Before dawn, Lin Yuan quietly left Azure Maple Academy.
He carried only his sword, a small supply of food, the remaining Meridian Cleansing Pills, and Instructor Han's map.
The morning mist hung heavily over Mistwood Forest.
As he crossed the familiar outer region, the Green Spirit Sapling remained calm.
Only when he entered the deeper forest did its leaves begin to sway.
"It really is in this direction."
According to the map, the hidden valley lay beyond a mountain ridge that few hunters dared to cross.
The area was known for powerful spirit beasts.
Very few people returned after entering.
By noon, Lin Yuan stood before the ridge.
A thick sea of white mist covered everything beyond it.
Even with his enhanced eyesight, he could barely see ten meters ahead.
He took a careful step forward.
The moment he entered the mist, the surrounding spiritual qi became strangely chaotic.
His sense of direction disappeared.
After walking for nearly an hour, he realized something alarming.
"I'm walking in circles."
The same broken stone appeared before him for the third time.
This wasn't ordinary mist.
It was a natural formation.
Lin Yuan sat down and calmed his breathing.
Instead of relying on his eyes, he activated the Evergreen Scripture.
The Green Spirit Sapling released a gentle pulse.
Its roots stretched through his spiritual sea, resonating with the life force around him.
Slowly, countless faint streams of emerald light appeared in his perception.
They flowed through the mist like invisible rivers.
"So that's the path..."
Following the strongest current of life energy, Lin Yuan walked forward once more.
This time, the mist no longer confused him.
After another half hour, the fog suddenly parted.
A breathtaking valley appeared before him.
Waterfalls poured from towering cliffs.
Ancient trees reached into the sky.
The ground was covered with flowers that glowed under the sunlight.
The spiritual qi here was several times denser than the Spirit Spring.
At the very center of the valley stood an enormous stone monument.
It was over thirty meters tall and covered in ancient characters.
Most had weathered away.
Only four remained clearly visible.
Valley of Returning Leaves.
Lin Yuan slowly approached the monument.
The Green Spirit Sapling trembled.
Not with excitement.
With respect.
As if it were greeting an elder.
Suddenly...
A drop of emerald liquid fell from one of the ancient trees onto the monument.
The stone instantly shone with brilliant light.
Ancient runes awakened one after another.
The entire valley began to tremble.
A clear voice echoed through the air.
"Those who carry the bloodline of the World Tree..."
"...enter."
A doorway appeared within the stone monument.
Beyond it stretched a staircase descending into darkness.
Lin Yuan tightened his grip on his sword.
He had encountered hidden inheritances before.
But this felt different.
Far older.
Far more mysterious.
After a brief moment of hesitation, he stepped through the doorway.
The entrance sealed behind him with a deep rumble.
Torches along the walls burst into emerald flames one after another.
The underground passage was illuminated.
At the end of the staircase stood three stone doors.
Above each door was a single inscription.
The first read:
Inheritance of Strength.
The second read:
Inheritance of Wisdom.
The third read:
Inheritance of Life.
As Lin Yuan approached, the Green Spirit Sapling released a bright emerald glow.
The first two doors remained motionless.
Only the Inheritance of Life responded.
Its ancient seal cracked with a sharp sound.
The massive stone door slowly opened inward.
From the darkness beyond came the sound of slow... deliberate footsteps.
Someone—or something—had been waiting inside for a very long time.