“I don’t heal everyone who comes to me, Yueyin,” Shuwan declared, her tone sharp, her eyes flashing with impatience. “I agreed to train Wu Tian because you insisted he is the Martial Genius destined to save us sky fairies. That alone is reason enough.” “Please, Shuwan!” Yueyin’s voice trembled with urgency, her palms pressed together as if in prayer. “Emperor Guangwu was wounded while helping me search for the fairy relic at the Lin An auction. His injuries are my fault. And Zhang Fei—he was gravely hurt while investigating the truth behind that relic. Their suffering is tied to me. I cannot stand by while they bleed for my cause.” Shuwan’s lips tightened, but after a long pause she relented. “Very well. If their wounds are bound to your fate, I will attempt to heal them.” Her words carried a weight that silenced the group. Without hesitation, Shuwan knelt beside Zhang Fei, whose breath came in ragged gasps. His skin was pale, his chest rising unevenly. The fairy’s hands glowed

Shuwan pushed Wu Tian relentlessly, her training as sharp as tempered steel. Every exercise, every breath, every moment was designed to heal him completely and awaken the dormant potential within. She was not gentle—her methods were demanding, her expectations high—but beneath her sternness lay a fierce determination to see him rise. While guiding Wu Tian through cultivation, Shuwan continued to mend his displaced dantian with her fairy relic, channeling streams of luminous qi into his body. She combined this with rare elixirs brewed from spirit plants that grew abundantly in the Skyfairy Forest. Their fragrance filled the air—sweet, earthy, tinged with the sharpness of resin—and Wu Tian inhaled deeply, feeling the energy of the forest itself seep into his veins. He learned not only to absorb qi but also to recognize the properties of each spirit plant. Shuwan taught him how to grind their leaves, distill their essence, and combine them into healing concoctions. The process was me

Yueyin, Liu Xiu, and Zhang Fei arrived at the edge of Lao Shen Village, a place now shrouded in silence. The air was heavy, the streets deserted, and the faint smell of damp earth lingered as if the village itself mourned. “Walk carefully,” Liu Xiu whispered, his voice low but commanding. “We don’t know if the Undead Warriors have all been sent to the Dark Forest.” Yueyin’s eyes scanned the empty houses, their wooden frames creaking faintly in the wind. “What if Elder Lao isn’t here at all?” she murmured. “He wouldn’t stray far,” Liu Xiu replied firmly. “He must remain ready whenever the Undead Cultivator calls upon him.” They moved cautiously, their steps muffled against the dirt path. Liu Xiu’s qi shielded their presence, ensuring no sound betrayed them. The village seemed lifeless, its silence pressing against their ears like a warning. “Do you truly believe Shuwan’s claim that Elder Lao is involved in all this?” Liu Xiu asked, his tone edged with doubt. Yueyin hesitate

“Wu Tian!” The voice was familiar, carrying a warmth he hadn’t heard in some time. Trexis stepped forward from the misty grove, his presence calm yet urgent. Wu Tian turned, surprised. “Trexis? What is it?” Trexis’s eyes gleamed with concern. “You’ve become a cultivator now. Can we go to the Valley of Mist?” Wu Tian frowned, his memory hazy. “The Valley of Mist? Why?” Trexis’s tone grew heavier. “I sense danger. The Ashura Dragon Fairy is in peril. We must go. If you cannot, then allow me to go alone and see what has befallen her.” Wu Tian’s chest tightened. “I would go… but how? Shuwan never permits me to leave. She hasn’t even opened the portal for Yueyin or the others. I am trapped here in the Skyfairy Forest, Trexis.” Trexis tilted his head. “So only with Shuwan’s permission can you leave?” Wu Tian shook his head. “Not exactly. The only way out is through the dimensional portal she controls. Without her, there is no exit.” Trexis’s lips curved into a faint smile. “

“Begone, Darkness Cultivator! I will never join you!” The voice of the Ashura Dragon Fairy thundered across the Mist Valley, her form shimmering like a silhouette of blue smoke. Wu Tian’s eyes widened, astonished at the sight. “Trexis… is that truly the Ashura Dragon Fairy? Why does she appear so different from other dragon fairies?” Trexis nodded gravely. “Yes, Wu Tian. What you see is her spirit projection. She is expelling the Darkness Cultivator who managed to breach the Mist Valley, just as we did.” Wu Tian’s brow furrowed. “The Darkness Cultivator? I thought they had ceased their schemes after the rise of the Undead Cultivator.” Trexis’s voice was sharp. “The Darkness Cultivator’s form is nearing perfection. Once complete, even the Undead Cultivator will not rival him.” Wu Tian glanced at Trexis. “Why remain in your Trexis form, not Tian Kui?” Trexis’s eyes flickered. “I prefer this shape. Tian Kui’s dragon form is too fearsome, too recognizable. I do not wish the Da