The moment he entered the ironwood palisade, the first person he saw was Mingling.

  Mingling was sitting on a long bench in front of the food storehouse, kicking his short legs in the air, looking anxious and bored. As soon as he saw Zhi Xuan, his stocky face instantly lit up with relief.

  "Zhi Xuan! Hey! Where have you been? I've been looking for you since dawn!" Mingling shouted, jumping up and running towards him, his scowl immediately returning.

  "Looking for me?" Zhi Xuan asked, feigning surprise. "I... I just fell asleep by the riverbank. You know, I was really tired after yesterday."

  "Fell asleep by the riverbank?" Mingling snorted skeptically. "You never fall asleep! You're usually hitting the grain sack even before the rooster crows! I even hit your grain sack a little so Grandfather Wu wouldn't yell at you too much!"

  Mingling elbowed his arm. "Hey, by the way, you didn't get any water mushrooms, did you? Your bag is empty. I know you were just looking for an excuse to run away from Tang constantly showing off his muscles."

  "Of course I didn't get any mushrooms," Zhi Xuan answered quickly. "It was too dark. I'll try again this afternoon. Thanks for hitting my grain sack, Ming. You saved my legs."

  "No problem, buddy. But seriously, you look pale. Why are you walking a little..." Mingling tilted his head. "A little faster? You look like you're about to float!"

  Zhi Xuan immediately slowed down, forcing his steps to feel heavy and slow, returning to the mortal walking pattern he had mastered. "Floating? That's just your imagination. I'm just hungry. Come on, let's have breakfast. I heard Aunt Lian is making wheat pancakes today."

  Mingling immediately forgot his suspicions at the mention of pancakes. "Wheat pancakes! Come on, hurry! We have to get them before Tang eats them all!"

  Zhi Xuan followed Mingling towards the food storehouse; Mingling's light laughter beside him felt like a warm blanket wrapping around his cold soul. He had successfully returned. He had passed the danger.

  Inside the storehouse, Bashan, Tang, and Zhuwei were already sitting at the long table. The atmosphere was warm and cheerful, but Zhi Xuan couldn't fully absorb the peace.

  As he sat down, he noticed something very strange. He watched Tang grab a wheat bread, Bashan perform light breathing exercises before eating, and Zhuwei calmly clean his knife.

  All these actions were normal, but to Zhi Xuan, all their movements felt slow.

  He watched Bashan take a deep breath—he could see his shoulders rise, his chest expand—all happening over a long time. Tang chewed his bread with clear and exaggerated movements. It was as if time around him had slowed down by a fraction of a second.

  Zhi Xuan closed his eyes. He returned to the sensation of his cracked wheel, which now felt dense and whole. He no longer felt the painful crack. He felt a cold density, like a freshly polished gemstone.

  Was... was I really dreaming?

  He tried to move. He reached out to grab a cup of water. His movement felt fast, incredibly fast, as if his hand shot out. His hand caught the cup and pulled it back to the table before Tang could even notice the movement.

  "Hey! You almost spilled the water, Zhi!" Tang protested, who had just finished his slow chew. Zhi Xuan only offered a thin smile, his heart rate returning to normal. He drank the water. The water felt cold and refreshing, but it no longer quenched the strange thirst in his chest. A thirst that could only be satisfied by essence.

  Mingling leaned towards Zhi Xuan, sliding a plate of wheat pancakes. "Hey, stop daydreaming. Eat! We have to be strong! Remember, Grandfather Wu's plan about the Divine Wheel! Bashan will definitely be chosen, we have to beat Tang in the next fishing competition to impress Grandfather Wu!"

  "I'll help you beat Tang in the fishing competition, Ming," Zhi Xuan said, smiling brightly, a smile that reached his sapphire eyes. "But I need Pure Forest Ginseng."

  Bashan, who heard that, turned his head. "I told you, that's too dangerous, Zhi Xuan."

  "I know," Zhi Xuan said, his eyes glowing with cold determination. "What if we follow Uncle Chen to the northern hill together... secretly... maybe."

  "That's crazy, Zhi Xuan! Pure Forest Ginseng is on the outskirts of the northern hill. That's an area where Fire-Roaring Apes and other high-level beasts roam. Even the hunters move in large groups there," Bashan retorted, his calm tone now containing firmness. He put down his breakfast bowl, his attention completely diverted from his breathing exercises.

  "I agree with Bashan," Zhuwei interjected, without lifting his gaze from his knife, his voice flat. "Following Uncle Chen secretly is a stupid idea. If we are found, Grandfather Wu will punish all of us. And if we aren't found, we'll die eaten by wild beasts. There's a reason there's a Mortal Boundary, Zhi Xuan."

  Tang, who was busy stuffing his mouth with a large bite of wheat pancake, swallowed with difficulty. "B-but... Pure Forest Ginseng... Uncle Chen said it can make my steps feel like flying! If we get it, maybe Grandfather Wu will choose both of us, Bashan!"

  Mingling, seeing the debate heating up, immediately elbowed Tang. "Don't listen to Tang! His big brain only contains muscles! But, Zhi, that idea is indeed crazy. Why are you suddenly so enthusiastic about Ginseng? You usually prefer Grandfather Wu's slow and torturous horse stance training method."

  "It's just curiosity, Ming," Zhi Xuan said, forcing a light tone into his voice while grabbing a piece of wheat pancake, but his eyes, unconsciously, glanced outside, towards the forest that was familiar yet now felt small. "Grandfather Wu always says: 'Take what nature provides to strengthen your foundation.' Isn't it strange if we only rely on the worn-out grain sack? We all want the Divine Wheel, right?"

  "Of course we want the Divine Wheel!" Tang exclaimed, his eyes radiating a burning fire of ambition, even though he was speaking with his mouth full. He leaned forward, ignoring the pancake crumbs falling from his chin. "But Pure Forest Ginseng is expensive and risky! If Grandfather Wu wanted us to have it, he would send the hunters to get it. Not tell us, the whiny shepherds, to sneak into the Fire-Roaring Ape's lair!"

  "Tang is right, Zhi Xuan," Bashan said, his tone calm and wise, like water flowing in a peaceful river. "The risk is not worth the reward. Stability is key. And stability comes from regular training, not from dangerous harvesting. If your Human Wheel is impure, the Ginseng will only give you a high fever."

  Mingling, who was always the easiest to persuade, looked deep in thought. "But... imagine if we succeeded? Pure Forest Ginseng really can make us fly! Maybe we don't even need to go to the northern hill! The Ginseng grows on the lower hills, on the shaded side. I remember Uncle Chen once said that!"

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  Zhi Xuan noticed the opening. He had to shift the focus from danger to speed—something he now felt was his main advantage. His cracked wheel had patched itself, and he wanted to test this new limit.

  "Exactly, Mingling," Zhi Xuan said, his eyes shining. He spoke a little too quickly, showing his internal restlessness. "We don't need to go to the northern hill. We only need the Ginseng that grows on the shaded side. Bashan, you need Ginseng to purify your breath, right? And Tang, you need it to grow your muscles! If we go together, the three of us... or four of us, it's a calculated risk."

  "It's not a calculated risk, it's a calculated recklessness," Zhuwei countered, now finally lifting his gaze from his knife. Zhuwei looked at Zhi Xuan, his gaze sharp and direct. "Zhi Xuan, you have another idea. Tell the truth. Why, suddenly after you 'fell asleep' by the river, did you become so... Enthusiastic? Did you hear something in the forest?"

  Zhi Xuan felt his heart pound. Zhuwei's question felt too close to the truth. He immediately looked away, reclaiming his bright smile.

  "Hear what, Zhuwei? Wolf howling? Of course. I just don't want to be left behind," Zhi Xuan said, shrugging casually. "Grandfather Wu said the Divine Wheel is a rare opportunity, and I don't want to sit still and wait for my turn. If we can speed up our Human Wheel, why not?"

  Zhi Xuan smiled widely, a deliberate smile that felt a little too cheerful. He snatched a small piece of leftover jade wolf meat from Bashan's plate—a careless act that usually only Mingling dared to do.

  "Hey!" Bashan protested, although there was a small smile on his face.

  "I'm just taking energy for my Divine Wheel!" Zhi Xuan exclaimed, chewing the meat quickly. "Listen, guys. This isn't about recklessness. It's about efficiency."

  He leaned forward, his eyes twinkling like a child planning a small mischief. "Imagine! We return with some rare Pure Forest Ginseng. Grandfather Wu, instead of being angry, will pat our shoulders and say, 'Ah, clever rascals! You showed extraordinary initiative!' Then he will choose all of us for the Divine Wheel. Isn't that better than just hitting this hard, smelly grain sack every day?"

  Mingling burst into laughter, imagining the scenario. "Ha! Grandfather Wu patting our shoulders? He'll hit us with his staff until we can see stars in broad daylight!"

  "Exactly!" Tang shouted, his big eyes now focused on the idea of reward. "But if we really manage to bring back Ginseng, that will be a strong argument! I need that to increase my muscle endurance. Otherwise, I'll be the last of us to fly!"

  "You're already the last, Tang," Zhuwei countered flatly, without a pause.

  "Silence, Zhuwei! My raw strength is still the best!"

  Bashan shook his head, letting out a long sigh—a sign of soft defeat. He knew, once Tang and Mingling liked an idea that involved danger combined with the promise of enhancement, they wouldn't give up.

  "Alright, alright," Bashan said, raising his hand as a sign of surrender. "I won't join. But I can't let the three of you die eaten by Fire-Roaring Apes. I'll give you a rough map I drew when I was helping Uncle Chen. It shows the approximate location where Ginseng grows on the lower hills. But you have to promise: no one passes the twin pine trees! That is the forbidden boundary, where Sprouting Fang-level beasts begin to roam."

  "Twin pine trees? That's far away!" Mingling exclaimed. "Ready, Bashan! We'll be back before dinner with the best Ginseng!"

  Zhi Xuan gave Bashan a small, genuine smile. He had successfully manipulated the situation onto his path, but he needed Bashan's map to ensure he didn't get lost in his new speed.

  "Thank you, Bashan," Zhi Xuan said. "We will be careful. I just want the Divine Wheel. I want to live for 200 years and see your grandchildren herd the One-Eyed Goats."

  "My grandchildren won't herd One-Eyed Goats," Bashan snorted. "They will be breathing masters in the Jade Valley."

  "Jade Valley? Are you sure it's not the Roasted Sausage Valley, Bashan?" Mingling teased.

  The breakfast session ended with a tense and conspiratorial atmosphere. Bashan sneaked into the storehouse where the hunting equipment was kept, returning with a tattered leather scroll that clearly looked hastily drawn.

  "Listen," Bashan whispered, spreading the map over a pile of straw behind the blind horse stable. "This path is the one the hunters take. We will deviate around here—the Broken Bamboo Gate—and trace the small valley on the east side. Ginseng likes to grow on the shaded side of the cliff, where moisture is trapped. The twin pine trees are here," his finger pointed to a spot on the map, "next to a very swift river. Don't cross it."

  "Ready, Captain Bashan!" Mingling exclaimed, giving an awkward salute. "We'll be back with enough Ginseng root to make Grandfather Wu kneel and beg us to cultivate!"

  Tang just nodded in agreement, his eyes already fired up. "What time do we leave? I'm itching to test these new muscles!"

  "Not now," Bashan cut in, his voice returning to its original calmness. "The hunters will leave at noon. We must wait until the afternoon, after the horse stance training and before Uncle Chen returns. That gives us time to get in and out before total darkness. And Zhi Xuan, you should train your Human Wheel first. You look like you just dated a forest elephant last night."

  Zhi Xuan just laughed lightly. "Of course, Bashan. I don't want to be scolded for poor performance."

  Zhi Xuan followed Mingling towards the village field. Mingling's light laughter felt like a warm blanket wrapping around his cold soul, helping to chase away the remnants of the strange morning fog. He had successfully returned. He had passed the danger, and most importantly, he had set a new plan that would take him back to the forest, this time with a legitimate reason in his friends' eyes.

  Mingling continued to chatter about how they would use the Pure Forest Ginseng to beat Bashan in a running race. "We'll float, Zhi! Float! Grandfather Wu will surely be so surprised his staff breaks!"

  "Grandfather Wu's staff will never break, Ming," Zhi Xuan countered, trying to return the careless tone Mingling always liked. "You better worry about your own legs; you run like a frightened duck."

  "That's art! You don't understand!"

  In the field, Grandfather Wu was already standing, flanked by a pile of hard grain sacks and two large wooden logs that Tang and Bashan usually used for weightlifting. Grandfather Wu, despite his age, exuded an undeniable aura of strictness.

  His sharp eyes swept the field, and he paused briefly at Zhi Xuan. "Sapphire-eyed child, you are late," Grandfather Wu reprimanded, his voice calm yet containing a clear warning. "I heard you fell asleep by the riverbank. Is your Human Wheel starting to get too comfortable with mortal comfort?"

  Zhi Xuan immediately jumped forward, bowing deeply. "I apologize, Grandfather Wu. I was too excited about today's task. I promise, I will double my training as punishment."

  Grandfather Wu snorted softly, a faint, barely visible smile on his thin lips. "You always promise double. But alright. Today, we won't start with static horse stances."

  He pointed to Zhi Xuan's grain sack lying nearby. The sack was the smallest, but the densest and hardest of the others, filled with iron sand and river pebbles.

  "I see fire in your eyes, Zhi Xuan," Grandfather Wu said. "Or maybe it's just lack of sleep. Today, you will practice the Wild Earth Step. Hit that grain sack a thousand times, and don't let your feet touch the ground."

  Zhi Xuan nodded, hidden nervousness swirling in his stomach. He knew he couldn't use the true Wild Earth Step; it was an advanced mortal technique that required perfect control. But he had to move fast. He had to test his mortal wheel that now felt dense and whole.

  Mingling immediately frowned. "But, Grandfather Wu! Why does Zhi Xuan always get the cool techniques? I'm only told to run around the field with a grain sack on my back!"

  "Because his legs are bigger than your brain, Ming," Grandfather Wu countered flatly, before turning to Bashan and Tang. "Tang, you lift that log a thousand times. Bashan, you will accompany him, but you will maintain your breath at the second circulation, and not touch the log with your hands."

  Grandfather Wu's command immediately ended all complaints. The youths immediately dispersed, starting their brutal training.

  Zhi Xuan took his position in front of his grain sack. He took a deep breath.

  He didn't try to not touch the ground, but he tried to kick the grain sack with control.

  BOOM!

  He kicked the grain sack. The sound was no longer the usual thud, but a much sharper boom explosion. The sack flew into the air, spun twice, and slammed back down to the ground with surprising force.

  Zhi Xuan barely felt the impact on his leg. He was shocked. His raw strength felt doubled.

  "What the hell was that, Zhi Xuan?" Tang shouted, who had just managed to lift his first log. "What did you eat last night? Your grain sack almost burst!"

  Zhi Xuan forced a casual smile, his heart rate returning to normal. "I told you, I don't want to be scolded, Tang! I trained with weights yesterday, like you do! The Shin Splint philosophy!"

  He continued his training, but now he was careful. He had to control his movements. He had to channel his strength. He hit the grain sack again, this time focusing his energy only on speed, not force.