Black Wind sneered, hot on Lin Fan's heels. He wasn't in a rush, like a cat toying with a mouse. A Level 2 novice, no matter how agile, couldn't escape a fully equipped Level 8 player. In Black Wind's eyes, Lin Fan was just a juicy target, carrying the secret of "supreme-grade" spirit herbs.
Lin Fan ran headlong, his heart pounding, not from fear, but from intense focus. He knew he couldn't beat Black Wind, but he wasn't one to give up easily. His brain worked at full capacity, analyzing every nook and cranny of the forest, searching for a weak point, a tiny opportunity.
The forest wasn't large, but it was dense with trees and had steep terrain. Lin Fan used every obstacle, weaving between tree trunks, leaping over rocks, trying to widen the gap. Black Wind, though stronger, seemed unaccustomed to chasing in such complex terrain. His focus was clearly on direct combat.
He plunged into a small ravine, where tangled vines hung like spiderwebs. Black Wind was right behind him, his dagger mere inches from Lin Fan's back.
"Keep running! You won't escape!" Black Wind roared, his voice oozing self-satisfaction.
Lin Fan suddenly noticed a small cave hidden beneath a fallen ancient tree. It was too narrow for Black Wind to easily enter. A crazy idea sparked in his mind.
Without hesitation, he rolled into the cave. Black Wind's dagger grazed the outside, tearing a piece of his clothes.
"Damn it!" Black Wind cursed, slamming his dagger against the tree trunk. "You think hiding in there will keep you safe? Come out now! Don't make me drag you out myself!"
Lin Fan didn't respond. He curled up in the cave, his heart still thumping. The cave was pitch black, barely large enough for one person to lie in. Black Wind couldn't get in, but he was also trapped.
"He'll wait for me to come out," Lin Fan thought. "Or call for backup." This was an extremely disadvantageous situation. He could starve to death here, or be forced out and killed.
But then, something strange happened. In the darkness of the cave, Lin Fan suddenly felt a cold, incredibly pure stream of energy flowing through his palm. He looked down in surprise. The grey jade pendant, which he had forgotten about in his haste, was gently vibrating in his inventory.
He quickly pulled it out. In the darkness, the pendant didn't glow, but the sensation of energy from it was clearer than ever. More importantly, he felt an incredibly dense surge of spiritual energy filling this cave!
Lin Fan was astonished. The spiritual energy here wasn't thin like outside; it was so dense he could feel it with his senses. "This is a Spirit Vein!" he gasped internally. According to forum posts, Spirit Veins were places of extreme spiritual energy concentration, rarely appearing in novice areas.
His jade pendant, upon contact with the Spirit Vein, seemed to be "absorbing" it at an alarming rate. A cold current of energy flowed from the pendant into his body, purifying every speck of impurity, transforming into pure spiritual energy.
Lin Fan didn't waste a second. He quickly sat cross-legged, placed the pendant on the ground, and began circulating his Basic Cultivation Manual. With the abundant and pure spiritual energy from the Spirit Vein, constantly "absorbed and refined" by the pendant, his cultivation speed soared.
The sensation of spiritual energy surging in his Dantian, flowing through his meridians, was ten times more powerful than when he was outside the village. Little by little, he felt his body being tempered, growing stronger.
Outside the cave, Black Wind was still cursing furiously. He had no idea what was happening inside. He just thought Lin Fan was trying to buy time.
An hour passed. Lin Fan felt a larger "boom" than before in his Dantian.
Congratulations! You have broken through to Qi Condensation Stage 2!
It didn't stop there. With the abundant spiritual energy from the Spirit Vein and the pendant's refining ability, Lin Fan's cultivation continued without interruption. Two hours later...
Congratulations! You have broken through to Qi Condensation Stage 3!
Lin Fan let out a shaky breath, sweat drenching his back. He opened his eyes, his gaze sharper than ever. Three hours, from Qi Condensation Stage 1 to Stage 3! A terrifying cultivation speed, unprecedented for a mortal.
He could clearly feel the surging power within his body. The spiritual energy in his Dantian had formed a small, powerful vortex. His Spiritual Energy Shield skill was also much stronger, enough to withstand a few attacks from a higher-level opponent.
But most importantly, the Spirit Vein seemed to be depleting. The pendant was still working, but the amount of pure spiritual energy flowing out had significantly decreased. Lin Fan understood that even the most abundant Spirit Vein had its limits. The jade pendant had absorbed almost all its energy.
"Get out here now!" Black Wind roared. He had lost his patience. "I'll give you ten more seconds! Otherwise, I'll destroy this cave!"
Lin Fan knew this was the moment. Black Wind didn't know about the Spirit Vein, didn't know he had grown stronger. This was his advantage.
He checked his inventory. A few Spirit Herb Mushrooms left, and two Spirit Recovery Pills. Not much.
He stood up, stretching slightly. His body felt full of vigor. He activated his Spiritual Energy Shield to its maximum.
"Alright then!" Lin Fan said, his voice clear in the cave. "I'm coming out!"
Black Wind flinched. He hadn't expected Lin Fan to come out willingly.
When Lin Fan stepped out of the cave, Black Wind's face showed clear astonishment. "You... how are you still alive?" Black Wind blurted out. He had thought Lin Fan would suffocate or starve inside.
"What do you want?" Lin Fan asked coldly, his eyes showing no fear.
Black Wind smirked. "I want your stuff! And I'll kill you to get it!" He lunged again, his dagger swinging, aiming straight for Lin Fan's throat.
Lin Fan didn't fully dodge. He raised his hand, activating his Spiritual Energy Shield, blocking the fatal attack. "Boom!" A loud sound echoed. Lin Fan's Spiritual Energy Shield vibrated violently, cracking.
HP: 50/110.
His health dropped by half, but he wasn't dead! A critical hit from a Level 8 opponent, and he still stood firm!
Black Wind's eyes widened. He couldn't believe it. How could a Level 2 block his attack?
Lin Fan seized the moment of his opponent's shock, delivering a punch straight to Black Wind's chest. It was a simple physical attack, but with his increased strength, it made Black Wind stumble back a step.
"You... you leveled up?!" Black Wind realized in horror. He had no idea what Lin Fan had done in the cave.
"You don't need to know," Lin Fan replied, his eyes as cold as ice. He didn't want to drag this out. His goal was to escape, not to kill. He now understood that a hidden Spirit Vein in a novice area was extremely unusual, possibly a crucial clue about the workings of the "Nine Realms Immortal Realm."
He didn't press the attack. He turned, sprinting deeper into the forest, towards denser foliage. His speed was much faster than before. Black Wind, still reeling, took a moment to regain his composure and give chase.
But now, the distance between them was different. Lin Fan, at Level 3 with abundant spiritual energy, could burst with speed. He flew through the narrow paths, weaving between ancient tree trunks. Black Wind struggled to keep up much more.
Lin Fan knew he wouldn't give up easily. He needed to create a safe distance, or find a truly secure hiding place.
He plunged into an area of thick fog. "Poisonous fog zone!" Black Wind suddenly yelled. He knew this area was dangerous and stopped.
Lin Fan didn't stop. He had read about this area. The fog wasn't instantly fatal, but it would gradually drain a player's HP if they stayed too long. He had his Spiritual Energy Shield, and more importantly, he had something Black Wind didn't: calculated recklessness.
He plunged deeper into the fog, feeling his HP slowly tick down. Black Wind, after a moment of hesitation, dared not follow into the thick mist. He knew he couldn't risk it.
Lin Fan continued running until he could no longer hear Black Wind's footsteps. He stopped, leaning against a tree trunk, panting. His HP had dropped to 30/110. He quickly took out a Spirit Recovery Pill and swallowed it. The sensation of spiritual energy surging back, his HP gradually recovering.
He had escaped. But today's lesson was costly. His anomaly had been noticed. This Nine Realms Immortal Realm was not a place where he could simply earn money at leisure. It was fraught with danger and predators.
He looked at the grey jade pendant in his hand. It had helped him break through, helped him survive. And it had also revealed another secret: Spirit Veins are not endless resources. He needed to find other Spirit Veins, or another way to supply spiritual energy to the pendant.
And most importantly, he needed to become much, much stronger. Strong enough that no one would dare lay a hand on him again.