Huo Chen stopped after covering considerable distance through the forest and his breathing came fast as the adrenaline from his escape gradually faded.
"That was really tough."
The words left his mouth quietly and he looked around at the tall trees surrounding him on all sides.
'This place also isn't safe.' He thought.
His hand moved to his storage ring and the glowing token Elder Huo Shun had given him appeared in his palm.
The small token was smooth and cool against his skin with faint markings carved into its surface.
"Let's see what this does."
He channeled his qi into the token and waited.
Nothing happened.
Huo Chen frowned. "Hmm, what's this? Why is nothing happening?"
He tried again with more Qi this time, but the result was the same. The token absorbed his spiritual energy and gave nothing in return.
"Let me try this."
He shifted his qi circulation and followed the pathways of the Earthfire Foundation Method. The Huo Clan's primary cultivation technique guided his spiritual energy through specific meridian patterns and balanced the earth and fire qi in his dantian.
He channeled this refined qi into the token. The token's glow intensified immediately and bright red light bloomed from deep within its core before spreading outward across the entire surface. The transformation was unmistakable.
"So that's how it works. The clan is very careful with the token."
He channeled more Qi into it and the red glow grew even brighter.
The token suddenly lifted from his palm and shot forward above his head with surprising speed. Huo Chen blinked in amazement before his feet moved. He ran after the flying token and kept it in sight as it wove between the trees ahead of him.
---
The journey took a full day. Huo Chen followed the token through dense forest and across open clearings. When his qi reserves dropped, he stopped to rest and cultivate before channeling more energy into the jade to keep it active.
The token led him steadily forward without deviation from its path. The terrain gradually changed. The trees thinned and rocky hills appeared in the distance.
The token brought him to a body of flowing water that stretched across his path at knee height. The jade hovered above the surface for a moment before shooting forward again across the water.
Huo Chen stepped into the flow and waded through. The current pulled at his legs but the water was shallow enough to cross easily. Ahead, the token flew toward a series of hills that rose up like a natural wall.
The jade stopped and hung in the air in front of the hillside. Huo Chen approached and looked around.
There was nothing here except rock and stone. His eyes swept the area and took in the solid barrier of hills that blocked any further passage.
'A concealing formation.'
Before he could examine the barrier more closely, movement caught his attention.
WHOOSH.
Several figures stepped through what appeared to be empty air, and the space shimmered briefly as they crossed from the hidden area into the open stream.
Their eyes went first to the floating token and then shifted to Huo Chen standing in the water.
"Huo Chen!"
He recognized the voice immediately and spotted Elder Huo Rong among the group. Huo Chen moved closer and cupped his fists in greeting to everyone present.
"Seniors."
Elder Huo Rong's face broke into a wide smile and he laughed heartily, the sound carrying genuine pleasure and perhaps a touch of pride.
"Well done, brat! You really know how to shock people!"
Huo Chen smiled slightly at the words but didn't respond.
"Let's go inside, The others will want to see you."
Elder Huo Rong said, gesturing toward the barrier behind him. Huo Chen nodded and followed the group back toward the hillside and in one step he passed from standing in flowing water to standing on solid ground.
The transition happened instantly and he took in his surroundings with careful attention.
Makeshift tents had been set up in various places throughout the hidden area and the spiritual energy inside the formation was noticeably denser than the outside world.
Clan members moved between the temporary structures and went about their activities while Huo Chen and the small group made their way deeper into the camp.
They passed many familiar faces and eventually arrived at the central section where larger tents stood in organized positions. Elder Huo Rong paused when they reached one of these tents and turned to look at Huo Chen directly.
The other clan members who'd been accompanying them had quietly dispersed at some point during the walk.
"You can enter."
Huo Chen nodded. He stepped forward and reached for the tent's entrance. The fabric shifted aside under his hand and he moved through the opening into the interior.