The journey to the hidden valley had been arduous. Han Wei and his disciples had trekked through dense jungle, scaled jagged cliffs, and navigated winding ravines, all while fighting off wandering beasts.

  Lan Feng had improved over the next few fights. He kept to the sidelines of the fights, darting in to injure and distract while the other two engaged them more directly. He was still clearly uncomfortable with close combat - but Han Wei was heartened by how much he improved.

  Elder Mei’s directions had been precise, but the path was treacherous, and the disciples were visibly exhausted by the time they reached the hidden valley’s entrance.

  Xiao Lan wiped sweat from her brow, her bladed fans tucked neatly into her sash. “Master, are you certain this is the place? It looks… unremarkable.”

  Han Wei smiled faintly, his gaze fixed on the narrow crevice in the rock face before them. “Appearances can be deceiving, Xiao Lan. This valley is hidden by ancient natural formations. Only those who know what to look for can find it.”

  Lan Feng cautiously peered into the crevice with wide eyes. “I sense something… strange. But I can’t quite tell what...”

  Tie Zhu, his spear slung across his back, grunted in agreement. Though whether he could actually sense something or was just supporting Lan Feng, was anyone’s guess.

  Han Wei nodded. “Good. You’re learning to sense the flow of spiritual energy. This valley is a natural treasure trove, rich with soul-aspect qi.”

  With a wave of his hand, Han Wei activated the formation key Elder Mei had given him. The rock face shimmered, and the crevice widened into a passage. The disciples gasped as they stepped through, emerging into a breathtaking vista.

  The hidden valley was a paradise. Lush greenery carpeted the ground, and towering trees with gold-edged leaves swayed gently in the breeze. Spiritual herbs of every kind grew in abundance - some common, others rare and glowing faintly with inner light.

  A crystal-clear pool lay at the center, its surface rippling with an otherworldly energy. The air was thick with qi, so potent that even breathing felt like cultivating.

  “This place…” Xiao Lan whispered, her usual aloof manner replaced by awe. “It’s beautiful.”

  Han Wei allowed himself a few long moments to appreciate the view before turning to his disciples.

  “Rest here for a while. Cultivate if you wish, and gather any mature spirit herbs from the outer areas. But do not approach inner areas closer to the pool. It is guarded by a powerful spirit, and I don’t want any of you getting hurt.”

  The disciples nodded, their earlier fatigue forgotten as they scattered to explore the valley. Han Wei watched them for a moment, ensuring they followed his instructions, before making his way toward the pool.

  As he approached, he actively flared his qi. The spirit guardian of this place would sense him coming regardless, but announcing his presence clearly was not only polite, but was an essential part of deliberately approaching spirits.

  Han Wei stopped a respectful distance from the pool and began speaking the traditional rituals of greeting and appeasement. He knelt, placing a small offering of incense and a jade token inscribed with dharmic symbols on the ground before him.

  Then, he channeled his cultivation energy, allowing it to flow outward in gentle waves. The energy was pure, his dharmic method clearly aligning with the natural order of the heavens - unless the spirit was corrupted, this display should appease their instincts to repel invaders.

  Only a dharmic cultivator could bargain with a spirit like this. And it was this ability, Han Wei thought, that was the reason the Elder Mei had reached out to him for this task and not a true elder of the sect.

  Contacting spirits to bargain usually takes years of appeasement rituals, offerings, and prayer to lay the groundwork of understanding between human and spirit. Converting a wild spirit into one a god that was friendly to humanity was not an easy task and Han Wei was thankful that he didn’t have to attempt it.

  For a long moment, nothing happened. Then, the surface of the pool began to ripple violently. ]

  A column of water rose into the air, twisting and coalescing into the form of a majestic Lung Dragon. Its scales shimmered like liquid crystal, and its eyes glowed with an ancient, knowing light.

  The dragon’s gaze locked onto Han Wei, and he felt a wave of pressure wash over him, a force so immense that it threatened to crush him where he stood. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to remain upright, to meet the dragon’s gaze without flinching. He could feel the spirit’s qi pressing against his own, probing, testing, trying to understand him.

  And then the visions came.

  Images flashed through his mind, disjointed and chaotic. The pool, smaller but growing drop by drop. The hidden valley, so much lesser that it was today. Roots pushing through the earth. Water falling from the sky. More and more images - snapshots of thought and history.

  But there was more to the visions than simple images - emotions, sensations, concepts that were alien to him. The spirit’s mind was vast and incomprehensible, its thoughts flowing like water, shifting and changing with every passing moment. Han Wei struggled to make sense of it, to find some common ground, some way to communicate.

  He tried to speak, to form words, but his voice felt small and insignificant in the face of the dragon’s presence. The spirit did not respond to his words, did not seem to understand them. Instead, it sent another wave of qi, another flood of impressions and meanings.

  Han Wei staggered under the onslaught, glad that his disciples couldn’t see him struggling. Underneath the pain, he felt a pang of frustration.

  He had hoped that negotiating with the spirit would be straightforward, but this was like trying to hold a conversation with a thunderstorm. He had no experience with this kind of communication - no memory of Elder Han ever having done something like this before. He was flying blind, and he knew it.

  But he couldn’t give up.

  He took a deep breath and tried again, this time focusing not on words, but on his intentions, on the emotions and desires that drove him. He thought of his disciples, of the responsibility he had taken on, of the need to protect them and guide them. He thought of his own weakness, of the scars on his soul, and the desperate need to heal them.

  He sent these thoughts out through his qi, letting them flow into the spirit like a river merging with the sea. For a moment, there was silence, and then he felt a response - a ripple of understanding, a flicker of recognition.

  Han Wei felt a sense of relief wash over him, but he knew that this was only the beginning. The spirit was willing to listen, but it would not give its blessings lightly.

  He sent another wave of qi, this time conveying his intentions more clearly. He needed the spiritual materials that grew around the pool - the rare herbs and plants that could only be found in places of such concentrated spiritual energy. In return, he offered something of value, something that would honor the spirit and show his respect.

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  Han Wei hesitated here. He had prepared an offering to the spirit, but even from this brief interaction his instincts were screaming that it was completely unsuitable for a spirit of this nature. Thinking quickly, he reached into his spatial ring and withdrew a small vial of liquid moonlight, a rare substance that he might have onced used as talisman ink - not that he could recall.

  He held the vial out, letting the sunlight catch the glass and refract into a thousand tiny rainbows. The dragon’s eyes followed the light, and Han Wei felt a surge of interest from the spirit.

  He sent another wave of qi, this time conveying his promise - to only harvest plants that were fully grown and ready to be harvested. To take only what had finished growing and to leave the rest undisturbed.

  Another wave of meaning struck Han Wei like a hammerblow and, his vision cleared and he pushed away the most alien of the sensations, he thought he understood.

  It was not enough.

  Han Wei’s mind raced. He needed access to the valley’s herbs, but he couldn’t afford to deplete his limited resources just pouring treasures out in offerings. Then, like a thunderbolt, understanding struck him.

  The spirit was guiding the growth of the valley to control the natural array. He was using it to cultivate somehow and worried that they would disrupt the harmony of the valley with their gathering.

  He released his qi impressing his understanding onto it and conveying an additional gift he offered. He pictured the wide array of small spiritual plants that he had idly gathered on his journey here, focusing on the ones that might grow well in the valley.

  Han Wei had gathered these plants without much thought, intending to introduce them to his grotto when he returned. Even stored in his spacial pouch they were ready for transplant. These young plants could replace the ones taken, fulfilling the roles in the array and adding to the diversity of the valley.

  The dragon considered his offer, its gaze shifting from the vial to Han Wei and back again. The air was thick with tension, and Han Wei could feel the weight of the spirit’s decision pressing down on him. He held his breath, waiting.

  And then, finally, the dragon nodded.

  But just as Han Wei felt a wave of relief wash over him, a last barrage of qi hit him from the spirit. This one strong enough to drive him to his knees in its intensity and the force of the meanings.

  He couldn’t understand most of it. The qi too strong, the message too forceful. But he understood one thing - the water from the spirit’s pool was off limits. To touch it was to die.

  The pressure in the air lifted, and Han Wei felt like he could breathe again.

  Since he was already on his knees he kowtowed deeply, showing his gratitude, and then carefully placed the vial of liquid moonlight at the edge of the pool. The dragon’s form began to dissolve, the water flowing back into the pool, leaving only a faint shimmer in the air.

  With that, the dragon was gone, leaving Han Wei alone. He exhaled slowly, his heart still racing from the encounter. The spirit’s power was immense, far beyond what he could currently handle. But he had gained its permission, and that was enough.

  He carefully arranged the living spirit herbs from his pouch around the edges of the pool, for the spirit to disperse around its domain later. And as he did so Han Wei’s mind turned to the water itself.

  He had sensed its extraordinary power the moment he entered the valley, but had thought that he was simply sensing the presence of the spirit diffused throughout the pool. Now he understood its true nature.

  The water was no ordinary spiritual resource - it was a refined natural treasure, rare and valuable beyond anything he expected to find. It was filled with concentrated soul-aspect qi perfect for consumption.

  This was a treasure that Han Wei didn’t think existed. It was certainly not something that Elder Mei had known about otherwise she would have kept this place secret no matter her need.

  The water had the potential to cleanse his soul of scars. And not only that it would rocket him through the realms of soul cultivation.

  And all it would take for him to have it was to betray the bargain he had just made.

  As he continued to examine the water and the energies of the valley he realised that the spirit was likely consuming the water at the same rate that it was condensed by the natural array. The spirit was using it to grow in power while maintaining the valley’s delicate balance.

  It was an ingenious solution. With the energies in the valley regulated, the natural array could keep producing this treasure in perpetuity - nearly guaranteeing the spirits ascension if left undisturbed.

  The dragon’s warning echoed in Han Wei’s mind as he stepped away from the pool. The temptation to steal even a drop of the water was almost overwhelming. He could feel its power radiating through the air, a tantalizing promise of healing and restoration.

  But he knew better than to risk the wrath of the spirit guardian. Betraying it would not just risk his own life, but would surely forfeit the lives of his disciples as well.

  With a deep breath, Han Wei turned his attention to the task at hand. Elder Mei had sent him here for the Spiritroot Fern, and Han Wei had no intention of disappointing her. Returning empty handed after she had gifted him knowledge of this place would earn her instant emnity.

  He moved away from the water and searched the surrounding area with practiced efficiency, his divine sense scanning the undergrowth for the telltale energy fluctuations of the Spiritroot Fern. His disciples were busy gathering herbs of their own towards the outer edges where the qi density was safer for them, their laughter and chatter a comforting reminder of the bonds they were forming.

  Han Wei allowed himself a small smile at that before refocusing on his search.

  To his relief, it didn’t take long to find the fern. It grew in a shaded grove, its leaves shimmering with a faint, silvery light. Han Wei knelt beside it, carefully digging around the roots to avoid damaging them.

  As he worked, he couldn’t help but marvel at the plant’s beauty. The Spiritroot Fern was a living testament to the valley’s spiritual richness, and he almost felt a pang of guilt for taking it. But it was ready to be harvested, and a growing sprout would serve the array just as well.

  Once the fern was safely stored in a jade box to preserve its potency, Han Wei turned his attention to finding any other valuable herbs ready for harvest. Elder Mei’s favour need not be the only benefit he got from this expedition after all.

  Han Wei focused his divine sense to the subtle flows of qi that might signal the presence of something extraordinary. A natural treasure grown in the energies of this valley wouldn’t be merely valuable - it was the perfect place to find something to help heal his soul.

  He picked through the overgrowth and quickly found a number of lesser herbs that the sect would appreciate. But it wasn’t until he had been searching for over an hour that he found it.

  Nestled beneath a number of purple-leafed bushes, on the verge of becoming trees, was a lotus unlike any Han Wei had ever seen.

  Its petals were a deep, iridescent blue, and they seemed to shimmer as its natural qi bled into light. The air around it was thick with soul-aspect qi, so potent that it made the scars in Han Wei soul ache from the pressure.

  “A Soulseeing Lotus,” he whispered, his voice tinged with awe. “Incredible.”

  The Soulseeing Lotus was a legendary herb, said to grant its user profound insights into the nature of their soul and cultivation. Ironically, if he had found this treasure only a few months earlier he would never have needed to attempt the soul awakening ritual that had crippled him.

  It was incredibly rare, and at auction it would sell for an amount that could set up an entire cultivation clan as high nobles in some kingdoms. But Han Wei knew better than to sell it. The lotus was too valuable to trade away, and its potential uses in his cultivation were too great to ignore.

  The problem was, he had no idea how to use it. His soul was still damaged, even with the damage scared over and nominally healed, consuming the lotus directly could stress it into shattering once more. He would need to find a way to refine it, to extract its essence without risking his already fragile state.

  For now, he carefully harvested the lotus, taking care not to damage its delicate petals. He sealed it in a jade box, ensuring that its spiritual energy would remain intact until he could figure out what to do with it.

  As he worked, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. The lotus was a sign - a reminder that even in his weakened state, he was still capable of finding opportunities for growth.

  Returning to his disciples, Han Wei found them hard at work.

  Xiao Lan was carefully harvesting a cluster of glowing grass, her movements precise and efficient. Lan Feng sat cross-legged beneath a gnarled tree, his sword discarded beside him as he cultivated. Tie Zhu, meanwhile, was digging up a root with his bare hands, his face set in determined concentration.

  They had already gathered an impressive collection of herbs. Han Wei couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride as he watched them. They were growing stronger, not just in cultivation but in their ability to work together.

  “Master!” Xiao Lan called as he approached. “Look at what we’ve found! These herbs are incredible.”

  Han Wei smiled. “Good work. But remember, we’re here to gather, not to strip the valley bare. Take only the mature plants that are ready for harvest, and only as much as you can properly store.”

  The disciples nodded, their respect for him evident in their actions. As they continued their work, Han Wei couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. They had found everything they needed, and more.

  The Spiritroot Fern would gain him a favor from Elder Mei, the rare herbs would strengthen their standing in the sect, and the Soulseeing Lotus had incredible potential.

  As they prepared to leave the valley, Han Wei cast one last glance at the pool. The water’s power still called to him, a silent promise of healing and strength. But he resisted the urge.

  Some treasures were not meant to be taken.