The sun had barely broken over the horizon when Lin Wei reached the edge of the Mystic Forest. The air was thick and heavy, carrying a faint, acrid scent of wild herbs and damp earth, while the towering trees above twisted their branches as though alive. Light barely filtered through, and shadows stretched unnaturally across the forest floor, moving ever so slightly as if observing. Behind him, the other students of Riverstone Regional Academy's Outer Yard moved cautiously, whispering among themselves, their nerves barely concealed. Some glared at him, others tried to appear indifferent, but Lin Wei noticed all of it. He did not respond. Attention was a blade that could cut both ways, and he had long since learned how to sheath himself against it.
He walked deliberately, hands brushing against leaves as he moved. Each step was measured, not a movement wasted. The Mystic Forest pulsed with unstable spiritual Qi, dense yet uneven, tangling subtly around the roots and trunks, making each breath feel heavy. Even without the system interface, Lin Wei sensed the taint in the air and the strange fluctuations of energy within the forest. A few small spirit beasts skittered through the undergrowth—glowing-eyed foxes and silent shadow wolves—watching the students' movements with predatory patience. The instructors had warned them not to underestimate the forest, yet most students froze under the weight of their own hesitation. Lin Wei moved past them calmly, almost gliding through the gloom, every sense heightened but composed.
After a short while, they reached a small clearing. A pool of stagnant water reflected the muted light, its surface tinged with a faint reddish hue. The instructor overseeing the group stepped forward, his voice carrying easily through the dim forest, and instructed them to purify the pool before moving deeper. Failure or delay, he warned, would have dire consequences. The other students faltered, glancing at one another in hopes someone else would take the lead. Fear was clear in their eyes, and hesitation threatened to paralyze them entirely. Lin Wei, however, moved forward without a second thought. He knelt beside the pool, dipping his hand into the foul, thick water. Even without relying on the system, he could feel the impurities, the twisted energy, and the suffocating density of Qi trapped within it. He inhaled, exhaled, and began a quiet, deliberate process, moving subtly and with intent, letting his purification skills flow naturally. The water began to shimmer, its surface clearing as he removed the corruption silently, leaving the pool glowing faintly before returning to stillness. Around him, the other students stared, wide-eyed, whispering in disbelief. A boy muttered, "How… how is he doing that?" but no one dared come closer. Lin Wei simply stood, expression calm, and turned his gaze forward, saying nothing. Actions, he thought, always spoke louder than words.
Before the group could recover from the shock, a low growl broke the silence. From the dense underbrush, shadow wolves lunged, eyes glowing red and fangs bared. Chaos erupted as students scrambled, some tripping over roots, some dropping their wooden practice swords in panic. One boy fell hard, a cry of pain cutting through the forest as a wolf lunged toward him. Lin Wei moved seamlessly, a figure of precision in the chaos. He sidestepped a charging wolf and used its momentum against it, sending it crashing into a tree. A fallen branch nearby became a weapon in his hands, subtly strengthened by his purification energy. Each strike was deliberate, clean, and lethal, yet controlled. Within moments, several wolves lay unconscious or retreating, and the other students watched, frozen in a mixture of fear and awe. Lin Wei's eyes flicked toward a darker patch of shadow where a larger predator emerged, testing him, yet he did not falter. His body moved with fluidity, every strike intentional, his calmness unnerving. By the time the last wolf had been dealt with, the water of the pool reflected the first rays of sunlight fully, purified and bright. Lin Wei felt the subtle influx of energy, almost imperceptible, as a reward for his precision and focus. No words were exchanged; no celebration was needed. His actions had already spoken volumes.
As the students regrouped, Mu Xueyi appeared nearby, her amber eyes assessing him quietly. She said nothing at first, merely studying his movements, his calm posture, and the aura of subtle control that surrounded him. "You didn't even look like you were trying," she said softly, her voice almost teasing. Lin Wei inclined his head slightly, offering a faint smile. "I am always calm when I focus. Wasting effort is inefficient." She regarded him for a moment, a glimmer of curiosity and respect in her eyes, before moving on to organize the herbs she had carried with her for the forest expedition. Lin Wei did not speak again, merely observing the forest around him, aware of the subtle changes in Qi and the faint pull of energy that seemed to thrum just beyond perception. He had felt it as soon as he arrived—the faint shimmer of the Crimson Lotus Grove, reacting to his presence, aware of his purified body and quiet mastery. A whisper of opportunity, of danger, teased at the edge of his awareness, but he moved forward without haste, knowing patience was a weapon as sharp as any blade.
The day stretched on, and the students continued deeper into the forest, facing minor hazards, strange flora, and erratic spirit Qi. Lin Wei walked steadily, observing, reacting, and guiding only with subtle movements, his presence a quiet anchor amid the chaos of those around him. Some students struggled, others stumbled into dangerous patches of thorns or slippery terrain, but Lin Wei navigated each challenge with calm certainty. The Mystic Forest itself seemed to shift subtly around him, shadows lingering in unexpected places, light filtering strangely through the canopy, as if the land was testing him, measuring his control over body and mind. By the time night began to fall, the first trial had been completed, with many students exhausted, some injured, and others humbled by their inability to control fear or energy. Lin Wei, as always, remained composed, body purified, mind sharp, and ready for whatever came next.
As darkness fell, the forest took on a new character. The crimson haze of the grove deepened, shadows moved more freely, and the faint hum of corrupted Qi pulsed from deeper within. Lin Wei paused at the edge of a clearing, sensing the pull again. He did not move forward immediately, allowing his awareness to probe the forest's depths. The energy of the Crimson Lotus Grove stirred more strongly now, a subtle resonance responding to him. He felt no fear, only anticipation. The world always tests those who are ready, he thought, and always rewards the careful. He closed his eyes briefly, letting the purified calm of his body and mind merge with the surrounding Qi. He was ready, and the forest knew it.