Liam's Perspective
"The true heart of this formation has always been ."
The Guardian's words hit like a punch to the gut. I'd been wrong. Destroying the tower had accomplished nothing.
I stepped back, my muscles tensing for another fight. Energy gathered in my palm—what little I had left. The Guardian watched , its eyes tracking my every move.
Then sothing unexpected happened. It smiled.
"Well played, young cultivator," it said. Its form began to shimr, growing less substantial by the second. "You destroyed the container, and now the formation cannot sustain itself."
I blinked in confusion. "But you said—"
"I am the heart, yes. But even hearts need vessels." Its voice grew fainter. "Take the tree. You've earned it through cleverness, not just strength."
The Guardian's form dissolved into mist, scattering on the night breeze. I stood there, montarily stunned by this turn of events.
Elder Foster's voice broke the silence. "Don't just stand there gawking! The tree is unprotected!"
Reality snapped back into focus. I lunged forward, reaching for the Three Pure Ancient Tree. Its silver leaves trembled as my fingers closed around the slender trunk.
The tree shrank instantly, condensing into a size no larger than my forearm. I tucked it securely into my inner robe.
A whistling sound cut through the air. I ducked just as Foster's Sundering Spear embedded itself in the ground where I'd been standing.
"Hand it over, Knight!" Foster roared, his face contorted with rage. "That tree belongs to the Ascendant Saints Order!"
I didn't waste breath replying. My body was running on fus now. The only option was flight.
"Shrinking Ground Into An Inch!" I activated the movent technique, and the world blurred around .
I felt Foster's attack miss by inches as I surged forward, putting distance between us. Behind , I heard him bellowing orders to his n.
"After him! Don't let him escape with the tree!"
Pain shot through my side with each breath. Those broken ribs hadn't fully healed. The tree pressed against my chest, surprisingly warm through the fabric of my robe.
I pushed harder, racing through the streets of Forestpeak City. People blurred past as re shapes. I had one destination in mind: the airport.
Foster was gaining. I could feel his presence closing in, his qi signature burning like a cot on my heels.
"Knight!" His voice carried over the distance between us. "You can't outrun forever!"
He was right. My reserves were dangerously low. The Shrinking Ground technique was draining what little energy I had left.
I spotted an alley to my right and veered sharply. The narrow passage was crowded with garbage bins and discarded furniture. Perfect.
I dropped the movent technique as I turned the corner, conserving energy. Behind , Foster shot past the alley entrance, still moving at full speed.
I collapsed against the wall, chest heaving. Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth. My body was at its limit.
My communicator vibrated. I pulled it out with shaking hands.
"We've lost him montarily," a voice reported. "Fan out and search every street. He can't have gone far."
Foster's n. They were coordinating a search pattern.
I dragged myself deeper into the alley, finding a recessed doorway to hide in. The Three Pure Ancient Tree pulsed gently against my chest, almost like a second heartbeat.
"Hold on," I whispered to it. "We're not caught yet."
I reached for my phone and pulled up the flight schedules. There was a midnight departure to Riverbend Town. If I could make it there, I'd have a chance. The Celestial Apothecary Guild would protect .
Footsteps approached the alley entrance. I pressed myself against the doorway, barely breathing.
"Check down there," soone ordered.
A beam of light swept across the alley. I remained perfectly still, counting the seconds.
"Nothing here," the searcher reported. "Moving to the next sector."
The footsteps receded. I released the breath I'd been holding.
Moving carefully, I slipped out from my hiding place and headed deeper into the alley. It had to connect to another street. I needed to put more distance between myself and Foster's n.
Twenty minutes of navigating back alleys brought to the airport's outer periter. I was drenched in sweat, my legs threatening to buckle with each step.
Security was minimal at this hour. I blended with a group of late-night travelers, keeping my head down. My appearance was surely suspicious—torn clothes, dirt-streaked face—but I didn't have ti to clean up.
I purchased a ticket with the last of my cash and hurried to the gate. The flight was boarding in ten minutes. I might actually make it.
Then I felt it. Foster's qi signature, moving through the main terminal. He'd tracked here.
I ducked into a restroom, locking myself in a stall. My hands trembled as I pulled out my communicator again.
There was only one person who could help now.
"Pavilion Master," I typed quickly. "Elder Foster of the Ascendant Saints Order pursues . I've secured the Three Pure Ancient Tree but am injured and nearly drained. The Umbral Covenant may join the hunt. Seeking sanctuary at the Guild."
I hit send, then waited, heart pounding. Seconds stretched into a minute. Had she received it? Would she respond?
My communicator vibrated with a single word: "Okay."
I smiled despite the pain. The Pavilion Master wasn't one for lengthy ssages, but her "okay" carried the weight of a promise. She would help.
The final boarding call echoed through the terminal. I slipped out of the restroom, moving quickly toward my gate. Foster's energy was moving closer, but I had just enough lead.
I was the last passenger to board. As the doors closed behind , I caught a glimpse of Foster bursting into the terminal area, his face a mask of fury when he spotted through the window.
The plane taxied away from the gate. I sank into my seat, exhaustion washing over in waves.
"Where are you headed?" the elderly woman beside asked pleasantly.
"Riverbend Town," I replied, keeping my voice casual despite the agony in my ribs.
"Lovely place," she nodded. "Business or pleasure?"
I thought of Foster, who was undoubtedly booking the next flight to follow .
"Neither," I said. "Survival."
She blinked in confusion, but I had already closed my eyes, feigning sleep. I needed to conserve my strength for whatever awaited in Riverbend Town.
The flight lasted just over an hour. I spent it in a state of half-consciousness, one hand pressed against the tree hidden in my robe. Even in my depleted state, I could sense its incredible power, dormant but vast.
When we landed, I was the first one off the plane. The terminal in Riverbend Town was smaller, less crowded. Perfect for spotting pursuers.
I hailed a taxi outside, giving the driver the address of the Celestial Apothecary Guild. As we pulled away from the curb, I saw Foster exiting the terminal. He'd caught the next flight, just as I'd feared.
The taxi wound through the streets of Riverbend Town. Dawn was breaking, painting the eastern sky in shades of pink and gold.
"Here we are," the driver announced, pulling up to the imposing gates of the Guild.
I paid him and stepped out. The Guild compound spread before , an oasis of calm in the awakening city. Ancient trees lined the pathways, and the scent of dicinal herbs filled the air.
The gates opened before I could announce myself. A young apprentice bowed deeply.
"Master Knight," he greeted . "The Pavilion Master is expecting you."
The title "Master Knight" still felt strange to hear. Within the Guild, I was respected, not scorned.
"Thank you," I replied, following him inside.
Guards lined the main path, more than usual. The Pavilion Master had prepared for trouble.
I was led to a small chamber where a physician waited. Wordlessly, he began treating my injuries. His hands glowed with healing qi as he worked on my broken ribs.
"The Pavilion Master will see you in an hour," he inford . "Rest until then."
I nodded gratefully, letting my eyes close as the healing energy flowed through my battered body.
When I awoke, the worst of my injuries had been addressed. I could breathe without pain, though exhaustion still weighed heavily on .
The apprentice returned to escort to the Pavilion Master's chamber. As we walked, I sensed the Guild's defenses activating—Foster had arrived in the vicinity. The genuine article resides on M|V|L&EMPYR.
The Pavilion Master sat behind her desk, calm and composed as always. Her ageless face revealed nothing of her thoughts as I entered and bowed.
"You've caused quite a stir," she remarked without preamble.
"I secured what we needed," I replied, carefully extracting the Three Pure Ancient Tree from my robe.
Her eyes widened slightly—the most surprise I'd ever seen her display.
"So you have." She gestured for to place it on her desk. "And made an enemy of the Ascendant Saints Order in the process."
"They were never our friends."
"True enough." She examined the tree without touching it. "This will advance our research considerably."
I hesitated before speaking again. "I need to ask a favor."
"Beyond sanctuary from Elder Foster?" A hint of amusent colored her tone.
"I need to improve my strength quickly," I said bluntly. "Half-step Martial Marquis isn't enough anymore."
She studied in silence for a long mont. "What you ask isn't easy. Your dantian requires enormous quantities of qi to advance."
"I know." My hands clenched at my sides. "But I'm out of ti. Isabelle needs to be stronger."
The Pavilion Master stood, moving to the window. Outside, Guild disciples were reinforcing the protective arrays. Foster wouldn't breach them easily, but he could wait.
"If you want to improve your strength in a short amount of ti," she said finally, "there is only one way."
She turned and pointed through another window—this one facing the Guild's main herbal warehouse.
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