Inside, the same disciple greeted him again, looking curious. "Back so soon?"

"Yes," Han Yu replied. "I am returning the rest of the Ripple Calming Flower. Six petals remain. Please log the usage accordingly. The rest will be sent back to the sect for evaluation once we leave the realm."

The disciple nodded, taking the box reverently. "Understood, Senior Brother. You will receive your recorded merit points once the exchange is approved. Based on the herb's rarity and use, I would estimate around thirty to forty thousand merit points for each member involved."

Han Yu inclined his head. "That will be acceptable."

As the disciple filed the paperwork, Han Yu glanced around the tent.

Other groups were returning as well, some with ores, some with beast cores, others with damaged relic fragments. Each item was precious in its own way, but few carried the quiet, steady usefulness of the Ripple Calming Flower.

Once the formalities were completed, Han Yu stepped back into the open air. The false sunlight continued to shine above, casting its even glow across the camp. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to breathe deeply, feeling the gentle rhythm of Qi in his body.

The herb's effects lingered, subtle yet constant. A reminder of the progress that came not through power, but through patience and precision.

And though the world around him was an illusion, the calm it brought to his spirit was entirely real.

Han Yu stood outside the logistics division for a moment, watching the artificial light drift lazily across the false sky. It had only been half a day since morning, and the camp was still alive with energy.

Disciples hurried about, hauling crates, exchanging goods, and recording their accomplishments in jade slips. The faint hum of activity filled the air like a hive of spirit bees, steady and purposeful.

He had already returned the remaining petals of the Ripple Calming Twelve Petaled Flower and finalized the paperwork. For a moment, he considered resting, but his instincts quickly dismissed the idea.

Time within the inner realm was precious, and half a day of idleness could easily turn into wasted opportunity. His group was still strong, uninjured, and even better coordinated after the last outing.

Han Yu turned his gaze toward the horizon, where the illusionary expanse stretched endlessly.

In the distance, faint distortions of Qi shimmered, hinting at unseen valleys and forgotten ruins. He recalled the map the logistics division had provided; there were several marked unexplored sites still within traveling distance.

He reasoned quietly to himself.

"We still have more than half the day left. If we move out soon, we can reach another site before dusk and return by nightfall," he muttered. "The meadow from yesterday was roughly seventy kilometers from camp. If we go just a few kilometers further, it will still be manageable."

The logic was sound.

They had gone that far once and returned safely, and this time they were more familiar with the terrain and how the layout of the forest was like. The path would likely hold fewer surprises now that they understood how to navigate the area's topography.

With that decided, Han Yu began walking back toward his team's resting spot.

The others were still gathered near their tents, talking among themselves. Wu Shuan and Yuan Ping were comparing notes on the effects of the herb they had consumed, while the other disciples had begun checking their gear once again.

"Senior Brother Han," Yuan Ping greeted him when he approached. "You're back. What did they say?"

"It's done," Han Yu replied. "The petals have been logged and stored properly. We'll receive the merit point evaluation once we're back in the sect."

"Excellent," Wu Shuan said. "That should give us a decent boost in contribution."

Han Yu nodded, then glanced at the horizon. "Since we still have half a day remaining, I was thinking we could make use of it instead of waiting around. There's another site nearby that was marked on the map, a few kilometers farther than yesterday's meadow. We could go there and investigate."

At once, several of the disciples perked up. None of them looked particularly tired after the gentle effects of the Ripple Calming Flower. In fact, they seemed even more alert than usual.

"That sounds like a good idea," Yuan Ping said. "Better to make use of the time while we can."

"I agree," added another disciple. "We can always rest when night falls. Besides, there's been some exciting news."

Han Yu raised a brow slightly. "What news?"

The disciple's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Two Peak Core Condensation realm core disciples returned just now. They came from one of the ruin sites farther west and brought back a relic. It looked like a damaged High Grade Spirit weapon."

Han Yu paused mid-step, his expression briefly showing genuine surprise. "A High Grade Spirit weapon? Are you certain?"

"As certain as one can be," the disciple replied. "The logistics handlers were buzzing about it. Apparently, the weapon's aura was faint but unmistakable. They're saying it could be repaired with enough resources."

Han Yu crossed his arms, deep in thought.

High Grade Spirit weapons were exceedingly rare. In most sects, they were considered heirlooms, reserved for Nascent Soul cultivators or even those at the Dao Shell realm. While in their Twin Leaf Peak Sect, they weren't uncommon, they were still hard to obtain.

Each one was a masterpiece forged by a master craftsman or imbued with intent by cultivators who had refined their Dao into the weapon itself.

His own Hybrid Halberd, though powerful and versatile, was merely a Mid Grade Spirit weapon.

It had served him well, but the difference between Mid and High Grade was vast, almost as wide as the gap between two cultivation realms. The higher the grade, the more attuned the weapon became to its wielder's Qi and spiritual intent.

Even a damaged one could outperform a perfectly intact Mid Grade weapon.

Han Yu's eyes narrowed slightly. "A High Grade Spirit weapon, even damaged, would be invaluable. If such a relic appeared once, there might be others hidden nearby. Perhaps fragments or artifacts from the same origin."

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