Chapter 36: The Ring’s Change
Tang Chun Xi remained still before the Inferior Qi Tree, her mind racing with a dilemma.
"How can I transport or store this tree?"
She furrowed her brows, her eyes scanning the small, damp cave. The dim light filtering through the hole in the ceiling illuminated the tree's slightly yellowed leaves, which seemed to tremble under her watchful gaze.
A storage pouch? Impossible. She knew well that they couldn't hold living beings.
If only she had a special artifact for transporting spiritual plants… but she didn't.
Tang Chun Xi pressed her lips together, considering her options.
Then, a thought struck her.
'If I can enter the spatial ring... then the tree should be able to as well.'
It was a bold idea. She had never attempted anything like it before. But if it worked, it would solve her problem instantly.
Without further hesitation, she took a deep breath and approached the tree. Placing her hand gently on its trunk, she focused her intent on storing it inside the ring. A faint shiver ran down her spine as the air around her seemed to vibrate.
The tree resisted at first.
Tang Chun Xi furrowed her brows and concentrated harder, feeling an increasing pressure on her mind. The effort was far greater than moving an inanimate object. Her body began to tremble slightly, sweat trickling down her temple.
Then, with a sudden pull, the tree vanished before her eyes.
Tang Chun Xi staggered backward, an overwhelming fatigue settling over her mind.
'It seems that moving living beings is far more exhausting than ordinary objects...'
She took a deep breath, trying to dispel the heavy sensation pressing against her head. But she couldn't afford to rest now.
Closing her eyes, she focused once more, attempting to sense where the tree had gone inside the ring.
An image surfaced in her mind: the Inferior Qi Tree was now rooted in the black soil surrounding the tower within the ring's space. Its previously malnourished-looking leaves now swayed gently, as if the energy there was more favorable for its growth.
Tang Chun Xi's eyes widened.
'The tree seems fine...'
Wasting no more time, she tried something even bolder—transporting herself into the ring.
This time, the process was much easier.
In the blink of an eye, she vanished from the cave and reappeared within the mysterious space.
As she opened her eyes, Tang Chun Xi took in the fresh scent of earth and vegetation. The space remained the same as before—shrouded in a mysterious gray mist, with an invisible boundary stretching as far as she could see.
But something was different.
She looked up, and her eyes widened.
The sky now had a sun.
Tang Chun Xi blinked, surprised. Previously, this space had been enveloped in a diffuse light without a visible source. Now, a sun hung overhead, its soft, warm glow bathing the environment.
—"Did this happen because of the tree?" —she murmured to herself.
That's when she felt a response.
Not from the space itself, but from the Lunar Umbrella.
"YES."
The answer was vague, almost ethereal, yet clear enough to confirm her suspicions.
Tang Chun Xi frowned.
If just one spiritual tree could cause this change… then what exactly was this space? What was its true nature?
She attempted to ask more questions to the Lunar Umbrella, but this time, it remained silent.
A hint of disappointment flickered across her face, but it was soon replaced by a more practical thought.
—"Nothing I own is simple… The Lunar Umbrella, the ring… I'll need to explore their functions further."
But another idea surfaced in her mind.
If she could enter the ring's space, could she also enter the tower again?
Her heartbeat quickened as she tried.
Nothing happened.
She tried again.
And again.
But the tower remained inaccessible.
Tang Chun Xi took a deep breath, pushing aside the disappointment threatening to creep into her expression.
—"At least now it seems like I can enter here whenever I want." — she said, testing her ability to enter and exit the space multiple times.
Determined to test one more thing, she turned her attention to the Inferior Qi Tree.
The tree looked different than before.
Its leaves appeared more vibrant, and its trunk, sturdier. Something about this space's energy was aiding its growth.
Tang Chun Xi grew curious.
She approached the tree and, this time, touched its trunk while channeling a strand of her Stellar Wood energy.
A wave of vibration ran through her hands.
Not only did the tree react, but it also emitted a feeling of joy and comfort, as if it was happy in this environment.
Tang Chun Xi narrowed her eyes, absorbing the sensation.
This was… unexpected.
But there was no time to investigate further. She needed to leave.
After quickly changing clothes and cleaning herself, she plucked one of the tree's yellow fruits and exited the ring's space.
The moment she reappeared in the cave, she scanned her surroundings cautiously.
The scent of venom still lingered in the air, but nothing seemed to have changed.
Quickly checking the snake's nest, Tang Chun Xi gathered a few trivial resources—fragments of spiritual bones, some herbs partially corroded by venom, and pieces of shed scales that might prove useful in the future. However, nothing here was valuable enough to justify staying any longer.
The fight had ended at least ten minutes ago.
"Time to leave."
She held the Lunar Umbrella in one hand, its surface glowing faintly, reflecting the lingering traces of spectral light still present in the cave. In her other hand, she started eating a yellow fruit, picked just before leaving the spatial ring.
The taste was slightly acidic but invigorating.
As soon as the pulp touched her tongue, a wave of warmth spread through her body. Her Qi began circulating faster, restoring itself with each bite. The mental fatigue she had felt after storing the Inferior Qi Tree gradually faded.
"These fruits take 10 to 30 years to ripen... and when they're at the right stage, they restore large amounts of Qi."
She calculated mentally while chewing.
"Five of these, and my energy would be fully restored. If I were just a root, two would have been enough."
A small smile crossed her lips.
But now was not the time to relax.
Tang Chun Xi quickly composed herself, her gaze sharpening. If the battle against the Shadow Serpent had drawn the attention of other cultivators, she needed to leave before being discovered.
Finishing the rest of the fruit, she cast one last look at the cave and, without hesitation, moved toward the tunnel's exit.
As soon as she emerged, she felt the wind. Taking a deep breath, she activated her Stellar Wood Aura, cloaking herself in its vibrant energy and harmonizing with the surrounding environment. With this technique, her body subtly blended into nature, reducing her spiritual presence and making her harder to track.
"I can't go too far. I need to recover my energy first."
Instead of moving along the ground, Tang Chun Xi chose a less obvious route. With agile steps, she propelled herself against the trunk of a tall tree, using her Qi control and lightness to leap gracefully and precisely from branch to branch.
She moved like a shadow among the treetops, leaving no footprints behind.
Her goal was clear: find a safe place to meditate and fully restore her energy before deciding on her next move.
As she crossed the forest, she finally found a suitable spot—a natural platform formed by intertwined roots of ancient trees. The elevated, hidden location was perfect for a short rest.
Tang Chun Xi settled in and closed her eyes, beginning to recover her energy.
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Shortly after her departure, two figures emerged from the darkness, stopping at the tunnel entrance.
One of them, a burly man with a stern face and dark robes, examined the ground with sharp eyes. Beside him, a middle-aged woman with narrow eyes and a scar on her chin studied the area with a calculating smile.
They exchanged a silent glance before advancing.
The burly man was the first to enter the tunnel, his steps heavy and firm. The woman followed closely behind, her eyes gleaming with interest.
As soon as they reached the depths of the cave, their suspicions were confirmed.
The disturbed earth at the center clearly indicated that something valuable had been recently taken. The air still carried traces of residual Qi, evidence of an intense battle.
The middle-aged cultivator smiled, greed flickering in her expression.
—"Something was taken from here... and whoever did it must be exhausted from the fight."
She turned to her companion.
—"Can you track them?"
The man didn't respond immediately. Instead, he walked toward the cave entrance, closing his eyes and attuning himself to the surroundings.
—"There are traces of aura here,"— he said, his voice low and steady.
The lingering energy from the battle had not yet fully dissipated, and with his experience, he could sense the direction in which the unknown cultivator had gone.
The woman's smile widened.
—"Then what are we waiting for?"
Without another word, the two cultivators left the cave, beginning their pursuit, following the trail left behind by Tang Chun Xi.