The Iron Mountain Bear charged like a rolling boulder.
Each thunderous step shook the valley, sending loose stones tumbling from the cliffs.
Lin Yuan did not hesitate.
He turned and sprinted toward the forest.
Against a Second-Order Spirit Beast, standing his ground would be suicide.
Boom!
The bear's massive paw slammed into the spot where he had been standing a heartbeat earlier, shattering the ancient tree stump into splinters.
Lin Yuan's expression darkened.
The power behind that single strike was terrifying.
Even if he had reached the Spirit Gathering Realm, taking such a blow head-on would be dangerous.
Behind him came another deafening roar.
The Iron Mountain Bear gave chase.
Branches whipped across Lin Yuan's face as he raced through the dense forest.
The Green Spirit Sapling continuously released streams of life essence, easing the strain on his body.
Even so, the distance between him and the bear slowly shrank.
The beast knew the forest far better than he did.
It crashed through fallen trees as though they were made of paper.
Lin Yuan glanced back.
The bear was less than twenty meters away.
"I need to lose it..."
His eyes quickly scanned the surroundings.
Ahead, the terrain became steep and littered with massive boulders.
An idea formed.
He changed direction and climbed onto the rocky slope.
The Iron Mountain Bear followed without slowing.
When Lin Yuan reached the highest boulder, he kicked a loose rock with all his strength.
The stone rolled downhill.
Then another.
And another.
Within seconds, dozens of boulders thundered down the slope.
The bear raised its powerful forelimbs and smashed through the first few.
But there were too many.
A massive boulder struck its shoulder, forcing it backward.
Another crashed into its chest.
The slope erupted in dust and flying debris.
Without waiting to see the result, Lin Yuan leaped from the opposite side of the hill and continued running.
Only after covering several kilometers did he finally stop.
He leaned against a large tree, breathing heavily.
The forest had become quiet.
The bear was no longer following him.
Lin Yuan exhaled in relief.
"That was close."
He looked inward.
The Green Spirit Sapling had grown dim after continuously supporting his escape.
Its emerald flower had partially closed.
"It needs time to recover."
He sat beneath the tree and began circulating the Evergreen Scripture.
As spiritual qi entered his body, most of it flowed into the sapling.
Gradually, the flower reopened.
Its leaves regained their luster.
Only then did Lin Yuan notice something new.
The tiny golden vein beneath the bark had become slightly brighter.
Whenever the sapling refined spiritual qi, an almost imperceptible trace of golden energy was produced.
It was incredibly small.
Yet the quality of that energy far surpassed ordinary spiritual qi.
Lin Yuan instinctively guided a strand of it into his right hand.
The golden energy fused with his fist.
He casually punched the tree before him.
Boom!
The thick trunk exploded.
Wood chips flew in every direction.
Lin Yuan stared at the shattered tree in astonishment.
He had not used a martial technique.
Nor had he put forth his full strength.
The tiny strand of golden energy alone had multiplied the power of his attack.
"What exactly is this..."
He had no answer.
But one thing was certain.
The ancient emerald seed had left behind far more than a simple improvement to his Martial Soul.
As dusk approached, Lin Yuan returned to Azure Maple City.
Unbeknownst to him, atop a distant cliff overlooking Mistwood Forest stood a middle-aged man in crimson robes.
His aura was deep and imposing.
Beside him knelt a disciple wearing the emblem of the Crimson Cloud Sect.
"Did you confirm it?"
"Yes, Elder."
"The life aura that appeared in Mistwood Forest today was real."
The elder narrowed his eyes.
"It has been over a thousand years..."
"If the inheritance of the Emerald Sovereign has truly begun to awaken..."
"...then every major sect on the continent will soon descend upon this insignificant city."
His gaze shifted toward Azure Maple City in the distance.
"For now..."
"Find the one who triggered it."
"Before anyone else does."