《Drifting Dao - A Fast-Paced Xianxia Progression Fantasy》


 Chapter 1.1

    Lin Li knew there was no hiding¡ªnot from the Red Wolves. They were vicious, cruel, and, most importantly, they knew how to track their prey. They would find him.


    So why was he even trying?


    He took slow, measured breaths, circulating his Qi through his meridians to push back the exhaustion weighing on him. It was working. The fatigue was fading, bit by bit.


    He had situated himself high in a tree, using the thick canopy as cover. His robes were dirt-laden, and his matted brown hair clung to his forehead. Sometimes, he wondered why he even bothered keeping it so long.


    Just as he was starting to feel comfortable¡ªor as comfortable as one could get while dangling between tree branches¡ªhe heard the snap of twigs, followed by the shuffling of footsteps.


    Lin Li tensed. He could hear them breathing. He kept his own breath steady, remaining perfectly still to avoid making any unnecessary noise.


    More footsteps followed, then the rustling of leaves and hushed voices¡ªfading with each passing second.


    They were leaving.


    He waited, barely daring to breathe, until the only sound left was the wind stirring the branches. Then, slowly, he let out a breath of relief.


    Carefully, he nudged a branch aside and peered down. The clearing was empty.


    He took a moment to tighten the clasp on his satchel before dropping silently to the ground. A quick glance around confirmed it¡ªno one was there. He was alone, at least for the moment.


    Lin Li decided not to waste another second; he picked a direction and walked away.


    The forest was eerily quiet. The golden rays of sunlight had dwindled to scattered patches, whatever little managed to slip through the thick canopy. In less than an hour, the sun would set, and darkness would swallow the land. He had to get out before then.


    As Lin Li continued his traipse, he spotted a sturdy tree in the distance. He moved closer and scanned the bark until he found the mark¡ªhis mark. He had left it before running into the forest, a guide to ensure he was heading in the right direction. Confirming it, relief flooded him.


    Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a length of rope, tying one end to the tree and the other to a moss-covered boulder. When he was done, he took a moment to admire his work, nodding in satisfaction before turning to leave.


    Minutes passed. Shadows stretched long across the ground, the creeping dark close behind. His Qi-enhanced body allowed him to move smoothly, avoiding roots and loose earth, keeping his steps quiet. His ears stayed sharp, alert for any movement.


    That was why he noticed it¡ªjust in time.


    A man burst from the underbrush, an axe in hand, a snarl on his lips.


    Lin Li froze. He¡¯d been caught.


    The man roared, his voice echoing through the trees like a war cry. Lin Li flinched.


    Logic dictated that he run¡ªlest he be forced into a losing battle. Even if he managed to defeat this man, the others would have arrived by then, leaving him cornered. But if he ran, he would be confining himself to a shrinking woodland, increasing his risk.


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    Not that it mattered. He already had a plan.


    Gritting his teeth, he shot the man one last look before turning around and sprinting away.


    "You can''t run from me, brat!" the man bellowed, closing in fast.


    Lin Li risked a glance over his shoulder and swallowed hard. The man was gaining¡ªtoo fast.


    Gritting his teeth, he burned his Qi, forcing his legs to move faster.


    The man bellowed to the high heavens, and Lin Li muttered under his breath. That much noise would attract attention. He pushed himself to run faster.


    Soon, he spotted the rope.


    Slowing his pace just enough, he let the man gain on him. Then, with a small, deliberate leap¡ªjust enough to make it seem like he was trying to gain ground¡ªhe cleared the trap.


    The man, blinded by rage, charged straight through.


    His eyes were locked onto Lin Li¡¯s back, and that was probably why he didn¡¯t notice it. But when he did, it was already too late. His leg was caught, and the rope snapped taut.


    With a startled cry, the man crashed to the ground, his axe slipping from his grasp and tumbling several feet ahead.


    Lin Li skidded to a halt and pivoted sharply on the balls of his feet, turning toward his attacker. His hand dove into the opening of his leather satchel and pulled out a sharp dagger.


    The man looked up, surprise and fear warring for dominance. Alas, he was given no such chance as the dagger thrust forward, sinking deep into his eye. Cold steel buried itself to the root in his brain.


    Silence followed, and Lin Li exhaled, scanning his surroundings for any unexpected surprises. Fortunately, no one had arrived¡ªthough he knew it was only a matter of time.


    Pulling the dagger free, Lin Li grimaced as a spray of blood splattered across his robes. He wiped the bloodied blade on the grass, removing any fleshy, gooey bits before tucking it back into the satchel.


    Giving the corpse a cold look, Lin Li glanced around one last time before running away. The trap had served its purpose, and now he had a relatively safer path to escape the forest.


    The Red Wolves had likely spread themselves across the area to corner him, but that also meant the path behind them was clear. If he managed to break through the encirclement, he could make a run for the town.


    ''Though it''s at best a half measure,''he thought, leaping over a gnarled root and ducking beneath a low-hanging branch.''Sooner or later, they¡¯ll catch up.''


    The only question was how long he could hold them off.


    Lin Li kept running.


    Night had fallen, and his already meager Qi reserves were nearly depleted. He stopped near a tree, taking deep, measured breaths to fill his lungs. His body ached in odd places, his feet sore from the relentless running. Sweat clung to his back, rough and irritating against his skin. Even his long hair felt grimy.


    He didn¡¯t look like a disciple who had come down from the mountains. He looked like a thief.


    ''Though that''s probably not wrong,''he mused, glancing at his satchel. ''Who would''ve thought the Red Wolves would be involved in something like this?''


    He patted the satchel one last time, inhaled deeply, and took off running again. The darkness would hide his tracks, and by the time dawn broke, he would be long gone from this forest.


    Lin Li didn¡¯t stop until he saw the first signs of cultivated land. Small clusters of herbs grew at the base of trees, and a carefully maintained bed of colorful flowers lay at the center of a clearing. Just ahead, a road stretched before him¡ªworn and well-trodden. It wasn¡¯t paved with cobblestones, but it was a path frequently traveled.


    He took one last look behind him before bolting ahead at the fastest pace he could muster.


    Moonlight bathed his sweat-drenched figure, and the cool night breeze provided some relief. By now, his legs felt stiff, his feet like stone. Every muscle in his body ached, even the smallest motions giving rise to sharp pain. Yet, despite it all, he couldn''t keep the smile off his face.


    He was finally out of the woodland.


    Lin Li pushed forward for another ten minutes before spotting the market up ahead. At this hour, the streets were empty, and the shops were shuttered. He followed the familiar path until he reached the inn where he had been staying for the past week.


    As he stepped inside, he spotted the owner slumped behind the counter, dozing in a sprawled-out position, legs splayed open. Lin Li paid him no mind and made his way upstairs.


    His body, beaten and battered, demanded rest, but his mind, still fueled by the rush of adrenaline, refused to give in. He thought he probably wouldn''t be able to sleep, but that was fine¡ªhe hadn¡¯t planned on sleeping anyway.


    He had far more important matters to attend to.

 Chapter 1.2

    Lin Li came from the Verdant Peak Sect, situated in the Green River Valley. It held dominion over the entire Eastern Spirit Province, and he had been a trial disciple for over five years.


    Five years spent cultivating, and all he had to show for it was the Meridian Opening Realm¡ªthe third minor realm of the Mortal Foundation Realm. He would have said that his aptitude was trash, but the truth was, he just wasn¡¯t rich enough.


    Once in a while, trial disciples like him would accept missions¡ªmost of which required traveling to the mortal world¡ªto earn contribution points, which could then be used to purchase resources.


    Lin Li had been eyeing the Dantian Opening Elixir for a while now, which would help him break through to the fourth and final realm of Mortal Foundation: Dantian Establishment. But it required over 50 contribution points, and he had only amassed a little over 40. Then, one day, he came across a mission on the Mortal Hall¡¯s mission board.


    The task was to investigate why the Spirit Stones excavated from the mines of Red Moon Town were dwindling. The elders were too proud to look into the matter themselves, and any prospective disciple would much rather spend their time cultivating than running to the mortal world for a mere 20 contribution points.


    That left only the servant and trial disciples. Lin Li had been lucky to chance upon the mission before anyone else. Alas, he hadn¡¯t expected the situation to run so deep.


    What he had taken for a ragtag group of thieves turned out to be a band of cultivators in disguise¡ªand their leader, a Qi Gathering Realm cultivator. How unfortunate was that?


    That was why Lin Li was certain he couldn¡¯t run away from them. That, and the fact that all the exits leading out of this small town would be guarded by their men. Unfortunate, indeed.


    Lin Li settled on the bed, satchel in hand, and pulled out a crinkled piece of paper. He dusted off the spots of mud and turned it over, his brows knitting into a frown.


    It had been three weeks since he left the mountain, and a week after that, he had arrived in this town. He had been lucky enough to chance upon the Red Wolves and conduct his investigation quietly. He had seen their leader interacting with strangers¡ªand with men he recognized. Men from his sect.


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    The revelation had been shocking, but even more so was what he discovered next. The real buyer¡ªand possibly the head of this entire operation¡ªwas the Yi Clan.


    A prestigious clan from the Central Domain, their power alone could make an average cultivator tremble in either fear or awe. Though they were strong, they weren¡¯t as strong as the Verdant Peak Sect.


    Lin Lin suspected that was precisely why they were acting in secret. And even if they were caught, unless the sect provided undeniable evidence, nothing could be done. They weren¡¯t mere blades of grass that could be trampled underfoot; they were a towering tree with roots that ran deeper than the Green River of the Eastern Spirit Province.


    He could have gone back, reported his findings to the elders, and claimed his reward. But then he remembered the words of a senior from long ago¡ªthat living in the world of cultivation was like walking on a thin rope. One misstep, and you would plummet to your doom. Cultivation wasn¡¯t just an art of patience; it was a race against the heavens. If you wanted to reach the top, you had to accept certain risks¡ªand run straight through them.


    So, Lin Li ran.


    He ran into the Red Wolves¡¯ lair, stole the bag that contained the evidence, and fled. Even now, he was still on the run. Yet, Lin Li wasn¡¯t sure if running had really been the right choice.


    ''Come to think of it, that guy also died shortly after,'' Lin Li mused. ''Am I an idiot for believing him?''


    Either way, he had made his bed. Now, he had to lie in it.


    Sighing, Lin Li unfolded the letter and began to read.


    After reading the letter, Lin Li sighed once more and folded it shut. He slipped it back into the satchel when his hand brushed against something. Frowning, he carefully pulled it out¡ªonly to find what appeared to be a rock.


    ''A strange rock,'' he thought as he inspected it. It was round, entirely black, with scattered golden spots glinting under the dim light. It was small, no larger than his thumb, yet Lin Li was certain it wasn¡¯t a marble.


    "A Spirit Pill...?" His eyes narrowed as he peered closer, doubt and suspicion creeping in. Had he unknowingly stolen something precious from the leader? Was that why they were chasing him so relentlessly?


    "But that can''t be..." Lin Li muttered, shaking his head. He could sense a faint aura wafting from it, but it was so weak that, had he not been scrutinizing it so closely, he might have missed it entirely. The question was: what was he supposed to do with it?


    "I could eat it...?" If it really was a Spirit Pill, consuming it could potentially help him break through¡ªboosting his chances of survival. On the other hand, if it turned out to be a Poison Pill, he¡¯d be dead in moments.


    ''So, it''s a 50-50,'' Lin Li mused, rubbing his chin. But if he didn¡¯t take it, the leader would catch him sooner or later. In fact, that felt like more than a 50% chance of dying.


    "To do or not to do, that is the dilemma," he muttered, shaking his head. Yet, suddenly, he recalled that senior¡¯s words again.


    That guy may have died, but at least he had struggled¡ªat least he had lived a meaningful life.


    "This might be the end of my path or the beginning of a new journey... but I¡¯m willing to see it through. For that is my Heart of Martial Will."