, the foul taste making him gag. No visions came, only nausea, but the warmth in his dantian pulsed, as if acknowledging his effort. He scribbled in his notebook: "Ancient Tomb found. Spiritual essence gathered. Bats faced, qi unbowed." During the next video call with the Order of the Jade Dawn, he shared his adventure, framing the cave as a sacred crypt. Zhang Wei was thrilled, suggesting the guano be refined further, while Liu Mei urged caution, citing the dangers of unknown substances.
Under the valley's starry sky, Li Wei meditated with the jade slip, the scroll open before him, Azure Dragon snoring nearby. The tomb, guano and all, was a victory, a step toward unlocking the Dao's secrets. The scroll promised greater trials, but Li Wei, with his sect's support and the valley's embrace, felt ready, his nascent soul glowing faintly within, guiding him toward immortality.