Chapter 300: To The Spirit Mountain
"I promise you, it isn’t a trap," Hueng said calmly. "On the contrary, once you go there, you’ll be glad you did."
"Then we should leave at once, Master," Chianxu said. "We shouldn’t linger here for long. The Evil Spirit Families are already stirring, and they may act without warning."
"I know," Hueng nodded. "Let’s set off then, Young Master."
"Before that," Logan said, "I need to inform my parents."
"Can’t that wait?" Xiao interjected. "It’s not like you’re leaving forever. We’re in a hurry because we didn’t bring many people with us. The Evil Spirit Families won’t care about the consequences of crossing the formation surrounding Spirit Mountain anymore. Now that they know you exist, their only objective will be to subdue you."
"It will be fine," Hueng replied calmly. "Now that we’ve finally found the Young Master, even if the formation is damaged, it won’t cause excessive trouble. Soon enough, our Master will establish a connection between the worlds of the Lower Universe and the Upper Heavens. Once that happens, spiritual energy will flow in abundance everywhere."
He paused, then added matter-of-factly, "In fact, we may not even have to wait that long. Once the Young Master deals with the Monster Race in the Lower Universe, spiritual energy will naturally return to balance."
With that decided, they headed toward Smith Villa together.
Logan rode ahead on horseback, while the three members of the Spirit Family followed on foot. Even so, none of them lagged behind — their steps were light, swift, and effortless, befitting powerful cultivators.
Before long, Logan arrived home.
As he entered the courtyard, he saw his parents training alongside Daliah, Lilith, and Rowan. Rowan had also successfully formed his dantian. Lilith was still a little behind, but not by much.
Logan slowed his steps, approaching quietly, the three Spirit Family members stopping behind him.
He didn’t call out to them. Everyone was deeply immersed in cultivation.
The three visitors’ gazes soon fell upon the spirit orb placed between them. For a brief moment, none of them spoke.
The density of spiritual energy emanating from it left them stunned.
’Such an enormous amount of spiritual energy... from a single orb?’ Hueng thought, his eyes narrowing slightly. ’If the Young Master had cultivated with this from birth, then his rapid rise to the Martial Saint realm... it finally makes sense.’
Chianxu and Xiao shared similar thoughts.
In their minds, Logan’s terrifying rate of improvement could only have come from this very orb.
After a while, Rudeous slowly opened his eyes and noticed Logan standing nearby, accompanied by three unfamiliar faces.
"Oh, Logan. You’re back already?" he asked. "Are you done with your training?"
At his voice, the others also opened their eyes. "Honey?" Alice asked softly, her gaze moving toward the strangers. "Who are these guests?"
"Father, Mother," Logan said calmly, "I need to leave for a while. It may take a few days before I return. As for who they are... I’m not entirely sure myself yet. I’ll explain everything properly once I’m back."
"You’re leaving again?" Alice’s expression tightened with worry. "Don’t tell me... is it already that time?"
"No, Mother," Logan said gently. "I’ll be back soon. I’m just accompanying them to take care of something. That’s all."
"You promise?" Alice asked, still uneasy.
"Yes, Mother. I promise."
Hueng stepped forward at that moment. "You don’t need to worry at all, madam," he said respectfully. "I will personally ensure the young master’s safety."
"Y-young master?" everyone echoed in confusion.
After all, Hueng looked far too old and dignified to be addressing Logan that way.
Seeing their puzzled expressions, Logan spoke up. "Don’t worry about that for now. Once I return, I’ll explain everything."
Alice and Rudeous exchanged glances.
"Alright," Rudeous finally said. "But take good care of yourself, Logan."
"I will, Father."
"Should I come with you?" Rowan asked immediately.
"That won’t be necessary," Logan replied. "Instead, all of you should focus on improving your cultivation."
Rowan nodded. "Alright."
With that, Logan left the house alongside Hueng, Xiao, and Chianxu, disappearing down the path beyond the courtyard.
They followed Hueng’s guidance and set off toward Spirit Mountain.
They traveled entirely on foot. For ordinary people, such a journey would have taken weeks. But for cultivators like them, distance meant very little. Their figures streaked across plains and forests, leaping over water bodies, scaling ridges, and cutting through wilderness at speeds no horse or carriage could ever match.
Wind roared past Logan’s ears as the ground blurred beneath his feet. Each step carried him dozens of meters forward, his breathing steady, his body light.
No one spoke.
Hueng led from the front, his expression calm and focused. Xiao and Chianxu followed close behind, alert at all times. The atmosphere was tense but controlled, as if everyone understood the danger of unnecessary conversation.
It was during one of these long stretches of silence that Audrey’s voice echoed softly in Logan’s mind.
"Why don’t you run and train at the same time?" she said.
Logan blinked. ’Run and train... at the same time? What do you mean?’ he asked internally.
"Practice Spirit Zone while running," Audrey replied. "Close your eyes. Heighten your senses. Don’t rely on sight. Let your body move, and let your awareness expand."
Logan frowned slightly. "That sounds... reckless."
"It’s efficient," Audrey countered. "Battle won’t wait for you to stand still and concentrate. Learn to maintain awareness even while moving."
After a brief pause, Logan nodded to himself. ’She’s right.’
’I get it,’ he said. ’Let’s try it then.’
Without slowing down, Logan closed his eyes.
Darkness swallowed his vision, but the world didn’t disappear.
Instead, it expanded.
Wind brushed against his skin, carrying information in its flow. He sensed the steady heartbeats of the three cultivators running beside him, their rhythms distinct. He felt pressure changes with each leap, vibrations in the ground beneath his feet, subtle shifts in air currents when birds passed overhead.
Initially, maintaining balance was challenging.
But slowly, his movements smoothed out.
Step after step, his awareness deepened.
Time blurred.
Three days passed like a single breath.
And finally, Logan felt something immense ahead.
He opened his eyes.
Before them stood the foot of a colossal mountain, stretching endlessly to both horizons... ancient, vast, and suffocating in presence.
The Spirit Mountain.