The clarity brought by the Enlightenment Dawn had grounded Li Wei in a way he hadn't expected, his newfound understanding of the Dao as a journey of persistence rather than grandiose visions lending a quiet strength to his cultivation. The hidden valley, with its shimmering pool, ancient tree, and glowing blossoms, pulsed with an energy that resonated with 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 tantalizing new challenge: "The Hidden Realm, where the cultivator steps beyond the mortal veil into the domain of the immortals."
In the cultivation novels Li Wei had devoured in Beijing, hidden realms were mystical dimensions—secret worlds accessible only to those whose qi was pure, filled with treasures, spirit beasts, or ancient masters. The scroll's description was more enigmatic but equally compelling: "Seek the portal where earth and heaven meet, where qi flows unbound. Enter with reverence, for the Hidden Realm tests the soul's truth." Li Wei, tempered by lightning, betrayal, and moments of clarity, felt a surge of excitement. His body, weakened by hunger, alchemical mishaps, and recurring fever, protested, but the valley's mystical aura and the scroll's promise urged him onward. Could the valley itself hold such a portal, a gateway to a realm beyond?
Li Wei's thoughts turned to a hot spring he'd glimpsed during his foraging, tucked in a secluded corner of the valley where the cliffs parted to reveal a steaming pool, its waters glowing faintly in the moonlight. The scroll's mention of "where earth and heaven meet" seemed to point to such a place, where the valley's spiritual energy bubbled to the surface. He prepared with solemn care, reinforcing his altar with fresh stones and placing the scroll, jade slip, Starstone, and stolen booklet at its center, their faint glow a ward against doubt. Azure Dragon watched, head tilted, as Li Wei packed his tattered backpack with essentials: a makeshift torch, a few berries, and his notebook to record the realm's secrets.
At dusk, when the valley was cloaked in a golden haze, Li Wei set out, Azure Dragon limping at his side. The hot spring was hidden behind a curtain of vines, its steam rising like mist from a dream. The water shimmered with an otherworldly light, its surface rippling as if alive. Li Wei's heart raced—this was no ordinary spring. The scroll described the Hidden Realm as a place of "unbound qi," and the spring's warmth seemed to resonate with his dantian, its steam curling like the valley's whispers. He knelt by the pool, the Starstone in his hands, and chanted the scroll's incantations, visualizing his Golden Core as a radiant star, his Nascent Soul reaching for the portal.
The scroll suggested a meditative trance to "step beyond the veil," so Li Wei sat cross-legged by the spring, its heat soothing his aching body. He focused on his dantian, letting the warmth flow freely, and chanted louder, the rhythmic tones blending with the steam's hiss. Hours passed, his feverish haze intensifying, but the warmth in his core surged, as if drawn to the spring's energy. In his trance, the valley faded, replaced by a shimmering expanse—a realm of light and mist where figures danced, their forms radiant with qi. A voice, like the Mentor's Ghost, echoed: "Do you seek the Dao, or merely escape?" Li Wei's Nascent Soul, glowing faintly, stepped forward, and he felt weightless, as if crossing into the Hidden Realm.
The vision was fleeting. A wave of dizziness shattered the trance, and Li Wei awoke, slumped by the spring, Azure Dragon nudging his hand with a worried whine. His body trembled, the fever spiking, but the warmth in his dantian pulsed stronger, denser, as if the spring had infused it with new energy. Had he entered the Hidden Realm, or was it another delusion born of exhaustion? The scroll promised a test of the soul's truth, and Li Wei chose to believe he'd glimpsed it. He scribbled in his notebook, hands shaking: "Hidden Realm found—hot spring portal. Vision of light, qi unbound. Soul tested, path opens."
During the next video call with the Order of the Jade Dawn, Li Wei shared the experience, describing the spring and the radiant figures. Zhang Wei, eyes wide, called it a "true portal," urging him to brew an elixir from the spring's water. Liu Mei, her serene face lit by moonlight, warned him to rest: "The realm tests the body as much as the soul." Chen Xiu and Zhao Feng, awed, shared their own meditations, though their debates hinted at ongoing tensions. Li Wei hid his worsening fever, fearing their concern might shake their faith.
As dawn broke, Li Wei sat by the spring, the Starstone warm in his hands, Azure Dragon snoring softly. The scroll promised that the Hidden Realm was a gateway to immortality, but also warned of greater trials. The valley's whispers seemed to approve, their murmurs blending with the steam's hiss. 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, one shimmering step at a time toward the heavens.