The warm summer breeze drifted through the forest, rustling the previously silent leaves on their wake.

The children were finally on their way to return back to the Dongji village after spending their entire morning in cultivating spiritual qi.

The vast area of fields filled with greenery was visible at a distance from the foot of the Thundering Peaks. The houses were lined on the other side of the fields and the farmers could be seen working as they took care of the plants.

"What's wrong? You have been circling around here for the past an hour."

The little pixie looked down from the high branch of the tree where she had been sitting for a while now, at the sudden question.

"Li, don't you feel that something is wrong with this place?" Alvina asked as she flew towards Li Ming and settled down on her right shoulder.

A sigh left Li Ming's lips as she herself settled down on a large rock.

"It's very clear that something is wrong here. The mystery behind the low spiritual energy in this forest is still not solved. Ruoshan was definitely not the reason because this problem is in existence much before the Ever Night Lord got captured here. Our theory that the White Pearl Lotus is the reason also failed. Because there's no way the stones would have needed extra spiritual energy based on the fact that the entire Xiao Tiantang was full of nothing but spiritual qi. Moreover, according to what Mallow told me, Xiao Tiantang only used to appear in the Thundering Peaks on the day when the lotus flowers were about to bloom. In the end, it's clear that the reason behind the lack of spiritual qi in the Thundering Peaks is because of some other reason," Li Ming said as her eyes wandered through the forest.

Alvina flew in front of Li Ming. Her long pigtails and round green eyes made her look so adorable as she tilted her head slightly while asking, "Why didn't you try to find out about it then?"

"When did you think I have enough time to spend on solving out mysteries? I have my hands full at the moment. Whenever I think about the things that are still pending for me to complete, I start having headaches." Li Ming said while fixing her veil.

She was starting to get irritated by the veils that she needed to wear every day to hide her identity but unfortunately, there was nothing that could be done about it at the moment.

"By the way, why you look so disturbed about this topic?" Li Ming asked Alvina as she started playing with the pixie's pigtails, swinging them side to side lightly.

"You know that I'm a garden fairy and that gives me a special connection with nature. Every time I'm around here, it's like there's something in this forest that calls me to it, asking me to unveil the mystery." Alvina answered as she looked at Li Ming expectantly.

Li Ming smiled at the little fairy as she softly asked, "Do you want me to help you?"

After a few seconds, the pixie finally nodded her head. "You are the only one whom I can ask for help. I know that we have caused you so many problems since we have met, constantly asking for your help and time, especially when you are so busy..."

"Don't be like this Al. If I didn't want to help you I wouldn't have let you stay with me. I'm not gonna say that helping you guys is an easy job but in the end, it sure is fruitful. I let you stay with me and in return, you are helping me in taking care of the magical mansion and Xiao Tiantang. I can see the hard work that you guys are putting in taking care of the spiritual herbs. Also, when I helped you with the pixie dust matter, it's not like I didn't gain anything in return. So, in conclusion, helping you guys is my own choice and it will be my fate if my help led to a good ending or bad," Li Ming said as she smiled softly at the pixie.

She got surprised when suddenly the little fairy flew near her face and adorably rubbed her head on Li Ming's cheek, making the later laugh.

"You are an angel Li," Alvina said with her sparkling eyes.

"Oh God, stop calling me such things. I'm a demoness hidden behind this cute face. Don't be bewitched by it and if you don't believe me feel free to ask for Snowy's confirmation," Li Ming said with exasperation, making the pixie laugh.

"Let's go then!" Li Ming said as she jumped down from the rock, strengthening her slightly ruffled dress.

"Where?" Alvina asked confusedly.

"Well, I have some time to spare. Why not use it to find something about this mystery?" Li Ming winked at the pixie as she hurriedly moved deeper into the forest.

It took Alvina a few seconds before she caught up with Li Ming and both of them went towards the highest peak of the Thundering Mountain Ranges.

---

About two hours later, the silhouette of a young girl in a white dress could be seen sprawled on a plain high rock on the second-highest peak of the Thundering Mountain Ranges.

She was completely drenched in sweat and her long hair was sticking to her forehead and neck. Her veil had become undone at some point and her white dress had mud and green moss sticking on it, painting it in a disgusting design and smell.

"I'm still not sure why you end up walking all this time. Were you dying to have a short hiking trip or were you missing some rock climbing session?" Alvina asked as she hopped from one stone to another, playing in the stream that was flowing through the deep dark forest.

"I was just trying to check out my physical condition." Li Ming replied with a pout.

"By using teleportation for nearly eighty percent of the route?" Alvina asked with a playful smirk.

"Hush, I only used teleportation when I was too tired to walk or climb. If I have walked the entire way it would have taken us days to reach here." Li Ming said as she cleaned her dress and fixed her appearance with a spell.

"Whatever you say Li, but it's clear that your physical condition is worse than what I have imagined. You need to work out more." Alvina mockingly chuckled as she continued playing in the stream.

Li Ming huffed at Alvina's words but deep down in her heart she completely agreed. Taking care of her businesses was occupying most of her time and in the end, she wasn't able to pay more attention to increasing her cultivation and internal force. She needed to solve this problem out as soon as she could.

"Alright, stop playing now. We need to start our investigation again. You wanted to check this part and the top peak, let's continue then." Li Ming called out to the little fairy as she prepared to teleport directly to the top peak.

"Li, I can feel something here. Something different in the air. Can't you?" Alvina asked suddenly.

"Unfortunately sweetheart, I'm not an elemental witch. That's why I'm still not that good when it comes to reading the nature and its elements." Li Ming told her as she looked around the area to see if she could pinpoint anything.

"Is there a spell or something that could help you in connecting with the forest?" There was an urgency in Alvina's voice.

"What's wrong Al?" Li Ming asked with a little worry.

"Not exactly wrong, but here's something which is different. Something that is calling for my fairy instincts. Something familiar or maybe...I-I don't know exactly how to describe it." Alvina replied with a frown. Her little eyebrows scrunching as she looked confused by her own words.

"It's okay. Don't pressure yourself. Can you tell me exactly what kind of vibes are you getting? Is it something dark?" Li Ming carefully asked as the thoughts of her dreams started to appear in her mind.

These dreams were starting to frustrate her more and more. They started the exact day when she first visited the Demon Realm. She could also feel the darkness that accompanied those dreams but the worst part was that every time she woke up, she couldn't remember those dreams anymore.

The only person who could help her and tell her more about those dreams had, as usual, refused to help her. Moreover, if she could then Li Ming wanted to avoid coming across that person as much as possible.

And she wasn't able to revive those dreams on her own, no matter whatever spell or potion she tried.

Even now, her mind was only reminding her about those dreams but nothing about the content of those dreams.

"No, it's not exactly dark. Maybe a little dangerous but not evil." Alvina answered after a few minutes as she focused more on the sensations that were piquing on her Garden fairy instincts.

Li Ming sighed as she nodded lightly. She thought about possible ways that could help her in connecting with the forest.

There was a spell that could do the work. It was the same one which she had used before in the Thundering Peaks while finding information about the Godly Maple Tree (now called Xiao Tiantang) and Moonstone.

As she kept thinking about more options an idea finally hit her.

"I think there's a spell that could do the work but I'll need your help. Are you ready?"