Ray lay on the floor, breathing slowly as the lingering hum of spiritual energy settled around him. When he finally opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Arisa's worried face hovering above him. Her expression, touched by the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves, was soft yet anxious.
For a moment, something stirred within him.
A flicker of memory.
A friend—from another world—who had once looked at him with the same worried eyes.
The images overlapped, past and present blending like ripples on still water.
Ray blinked and shook his head, chasing away the ghost of the past. When his vision cleared, it was Arisa again—not the girl he'd once known.
A faint smile crossed his lips.
Arisa tilted her head, confused by his sudden reaction. But before she could ask, Ray had already sat up, brushing the dust from his robes. His gaze turned toward the ancient tree towering nearby, its colossal trunk humming with an otherworldly rhythm. Around it drifted faint motes of light—spirits watching quietly from the air.
Before leaving, Ray knew he had to give thanks.
Now that he had awakened his spiritual cultivation, he decided to test something he had long planned. Energy flared at his fingertips as he drew intricate soul and spiritual runes, each glowing with a soft, translucent radiance. Carefully, he pressed the runes onto his eyes.
In an instant, his world transformed.
The grove bloomed with hidden life. Thousands of spirits shimmered into view—dancing flames, whispering wisps, and luminous silhouettes that painted the air with color. He turned slowly, awe filling his chest… until he realized something strange.
The ancient tree was gone.
Ray frowned and scanned the grove. "Where…?"
Arisa chuckled softly. "If you're looking for the ancient tree, you won't find it. I've accepted the tree as my spirit partner."
Ray froze, then broke into a grin. His surprise quickly gave way to joy.
"Congratulations! You've found a wonderful friend. She'll guide you and help you grow stronger. But don't rely on her too much—strength should come from within. Listen to her advice, and please, give my gratitude to Miss Sophia for letting me awaken my cultivation here."
Arisa's eyes gleamed with quiet determination. "Don't worry. Soon, I'll be stronger than you. I'll protect you when you need it."
Ray chuckled. "Please do. But I made a promise to look after you too. If you ever need help, don't hesitate to ask. You already have the telecommunication wristwatch."
Then he turned toward the spirits floating nearby and gave a small nod. "Thank you for your help. You've given me tremendous support."
But something felt off.
The spirits' luminous faces dimmed. Their gentle smiles faltered. The once-glowing grove now felt heavy with unease, the air thick with silent dread.
Ray frowned. "Is there any way I can help you all?"
A trembling voice answered him. One of the spirits—smaller than the rest, his form faintly flickering—floated forward.
"Since Miss Sophia has left, we have no one to protect us. And that is not all. We were dependent on her presence. Now that she leaves with Lady Arisa, we have no home. Once you depart, we must wander and seek another place… but many of us will not survive."
Ray's expression softened. "Then stay with Arisa. If you do, Lady Sophia can still help you."
Another spirit drifted forward, her voice calm but sorrowful. "That is impossible. We lived in coexistence only through Miss Sophia's true form. Eight years ago, we begged her to remain, but she chose to live beside Miss Arisa. We have decided to respect that choice."
A quiet sadness hung over them.
Then a lady spirit stepped closer, her voice trembling with hope. "Master Ray, can you stay with us? We could coexist and protect one another. Some of us could help you tend your plants; others could strengthen your spiritual energy or aid your healing. We only wish to remain by your side."
Soon, dozens more joined in—soft whispers, pleading tones. They were drawn to him, to the law of nature that pulsed within his spirit. To them, Ray was like the forest itself—nurturing, calm, alive.
Ray stood silent, unsure what to do. Then, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.
[Would you be willing to take all these spirits into your storage space?]
[Your storage space has evolved into a subspace where spirits are allowed to dwell.]
Ray blinked, surprised. He hadn't checked his system since advancing to the Qi Stage. The matrix must have evolved as well. He'd need to examine it later, after he met his mother.
But for now—
"There's another option," Ray said, his voice steady. "You can live with me. I've found a new home for you. Are you willing to come with me?"
The spirits gasped, their faint lights trembling like candles in the wind. "Where? How? Can we really stay with you?"
Ray smiled and lifted his hand. "Don't resist."
A pulse of spiritual light spread through the grove. One by one, the spirits vanished—drawn toward Ray like shimmering streams of starlight into a vast unseen realm. In a few moments, the grove fell silent.
Arisa stood frozen, wide-eyed. "W—what just happened?"
Before Ray could answer, Sophia appeared beside her, her full-sized human form materializing with a flash of power. Her face was pale with shock and anger as she grabbed Ray by the collar.
"What did you do to them?"
Ray chuckled, calm and unbothered. "Why don't you go and check?"
Sophia hesitated, then vanished—her spirit essence pulled inward.
Arisa's voice quivered. "What's going on? What happened?"
A moment later, Sophia reappeared, her expression dazed and a little… jealous.
Ray grinned. "Are you satisfied?"
Sophia nodded silently, still stunned. Arisa turned to her. "What happened?"
Sophia pouted, avoiding her gaze, and with a small huff disappeared back into Arisa's body.
Ray laughed quietly at the sight. "It's time we leave this formation. It won't last long now that the spirits and Miss Sophia are gone."
Arisa nodded. Together, they stepped out of the glowing grove. Behind them, the once radiant formation dimmed, scattering into faint motes of light.
Ray clenched his fist, a spark of determination lighting his eyes.
He could feel it—the strength coursing within him, the beginning of a new path.
The path of a true cultivator.