The lakebed remained silent beneath the dark water.
Soft blue light drifted gently from the Water Essence Condensed Stones scattered across the exposed formation, while slow currents rolled through the depths like invisible tides. The entire underwater world felt suspended—still, ancient, and faintly alive with spiritual resonance.
Lian sat motionless upon the cracked stone platform.
Spiritual energy now surged into his body continuously.
Far denser than before.
Far richer.
Each circulation cycle felt smoother than the last, as though his meridians were finally learning how to move in harmony with the surrounding Qi.
The water itself seemed saturated with energy, like the lake had become a living conduit of cultivation.
Above him—
the white lizard floated silently beside the suspended Rank Seven clam.
Blue spirit flames drifted lazily around his form while his golden eyes remained fixed on Lian with calm, unbroken attention.
The child's cultivation speed had clearly improved.
Still slow by true cultivator standards.
But no longer hopelessly so.
Interesting.
Meanwhile—
Lian remained fully immersed in cultivation.
Time passed in silence.
Then—
another pulse spread through his body.
Softer than before.
But steadier.
More controlled.
The surrounding spiritual energy trembled faintly in response before settling again into its steady flow.
Lian slowly opened his eyes.
His breathing had deepened.
More stable.
"…This place is unbelievable…"
Even speaking felt different underwater, as though his voice itself was being carried through a thicker world.
His senses had sharpened noticeably.
He could now faintly perceive spiritual energy drifting through the lake currents—tiny blue streams, subtle fluctuations, invisible patterns of flow.
The world itself felt transformed after stepping fully into Spirit Refining.
The lizard spoke calmly above him.
"You are adapting."
Lian tilted his head slightly upward.
"…Is that normal?"
"Yes."
"Your senses improve after entering cultivation."
Lian lowered his gaze toward his hands in quiet disbelief.
A week ago—
he had been an ordinary village boy, completely incapable of sensing spiritual energy.
Now—
he was cultivating beneath a lake, beside a monstrous spirit beast, while conversing casually with a terrifying invisible lizard.
His life had turned absurd at a speed he still could not process.
Then suddenly—
the lizard's golden eyes shifted slightly.
Toward the clam.
Lian noticed immediately.
"…What?"
The white lizard answered calmly.
"It awakened briefly."
Lian froze.
"…What?"
Almost instantly—
the massive black clam trembled.
Its enormous shell shifted slightly where it hovered in suspended stillness.
A deep vibration rippled outward through the lake currents.
Lian's face went pale.
"…That thing is awake?!"
"Yes."
"…And you're saying that so calmly?!"
The giant clam released another pulse of spiritual energy.
Dense water-attributed Qi spread outward across the lakebed.
The surrounding blue stones responded, brightening faintly as if acknowledging its presence.
Then—
just as quickly—
the clam settled again.
Silent.
Dormant.
As though nothing had happened at all.
Lian stared at it nervously.
"…Did it see me?"
"Yes."
"…WHAT?!"
The lizard remained unbothered.
"It determined we were not worth engaging."
Lian's expression stiffened.
"…I don't know if I should feel relieved or insulted."
The white lizard ignored him entirely.
Instead, his attention drifted back toward the cracked stone beneath Lian.
The formation there likely had ancient origins—natural, yet refined over time, possibly connected to subterranean spiritual veins beneath the lake.
Very interesting.
Meanwhile—
Lian gradually calmed before hesitating again.
"…Lizarius."
"Hm."
"…Why are you helping me?"
Silence settled over the lakebed.
Blue light drifted through the darkness while currents curled gently around the glowing stones.
For several long moments, the lizard did not answer.
Then finally—
"Curiosity."
Lian exhaled immediately.
"…You always say that."
"Because it is true."
"But helping someone cultivate feels like more than curiosity."
The white lizard paused briefly.
Then answered with quiet certainty.
"You interest me."
Lian blinked.
"…That somehow sounds worse."
The lizard tilted his head slightly.
"Why?"
"…Because creatures like you shouldn't say things like that."
Silence followed.
Then—
"I understand."
Lian almost laughed at that.
Almost.
He looked around the glowing lakebed again.
The dense spiritual energy.
The massive clam.
The floating blue flames.
The invisible creature calmly guiding his cultivation.
Everything still felt unreal.
Yet his fear had subtly shifted.
Not gone.
Never gone.
But changed.
Less blind terror.
More cautious awareness.
Lizarius remained terrifying.
But strangely—
he had never lied.
Never deceived.
Never hidden danger behind false kindness.
Everything he said was direct.
Cold at times.
Harsh often.
But honest.
Lian lowered his gaze thoughtfully.
Then asked quietly—
"…What happens if someone stronger than you appears?"
The lizard answered immediately.
"I either escape or kill them."
Lian's mouth twitched.
"…That sounds exactly like something a spirit beast would say."
"It is efficient."
The boy gave a weak laugh beneath the water.
Then closed his eyes again.
"…I'm going to keep cultivating."
"Do so."
The lakebed fell silent once more.
Lian resumed circulating spiritual energy greedily, drawing in the dense Qi surrounding him without hesitation.
Above him—
the white lizard floated quietly beside the enormous clam, watching both the creature and the boy with steady attention.
Nothing escaped his perception.
Time passed.
The outside world slowly darkened above the lake while faint moonlight filtered through distant ripples overhead.
Deep below—
the lakebed remained illuminated by the soft blue glow of the Water Essence Condensed Stones.
Lian continued cultivating without pause.
Spiritual energy flowed steadily through his meridians now.
Still rough.
Still unrefined.
But vastly improved.
Every breath pulled in thick streams of Qi that would have been unimaginable in the village.
Even the exhaustion he had carried earlier gradually faded away.
Meanwhile—
the white lizard remained floating nearby.
Golden eyes calm.
Observing both Lian and the suspended Rank Seven clam.
Nothing escaped his awareness.
Then—
suddenly—
Lian's stomach growled loudly.
The sound echoed awkwardly within the underwater barrier.
The boy's eyes snapped open immediately.
Silence.
Then his expression stiffened.
"…Seriously?"
The lizard glanced toward him.
"Hungry."
"That is expected."
Lian rubbed his face tiredly.
"…How long have we been down here?"
"Approximately three months."
Lian froze.
"…Three… months?"
His voice cracked as he repeated it.
Then he immediately looked upward.
The lake surface far above was now almost completely dark.
Night had fully settled over the world.
Lian's face went pale.
"…My mother is going to kill me. How is that even possible? I thought it was only a few hours."
The lizard replied calmly.
"Perception of time is distorted underwater at this depth."
"That is not the point!"
Lian suddenly stood in panic beneath the water.
"I was supposed to be home before sunset!"
"And I've been gone for three months near the lake!"
"She must be worried sick!"
The lizard observed his panic without reaction.
Interesting.
Humans often feared emotional consequences more than physical death.
Lian turned toward him immediately.
"…Can we go back now?!"
"Very well."
The response came instantly.
Lian blinked.
"…Just like that?"
"You wished to leave."
"…Right."
Fair enough.
Without another word—
the white lizard moved.
The water around them shifted.
Invisible currents spiraled upward as an unseen force wrapped around Lian, the lakebed, and the surrounding blue stones.
Lian's eyes widened.
"…Wait—"
One by one, the glowing Water Essence Stones lifted from the lakebed, drifting upward like suspended stars.
Even the massive clam shifted slightly as its resting place was disturbed.
Lian pointed urgently.
"…You're taking those?!"
"Yes."
"…Can you just do that?!"
"Already done."
Lian's face twitched.
Right.
Of course it was "already done."
The ascent began immediately.
Fast.
Far faster than anything natural.
The water obeyed an unseen will, carrying them upward effortlessly through the depths.
The blue stones trailed behind like drifting constellations beneath the dark water.
Lian stared at them in amazement.
"…Those things really are valuable, aren't they?"
"Correct."
"…Then why does that giant clam just stay there instead of eating them?"
"It absorbs ambient spiritual energy from them."
"…Oh."
That actually made sense.
Soon—
moonlight became visible above.
Then—
SPLASH.
They broke the surface smoothly beneath the night sky.
Lian inhaled sharply as fresh air filled his lungs.
Cold night wind brushed against his damp hair while moonlight shimmered across the lake's surface.
Then—
he paused.
"…I'm still dry."
Not a single drop clung to his clothes.
An invisible barrier still surrounded him completely.
Nearby—
the white lizard now floated openly, no longer concealed.
Moonlight reflected across his pale scales while blue flames drifted around him alongside the floating Water Essence Stones.
The scene was surreal.
Lian shook himself quickly.
"Nope."
"I'm not getting distracted."
"I need to go home."
He hurried toward the shore.
After a few steps, he paused.
Slowly turned back.
Lizarius hovered above the lake, golden eyes fixed on him calmly.
Lian hesitated.
Then asked awkwardly—
"…Are you coming?"
The white lizard remained suspended above the dark water.
Moonlight reflected off his scales while the floating stones drifted around him like stars.
Below—
the massive black clam rested motionless near the shore.
Lian stood frozen, still processing everything.
The lizard's calm voice carried through the night air.
"You are calmer now."
Lian nodded quickly.
"Yes."
"Much calmer."
"…Still panicking a bit inside, but calmer."
The lizard ignored the second part.
His gaze shifted toward the floating stones.
"You have reached First Stage Spirit Refining."
"Your cultivation speed remains inefficient."
Lian's face twitched.
"…You never miss an opportunity, do you?"
"One additional month beneath the lake would have likely advanced you to Second Stage."
Lian paused.
"…That fast?"
"Yes."
The lizard's gaze drifted toward the clam below.
"With these stones and this creature, your progress will accelerate further."
Lian looked between the clam and the crystals.
Then sighed and rubbed his face.
"…Okay."
"…Ignoring how insane all of this is for a second…"
"How am I supposed to take those back home?"
He pointed at the floating resources.
"That thing alone is bigger than my house."
"And if anyone sees me carrying glowing crystals and a giant spirit beast resource…"
He paused dramatically.
"…I'm pretty sure I'll be killed."
The white lizard remained silent for a moment.
Then—
he descended slowly.
Landing atop Lian's head once more.
The familiar weight settled.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Collect the stones."
Lian blinked.
"…That's it?"
The crystals slowly descended one by one.
Lian carefully gathered them into his robes, still glowing faintly with cold blue light.
He swallowed.
"…These really are valuable."
The lizard did not respond.
Once the last stone was collected, Lian looked up again.
"…Okay."
"What now—"
Before he could finish—
his body lifted into the air.
"WAAH—!"
He flailed instantly as the ground dropped away beneath him.
"Hey! What's happening?!"
"Transportation."
"That is NOT a normal way to describe flying!"
Lian was suddenly lowered onto the massive clam's shell.
THUD.
The clam rose with him aboard.
Lian froze.
"…No way."
Then—
the entire scene shifted.
Space distorted faintly.
First the clam disappeared.
Then the stones.
Then Lian himself.
His vision faded as even his own hands vanished.
"I'm invisible?!"
His voice echoed into nothing.
The lizard remained calmly resting atop him.
"This is concealment."
Lian looked around wildly despite seeing nothing.
"This is amazing!"
Then immediately—
"This is terrifying!"
The invisible clam ascended.
Wind rushed past as the lake and forest shrank below beneath moonlight.
The world stretched open above them.
Stars scattered across the sky like endless light.
Lian's heart pounded violently.
Fear.
Excitement.
Disbelief.
All intertwined.
Below—
the village lanterns glowed faintly in the distance.
Tiny.
Fragile.
And far above—
the invisible white lizard guided them silently through the night sky, calm as ever.