Ascension Log

The Rootless Forest sat beyond the outer sect walls, cloaked in shadow even under daylight. Towering black trees with no roots floated inches above the soil, suspended by ancient spiritual currents that twisted logic and drained will.

Most disciples called it cursed.

Kai Lin called it quiet.

Two days after the arena duel, an announcement spread like wildfire:

The sect was opening the Rootless Forest for a one-day trial.

Outer disciples could enter to collect spirit marrow flowers, rare herbs that grew only among the drifting root shadows. Dangerous, yes — but the rewards included sect contribution points and potential entry into the Inner Selection Hall.

The crowd gathered before the forest entrance, buzzing with tension.

"They say five disciples died last year…"

"Died? One came back with his bones inside-out."

"They're sending us to die and calling it a chance!"

Kai Lin walked past them, silent.

Inside, the forest was hushed.

The trees hovered, unmoving, but every now and then, a root would twitch—like a severed limb trying to remember what it once belonged to.

Kai stepped into the mist without hesitation.

[Sign-In Successful – Location: Rootless Forest, Tier 2 Dead Zone]

Reward: Inverted Meridian Flow (Core Foundation Technique – Locked)

Effect: Reverses Qi flow in the meridians to suppress detection and create backlash on spirit sense scans.

Status: Technique stored in Shadow Dantian

Partial Feature Unlocked: Concealment of cultivation aura enabled

Progress Toward Seal Break: 4.1%

Kai exhaled slowly.

The moment the technique activated, his already unreadable cultivation dropped into nothingness—even beasts would ignore him now.

It was perfect.

Deeper in the forest, he found his first spirit marrow flower, glowing faintly between two hovering roots.

But he wasn't alone.

Two other disciples stalked from behind a tree—blades drawn, eyes greedy.

"That's ours, cripple. Be smart and leave it."

Kai looked up, deadpan.

Then he stepped aside from the flower.

The two disciples exchanged glances. "Tch. Good dog."

They knelt to collect it.

Then the roots moved.

No one screamed.

One was impaled through the chest. The other vanished, dragged into the canopy by a whip-like root. Wet crunches followed.

Kai stood perfectly still.

"I wasn't being kind."

He left the untouched flower behind.

It had served its purpose.

Far above, within the Sect Master's sealed chamber, a black crystal orb pulsed for the first time in decades.

A red-cloaked elder stepped forward.

"A hidden physique…? No. This one's presence is negative. Hollow. Not a vessel — a void."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Something walks in silence. And it is beginning to move."