Devor knelt on the ground, his hand moving with deliberate care as he traced the formation. The viscous, crimson liquid shimmered faintly, seeping into the soil as if it belonged. The symbols pulsed softly, harmonizing with the raw energy of the surrounding land.

  From his Spatial Ring, Devor pulled out a Spirit Stone, its crystalline surface catching the dim light with a soft gleam. He placed it precisely in the center of the formation, his movements steady, every detail calculated down to the last millimeter.

  He took a deep breath, letting his spiritual energy flow as he activated the formation. The crimson lines flared to life, glowing with a vivid energy that spread outward in ripples. The Spirit Stone began to dissolve, releasing a stream of bluish-green light that coursed through the formation’s veins like lifeblood.

  An energy barrier materialized almost instantly, enclosing Devor in a translucent dome that shimmered with an otherworldly glow. It felt solid, impenetrable, as though the rest of the world had been shut out completely.

  Satisfied, Devor reached into his Spatial Ring again, this time pulling out thirteen Yellow-Grade Seeds. Each one radiated a faint luminescence, their latent power almost tangible.

  With meticulous care, he began planting them. His fingers dug into the rich soil with precision, each movement controlled and deliberate. As he buried each seed, he could sense the dormant energy within them responding to his touch, like a quiet promise waiting to be fulfilled.

  When the last seed was in place, Devor settled into a cross-legged position at the center of the barrier. He closed his eyes, letting his breath even out as he prepared for the next step.

  Deep within, the five-colored spiritual energy unique to his Essence of Nature Cultivation Technique began to stir. It flowed outward, blending seamlessly with the surrounding soil in gentle, harmonious waves. Slowly, it seeped into the seeds, infusing them with a delicate balance of elements, coaxing them into life.

  Devor extended his Spiritual Sense, letting himself merge with the vibrations of the earth. He felt the subtle stirrings of life as roots began to push through the soil, their growth synchronized with the energy of the land.

  Minutes passed, each one stretching into what felt like an eternity. The instant the first root took hold, Devor let out a quiet breath, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

  "They've taken root," he murmured to himself, his voice low, yet filled with quiet satisfaction. "Once these Yellow-Grade Plants hit three centimeters, I’ll add the Earth-Grade Seeds to the formation."

  Patience, he reminded himself, was the foundation of true cultivation. Rushing the process would only lead to failure.

  Standing up, Devor tapped the edge of the formation, directing a precise flow of energy. A section of the shimmering barrier flickered and opened. He stepped out, leaving the protective dome behind.

  Outside the cave, his gaze shifted to a massive formation carved into the volcanic rock. Purple lines pulsed faintly, weaving into an intricate network of energy pathways that spiraled deep into the mountain’s core.

  At the center of the formation, wisps of dark energy curled upward like smoke—an ever-present reminder of the Spiritual Beast imprisoned far below.

  Devor pulled a scroll from his robe and unfurled it, carefully examining the diagram. It matched the formation in front of him down to the smallest detail, every line and stroke identical.

  "This is all they want?" Devor murmured, a frown tugging at his brow. "Just fix the fading patterns and redraw the lines? This feels more like busywork than punishment."

  The task seemed deceptively simple. But as Devor traced the formation with his eyes, a nagging sense of unease began to grow at the back of his mind.

  "Are they really punishing me?" he muttered, narrowing his gaze. "Or is there something else going on here?"

  ??????

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  The first few days in Beastbound Hollow passed quietly. Devor split his time between tending to the seeds in his cave and carefully restoring the fading lines of the formation outside.

  But on the third day, something shifted.

  At first, it was subtle—a faint weariness that seemed to seep into his bones, as if the mountain's heavy atmosphere was slowly draining him. By nightfall, that unease had deepened into something far more unsettling.

  Sitting cross-legged in his cave, Devor attempted to meditate, but his mind felt clouded, as though sinking into a thick fog. His spiritual energy, normally steady and calm, was flickering erratically, disturbed by some unseen force.

  The once smooth flow of Qi within him now felt sluggish, as if an invisible hand had reached inside and was choking its movement.

  Meditation, usually his refuge, brought no comfort. Instead, it left him feeling hollow, as if his very essence were slowly draining away. Every time he tried to focus his Qi, a creeping coldness spread from his fingertips, winding its way inward, tightening around his chest.

  Devor opened his eyes, exhaling sharply. His breath fogged in the cold air, the dim light of the cave offering little warmth. His gaze stayed unfocused, lingering on the jagged stone walls.

  “What... is happening to me?” he whispered, his voice thin and fragile in the suffocating silence. There was no physical pain, yet he felt something unraveling deep inside—a gnawing emptiness, slow and creeping, like something was consuming him from within.

  By the fourth morning, the air in Beastbound Hollow had turned even harsher. Its chill didn’t just bite at his skin; it seemed to penetrate deeper, seeping into his very soul. A dark unease wrapped around his mind, relentless and stifling. It wasn’t just punishment anymore—it felt like the mountain itself was suffocating him.

  Every step seemed heavier, his mind clouded with exhaustion and dread. When he tried to restore the formation lines outside, his hands shook uncontrollably, causing his brushstrokes to waver. His once-sharp focus was now lost, overtaken by a swarm of doubts and fears.

  “Is this... the punishment?” Devor muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. “Or is it this cursed place?”

  A constant stream of dark thoughts spun through his mind, draining his will. There were no predators, no visible threats, yet Beastbound Hollow itself felt like a predator—silent, patient, feeding on his spirit.

  That night, as the heavy darkness settled over the crater, Devor sat in the farthest corner of his cave, his knees drawn tightly to his chest.

  He tried to offer himself words of encouragement, the kind he'd repeated countless times before. But now, each word felt hollow, meaningless. The darkness seemed to press in on him, alive, breathing just beyond the cave’s entrance.

  Devor shivered—not from the cold, but from the suffocating presence of the darkness, a formless weight that he couldn’t escape.

  “How long can I last here?” he whispered, his voice barely holding together. His gaze was fixed on the stone walls, searching for answers that weren’t there.

  ??????

  By the seventh day, Devor was barely recognizable.

  Huddled in the same corner, his body trembled uncontrollably as he hugged his knees to his chest, burying his face in them. Fear had become his constant companion, gnawing at his mind, wearing away at his sanity.

  The tasks he'd once focused on—the Spiritual Plants he'd carefully tended—had faded from his thoughts. His world had shrunk to the confines of the cave, swallowed up by shadows both inside and out.

  Then, faint at first, the sound of footsteps echoed through the cavern.

  Devor flinched, a violent shudder coursing through him. His breath caught in his throat as he pressed deeper into the corner, his face hidden in his arms.

  The footsteps grew louder, closer, more deliberate.

  Ten seconds later, a figure appeared at the entrance of the cave. A man from the Punishment Hall Division stepped in, his black robes marked with the golden emblem of a dragon biting a sword.

  He stopped, his sharp eyes taking in the pitiful sight before him. "So this is all it takes," he muttered to himself, almost amused. "Just the Qi Refining Realm… no wonder."

  He approached slowly, his movements deliberate and calm.

  Devor stiffened as the man knelt before him. A faint blue light began to glow from his palm, pulsing softly with controlled energy. Without a word, the man grabbed Devor by the collar and effortlessly lifted him off the ground.

  "W-wait!" Devor tried to speak, but his voice cracked, his fear choking him.

  Bang!

  The glowing palm slammed into Devor's chest with a force that sent a jolt of searing pain through his body. His mouth opened in a silent scream as a dark mist spilled from him, swirling briefly before vanishing into the air.

  The moment the mist disappeared, clarity flooded back into Devor's mind like water rushing through a dry riverbed. The oppressive fog that had consumed him for days lifted, leaving him gasping for air.

  The man released him, letting Devor fall unceremoniously onto the cold stone floor.

  Devor coughed violently, his hands gripping the cold ground as his trembling slowly eased. With each breath, his mind cleared, and the fog that had clouded his thoughts began to lift. The memories of the past days returned in pieces, like shards of broken glass slowly fitting back together.

  He looked up, his vision still blurry, and met the man’s steady, unflinching gaze. The faint smirk on the man’s face sent an uncomfortable shiver down Devor’s spine.

  "Welcome to Beastbound Hollow," the man said, his voice cold, with an edge of mockery.

  Devor’s heart sank. His expression darkened, and bitterness surged within him. The harsh reality of his punishment hit him like a blow to the chest—this place, this trial, was far more terrifying than he had ever imagined.