Li Xuan stepped into the cavern—
And stopped.
His gaze swept forward.
Then—
His eyes narrowed.
The scene before him—
Was death.
Bodies lay scattered across the ground.
Some melted.
Some torn apart.
The air was thick with a corrosive stench.
Faint smoke still lingered.
At the center—
The massive corpse of the Six-Eyed Venom Spider lay collapsed.
Its body charred.
Split open.
Completely still.
Not far from it—
Another figure.
The Core Formation cultivator.
Lying on the ground.
Silent.
Lifeless.
Li Xuan watched for a moment.
Expression calm.
"They fought… to the end."
His voice was low.
Thoughtful.
His gaze sharpened.
"A level five monster…"
"…and it still wiped them all out."
Silence lingered.
But—
He did not move forward.
Not yet.
Something felt off.
Too quiet.
Too still.
His eyes slowly scanned the surroundings.
Careful.
Alert.
Then—
He saw it.
At the center of the cavern—
A faint glow.
His gaze locked onto it.
A stone platform.
And above it—
Encased in a thin layer of ice—
A pill.
A pure aura radiated from it.
Dense.
Tempting.
Yet—
No one had taken it.
Not even in death.
Li Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Strange."
He stepped forward.
Slow.
Cautious.
Each step measured.
When he reached the platform—
He paused briefly.
Then—
He reached out.
Crack—
The ice shattered.
A faint chill spread into the air.
The pill fell into his palm.
Warm.
Dense.
Its aura pulsed steadily—
A level five pill.
Li Xuan studied it for a moment.
"This…"
"It can stabilize my dantian."
"Not fully recover it…"
"…but enough."
Without hesitation—
He stored it in his ring.
Then turned—
Ready to leave.
But stopped.
His gaze shifted.
Toward the spider's corpse.
Massive.
Still.
A level five monster.
"…It would be a waste."
With a flick of his wrist—
A dagger appeared.
He stepped closer.
Knelt.
Then struck.
The blade pierced the outer shell—
But slowed.
The flesh resisted.
He applied more force.
Slice—
The body opened.
A faint corrosive smell spread.
Dark fluid seeped out.
He ignored it.
Careful.
Precise.
After several cuts—
He reached the core.
A round object—
Green.
Faintly glowing.
Like a pill of condensed energy.
He took it.
Warm.
Heavy.
"A level five monster core…"
Without delay—
He stored it in his ring.
Then stood.
And left the cavern.
The passage was silent.
Empty.
Until—
Light appeared ahead.
Li Xuan stepped outside.
Fresh air met him.
Cool.
Clean.
He continued walking.
Putting distance between himself and the cave.
Only after he was far enough—
Did he stop.
He looked around.
Calm.
Alert.
No presence.
Satisfied—
He raised his hand.
The pill appeared again.
Its aura pulsed softly.
A level five pill.
He looked at it.
Quiet.
Focused.
He raised it—
Closer to his lips.
Then—
He stopped.
His hand froze.
A memory surfaced.
"You don't understand."
Mu Yao's voice echoed in his mind.
"Cultivation is everything to me."
"If I lose it…"
"…I won't be able to go on."
Li Xuan stood still.
The pill hovered near his lips.
His grip tightened.
His dantian—
Still damaged.
This pill—
Could stabilize it.
Could change everything.
For him.
A long breath left his lips.
His hand trembled slightly.
Then—
He lowered it.
"…No."
His voice was quiet.
Firm.
"This is more important to her than to me."
"I can recover later."
Even if it takes longer.
Even if it's harder.
He looked at the pill one last time—
Then stored it away.
Silence returned.
Li Xuan stood there briefly.
Then exhaled.
"…My bad luck."
A faint smile crossed his face.
He turned—
And began walking toward the village.
His steps were steady.
Though each carried a trace of pain.
The wind brushed past him.
Cool.
Quiet.
His gaze remained forward.
Calm.
Somewhere ahead—
The village awaited.