The fox frowned slightly as it felt the flow stabilize.
"…One hour isn't going to be enough."
Without hesitation, it opened its pouch again.
More **low-grade spirit stones** floated out—some of average quality, others clearly poor. One by one, they slid smoothly into the auxiliary slots of the Qi-Gathering Array. With each stone that locked into place, the runes flared brighter, the formation deepening, widening the scope of its pull.
The air thickened.
Qi no longer merely drifted in—it **streamed**.
The fox's fur stirred under the pressure as dense currents wrapped around its body like warm, flowing water.
"For the time we're staying here," the fox said calmly, "I need to make the best of it."
Another stone dulled.
Then another.
Fine cracks spread across their surfaces as they were steadily consumed, but the fox showed no hesitation. This wasn't waste.
This was **investment**.
With a flick of its tail, several **pill bottles** and **lacquered boxes** appeared beside it, arranging themselves neatly within arm's reach. The faint scent of medicinal herbs filled the room—cool, sharp, invigorating.
"Recovery pills," the fox murmured. "Stabilizers. Qi-gathering pills…"
Its gaze shifted to the lacquered boxes.
The fox reached out and opened one.
Inside, nestled in spirit silk, lay an **Earth-grade herb**.
**Xī Líng Cǎo**.
Its leaves were thick and jade-green, veins glowing faintly as if Qi itself flowed through them. The moment the box opened, the surrounding formation reacted—runes brightened, the pull of Qi smoothing out, becoming **stable and disciplined** rather than aggressive.
The fox's eyes narrowed slightly in approval.
"An Earth-grade Qi-stabilizing herb… good," it murmured. "This will guard the absorption."
Without hesitation, it drew the herb out, crushed it between its jaws, and swallowed.
Cool vitality spread instantly through its meridians, forming a natural buffer—no turbulence, no swelling, no risk of deviation.
Next came the **Earth-grade Qi-Gathering Pill**.
It placed the pill on its tongue and allowed it to dissolve.
The effect was immediate.
The Qi-Gathering Array surged, but this time the energy flowed **cleanly**, funneled directly into the fox's dantian like a controlled river rather than a flood. The herb anchored the process, reinforcing every pathway, preventing even the slightest leakage.
The fox lowered itself fully to the floor, curling slightly as it settled.
Eyes closed.
Breathing slowed.
Its storage pouch rested against its chest, the hidden jade talisman pulsing once before falling silent—standing guard.
The room grew still.
Qi thickened to the point of visibility, pale mist coiling around the fox's body as cultivation entered a deeper state. Each breath drew in power; each exhale refined it further, compressing it, polishing it.
Minutes passed.
Then longer.
The spirit stones embedded in the formation cracked one by one, turning dull and gray as their essence was stripped away.
Inside the fox, something **settled**.
Not a breakthrough yet—but a **solidification**, a strengthening of foundations that would make the next step far smoother, far safer.
Across the room, the lizard shifted in its sleep, tail twitching once. Empty jars clinked softly before falling still again.
Two cultivators.
Two instincts.
And in the sealed, rune-layered quiet of the room, power continued to gather.
---
### **Scene Shift**
The sky was bright.
The road had been long and harsh, winding through mountains, forests, and rivers.
Days of travel had left **Li Qiye's** robes streaked with dust and his hair damp with sweat, but his eyes remained sharp, unyielding. Behind him, his small retinue followed in silence, careful to give him space. The burden of **White Hollow City's devastation** pressed upon his shoulders like stone.
At last, the **Azure Serpent Sect's gate** appeared on the horizon.
Two solitary stone pillars stood tall and imposing against the mist-shrouded mountainside. Beyond them, nothing was visible. The sect itself lay far away, hidden deep within the mountain—its main halls, inner courtyards, and ancestral grounds concealed beneath layers upon layers of formation arrays.
Li Qiye dismounted, brushing the dust from his robes, and stepped forward to stand between the two pillars.
He did not call out.
He did not make any unnecessary movement.
Instead, he reached into his robes and drew forth a **small jade token**, etched with the centuries-old crest of the Li family. Its surface shimmered faintly in the waning sunlight.
Raising it slightly, he spoke, his voice clear and steady, carrying the weight of urgency and restraint:
"I am **Li Qiye of the Li Clan of White Hollow City**. This token proves my bloodline and my right to speak before **Elder Lianhua**—the long-lived ancestor of our family, who entered the Azure Serpent Sect centuries ago."
He paused, letting the silence stretch.
The jade token gleamed like a promise.
Then his voice deepened, urgency sharpening beneath his control.
"White Hollow City has been attacked by **demon beasts**. All elders present were slain. I come to report this calamity and humbly request an audience with Elder Lianhua, that the sect may hear the truth and, if it wills, offer guidance and aid."
For a long moment, silence stretched between the pillars.
Then—without warning—a calm, commanding **female voice** filled the space.
It seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once, as though the mountain itself had spoken.
"He is **Li Qiye**," the voice said. "A descendant of the main line. Bring him in."
Li Qiye's eyes narrowed slightly at the voice, but his posture did not waver.
From the shadows beyond the pillars, two **disciple attendants** emerged, moving with precise, disciplined steps. They stopped a few paces from him and bowed lightly.
"The elder commands," one said quietly, voice respectful. "Step forward, Li Qiye. We will guide you—but proceed with caution."
Li Qiye bowed once more, deeper this time, the jade token held firmly in his hands.
Every step toward the sect carried **the weight of his ruined city**, every stride a silent plea for aid.
Behind him, his guards followed, careful not to overstep.
The air around the gate hummed faintly, as if the sect itself acknowledged his presence.
Li Qiye inhaled slowly, steadying himself.
Whatever awaited inside, being recognized by **Elder Lianhua—elder of the sect and long-lived ancestor of his bloodline—was already a small victory.**