Do your utmost, and let your conscience be clear.

Across the pear blossom stream, Huasu stood beneath a tree. Leisurely, he pulled out a sheet of paper, rolled tobacco into it, and held the cigarette between his lips. Before he had the chance to take a puff, Jiang Feng and Ping Luanshan had already retreated together.

Behind them chased a swarm of squat mushrooms, each no higher than a person’s knee, bouncing lively as they approached. Whenever they reached within a step’s distance of a human, they would instantly explode with a bang—countless spores launched like bullets, hammering down with tremendous force!

Huasu lit his cigarette, took a slow drag, and drawled, “Many luminous plants prefer to live in groups. Stir up one, and you’d best be ready to stir up the whole lot…”

Ping Luanshan shouted, “You could have mentioned that sooner!”

Jiang Feng yelled, “Fall back!”

The two darted like gusts to the edge of the pear blossom stream and plunged into the water. With the water as a barrier, the impact of the spores diminished greatly.

Jiang Feng and Ping Luanshan dove beneath the surface, while the mushrooms, seemingly having lost their targets, hopped restlessly along the shore but refused to enter the water.

Suddenly, with a thunderous roar, the depths of the stream erupted like a bomb, sending waves surging toward the shore and crashing into the mushrooms!

Immediately after, a series of sharp reports echoed—like a string of firecrackers along the riverbank. When the water receded, the mushrooms lay toppled everywhere, their caps split open, not a single one able to move.

Jiang Feng emerged from the stream, stood beside the mushrooms, and examined his hand, a delighted smile spreading across his face.

Just moments ago, he had used the Thunder Palm to stir the waves, then focused his luminous power into small clusters, unleashing them from his fingertips to explode inside the mushrooms, wiping them out in an instant!

He could clearly sense his control over luminous power had advanced yet again. This series of attacks wasted almost nothing; vanquishing this group of luminous plants consumed only about one-tenth of his total power!

Without a doubt, this was the result of ten days of training. Huasu’s bizarre methods had proven miraculously effective!

Huasu took a deep inhale of his cigarette, then slowly exhaled, mocking, “Taking that much effort to deal with a group of third-tier luminous plants. And you—an initiate martial cultivator—just standing by to watch the show? Quite the talent!”

Just now, Jiang Feng had slain all the mushrooms himself; Ping Luanshan hadn’t even had the chance to act, giving Huasu the perfect opportunity to ridicule.

Ping Luanshan gritted his teeth, glared fiercely at Huasu, then dashed back into the forest.

Jiang Feng shook his head with a wry smile, gathered the fallen mushrooms, and followed suit.

Two figures raced beneath the shadowy trees. Jiang Feng clearly sensed the changes within himself.

Every flex of muscle, every turn of a joint, was accompanied by the flow of luminous power. The sensation was supremely comfortable, as if every part of his body, inside and out, was entirely under his control, able to accomplish whatever he wished.

A massive azure python coiled in a tree overhead. As Jiang Feng passed, it lunged, jaws gaping wide. Jiang Feng tapped lightly on a branch, his speed suddenly accelerating to avoid the serpent’s mouth. At the same time, his fist pressed gently to the python’s brow and exploded with force. With a soft bang, the python burst into a spray of blood behind him, not a drop staining his body!

The blood spattered, and a hum rose in the forest. A swarm of black flying insects, drawn by the scent, swooped from the treetops.

As they ascended, an electric net intercepted them mid-air.

The insects struck the net, crackling as they fell to the ground.

Jiang Feng cut through all the luminous beasts he encountered; none could withstand even a single exchange.

The thrill of instant victory, combined with the sense of overwhelming control, brought him unprecedented exhilaration. He let out a long howl, and a sudden insight flashed through his mind.

A strange transformation occurred before his eyes—he felt his body glowing.

Not only himself, but also every blade of grass, every tree, every bird darting through the woods, every insect crawling beneath his feet—everything shimmered with fluctuations of light.

He looked up abruptly—a vine, at some unknown moment, had silently descended from the tree above, nearing his head!

One end of the vine resembled the head of a moray, bristling with sharp teeth, terrifying in appearance. It aimed directly at the crown of Jiang Feng’s head, viciously snapping down, about to bite him!

His hand swept across his waist and lifted. The horn-bladed knife flashed with golden light, slicing the vine cleanly in two.

He grasped the smooth segment and yanked hard. A massive sea-anemone-like luminous plant tumbled from the tree, landing before him.

Jiang Feng let out a fierce shout, punched straight into its core, and discharged a bolt of thunderous energy.

A bubbling sound issued from within, and it exploded, showering green liquid everywhere. Before the blast, Jiang Feng had already leapt onto a branch, completely evading the spray.

The ruined sea-anemone dropped to the ground, but Jiang Feng ignored it, raising his eyes to survey his surroundings.

The previous waves of light had vanished, and the woods returned to their normal state.

But that moment was seared into Jiang Feng’s memory. He felt, with absolute clarity, that this was a world of luminous power. Everything in existence was sustained by it.

Luminous power flowed everywhere, surging and subsiding, as if the whole world were breathing.

If only he could make this sensation a constant...

He drew a deep breath, withdrew his awareness from his surroundings, and dove inward.

To his astonishment, he realized he had unconsciously broken through another barrier, unlocking the seventh aperture!

“Old Jiang!” A sudden shout rang out. Jiang Feng looked up to see Ping Luanshan bounding along tree trunks, racing toward him.

Behind him thundered a tremendous crash—earth shuddered, trees toppled, and a towering giant tree, its branches thick and mighty, swept after him!

Where on earth had this fellow provoked such a behemoth?!

Ping Luanshan cried, “Old Jiang, run!”

Without hesitation, Jiang Feng turned and fled, shouting as he ran, “What did you do? Where did you find that thing?”

Ping Luanshan was so fast he soon overtook Jiang Feng. Grabbing Jiang Feng’s arm, he yelled, “Follow me!”

With Ping Luanshan’s lead, Jiang Feng’s speed increased, and the pair sprinted toward the edge of the forest.

Jiang Feng glanced back—the giant tree was as thick as ten men’s arms joined together. Its branches, once retracted tightly against the trunk, now flailed wildly in all directions, as if enraged.

Its strength was astonishing—one swing sent a nearby tree trembling down.

The commotion was so great that every beast, luminous or ordinary, was startled, fleeing in panic, none daring to stand before the giant tree.

Ping Luanshan glanced back, chuckled, and dragged Jiang Feng even faster.

Watching Ping Luanshan’s antics, a ridiculous thought entered Jiang Feng’s mind.

No way... could he really be that foolish?

Before the thought finished, daylight appeared ahead.

Jiang Feng had not ventured far; after this wild sprint, the forest’s edge was already in sight!

He was very sensitive to direction and immediately realized the pear blossom stream lay ahead—the very place they had entered!

Ping Luanshan tugged Jiang Feng once more, yelling, “Teacher Hua, help!”

Two seconds later, the view opened wide. The stream rushed past, and Huasu stood beneath the tree as before, cigarette in hand, lost in thought.

Hearing Ping Luanshan’s cry, Huasu glanced over indifferently.

Ping Luanshan shouted again, “Teacher, help!”

With that, he swung Jiang Feng across the stream!

Jiang Feng used the momentum to step onto the large rock in the middle of the stream, crossing safely. Yet Ping Luanshan remained behind, with the giant tree closing fast, its massive trunk about to sweep him aside!

Chaos erupted beside the Twilight Forest. Huasu looked up, but didn’t budge; instead, he took another drag and exhaled slowly.

Ping Luanshan froze, then panicked. Was Huasu really not going to help?

With a whoosh, a thick branch lashed through the air; Ping Luanshan rolled away just in time. The attacks came one after another, leaving him momentarily trapped.

This giant tree was far above his level, only lacking his agility. If he hesitated for even a moment and got entangled, he’d be gravely wounded or worse.

But if he rushed across the stream, he’d lead the monster straight into Pear Blossom Town—possibly right into the heart of a crowd!

He dodged desperately, danger mounting. Blood already streaked his body.

Jiang Feng frowned, glanced at Huasu, and turned to cross back and help.

Suddenly, a weight pressed on his shoulder—his luminous power froze, leaving him unable to move.

Huasu held him down with his left hand, cigarette in his right, sneering coldly, “You must be prepared to bear responsibility for your actions. Not everyone in this world will step forward to help you when you’re in danger.”

Jiang Feng couldn’t help but glance at him.

Huasu’s eyes were deep and faintly gleaming, like ghostly fire. His words, though mocking, carried a weight that differed from his usual sharpness, as if he spoke of Ping Luanshan, but also of someone else.

Ping Luanshan clenched his teeth, said nothing, and dodged the giant tree’s attacks with increasing difficulty, blood splattering from his wounds.

Jiang Feng brushed Huasu’s hand from his shoulder.

Huasu frowned, “What are you doing?”

Jiang Feng smiled gently, “Perhaps not everyone will help, but not everyone will stand back, either.”

He seemed to think his words were poorly chosen, shook his head, decided nothing more needed saying, and crouched to rush back.

Huasu snorted, pressed his hand downward—without touching Jiang Feng’s body, Jiang Feng again felt his luminous power freeze, utterly unable to move.

Luminous power released externally—a martial master of the Three-Chain Heart Luminous School!

At this moment, Jiang Feng couldn’t even turn his head. He heard Huasu ask behind him, “You can help one person—but can you help them all?”

A chill spread through the air, seeping into Jiang Feng’s pores. Yet he answered simply and calmly, “Do my best, and have no regrets!”