The forest grew darker as Lin Wei stepped deeper, the crimson haze thickening around him. The air was almost tangible now, heavy with spiritual Qi so dense that every breath felt charged with energy and poison alike. The canopy above twisted unnaturally, filtering what little sunlight remained into streaks that shimmered faintly red, illuminating patches of the forest floor that seemed to writhe with hidden life. The faint pull he had sensed earlier grew stronger, guiding him toward the center of the grove where the trees arched like silent sentinels over a hidden clearing. He walked carefully, each step deliberate, feeling the pulse of the forest as if it were alive, breathing around him.
Behind him, the other Outer Yard students struggled to follow. Their fear was palpable, audible in the rustling of leaves as they stumbled over roots and avoided strange glimmering plants that seemed to react to their presence. One boy tripped and fell hard, cutting his arm on a jagged root. A shadow wolf emerged from the undergrowth, eyes glowing red, and he screamed before the creature lunged. Lin Wei moved without hesitation, purifying a nearby branch instinctively, the energy subtly enhancing its strength, and swept it with precision. The wolf went down silently, and the student scrambled to his feet, dazed and shaking. Lin Wei did not pause to acknowledge him; he had no time for distraction.
The Crimson Lotus Grove spread out before him now, a hidden sanctum of dangerous beauty. Pools of stagnant water reflected the strange red light, their surfaces swirling unnaturally with corrupted Qi. Spirit vines twisted along the ground and hung from the trees like serpents, some with petals that exuded a faint, numbing fragrance. Faint whispers carried on the wind, almost like voices, though the forest itself was silent. Lin Wei's senses flared, picking up the subtle disturbances in the Qi, the hidden pressure points, the presence of predators just beyond vision. His body remained calm, every muscle poised, every breath precise.
A pack of crimson lotus serpents slithered silently from the undergrowth, their scales shimmering faintly in the dim light. They were venomous, their movements swift and unpredictable. The other students froze, unable to react in time. One serpent struck, fangs extended, and a scream pierced the air. Lin Wei reacted instantly, using purified energy to enhance a fallen branch, striking with precision at the creature's head. It recoiled but did not fall. Another serpent lunged from above, and Lin Wei sidestepped, using a combination of agility and calculated force to neutralize it without overexertion.
As he worked, the faint hum of the system activated, almost imperceptible at first. A thin line of light appeared in his mind, and he recognized the sensation immediately: an emergency mission had been triggered. The system's presence was silent, unseen by anyone else, but it resonated clearly within him. "Objective: Purify the Crimson Lotus Grove corruption. Time limit: 24 minutes. Threat level: High. Rewards: Rare Divine-grade Herb, Martial Technique Fragment, System Storage Expansion. Failure: Mortal weakness for 24 hours, severe injury, or death." Lin Wei did not panic; the system's tone was neutral, matter-of-fact, but the stakes were unmistakable.
He focused further, letting the flow of Qi within him synchronize with the surrounding energy of the grove. Each movement of his hands, each step across the uneven terrain, was deliberate, precise, and methodical. He purified the closest pool first, stripping the taint from the water until it shimmered faintly in the red light. The energy surged subtly into him, bolstering his already refined body, his muscles humming with newly integrated Qi. The other students were frozen with fear, unsure how to help or if they could survive the serpents and poisoned flora. Lin Wei ignored them, focusing on the task at hand. Survival required control, not distraction.
A shadow moved at the edge of the clearing, faster than any serpent or wolf. Lin Wei's eyes narrowed. This was not a creature of the forest—it was something else, a predator aware of his presence, testing him. He did not attack immediately; instead, he allowed the creature to reveal itself. A large, serpent-like beast, scales black with veins of crimson light running along its body, slithered from the undergrowth. Its eyes were intelligent, calculating. It hissed, a sound that reverberated through the grove, and charged with lightning speed. Lin Wei reacted, using purified energy to enhance a fallen branch, striking with precision at the creature's head. It recoiled but did not fall.
He realized immediately: this was the true guardian of the Crimson Lotus Grove. Minor threats, serpents, and shadow wolves had been the test; this was the real challenge. The system interface highlighted its strength subtly within his mind, displaying metrics he could only see: strength, speed, endurance, and attack pattern probability. He noted the weaknesses quickly—its attacks were fast but predictable in rhythm, its body dense but unbalanced. He adjusted, moving fluidly, striking when openings appeared, purifying the energy of the ground beneath him to create leverage. The creature hissed in frustration, but Lin Wei remained calm, every action precise and measured.
Minutes passed, though time felt stretched under the pressure of the mission. The other students watched in awe, some attempting to intervene but frozen by fear and their own inexperience. Lin Wei's body pulsed with purified energy, and finally, with one precise strike, he toppled the guardian. The beast collapsed, not dead, but neutralized; its energy began dissipating, absorbed subtly into the forest. The Crimson Lotus Grove's corruption diminished visibly, the red haze retreating slightly as pure Qi rebalanced the area.
The system confirmed completion internally. Rewards were silently integrated: a rare divine-grade herb materialized in his mind's eye, a martial technique fragment stored for later, and an increase in system storage capacity was acknowledged. Lin Wei exhaled slowly, maintaining composure despite the adrenaline, and looked around. The forest was quieter now, the energy balanced, yet he sensed it watching him still, patient and waiting for the next test.
When he returned to the group, the other students' expressions were a mixture of reverence, fear, and disbelief. None of them had seen the full extent of what he had done; they only knew he had survived what would have killed most, and that he had moved in ways that defied normal comprehension. Mu Xueyi, standing silently nearby, offered a faint smile, her eyes reflecting respect and curiosity. Lin Wei said nothing, simply acknowledging the forest and the lesson it had imparted: the world was far larger, more dangerous, and more rewarding than most imagined.
Somewhere deep within the Crimson Lotus Grove, the faint shimmer of energy pulsed again, taking note of Lin Wei's presence, as if preparing for the challenges yet to come.