Finishing the check of his condition, Wu Guang activated the mantra for the dantian solidifying he had obtained during the breakthrough into the Spirit Realm. It was unnamed but for convenience, Wu Guang named it himself. The mantra was not long and the accompanying circulation used the normal circulation to simply move into the walls of the dantian in place of following the pathways and adding to the capacity of it so the name 'Building the Walls' was perfect for it.

Surprisingly the mantra also allowed the cultivator at least while the latter recited it to sense the amount of qi needed for the next layer and so, Wu Guang would always know where he was at the moment. The first layer of the cover had no element and could be considered as being formed from the normal, balanced qi. But the latter ones were elemental and would correspond to the 8 elements.

These elements were parts of qi, so normally a cultivator had to absorb the specific par needed for the next layer. In Wu Guang's case, this wasn't so. The mantra most amazing part was that it could be used to nourish the 8 at the same time. And even so, their completion would still follow the natural order in qi which was wood, fire, earth, metal, water, yang, yin, and astral.

As Wu Guang started using the qi and the technique started separating and nourishing the corresponding layers, he noticed that the qi present around had a lower amount of astral component. This could be explained by either something like a treasure or natural formation present or that a major realm breakthrough was completed nearby. The former was a bit far-fetched as he would have noticed or sensed something, so Wu Guang decided that the second case should be the probable reason. Especially as it would not be surprising for a beast or even a cultivator to breakthrough in such a hidden place.

During the few hours that he used the technique he reached a result that took him unguarded, his main elemental layers were a third complete. The yin layer was even more advanced while the yang one had advanced only for a tenth. But this was easy to explain by the fact that he had cultivated during the night and in a closed environment. And so obviously the yang element associated with the day and sun was far weaker.

Thankfully the rest of the elements seemed to be balanced. Indicating that the area was good for cultivation - Such a balance also confirmed his previous thought, that no elemental treasures could be found nearby. As for the astral layer, it remained undeveloped. During all this time it only managed to manifest. Meaning that he was at least fifty times short of fully forming it.

Leaving the matter of solving this to the future, Wu Guang calculated that he should continue like this. And adding a few hours during the day to balance the yin and yang, he would be able to form seven of the 8 layers during the following day or two. The astral one would require nonstop cultivation for over a week, at least judging from the current situation. Although this may change when the other layers were finished.

If his assumption was wrong thought, Wu Guang would then stop hunting and dedicate himself only to cultivation as breaking to the 3rd level was far more important than a few hundred points.

***

The next three days and two nights went similarly to their first day. Both of them managed to hunt several dozens of beasts. And similarly as well, had not found any clues or tracks from Spirit beasts.

Wu Guang's cultivation advanced as expected as he indeed formed the 7 layers of the dantian.

Thankfully he was not wrong about the astral layer being formed quicker as he completed the other ones. And so the advancement of it during the hour he used the technique only on it the process advanced with at least thrice the speed, letting him reach a tenth of the total.

The third night also brought another surprise, Yuan Taotu announcement of breaking to the 2nd Spirit.

The process went smoothly and except for the fact that it took him an hour or so more than to Wu Guang. Still, compared to normal cultivators it was an extremely quick and neat progression.

And so, the 5th day of them hunting in the area went with no incidents as well. With no real changes except for the fact that now both of them were 2nd level Spirit Realm cultivators, and so were far bolder in their exploration.

Wu Guang had placed the poisoned bait right after they talked about it. He had placed it on the hill where he killed his first 'Armed Eagle', and it worked perfectly. Every day he checked it, he would collect a few animals and beasts. Obviously, the meat was inedible, but other spoils were gathered in good quantities.

Such peacefulness was broken on the 9th night in the ruins. It was actually peaceful and uneventful for them, but seemingly it was not so. When they went outside, they saw several tracks in front of the building.

"Did you notice anything amiss overnight?" Was the first question Wu Guang asked after examining the tracks

"No"

"Neither did I... These are like the ones you found on the first day, right?"

"Yes" Yuan Taotu still retained his usual manner of speaking with single words or short phrases, but at least he would not answer with words every time Wu Guang asked him something and did not recur to nods and shakes as before.

"I see. Then our plan changes. We need to follow these tracks and if we don't find anything then proceed to comb the ruins. The beast has not left the area after feeling us and did not attack us. It means that it's either intelligent enough as to understand we are here temporarily, or..."

"Or it's strong enough to not care about us at all"

"Indeed. Let's proceed carefully"

Acting on their words, both began following the tracks. The beast seemingly had half-circled the building and then left, but the tracks stopped abruptly as if the beast had taken flight. Or what was more dangerous for them, had climbed or jumped into one of the windows of the second floor.

Seeing this the pair rushed back inside, quickly reaching the 2nd floor. Finding the window nearest to the tracks was not a problem, after all, the tracks had disappeared directly opposite to the entrance, so the window in question was located in the center back room.

Carefully approaching the doorway, Wu Guang peeked inside only to find nothing. Motioning to Yuan Taotu that it was clear, he entered the room. Checking the room and the window frame did not take them long but did not get them anything. This actually did not mean that the beast had not entered the building, but at least made the version of it flying off be more likely.

"Let's check the ruins"

This time the pair did not separate as before, maintaining only a few feet between them while walking. This slowed the search, but caution was needed when dealing with the unknown. They proceeded to search the entirety of the ruins, in hopes of finding any other tracks. But they found nothing in the end.

The fact of them not finding anything did not mean much, but at least confirmed the fact that they were not encroaching on its home. This also gave them a viable reason for why the beast did not attack them yet. After all, if the beast only passed through here occasionally, it would possibly ignore them.

After a brief discussion, they decided to continue as before. Although both of them would try and search the hills more thoroughly as to hopefully find a track or two of this beast.

And again, they found nothing. They lost part of today without finding anything and so decided to ignore the matter for now.

Still, for the following nights, they agreed that one of them should guard the 2nd floor. Wu Guang decided to do it and so spent the night near the window of the central room.

This night was the 10th of the 13 nights that they would spend in the zone.

Wu Guang did not expect to see anything this night, and he was right. This came from the fact that the beast seemed to be intelligent and so most probably they would see the beast only if it intended them to do so.

Their 11th expedition day was spent normally, but an opportunity was found by Yuan Taotu.

This opportunity was the fact of a rat-like Spirit beast. He concluded this from the faint qi in the tracks and Wu Guang agreed with jus judgment. Spirit beasts were their main objective, so both of them decided to spend their next day on this matter.

Wu Guang decided that it would be not worth spending another night in vigilance. He still occupied the 2nd floor as to react to any change, but spent the night in cultivation. And as expected, nothing occurred except and the night was peaceful. It was also gainful, as he reached the mark of four-fifths for the last, astral, layer of his dantian.