Newcomer

Well, well my little friends, I the great Du Liang has been trapped in this Natural Array formation for a few months already. The mind confusion thing or what's not has already been dealt with for the time being. My injuries are almost healed. I simply need to molt some more time, so my wings could grow back.

Also, this place is really irritating. It has an abundant amount of Qi, but for some weird reason, I can't absorb any of them. I used up my Qi reserves in my nucleus to heal up. I don't have any way to replenish my Qi.

AH!!!! I bet that my progress experience great leapt forward. Oh no, I lost my calm here again. Anyway, it's good that I still have my poison skills, but I still need to be careful not to poison myself. How laughable it would be. I still have a long way to go to be fully immune.

...

"What the... Where am I?"

...

Hmm. Did I just hear someone? No, not possible, maybe? Nope, heard correctly. There really is someone here. This might be my opportunity to run away. But for now, I should hide.

...

A middle-aged man is sitting cross-legged on the ground with a head full of question marks. He is wearing a blue hanfu and a grey sash. He has long black hair and a golden headdress. On his waist, there is a long sword scabbard.

While sitting on the ground, he started complaining.

"Where did I go wrong? My compass is not broken, but why I am moving in circles? Well, no matter what, I will get my hands on the Qi Surging Flower."

With that notion, he took out from his ring a Yellow Talisman paper and started chanting. In a while, the Talisman paper started giving off a white light.

"... , show me the true path and destroy all illusion on my way. Release!!"

With his last words, the Natural Array Formation started crumbling. The sky, earth and is surrounding started breaking like a mirror, and in a few seconds, it completely shattered the surrounding.

Few meters away from the men stood a beautiful flower. Its red leaves were coiling around the stem, and its petals were giving of blazing heat.

The Qi Surging Flower that helps one to overcome the barrier in reaching the next stage. Well, of course, it's useful only for the first three stages. Not really rare but not uncommon either. But the best characteristic of this flower is that everyone can consume it without hurting themself.

But for our middle-aged man who could not progress for fifty years its a godsend chance. He is already 200 years old, and he is still a High-level Expert. Since he likes freedom he has not joined any sect, so he spend all his resources to get his hand on this Talisman.

He found this place thanks to his friend's advice. Well, he owned him a favour, so he gave him the Qi Surging Fower's whereabouts. With a strong obsession in his eyes, he is moving to the flower with caution.

His long life has taught him one thing. That's to never underestimate any situation no matter how much it is in his favour. Fate it's a b*tch so progress with caution.

Still, even with all his caution senses on, he can't stop fixing his gaze on the flower. The closer he is, the stronger his desire is arising from his eyes.

*Rustle*

"Who is there!!"

This small rustle made him awaken from his trance. With his sword moving forward to protect his vital parts, he is looking around. It might have been only a small movement, but his long years of experience is telling him that something is wrong.

He might not know where his opponent is, but he will never overlook this small disturbance. He is a cautious man, after-all.

Hi stayed in an alert position for another 15 minutes before he decided to move forward. But the moment he turned around, a black liquid is flying towards him.

Without any fear, in his face, he turned back and slashed the liquid in half. The liquid fell down and corroded the ground, but fortunately, it did not hit the flower's surrounding.

"Come out. Stop hiding."

Unfortunately, his voice went deaf for his opponent. Without stopping another poison went flying toward him.

*SLASH*

Without waiting, the man cut the poison in half and took the flower and started running away.

"Hmph. This is just a strategic retreat."

The middle-aged man took another Talisman from his Space Ring, and but it on himself.

"Release!!!"

His speed doubled, and he got far away without noticing that part of his sleave got corroded by the poison.