Chapter Ten: Dream Encounter with the Beast

Yufan hurried back to the inn, his weary body yearning for a moment of peace. Glancing around, he saw no one nearby. “Senior Sister, Elder Jian, are you both asleep?”

With heavy steps, Yufan ascended to the upper room. Pushing open the door, he entered the chamber, but immediately caught an unusual scent. Furrowing his brow, he traced the aroma to a humble bathroom tucked in the corner.

Beneath the dim light, a spirit beast shimmered with iridescent hues, leisurely pacing about. Its form resembled a cat but was far more agile, its fur silky smooth, each strand seemingly infused with boundless power. Yufan’s heart skipped a beat. This beast’s aura was far from ordinary. Driven by curiosity, he followed silently.

The spirit beast seemed unaware of his pursuit as it weaved through the inn’s corridors. Its strange allure captivated Yufan deeply. Quickening his pace to observe more closely, he crossed a threshold—and suddenly, a gentle yet dazzling light erupted, enveloping him completely.

When the light faded, Yufan found himself standing in a mystical realm saturated with spiritual energy. Around him, lush trees flourished, flowers exuded enchanting scents, and the spirit beast stood upon vibrant green grass, its eyes radiating profound wisdom.

Unable to resist, Yufan stepped closer, reaching out to touch the creature. The moment his hand brushed its fur, an overwhelming force surged like a tidal wave, throwing him to the ground. Fear gripped him as he realized this was no ordinary beast—it was a Fifth Realm Spirit Beast.

Stunned by its power, Yufan lay on the verdant grass, the surroundings blurring around him. The beast’s deep gaze held a serene detachment from the mortal world, its head bowed slightly as if appraising the sudden human intruder.

The air brimmed with the beast’s peculiar fragrance, both refreshing and imbued with an ineffable majesty. Yufan struggled to rise, but the immense pressure emanating from the Fifth Realm Spirit Beast pressed down on him like a mountain, suffocating his breath.

He looked up at the beast, which gently lifted a paw, its claw tip shimmering with radiant light. The glow coalesced into a luminous orb, floating atop the claw. A nameless dread welled up in Yufan’s chest.

Gritting his teeth, defiance flared in his eyes. He knew facing such a formidable foe meant fighting with all his might for even a sliver of survival. Straining to stand, fists clenched, he braced himself for the next assault.

The Fifth Realm Spirit Beast raised its head slightly as the orb began to spin rapidly, unleashing intense energy ripples. Yufan felt a powerful suction, as if being drawn whole into the light. Clenching his jaw, he summoned every ounce of his cultivation and charged forward.

At the instant he neared the beast, he twisted deftly, evading the orb’s strike. Seizing the moment, he aimed for the beast’s abdomen—the most vulnerable spot. Gathering all his spiritual energy, he struck with a fierce palm. A thunderous clash echoed as his palm wind collided with the glowing orb.

In that moment, a violent energy storm swept through the strange realm. The orb shattered into countless sparkling fragments, dissipating into the air. Simultaneously, a far mightier power burst forth from the beast’s body, shooting skyward in a dazzling beam.

The sudden force struck Yufan, hurling him backward to the grass with a heavy thud. His bones felt as if they might shatter, but more astonishing was the energy from the beam steadily flowing into his body.

Struggling to sit up, he sensed a warm current coursing through him, cleansing his meridians and nourishing his flesh. Closing his eyes, he embraced the overwhelming power.

Yufan felt as though a mysterious force lifted him gently. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw a ring of spirited light hovering behind him. The ring emitted a soft glow, composed of countless tiny points of light swirling and dancing to form a splendid halo.

The halo pulsed with his breathing, each inhale and exhale harmonizing with the surrounding spiritual energy. The lights within the ring sometimes coalesced into lines, sometimes spread into planes, weaving a beautiful tapestry behind him. Bathed in this radiance, Yufan seemed like an immortal descended to the mortal world, exuding an otherworldly aura.

His body felt purified as if reborn. Opening his eyes fully, the strange realm had vanished, replaced by the familiar inn room. Rising slowly, he savored the newfound strength within.

Turning to the humble bathroom, he found it empty—the Fifth Realm Spirit Beast had disappeared. Yet Yufan knew what had transpired was no illusion. Taking a deep breath, he inhaled the faint lingering spiritual scent, still faintly reminiscent of the beast’s presence.

He stepped out into the silent corridor, the only sounds a few distant, soft snores. Gently pushing open the Senior Sister’s and Elder Jian’s doors, he saw them both fast asleep and chose not to disturb them, quietly returning to his own room.

Closing the door behind him, Yufan seated himself cross-legged on his bed. Drawing in a deep breath, he closed his eyes and began to guide the surging energy into his dantian.

In his mind’s eye floated a crystal-clear lake—the home of his dantian. He envisioned himself as a fisherman, wielding an invisible fishing rod cast into the waters. The energy was the fish he sought, darting gleefully beneath the surface, shimmering with enticing light.

Carefully, Yufan manipulated the rod, its gentle swaying stirring the waters. He felt the subtle tug of a fish, then swiftly pulled—the golden fish leapt from the water, landing within his dantian.

He sighed softly, astonished that the encounter with the Fifth Realm Spirit Beast had elevated his cultivation by two levels.