Chapter 31: Night Camp

The still-warm body of the Razor Wolf lay before them, its silver fur glinting faintly under the dimming sky. Huan Tao carefully extended her paw-like hand toward the beast's core.

As soon as her fingertips brushed the surface of the spiritual core, a subtle pulse—refined yet violent—flowed into her palm.

Her golden eyes widened.

"Tian Jue! This—this isn't an ordinary Foundation Beast core!"

Tian Jue glanced up from organizing herbs by the firepit.

"Oh?"

Huan Tao pressed her palm against the beast's chest and concentrated.

A stream of energy rose from the beast's inner organs, pure and ancient, glowing faintly red.

"This… it's blood essence! And not just any kind—this wolf had an imperial-rank bloodline in its lineage!"

Tian Jue turned slightly and wiped his hand on a cloth. His expression remained calm, as if someone had just told him the weather was pleasant.

"Good spoil."

Huan Tao stared at him.

"Just… good?"

"Mm."

She squinted at him, tail twitching.

He didn't even blink. Don't tell me… this isn't the first time he's harvested imperial blood essence? What kind of childhood did this guy even have?!

With the last of the sunlight vanishing behind the mountains, the duo moved into a small stone cave, nestled beneath thick foliage. The scent of blood in the area had started to draw flies—and would draw worse predators soon.

Night Camping

Inside the cave, Tian Jue lit a quiet fire using a formation stone. The warm glow filled the space, warding off chill and minor beasts.

He worked efficiently.

Chunks of meat were skewered and roasting over the flame. In a nearby pot, a medicinal broth simmered, laced with herbs that enhanced physical recovery and Qi circulation. Pieces of spirit beast tendon and marrow swirled in the bubbling mix, filling the cave with a rich aroma.

Huan Tao sat across from him, still carefully cradling the glowing core in her hand.

"Even a sliver of this blood essence could change a beastfolk's entire fate," she muttered. "An imperial wolf lineage… The Razor Wolves must've interbred with ancient metal-lords. Rare. Powerful."

Tian Jue poured himself a ladle of soup and offered another to Huan Tao.

"You should refine it once we return. It's best to absorb such essence in a stable environment."

She nodded, ears folding back slightly.

"Thanks. I'll owe you one."

Tian Jue smirked faintly.

"Just remember you're on cooking duty next time."

As they ate, Tian Jue stirred the fire with a stick and asked,

"By the way, tell me more about the outer disciple hierarchy. I want to know who's actually worth noting."

Huan Tao perked up, her mouth still half full of barbecue.

"Oh, sure. So, in the outer sect area, everything's divided by contribution and cultivation."

She counted on her fingers.

"There are three tiers: Standard, Elite, and Core-track Outer Disciples."

"Standard are your average folks—Qi Refinement layers one to five, doing chores, missions, and earning points slowly."

"Elites are those above layer six. They get better residences, access to resource halls, and can form teams for exploration. You're definitely in this group."

Tian Jue raised a brow.

"Then the last?"

Huan Tao's voice dropped a bit.

"Core-track disciples. They're the top 10 or so outer disciples with the potential to become true core disciples. Usually at ninth Qi Refinement or already Foundation Establishment. Some have backers, others are geniuses like you."

Tian Jue took a sip from his bowl.

"Any names worth remembering?"

"There's Wei Yun—rumored to have fire spirit roots and cultivates a blazing saber technique. And Mu Qinglan, an alchemist genius with a soft temper but terrifying poison spells. Also a sword cultivator named Xu Lin, but he's rarely seen."

She poked at the fire, then added with a yawn,

"They say the Sect is preparing to host the Spring Core Disciple Trials. The outer sect will be shaken when that happens."

Tian Jue leaned back against the stone wall and closed his eyes briefly.

"Sounds like a good time to climb the ladder."

Outside, the wind howled through the trees. Inside the cave, the fire crackled softly, the scent of herbs and grilled meat lingering in the air.

As the stars climbed higher, Tian Jue entered meditation—his Qi flowing smoothly, elemental resonance gently humming as his body adapted further to his enhanced constitution.

Morning in the next day.

The soft aroma of peach tea drifted into Tian Jue's nostrils, gently tugging him from his meditation. His eyes fluttered open. Outside the cave, early morning mist clung to the trees, and golden rays of light pierced the forest canopy.

He blinked slowly, adjusting to the quiet warmth of the moment.

"Peach?"

Rising, he stepped barefoot across the dewy grass toward the riverside, washed his face in the cool, clear stream, and glanced toward the makeshift camp. There, seated cross-legged near the fire, was Huan Tao, gently pouring tea into two simple clay cups from a slightly chipped teapot.

Her thick tail swayed slowly behind her, ears alert as she looked up and smiled.

"You're awake. I thought I'd be the first one up today."

Tian Jue sat across from her, accepting the cup she slid over.

"Hard to believe anyone wakes up before me. My mother always dragged me out of bed before the sun rose. Guess it stuck."

He took a sip. The peach tea was fragrant and lightly sweet—refreshing but grounding.

"You really like peach fruit, don't you?" he asked.

Huan Tao chuckled, her smile soft.

"Yeah. My grandmother gave me a peach seed before I joined the sect. I was only four."

Tian Jue's eyes narrowed slightly in surprise.

"So… more than half your life has been in this sect?"

She nodded, gazing into the steam rising from her cup.

"I planted that seed behind my residence. I don't know if it'll ever grow into a tree, but… it's a part of home."

Tian Jue was silent for a beat, then spoke again.

"Why'd you come to the hidden stage lecture with me? You already seem to know more than most outer disciples."

Huan Tao's ears perked slightly.

"Ah… I actually missed it twice. First time I was sent on a sect mission—tracking rogue cultivators in the southern forest. Second time, my master stopped me. Said I needed to culminate my understanding first."

Tian Jue nodded thoughtfully.

"That makes sense. From what I understood, breaking into the hidden stage… everyone needs a personal path. The foundation must be solid, and the method unique."

"Exactly," Huan Tao replied, sipping her tea.

"Who's your master?" Tian Jue asked casually.

"One of the core elders," she replied. "Elder Meilan."

So her master is in the Nascent Soul realm or above, Tian Jue deduced. No wonder her cultivation and footwork are so refined—even her blood-burning techniques are unique.

They sat in companionable silence for a moment until Huan Tao tilted her head curiously.

"By the way… that herbal soup you made yesterday—what was that? It tasted better than any standard elixir I've bought from the sect store. It even helped ease the strain in my meridians."

Tian Jue smiled faintly.

"Most standard elixirs are made to forcefully accelerate Qi absorption. They're useful but… crude. Mine was designed to consolidate Qi flow and enhance the body—especially bones and marrow."

Huan Tao's eyes widened slightly.

"That kind of effect… requires Tier 2 herbs at least. They're expensive—and not easy to blend. You'd need to be at least a Tier 2 herbalist to make it work."

She stared at him for a moment, the realization dawning.

"Wait. Don't tell me… you're a herbalist?"

Tian Jue gave a small nod, still sipping his tea.

"I passed the Tier 2 herbalist examination before we left for this expedition."

"Seriously?!"

He shrugged.

"My mother's an herbalist. I've learned a lot from her, and I've always had a good sense for medicinal combinations."

Huan Tao shook her head in disbelief, chuckling.

"You're a beast in combat, a genius in cultivation, and now I find out you're also a Tier 2 herbalist? Is there anything you don't do?"

Tian Jue set down his cup.

"I haven't learned how to brew peach wine yet."

They both laughed.

As the last of the tea was sipped and the sun finally cleared the mountaintops, they packed up their supplies in silence. The bond between them—quiet but strong—was beginning to form the foundations of a powerful partnership.

Soon, they would delve deeper into the forest, and the trials ahead would test more than their cultivation.