Chapter 41 – The Spirits' Gift
The spiritual wind was calm. The mountaintop silent.
Flux exhaled softly, his eyes gleaming with clarity as the spiritual qi around him slowly settled. The last ripples of his breakthrough faded like a breeze across still water.
He had advanced—Middle Stage Core Formation, and not a ripple of chaos marked his progress.
He rose to his feet slowly, the motion smooth and graceful. A faint glow shimmered along his skin as silver qi pulsed quietly through his veins. He flexed his fingers, then closed his eyes and turned his focus inward.
Moments passed. Then his voice came, soft but certain.
"Hm. My qi has increased… more than fivefold."
His gaze sharpened.
"In fact… compared to a normal middle-stage cultivator, I have more than ten times their qi capacity. Maybe more."
He gave a small nod, thoughtful. "Seems I won't be facing the same bottlenecks others do at this stage. My foundation is too solid."
A smile touched his lips as he turned to look around.
The mountain sanctuary, bathed in sunlight and tranquil spirit qi, was alive with motion. Spirit beings of all shapes and sizes danced playfully in the air—some resembling glowing butterflies, others like tiny foxes made of mist and leaves. They spun and fluttered around him in gentle arcs.
Flux's expression softened. "Still here, huh?"
One of the spirits floated close, chirping a silent melody as it circled his head. Another nestled briefly on his shoulder before bounding off like a mote of starlight.
Flux turned his eyes skyward.
"There's only about a month left… before I have to leave this place."
A short pause.
"I should focus on stabilizing my cultivation first."
He sat cross-legged on the stone platform again, tails curling behind him like flowing ribbons of light. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes, and once more entered into stillness.
Time flowed.
Weeks passed.
Flux cultivated day and night, refining his new core and harmonizing it with the starlit qi of his surroundings. The chaotic energy of advancement smoothed into a calm, unshakable rhythm. His breathing became so slow and steady that the very air around him stilled in reverence.
The spirits remained near—sometimes watching, sometimes drifting like leaves in a dream.
Eventually, Flux opened his eyes.
The glow within them had settled into something deeper—steadier.
"My foundation's firm now," he murmured to himself. "There's little time left… only a week."
He stood and stretched. His limbs felt light. The qi within him flowed like a silent river beneath the stars.
"Maybe," he said, glancing around, "I should take a break."
His eyes landed on a nearby spirit—a floating creature like a glowing rabbit woven from petals and fog.
He smiled. "Hey there. I've decided to relax for a bit. Can you show me around?"
The spirit blinked once, then twice. It tilted its head in surprise before bounding excitedly into the air, circling him in delighted loops.
Flux laughed softly. "I'll take that as a yes. Thanks."
And so, he followed.
The spirits, like a shimmering procession of stars, led him through the blessed land. They showed him hidden rivers of liquid light, moonlit cliffs veiled in mist, and lakes where lotuses bloomed with soft spiritual radiance. Forests filled with ancient, intelligent trees whispered in languages older than stone. Cultivators' abodes long abandoned but still surrounded by quiet qi slumbered beneath canopies of vine and fog.
Rare herbs bloomed along winding trails—some humming with heat, others drifting with icy breath. Flux marveled at the natural harmony, sensing that even these plants seemed to acknowledge him.
More spirits joined as they wandered, drawn to him like stars to a moon.
Days passed.
Then, on a morning tinged with twilight hues, with only two days left before Flux's time in the blessed land was over, the spirits brought him to a narrow path lined with glowing stones.
He blinked. "Where are we going this time?"
The lead spirit just twirled in the air, beckoning excitedly.
Flux chuckled. "Alright, alright. I'm coming."
They led him into a hidden cave, veiled behind a waterfall of silver mist. Inside, Flux stopped in wonder.
The cave was enormous—far larger than it seemed from outside—and radiated with a serene, divine glow. Spiritual qi hung thick in the air, heavier than even the peak's highest point. Soft crystal lights lined the walls, casting a soft, celestial blue.
"This place…" he whispered. "The qi density… it's incredible."
Deeper inside, powerful spirits emerged—larger, more defined than the ones outside. Their presence carried unmistakable weight.
"Core Formation realm spirits," Flux noted aloud. "So that's why I haven't seen many high-level ones out there… they all stay here."
They approached him, nodding respectfully. Without words, they gestured deeper into the cavern.
"You want me to follow?" Flux asked.
They nodded again.
"Alright then."
They guided him to a glowing underground lake, surrounded by clusters of crystal flowers that pulsed gently with light. At its center stood a radiant tree, its bark like starlight and leaves shimmering with moon-silver hue.
From behind the tree, a presence stirred.
A figure emerged.
A spirit unlike any other—taller, more radiant, its form solid and elegant. Its qi was refined, vast, and ancient.
Flux's eyes narrowed. "That… that's a Nascent Soul realm spirit?"
The spirit floated forward slowly, its expression serene. It gazed at him for a long moment, then extended a hand.
A small fruit appeared in its palm—brilliantly glowing, pulsing with incredibly dense qi.
Flux stared at it. "Huh? For me?"
The spirit nodded.
He hesitated. "Why…?"
The spirit's voice echoed softly—neither male nor female, resonant like wind through crystal.
"You carry the breath like the stars and the silence of old skies," it said. "And everyone here feels comfortable around, specially the little spirits"
" Child take this fruit as a gift from us, it will help you greatly in cultivation"
Flux blinked, surprised.
"…Thank you," he said, bowing deeply. "I'll treasure this."
Then his eyes brightened.
"Wait… I should give something back."
He reached behind him, fingers brushing his silver tails. From one, he plucked a tuft of fur—light as snow and soft as clouds. Holding it between his fingers, he poured a tremendous amount of qi into it.
The spirits watched, silent and still.
Flux sat down and shaped the fur slowly, weaving qi, intent, and emotion into it. Light filled the cave as the fur began to shift—solidifying into a bracelet, white as moonlight and pulsing with quiet power.
Hours passed.
The bracelet was simple, yet its aura was unique—noble and celestial, like it had descended from another world.
Flux held it up, breathing heavily. "Whew… that took more than half my qi."
He smiled. "A bracelet crafted from Sky Fox fur… comparable to the scales of a True Dragon or the feathers of an Eternal Flame Phoenix.It maybe weak now but It'll grow stronger with time."
He handed it to the lead spirit. They all gathered closer, inspecting it curiously.
Flux tilted his head. "You like it?"
They nodded excitedly, small lights dancing around him in gratitude.
The Nascent Soul spirit stepped closer once more.
"You honor us. We will remember," it said, voice like mist over water.
Flux smiled, warmth in his eyes. "Glad to hear it."
He sank to one knee, his qi drained. "Mind if I cultivate here for a while? I'm… a little drained."
The Nascent Soul spirit nodded gently.
"Rest"
"Thanks."
Flux sat by the glowing lake, closed his eyes, and began to meditate once more.
The crystal lights flickered softly. The bracelet pulsed faintly in the spirit's hands.