The group stepped into the cave one after another.
Li Mu lingered at the rear, his gaze sweeping over them as countless possibilities stirred within his mind—a side effect of repeated soul enhancements.
Even the most perfect plan can collapse because of a single careless step.
Within his Sea of Consciousness, the Eternal Scripture trembled. The quill beside it stirred and began to write.
Li Mu did not react. He had already anticipated this response.
Suddenly, his body emitted a faint glow. His presence rapidly diminished, suppressed to the extreme. If a random passerby were to walk past him now, they would likely overlook him entirely—mistaking him for nothing more than a broken branch on the ground.
Li Mu raised a brow, surprised by the reward, but chose not to dwell on it. He surged forward and entered the cave.
The moment he did, piercing screams echoed through the darkness.
"How?! Why would such a beast appear here?!"
"Young master—run!"
Li Mu's eyes narrowed as he took in the scene before him.
The cave floor was a massacre. Severed limbs and half-chewed corpses lay scattered everywhere. The so-called young master was barely holding on, activating a defensive talisman to resist the relentless assault.
Li Mu exhaled coldly and shifted his gaze to the creature.
Its massive turtle-shaped body filled most of the cavern. Jagged black scales scraped against the stone, tearing chunks from the ceiling and causing rocks to rain down. Its enormous head spewed torrents of flame, all of which poured directly toward the struggling young master.
"I only have one life," Li Mu muttered. "Why waste it on a random flower?"
He turned to leave.
Just then, a dim crimson glow filled the cave.
Li Mu froze.
At the heart of the cavern, a blood-red flower bloomed in full brilliance.
His Sea of Consciousness erupted in unrest.
Truly, the greatest fortunes are born from calamity.
The quill moved once more.
Triple Soul Enhancement acquired.
Karma reduced.
Luck slightly increased.
Li Mu clenched his fists, forcibly calming himself.
Focus.
His eyes flicked toward the desperate young master. A faint smirk curved his lips.
"I've got it."
Li Mu scooped up several stones and hurled them toward the cave entrance. The echoes rebounded sharply, mimicking approaching footsteps.
The young master's eyes lit up in relief.
"Hahaha! Foul beast—your reckoning has come! My reinforcements are here!"
The beast roared, its fury erupting as if it understood his words. Its movements became wild and reckless.
Cold sweat drenched the young master's back. He fumbled through his robes and ripped out a talisman.
"Die!!"
Lightning tore through the air.
The pillar of lightning struck the beast squarely in the face. Caught completely off guard, it had no time to defend itself. Its massive head exploded from its body in a shower of blood and sparks.
The cavern fell silent.
The young master collapsed to his knees, then began kicking the corpse.
"You didn't expect that, did you? Dead! You're dead!"
Bam.
He fell face-first to the ground, unconscious.
A tall, devilishly handsome figure emerged from the shadows.
Li Mu gazed down coldly at the fallen young master.
"Never disrespect a dead opponent."
He stepped past him and approached the beast's body. After a brief pause, Li Mu bowed deeply.
Then—
"Rrr…"
A faint, trembling sound echoed from the corner of the cave.
If not for his enhanced soul, Li Mu would have missed it entirely.
He walked toward a narrow crevice in the wall. Inside, he found a tiny turtle curled up in fear. Its scales were pitch black, while its head was pure white.
Li Mu glanced between the baby turtle and the massive corpse behind him.
He gently picked it up.
"I'll take care of your child."
The beast's body twitched once—then fell completely still.
Li Mu bowed again.
After harvesting the crimson flower, Li Mu searched the young master's body.
Nothing.
"…How are you this poor?"
Only then did he notice a small earring hidden behind the man's ear.
Sending his consciousness inside, Li Mu's breath caught.
A storage space the size of a small room. Piles of gold and silver coins—nearly ten million silver in total. Three talismans lay neatly stored inside.
"Now this makes sense."
Li Mu stored the flower away and wrapped the baby turtle in spare cloth. As he looked at its peaceful sleeping face, inspiration struck.
"Xian Wu," he said softly. "That will be your name."
The concealment effect finally faded. Though powerful, it consumed immense soul energy if sustained too long.
Leaving the cave, Li Mu gazed at the crimson sun sinking beyond the horizon.
"The beauty of the setting sun isn't in its glow," he murmured, "but in the warmth and closure it grants all living beings."
The quill trembled violently.
Shallow Truth detected. Punishment initiated.
Boom!
An invisible force slammed into Li Mu's consciousness. Soul-tearing pain surged through him, nausea crashing like a tidal wave.
As darkness consumed his vision, a soft voice echoed in his ears.
"Sister… who is that
Darkness.
Not the absence of light—but the crushing stillness of a soul stripped bare.
Li Mu drifted within it, his consciousness fractured and trembling.
Each fragment screamed.
Shallow truth… punishment administered.
The Eternal Scripture hovered silently above his Sea of Consciousness. The quill was motionless now, stained faintly with golden light.
Li Mu did not curse it.
He had learned better.
A soft warmth pressed against his chest.
"…mm."
Something shifted.
Li Mu's eyelids twitched open.
The first thing he saw was a small white head resting against him, breathing softly. Tiny black scales rose and fell in rhythm.
Xian Wu.
Relief washed through him—then pain followed immediately after.
His soul felt… thinner.
Weaker.
As if something essential had been shaved away.
Soul damage, he realized calmly. Not fatal. But not light either.
A quiet voice echoed again, clearer this time.
"Sister… he's awake."
Li Mu's pupils contracted.
That voice again.
Footsteps approached.