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With the Blue Sapphire Clan's hunters undoubtedly on his trail, John didn't dare slow his pace.

His lungs burned, his muscles ached, and the wounds from his earlier battle still throbbed—but Level Five Breathing ensured his endurance far surpassed any ordinary man's.

Where another cultivator might have collapsed from exhaustion, John pushed forward, his strides eating up the distance with relentless efficiency.

The wilderness blurred around him as he ran—towering ancient trees with gnarled roots, patches of thorny underbrush, and the occasional rocky outcrop.

The forest was alive with danger; more than once, he sensed the presence of other beasts lurking in the shadows.

Some were predators, their auras thick with killing intent.

Others were territorial, watching him with glowing eyes from the undergrowth.

But John didn't engage.

His 'Spatial Sense (Level Five)' hummed at the edge of his consciousness, scanning a twenty-meter radius in all directions.

It painted a mental map of his surroundings—every rustling leaf, every shifting branch, every predator lying in wait.

When a massive serpent, its scales glistening like polished jade, uncoiled from a low-hanging branch ahead, he veered left without breaking stride.

When a pack of wolf-like creatures with crimson eyes prowled too close, he altered his path, slipping past them like a ghost.

No fights. No delays.

His 'Bone Refinement Realm' physique allowed him to move with near-superhuman efficiency—his footfalls silent, his breathing controlled, his stamina seemingly endless.

Even as the hours stretched on, his body refused to give in.

Five hours passed, then six.

The forest grew denser in some places, thinner in others, but still, he ran.

By the eighth hour, the sounds of pursuit had faded entirely.

No baying hounds.

No shouted commands.

No rustling of armored hunters forcing their way through the undergrowth.

But John didn't stop.

He knew better than to assume safety.

The Blue Sapphire Clan was relentless, and their reach was long.

If they had lost his trail, it wouldn't be for long.

So he kept moving, his legs carrying him forward on sheer willpower alone.

Then, the trees thinned.

The oppressive canopy overhead gave way to open sky, the air suddenly fresher, lighter.

One final push through a wall of tangled vines, and then.

Freedom.

The wilderness ended abruptly, giving way to a vast, rolling grassland that stretched as far as the eye could see.

Golden waves of tall grass swayed in the wind, the afternoon sun painting the landscape in warm hues.

And there, in the distance, nestled against the horizon.

A settlement.

A big one.

From this distance, he could make out sturdy wooden palisades, smoke rising from countless chimneys, and the faint outlines of buildings clustered together.

A town.

Maybe even a city.

John exhaled sharply, his body finally allowing itself to feel the weight of his exertion.

His clothes were torn, his skin caked with dirt and dried blood, but he had made it.

John stood motionless for several long breaths, his chest rising and falling steadily as he centered himself.

The adrenaline from his desperate flight still thrummed through his veins, but his Level Five Breathing technique gradually brought his racing heart under control.

Each inhalation carried the crisp scent of the grasslands, a stark contrast to the damp, cloying air of the forest he'd just escaped.

With deliberate movements, he shrugged off the heavy spirit stone box, letting it fall to the ground with a solid thump.

The moment it left his back, he felt as if an enormous burden had been lifted - both literally and figuratively.

He stretched his shoulders, rolling them to work out the stiffness from carrying the precious cargo for so many hours.

Kneeling beside the box, he ran his fingers along its rough wooden surface, contemplating his next move.

"Carrying this much wealth into an unknown settlement would be like painting a target on my back," he muttered to himself.

His eyes scanned the horizon where the settlement walls rose in the distance, then returned to study the immediate area.

A perfect hiding spot presented itself an ancient banyan like tree with gnarled roots snaking across the ground like sleeping serpents.

Its massive trunk would serve as an unmistakable landmark.

John nodded in approval and immediately set to work.

His Bone Refinement Realm cultivation made the task laughably easy.

Where an ordinary man might have struggled for hours, John's reinforced bones and enhanced muscle strength allowed him to tear into the earth with bare hands as if it were soft clay.

Dirt flew through the air as he dug, his movements precise and efficient.

Within minutes, he'd created a pit nearly five feet deep, more than adequate to conceal his treasure.

Before sealing the box away, he carefully extracted ten spirit stones, each one glowing faintly with contained energy.

These he wrapped in a scrap of cloth torn from his inner robe and secured in a hidden pocket.

The remaining stones enough to tempt even seasoned cultivators would remain safely buried until he needed them.

As he methodically refilled the hole, John took meticulous mental notes of the location, thirty paces southwest of the banyan's largest aerial root, aligned with a distinctive rock formation to the north.

He scattered loose grass and leaves over the freshly turned earth, leaving no visible trace of his activities.

Standing back to admire his handiwork, John allowed himself a rare moment of satisfaction.

This was more than just hiding wealth - it was the first calculated move in whatever game awaited him in the Nine Sky Clan's territory.

Turning back toward the dark tree line, John strained his senses.

His Spatial Sense stretched to its twenty-meter limit, probing for any sign of pursuit.

Nothing.

No crunch of boots on underbrush, no telltale rustle of armor through foliage.

Just the occasional chirp of insects and distant bird calls.

With one last glance at his buried treasure, John turned his attention to the settlement.

The sun hung low in the sky now, casting long shadows across the grassland.

He'd need to reach the gates before nightfall if he wanted to avoid sleeping in the open again.

As he drew nearer, the settlement's imposing defenses became more apparent.

The stone walls rose at least fifteen feet high, their surfaces worn smooth by time and weather.

Guards patrolled the ramparts, their silhouettes stark against the fading light.

The massive wooden gate easily wide enough for three carts to pass abreast stood slightly ajar, flanked by armored sentries.

John deliberately slowed his pace as he approached, giving the guards ample time to notice him.

He knew how he must appear, clothes torn from his battle with the six-legged beast, skin streaked with dirt and dried blood, the general look of a man who'd been through hell.

First impressions mattered, especially when entering unfamiliar territory.

The lead guard a broad-shouldered man with a neatly trimmed beard stepped forward as John came within speaking distance.

His nose wrinkled slightly at John's disheveled state, but his eyes betrayed a glimmer of wariness.

This was no ordinary beggar approaching their gates.

"Hold there," the guard commanded, one hand resting casually on his sword hilt. "State your business with the Nine Sky Clan."

John met the man's gaze evenly, noting the subtle energy radiating from him - Skin Refinement Realm.

Competent enough for gate duty, but nothing extraordinary.

Rather than answer immediately, John reached slowly into his robe, careful not to make any sudden movements that might alarm the guards.

His fingers closed around one of the spirit stones as he simultaneously allowed a fraction of his Bone Refinement aura to surface.

The change in the guards was immediate.

The lead guard's eyes widened as he sensed the power radiating from John.

His companion actually took an involuntary step back, hand tightening on his weapon.

John extended his hand, revealing the glowing spirit stone resting in his palm.

"I seek temporary lodging and information," he said, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of strength. "This should cover any entrance fees."

He tossed the stone to the lead guard, who caught it with surprising deftness.

The man examined it briefly, then shared a meaningful look with his fellow guards.

When he turned back to John, his demeanor had shifted noticeably.

"Welcome to the Nine Sky Clan's territory, honored cultivator," he said, stepping aside and gesturing toward the gate. "The inn near the eastern market is clean and discreet. Ask for Master Lu if you require... specialized services."

John nodded his thanks and strode past the now-respectful guards.

As he crossed the threshold, the sounds and smells of civilization washed over him - shouting merchants, sizzling street food, the mingled scents of incense and livestock.

A new chapter was beginning, and John intended to make the most of it.

With nine spirit stones still hidden in his clothes and an entire buried fortune waiting in the grasslands, he had resources.

Now he needed information, and most importantly a way to turn this temporary sanctuary into a permanent advantage.

The guards at the gate might have been fooled by his display of strength, but John knew better than anyone how quickly fortunes could change in the world of cultivation.

He'd need to move carefully in the days ahead.