After finishing his meal, Reon stood up, a renewed focus in his eyes. With a wave of his hand, he activated his spatial ring, drawing in the numerous Demonic Beast corpses surrounding the area. Nearly a hundred Demonic Beasts vanished into the ring, stored away like mere tris.

  Initially, Reon had po focus on the Bdesong of the Silver Moon Teique. Using the Teique Insight Ticket he had earned, he inteo elevate his mastery of it to the Intermediate Stage, fident that with this skill and Cloudia's assistance, he'd be able to take down an Ironcw Direwolf in a surprise attack.

  Once defeated, the Direwolf's Primal Core would be the perfect resource for Cloudia's adva, pushio advao the Demonic Soldier Rank.

  However, fate had been uedly kind; through a separate system reward, he had unlocked Sword Aura—not the mere Awakening or Refi Stages, but a signifitly higher level of trol.

  This wasn't just progress; it was a rare leap forward that pced him in a css few disciples could reach so soon.

  To his satisfa, Cloudia had already reached the Demonic Soldier Rank with the Primal Core of the Shadow Cw Bear.

  Now, armed with her enhanced abilities and his newly solidified Sword Aura, they could easily take on Ironcw Direwolf.

  Now, he decided, was the time to press on and plete his mission here. Training in the forest any longer would be a risky indulgence.

  Niu Ling, the inner disciple with a known grudge, might seize any opportunity to ambush him while he remained within the forest.

  Although Mystic Evergreen Forest y within the sect's domain, its dense woods were perfect for eliminating someoh no questions asked.

  Many disciples met their end here—some from beasts, others from rival disciples exploiting in the forest's isoted depths.

  If Niu Ling decided to strike, the sect would likely dismiss Reon's death as just another casualty of the wild—a beast attack, easily brushed aside.

  Within the sect's walls, such brazen as were met with swift punishment. But out here, beyond the sect's watchful eye, the dangers were tless, and life was ofteing. Out here, death was an accepted risk.

  Those without the power to protect themselves had no business venturing into the Mystic Evergreen Forest to begin with.

  Reon couldn't be sure just how many disciples Niu Ling would send. However, with his ret frontations and his success in fending off several of Niu Ling's ckeys, it was certain that this time they'd e prepared, likely sending stronger disciples or more of them.

  It recisely for this reason that Reon wao plete his mission quickly aurn to the safety of the sect. There, he could train his Sword Aura and teiques in the peace of his abode, away from the stant threat of ambush.

  With a final g the clearing, Reon steeled himself. It was time to put his newfound skills to the test and move toward his goal with resolve, leaving behind this brutal forest and the schemes that lurked within it.

  Suddenly Reon heard the familiar chime of the System eg in his mind.

  [Ding! The Host has been given four options to choose from. Please selee option carefully.]

  .

  [Option 1: Return to the sect without pleting the mission.

  Reward: Strength+1]

  .

  [Option 2: Finish the mission aurn to the sect.

  Reward: Cultivation Stage+1]

  .

  [Option 3: Advao the Intermediate Stage of the Bdesong of the Silver Moon Teique while in the forest.

  Reward: Qi Enha Pill (Unon Grade).]

  .

  [Option 4: Veo the Mysterious Cave ahead a the powerful boss lurking within.

  Reward: Celestial Heart Breathing Teique (??) .]

  .

  .

  Reon sed the list of options thoughtfully. The first choice, returning to the sect without pleting his mission, was immediately ruled out.

  Losing 5,000 Sect Points for a failed mission, all for a meager reward of a sirength increase, was simply not worth it.

  His gaze moved to the sed option: pleting the mission aurning to the sect. While this aligned with his inal pn, the reward of a oage cultivation boost felt underwhelming, barely entig.

  Then, he sidered the third option: advang to the Intermediate Stage in his sword teique here in the forest.

  Although he hadn't po focus on it now, the reward for this choice was certainly more tempting.

  Finally, his attentioled on the fourth optiouring into the mysterious cave ahead aing the powerful boss within.

  Initially, Reon had no iion of expl the cave—its unknown dangers seemed like unnecessary risks. Yet, the reward for this choice was hard to ignore.

  A rare breathing teique recisely what he o advance his cultivation without always relying on the system.

  What intrigued him even further was the reward's ranking—it showed only question marks, something he'd never seen before.

  Even the Eclipse Orb had a rank, albeit one shrouded in mystery with its question mark, whily heightehe allure of this unknown reward.

  Reon's curiosity ignited, and he could feel the thrill of possibility c through him. With a newfound sense of determination, he reized that the potential bes outweighed the risks, and he fidently selected this option.