Why? Why did this mist muddle his mind? If it hadn't been just an illusion, he would never have wished to wake up.
The moment it invaded his mind, his heart ached, yet there was a strange beauty in experiencing that wild, illusory encounter—even if only for a fleeting moment.
He covered his face with both hands, pausing for a moment before trying to wash away the lingering disappointment.
But he was still on his mission. Time continued to slip away, dusk waiting for the sun to sink below the horizon. Above him, birds chirped incessantly, shattering the silence, while the slow, deliberate rustling of the canopies filled the air whenever the wind paused.
A narrow, even path waited ahead—strangely unsettling, as if someone lingered behind him.
Li Haoran steeled himself. He was beneath the Jiang-an Wild Woods for a reason: to enter, overcome every obstacle, obtain the Invasive Golden Vine, and face whatever trials awaited. He would have to accept the consequences, fight for his goal, and survive.
This wasn't just a goal—it was a series of steps he had to undertake.
He began to move, treading quietly along the narrow, even path. His bare hands tightened around a single sling, and his mind sharpened with focus. As in past trials, he knew the importance of being observant and cautious with every step.
Surviving the terrifying entrance and the illusory mist hadn't lowered his guard. What about now? Perhaps the true trials still waited ahead—who could say?
Focus. One word, yet full of purpose.
Before long, he reached a wide wetland.
Wild grasses, reeds, and sedges sprouted from the muddy soil, outnumbering the scattered mangroves. Amid them, an unfamiliar yellow-orange glow shimmered in the sunlight, blanketing the treetops at their crowns.
It looked mysterious—even its stem seemed to glow without end.
Li Haoran paused, trying to decipher the plant species across the wetland. It stood fifteen to twenty meters away from where he was.
Earlier that morning, before setting out on his mission, he had returned to the bookhouse at dawn and asked the attendant about antidote manuals. He studied each one carefully, analyzing their shapes, sizes, colors, features, and all their specific details. One by one, he used his spiritual power to commit the necessary ingredients to memory.
Because of that preparation, it wouldn't be difficult for him to recognize any of them.
Standing tall, he raised his hand—palm open—and a spectral figure appeared. Even from a distance, he recognized it: the Invasive Golden Vine was the very thing blanketing the solitary tree across the wetland.
Confirmed.
Once he verified it, he moved forward without hesitation and began stepping onto the field.
The soil was soft, muddy, and even spongy—just as the nearby villagers and local legends had described. With every step he took, the soil responded with a gurgling noise, and wild grasses of all kinds brushed against his robes as he passed.
He walked without stopping until, halfway across, his boots sank into the mud almost up to his knees.
Normally, mud in wetlands varies in depth—sometimes deep enough to swallow a person whole. So, there was no need to wonder or question it.
Li Haoran grimaced as he struggled to pull his boots free from the mud. The closer he got to his destination, the slower his progress became.
Meanwhile, he felt the mud wasn't just slowing his progress—it seemed to be sucking him down, growing deeper with every step.
For a moment, he paused and looked around. Along his path, clusters of thick reeds and sedges extended, their roots anchored firmly at the surface. He changed his direction, deciding to follow these bushes of reeds and sedges as a way to bypass the sucking mud.
He made it. Relief washed over his worried face; for a moment, he had thought he'd never escape that hellish mud. Carefully, he crawled forward, controlling his weight to avoid sinking along with the wild grasses.
It worked. He was fighting against the very density of the wetlands, but he pressed on.
By the time he reached solid ground, he pressed forward, finally leaving the soft portion of the wetland behind. He let out a sigh of relief after overcoming the harsh challenge of the earth's cruelest side.
In contrast, he had acquired the Miracle Purple Orchid with ease, but this time, he encountered obstacles even before reaching the elusive Invasive Golden Vine.
What a hassle.
He moved sideways, keeping a close eye on the glowing vine nearby. It was beautiful, with healthy stems and soft, round leaves. Its roots were entwined deeply with those of the mangroves, sturdy and strong.
Li Haoran didn't hesitate to seize the opportunity. He immediately steadied himself and climbed up the mangrove, plucking and pulling as much of the vine as he could. He even gathered the young shoots that could be easily replanted, setting them aside for safekeeping—just as he had done before.
He even infused it with his spiritual power, ensuring it would continue absorbing nutrients even away from its natural habitat. This way, the vine would stay alive until the day he finally returned home.
Afterward, he tucked the vine into his bag and slung it over his shoulder. Once it was secure, he carefully climbed down to leave. This time, he would have to walk back through the mud to exit the wetland.
A long, desperate breath escaped his lips as he composed himself, gazing out across the field. He searched for the firmest, most consistent patches of soil to minimize the struggle. With no other choice, he had to rely on the clusters of reeds and sedges, crossing through them to make his way out.
Involuntarily, he descended into the mud and began grabbing at the wild grass for support.
Who could have known that the spot he chose was the densest of all? The moment he set foot there, half his body was already swallowed by the mud.
It was utterly shocking and terrifying at the same time.
Li Haoran tightened his grip on the reeds, refusing to let go and risk sinking further. His teeth gritted and his jaw clenched as he fought for his survival. He had finally obtained the second antidote, but he never expected this ordeal to be as cruel as the first—draining his strength with every moment.
His knuckles turned purple as pain and numbness crept in. He trembled, sweat poured down his face, and tears stung his eyes—this was what he felt in that moment.
Unable to endure it any longer, he finally acted—unleashing his spiritual power to overcome the sucking mud. His energy burst forth like shattered glass, and in the blink of an eye, his body was propelled several meters away, landing amidst the remaining clusters of wild grasses. As he hit the ground, he didn't move. Beneath him, the soil began to tremble—slowly, as if something was lurking below.
Honestly, he was stunned.
What was happening?
More than two minutes passed before the soil finally stilled, sending tiny ripples across the edge of the field. The wetlands became quiet—still as a lifeless, untouched sea.
Only after the aftershock did Li Haoran begin to move. Slowly and deliberately, he crawled forward with extreme caution. That mud wasn't ordinary—it was what the locals called quicksand, capable of swallowing anyone who stepped in the wrong place.
For him… it had been terrifyingly close—almost a dead end.
"Phew!" he exclaimed after surviving that ordeal.
He continued crawling, mud splattering across his face as his elbows and knees dug into the soft, yielding crust. Every inch of him was soaked, the weight of the mud making each movement harder.
As he approached the halfway point, the ground began to tremble in an even more violent and unpredictable way than before. This time, the shaking was wild and unrestrained—everything around him moved uncontrollably, and even he couldn't make sense of what was happening.
He froze, not daring to move a muscle; his hands gripped the thick clusters of sedges so tightly that he wouldn't slip back into the mud.
Observing the situation, he realized that the trembling mud was behaving like a slow, powerful current, pulling all the wild grasses in a single direction—including the very cluster he clung to.
Confused and panicking, he quickly searched for the nearest cluster to escape to. However, nature was merciless—the once stable mud turned liquid and even deeper beneath him.
How could he possibly escape? This wasn't just an obstacle or a simple challenge—this moment was pressing him toward death. Every time he accomplished the impossible, it seemed as if fate itself sought to contradict his success. It was as if these trials wanted his life.
Li Haoran almost cursed aloud, but he held himself back. He feared that if he did, nature itself might side with his frustration and bring about his end.
What a mess!
His breath trembled, eyes darting in every direction. Where could he escape now?
Suddenly, a roar erupted, shaking the entire area. Li Haoran froze, straining to listen with nothing but his bare ears. He glanced around but saw nothing.
The sound was deep and reverberating, as if something massive was trapped beneath the surface, struggling to break free.
What was that?
It was the only question that formed in his mind as he swallowed hard, discomfort tightening in his chest. Suddenly, he remembered something: beyond the horrifying, illusory atmosphere, one of the greatest dangers in this place was the lurking, reclusive beast said to inhabit these wetlands.
Li Haoran bit his lower lip until he tasted blood. He was facing these trials alone, with no one to turn to. The scent of death already lingered around him.
It was so undeserved.
And so, he had no idea what kind of beast he was about to face now. Disoriented and cornered in the sinking mud, he felt more vulnerable than ever.
Strangely, the shaking ceased as suddenly as it had begun.
Li Haoran hesitated, then slowly crouched to peer at his reflection in the muddy surface.
But the brief moment of calm didn't last. Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted, shaking the entire area. Mud splattered violently in all directions, and Li Haoran was struck by the force of it.
A chunk of mud landed squarely on his face. He wiped it away, grimacing as he looked at the clump in his hand—nearly as big as his palm.
His eyes widened in shock as he finally looked up. Both eyes witnessed an unusually massive beast rising from beneath the surface.
According to ancient records, the only elemental guardian beast perfectly adapted to thrive within the deadly, churning depths of shifting quicksand was none other than the Quakemire Tortoise.
Its massive, rocky shell is etched with glowing, ancient runes that pulse with earth magic. Rather than sinking, these runes emit a subtle, high-frequency vibration that liquefies the surrounding earth, enabling the creature to effortlessly 'swim' through dense sand and mud as if moving through water.
Long, braided antennae sprout from its brow, acting as highly sensitive seismic sensors. The tortoise can detect the heartbeat of a single traveler or the subtle root movements of the Invasive Golden Vine from miles away, sensing everything through the layers of sand.
Its wide, webbed claws are equipped with leathery flaps that open to push through liquid sand and snap shut to lock onto solid rock, anchoring the beast instantly when it needs to strike.
Remarkably, the Quakemire Tortoise shares a mutualistic relationship with the Invasive Golden Vine. The vine wraps its roots around the creature's lower underbelly, drawing specialized minerals from the tortoise's elemental core. In return, the vine acts as a living mesh of defense, lashing out at anything that tries to blind or injure the beast.
The Quakemire Tortoise does not hunt out of malice; it is a living geomorphic lock. It rests in a state of semi-torpor beneath the quicksand oasis—awakening only when the magical presence of an outsider disturbs the vine's aura.
Realizing this, Li Haoran snapped back to reality. He had taken what the beast treasured and disturbed its rest. Now, he was in trouble.
The mud beneath him had fully liquefied into quicksand, and the safety of solid ground was far behind. How could he possibly fight back without making things worse?
Without warning, the beast finally spotted him. Li Haoran didn't dare to move; its gaze was sharp enough to cut through him at any moment. Then, abruptly, it turned and moved toward the Invasive Golden Vine, as if inspecting something.
As this unfolded, suspicion crept into Li Haoran's mind. He knew that once the beast realized the vines had been taken, he would face the consequences. Slowly, he helped himself up, silently casting a spell beneath him to keep from sinking further. Whatever happened next, he had to secure his own safety.
Deliberately, he began to move—quiet and careful. Unfortunately, his escape was cut short as the beast suddenly went wild. It turned, searching for him, and when it spotted him, it immediately leaped into the mud and dove beneath the surface.
Li Haoran felt his soul nearly flee his body as panic overtook him. He crawled faster, desperate to escape. Without his spell, he wouldn't stand a chance—but even with it, the protection would only last for an hour.
How helpless he felt.
As he passed the halfway point, a sudden shape loomed ahead—breaking free from the mud. The beast was waiting for him, effortlessly blocking his path.
Then a terrifying roar erupted, so powerful it nearly knocked him off his feet. The entire green landscape swayed under its strength, like a hurricane trying to suck everything in without warning or mercy.
However, his sling slipped from his grasp and flew behind him, landing in the relentless current of mud.
Li Haoran's eyes widened in shock. He had risked everything to obtain those two ingredients, and now they were about to be swallowed by the mud.
No—He won't allow it.
Despite the life-threatening danger, he leapt into the mud, letting the current carry him as he reached desperately for his bag.
The bag was already far from reach, and the quicksand was merciless—his body kept sinking, draining his strength. With his spell about to expire, he knew he couldn't rely on it any longer. Summoning every ounce of his spiritual power, he reached out with all his might, calling the bag back to him.
With sheer determination, he succeeded.
When the beast saw him refuse to let go of the bag, it grew even more aggressive. Li Haoran's keen eyes caught the runes on the beast's shell glowing brightly, as if they were summoning something—or unleashing its true power.
Behind him, the massive vortex began to form. With that, Li Haoran was pulled in by a tremendous force, the quicksand threatening to bury him alive. He was on the verge of being swallowed by death itself.
Struggling desperately, he tried everything he could—but this time, the beast used its power to restrain him through the quicksand, preventing any resistance. He couldn't move, his body frozen as if trapped in ice. The vortex pulled him down slowly, draining his strength until he was completely weak and finally swallowed by the sand.
Meanwhile, a thunderous sound erupted, shaking the entire area uncontrollably. In a flash, the Quakemire Tortoise was struck down by an anonymous force—precise and powerful. Whatever it was, it shot through the air and lunged toward the vortex, seizing Li Haoran's remaining hand still visible on the surface. With a mighty pull, it dragged him out of the quicksand.
This wasn't an anonymous rescuer—it was the Nether Abyssal Vine once again.
The vine dragged him back to solid ground, and as soon as he was safe, the Nether Abyssal Vine launched a relentless assault on the Quakemire Tortoise.
The tortoise rumbled helplessly in the mud, struggling to regain its footing with each brutal strike from the vine.
Li Haoran coughed violently, expelling quicksand from his lungs, and watched as the Nether Vine showed no mercy to the beast. Clutching his bag tightly, he steadied himself and slowly got to his feet.
In the final moment, as the Nether Abyssal Vine prepared to finish off the beast, Li Haoran shouted for it to stop. The vine froze, hearing and understanding his plea.
"You've done enough," he said, his voice trembling as he swallowed hard. "Let it go."