The glimpse of the Hidden Realm, whether a true portal or a fevered vision, had left Li Wei with a renewed sense of destiny. The hidden valley, with its shimmering pool, ancient tree, and glowing blossoms, pulsed with an energy that seemed to affirm the warmth in his dantian—a warmth he believed was his nascent Golden Core, nurturing a fledgling 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 sacred guide through his trials. The scroll's latest passage unveiled a visceral new challenge: "The Beast Horde, where the cultivator faces the wild's fury, proving their qi against nature's primal force."
In the cultivation novels Li Wei had devoured in Beijing, beast hordes were thrilling battles—waves of spirit creatures attacking cultivators, testing their strength and resolve. The scroll's description was less fantastical but equally intense: "When the earth's guardians rise, stand firm with qi as your shield. Subdue the horde, and the Dao shall honor your courage." Li Wei, tempered by lightning, betrayal, and spiritual trials, saw this as a chance to prove his cultivation against a tangible foe, unlike the imagined "clan warfare" or ghostly visions. His body, weakened by hunger, alchemical mishaps, and recurring fever, ached with every movement, but the valley's mystical aura and the scroll's promise fueled his determination.
The valley, with its serene beauty, seemed an unlikely battlefield, but Li Wei's earlier encounter with the wild boar had taught him that Mount Tai's wildlife could embody the scroll's trials. He prepared with the intensity of a warrior, reinforcing his altar with heavy stones and carving spirals inspired by the Starstone to channel the valley's qi. He placed the scroll, jade slip, Starstone, and stolen booklet at the altar's center, surrounding them with the ancient tree's glowing blossoms, their light a ward against fear. Azure Dragon, sensing his master's tension, stayed close, his amber eyes alert. Li Wei sharpened his Star Blade, the branch-turned-sword now worn but imbued with his qi, and practiced his Heavenly Sword Art, visualizing strikes that could repel a horde.
As dusk settled, the valley grew restless, the air charged with an eerie stillness. Li Wei stood by the altar, the Starstone in one hand, the Star Blade in the other, chanting the scroll's incantations to bolster his qi. The warmth in his dantian pulsed, ready to shield him. A sudden rustle broke the silence, followed by a chorus of snorts and stomps from the surrounding ferns. Azure Dragon growled, hackles raised, as shapes emerged from the shadows—a small herd of deer, their eyes glinting in the moonlight, their hooves pounding the earth. There were five or six, not the mythical horde of spirit beasts Li Wei had imagined, but their sudden charge felt like a test, their antlers lowered as if driven by the valley's primal energy.
Li Wei's heart raced, his fever spiking, but he saw the deer as the scroll's "earth's guardians." "Face the horde!" he shouted, raising the Star Blade and channeling his qi into a radiant burst, as he'd practiced in his imagined wars. He swung the blade in wide arcs, chanting loudly, visualizing his qi as a shield to drive the deer back. The animals startled, their charge faltering, but one buck veered closer, its antlers grazing his arm. Pain seared through him, blood trickling, but Li Wei stood firm, shouting the scroll's incantations with fervent intensity. Azure Dragon barked wildly, lunging forward, and the deer scattered, vanishing into the ferns as quickly as they'd come.
Li Wei collapsed by the altar, panting, his arm throbbing but his spirit soaring. Had he subdued the horde with his qi, or had Azure Dragon's barks driven them off? The scroll promised courage would be honored, and Li Wei chose to believe he'd passed the test. The warmth in his dantian pulsed stronger, as if the valley approved. He scribbled in his notebook, hands trembling: "Beast Horde faced. Deer repelled with qi and shouts. Courage proven, path endures." Azure Dragon nudged his hand, a quiet comfort, and Li Wei laughed, patting his companion's head. "We're warriors, you and I."
During the next video call with the Order of the Jade Dawn, Li Wei shared the encounter, framing the deer as a "primal horde" sent by the Dao. Zhang Wei, eyes wide, called it a "heroic stand," urging him to brew an elixir from the valley's herbs to heal his wound. Liu Mei, her serene face lit by moonlight, warned him to rest: "The body bears the cost of courage." Chen Xiu and Zhao Feng, inspired, shared their own meditative battles, though their debates hinted at ongoing tensions. Li Wei hid the severity of his fever and the pain in his arm, fearing their concern might shake their faith.
As dawn broke, Li Wei sat by the pool, the Starstone warm in his hands, Azure Dragon snoring softly. The scroll promised that the Beast Horde was a test of courage, but also warned of greater trials. The valley's whispers seemed to chant in approval, their murmurs blending with the morning breeze. With his sect's support and the scroll's guidance, Li Wei felt ready to face the next challenge, his Golden Core and Nascent Soul pulsing as beacons of his unyielding pursuit of immortality, one wild encounter at a time.