《The Path To Strength Is Lonely》 Alone But Never Afraid The last thing I remember is the smell of weed, smoke, and the taste of Wrey¡¯s on my lips. London was home, and I was 26 years old¡ªa place of noise and chaos, but it was home. Me (De-Reece) and my brothers, Conan and Thaddeus, had just wrapped up a long day of caveman living in the wild¡ªor at least, that¡¯s what we liked to call it. Fishing, hunting, and cooking anything we could over a fire. Daring each other to do stupid shit, winding each other up. Thaddeus, being the youngest, got the most of it, but he held his own. The night was warm, with a cool but not cold summer breeze. The stars were bright, and it couldn¡¯t have been a better night to have fun. At least, that¡¯s how it was supposed to be... until we found the cave. I figured it would just be one of those normal days¡ªmessing about, daring each other to do stuff. When we stepped into that cave, it was nothing like what we expected. The air inside was damp and cool, but there was a strange energy, almost like the very stones themselves had been infused with something ancient. It was dark at first, but we managed to make our way deeper with just the light from our fire. The walls were rough, and the smell of old earth and metal filled the air. We thought we were just exploring, expecting nothing more than some dusty old rocks or maybe a bat or two. But what we found¡ªwhat we stumbled upon¡ªwas something else entirely. In the centre of the cave, nestled against a bed of moss-covered stones, lay a set of objects, gleaming in the dim light like they were waiting for us. The first thing that caught my eye were the two rings. They weren¡¯t just ordinary rings¡ªthey were massive, almost comically so, but in the kind of way that demanded attention. Their bands were thick, made of a heavy, silvery metal that shimmered in the firelight. But it wasn¡¯t just the material that was striking¡ªit was the intricate designs etched into the surface. There were swirling patterns, like vines or flames, curling around each ring. And the centre of each ring held a large, blood-red gemstone, polished to a perfect gleam. It looked like a ruby, but with an otherworldly glow to it, as though something deep within was alive. Conan picked up one of the rings first. His fingers were almost swallowed by the size of it, but when he slid it onto his finger, the gemstone seemed to pulse, just once, before settling into a quiet, steady glow. I remember the look on his face¡ªlike he knew something had just changed. Something had just chosen him. Thaddeus, being Thaddeus, immediately grabbed the other ring. He was the smallest of the three of us, but that ring fit him like it had been made for him. As he held it up to the firelight, the ruby shimmered like it was alive, casting strange reflections off the walls. It almost felt like the cave itself was watching us. Then there was the pendant. My pendant. It was smaller, but no less significant. Unlike the rings, it wasn¡¯t made of metal but of some smooth, jet-black material that looked like obsidian. It had a deep sheen, like it was absorbing the light around it, and the weight of it felt... important. The pendant itself was carved into the shape of a dragon coiling around a circular gemstone, not a ruby, but a swirling black opal that seemed to capture every color in the room. It was mesmerizing, almost hypnotic. The moment my fingers brushed against it, I felt a strange pulse of energy¡ªnot from the pendant itself, but from the world around me. A hum, almost as if the very air had shifted. When I touched the pendant, it was as if the universe itself had aligned. There was no reason for it. No logic to it. But the moment it rested in my palm, something clicked. It felt like it was meant for me¡ªlike it had always been mine, as if I had been chosen to carry it. I stared down at the pendant in my hand, and everything around me seemed to fall silent. A strange calm washed over me, but just as quickly, the peace shattered, replaced by a sharp pain in my head. I shook it off, blinking as the light from the fire flickered¡ªonly to realize the fire wasn¡¯t the same anymore. Suddenly, I wasn¡¯t standing in the cave anymore. I was back by the fire, sitting on the cold ground, with Conan and Thaddeus still laughing beside me, the familiar scent of weed and the warmth of the flames wrapping around me once more. The strange pulsing energy from the pendant still tingled on my skin, but I was back. I looked around, disoriented, the cave was now gone from my mind as if it had never existed. Conan raised an eyebrow at me, noticing the confused look on my face. "You good, bro? You spaced out there for a second." Thaddeus snickered, passing me a blunt. "Probably just the weed, man. You hit that last one too hard." I took a deep breath, glancing down at the pendant still in my hand. It was real, I knew that. It had to be. And yet everything felt... too normal. Too ordinary. Wrong. And then I woke up in this forest. I knew this wasn¡¯t some joke my brothers had cooked up. This was a forest, unlike anything I¡¯d ever seen. Massive trees, strange smells, and something that I couldn¡¯t quite put my finger on¡ªit was just off. I¡¯m not just talking about the usual feeling of being watched when you¡¯re in the woods. The air felt different. Like there were almost vibrations, a crackling energy to it. And I could feel it¡ªeyes watching me. Not normal forest creatures. My body exuded something strange¡ªalmost a sense of danger. I ran my hand through my thick dreadlocks. The strands brushed against my muscular frame. At six-foot-four, I¡¯m used to standing out, even back in London. My size and strength were something to be reckoned with. But here? Here I could feel the difference. My body felt supercharged¡ªmore than just increased muscle growth or ordinary strength. Something my old gym workouts could never prepare me for. Maybe it¡¯s something to match this new, strange world I¡¯d fallen into? And then there¡¯s the pendant. I don¡¯t know how, but I still have it. Even though I don¡¯t have much on, (just my cloak I was wearing at the fire, my Timberlands, a dark top, a pair of fur trousers and my trusty zombie knife I keep for any bears or wolves I laughed inwardly. but it¡¯s with me, and it feels like it¡¯s meant to be. I don¡¯t know what these artefacts mean or how they brought me here, but it¡¯s connected to me now. The rings? Conan and Thaddeus? Gone. I have no idea where they are or if they¡¯re even alive. Back home, I¡¯d think about that. But right now, my priority is survival. And then, finding them. This forest doesn¡¯t seem to care about my problems. There¡¯s danger here, and my body feels it. It vibrates from every pore in my being. I can feel it in my bones. Creatures of all shapes and sizes could be roaming this area. I had this new power brimming inside of me and my trusty zombie knife but still, they¡¯re more than capable of tearing me apart if I¡¯m not careful. I¡¯ve read about these things. Heck, me and my brothers spent thousands of hours studying cultivation novels, Mangas, and wuxia stories, and learning about the world of Murim. The way to control Qi¡ªit all comes rushing back to me, all the years of reading and watching. I know how to fight maybe not here but soon enough. I know how to control my body my years of boxing and martial arts experience, plus barely missing a workout had left me in good shape. I know how to gain power. I need to figure out how it all works in this world¡ªa world where the rules of reality bend in ways I can barely comprehend. There are so many cultivation systems, which one could it possibly be? I pull my cloak tight around me, the cold wind biting against my skin, but my body feels stronger, alive in a way it never did back in London. Maybe it¡¯s this world. Maybe the power that pulses inside me now. Either way, I¡¯ve got to keep moving. Every moment I waste is another moment my brothers could be in danger. And I have no idea where they are or how the hell we even got here. But now, I¡¯m not leaving this place without them. I see a path ahead. These beasts here might be low-levelled if I''m lucky, but they¡¯re still dangerous if I¡¯m not prepared. I will die if I¡¯m careless. But I wasn¡¯t born to hide or cower in fear. I¡¯m here to survive. And I will make my mark in this world. The path ahead was rough and uneven, roots twisting out from the earth like gnarled fingers, and the air was thick with an unsettling silence. Every step echoed louder than it should have, the crunch of leaves and twigs beneath the Timberlands sounding like gunshots in the stillness. The zombie knife, once a tool for show or for the rare, unlucky wolf in some forgotten forest in the UK, now felt heavier¡ªnot from its weight, but from the weight of expectation. This was a weapon for survival. A foreign, electric pulse surged through his veins¡ªan energy that wasn¡¯t from the pendant or any external force. It was something inside him, something he didn¡¯t recognize. Each step felt sharper, more precise, as though his body was adapting to this strange world. Muscles that had once been built through routine gym sessions now seemed supercharged¡ªfaster, stronger¡ªlike running on a higher gear without realizing it. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Why am I moving like this? he thought. This isn''t just a boost in strength¡ªit''s like my whole body has shifted into something... more. A growl. Low, guttural, and too close. He froze. The bushes to the left rustled, and a pair of glowing yellow eyes emerged from the darkness. A creature, something straight out of the murim stories he used to read, slinked into view. It was wolf-like, but its body was too long, too sinewy, with jagged patches of dark fur and rows of bony spikes running along its spine. Its claws glimmered like obsidian, sharp enough to slice through flesh and bone. A Wolf of this world. Not a pup, but a young male¡ªits movements still held a hint of awkwardness, though the raw aggression in its gaze was anything but immature. A low-level murim beast, he guessed, but still more than enough to kill him if he wasn¡¯t careful. He took a slow step back, keeping the knife steady and his breathing calm. The Wind Wolf bared its fangs, a long string of saliva dripping from its maw. Its body lowered, muscles rippling beneath its ragged fur, preparing to lunge. "Alright," he muttered under his breath, "just like the novels. Move with intent. Strike fast. No hesitation." The beast pounced. He sidestepped, but it wasn¡¯t smooth¡ªtoo fast, too strong. His body reacted quicker than his mind could process, and the sudden burst of speed almost threw him off balance. Still, he managed to lash out with the knife, slicing a deep gash across its shoulder. Wisps of blood haze drifted from the wound, curling in the air like smoke. The creature howled, a sound so sharp and unnatural that it made his bones vibrate. This isn¡¯t right. I shouldn¡¯t be this fast. The Wolf lunged again, but this time he met it head-on. He ducked under its swipe, driving the knife into its ribcage. It screeched, its claws raking across his cloak, tearing fabric but missing flesh. With a growl of his own, he twisted the blade deeper, feeling the beast shudder¡ªbut it didn¡¯t collapse. Instead, it thrashed wildly, knocking him off balance. His back hit the ground hard, and before he could react, the Wolf was on him again, snapping its jaws inches from his face. He shoved his forearm into its throat, keeping its fangs at bay, but the creature''s strength was shocking. His muscles screamed, but the strange energy coursing through him flared again¡ªuntamed, wild¡ªbut it gave him the push he needed. Move! Don¡¯t die here! Roaring, he used his free hand to grab the knife still lodged in its side and yanked it free, stabbing upward into its neck. Blood sprayed, the crimson haze spiralling into the air, and finally, the beast went limp, collapsing onto him. The Wolf''s lifeless body slumped to the ground, its final snarl frozen on its bloodied maw. Silence followed, save for the ragged sound of my own breathing, each inhale dragging the cold air into my burning lungs. I stood there, chest heaving, my muscles a screaming symphony of pain and exhaustion. The battle had been brutal ¡ª a relentless clash of instinct and confusion ¡ª and though the wolf was young, it had pushed me close to my limits. I staggered back a step, my fingers still white-knuckled around the hilt of my zombie knife, its edge slick with the beast¡¯s dark blood. My mind spun, but before I could gather my thoughts, something else hit me. A rush. It started in my chest ¡ª a sudden, violent surge of energy that shot through my body like a jolt of electricity. It wasn¡¯t the slow burn of adrenaline I knew from the scraps back in the city; this was raw, untamed, and utterly foreign. The energy didn''t just pulse through me ¡ª it stormed. I could feel it racing down my arms, curling through my fingers, spiraling in my legs. For a moment, I thought I''d collapse, but instead... I stood straighter. What the hell is this? My vision sharpened, every detail of the forest suddenly coming into unbearable focus ¡ª the swaying of distant leaves, the minute shifting of shadows, the faintest flicker of movement from insects crawling along the ground. The air itself seemed thicker, heavier, like I could reach out and grab it. The wolf¡¯s blood pooled at my feet, dark wisps of blood haze rising faintly from the wound, dissipating into the night like smoke. Was this... part of the kill? Was this the price of taking a life in this world? And then, a whisper of a thought ¡ª not a craving, but an awareness. The energy was more than just power; it was possibility. Each pulse through my veins felt like a door cracking open, a glimpse into something greater, something more. This world wasn¡¯t bound by the rules I knew ¡ª here, strength mattered. Power defined everything. I gritted my teeth, trying to steady myself, but the power coursing through me refused to calm. Every muscle in my body vibrated with a strange tension ¡ª not pain, not fatigue ¡ª something else entirely. Something new. I looked down at my hands, flexing my fingers, watching the slight tremor in them. It was like my body was responding to something unseen ¡ª an invisible current flowing through me, pushing me beyond what I thought I could handle. What the hell is happening to me? A part of me didn¡¯t care. This world was different. Ruthless. But here, I wasn¡¯t just a nobody. Here, strength wasn¡¯t just survival ¡ª it was freedom. The pendant against my chest remained cold and inert, offering no answers. I wasn¡¯t the same anymore. This world was changing me ¡ª with or without my permission. Then there was more rustling. Two more pairs of glowing yellow eyes emerged from the darkness, their forms larger and more muscular than the first. Adolescent Wolves. Older, more experienced, but not yet fully grown. They stepped into the moonlight, their fur rippling with each predatory movement, and I felt the air grow heavier. My body, still buzzing from the rush of energy, responded before my mind could. The knife in my hand felt lighter now, an extension of myself rather than just a tool. The first wolf lunged ¡ª faster than the last ¡ª and I barely managed to pivot, its claws raking across my side. Pain flared instantly, a sharp line of fire tearing through my ribs, but I didn¡¯t have time to dwell on it. The second wolf was already moving, circling me, teeth bared. Blood dripped from my wound, but the energy inside me surged again ¡ª reckless and unyielding. My heart pounded a brutal rhythm against my ribs as I met the first wolf¡¯s attack head-on. I ducked under its swipe and slashed my blade across its flank, earning a furious snarl. The second wolf darted in, aiming for my legs. I twisted, but not fast enough ¡ª its jaws clamped down on my calf, sending a white-hot burst of pain through me. Gritting my teeth, I drove the knife into its shoulder, forcing it to release me with a yelp. Move. Don¡¯t stop. I staggered back, blood seeping into my torn pants, but the wolves didn¡¯t relent. They pressed the attack, one aiming high, the other low ¡ª a coordinated assault. It wasn¡¯t instinctual; it was practiced. Desperation fueled me now. The energy roaring through my veins pushed me to move faster, hit harder. I slashed wildly, catching the first wolf¡¯s muzzle, and kicked out at the second, sending it stumbling back. The fight was a brutal dance ¡ª a blur of teeth, claws, and blood. My blood. Back against the hard bark of the tree, I cursed under my breath. ¡°Shit. This isn¡¯t how it¡¯s supposed to start. Shouldn¡¯t I run into a damn demon rabbit or something?¡± The pain gnawed at me ¡ª ribs burning, leg throbbing. I had taken too much damage fighting these wolves. Any more, and I¡¯d struggle to move at all. The wolves continued to circle, calculating, patient. Their glowing eyes locked onto me, waiting for the moment to strike. Then ¡ª an opening. As the first wolf lunged, I sidestepped and drove my knife deep into its neck, twisting the blade until it gurgled and collapsed. The second wolf hesitated, a flicker of fear in its eyes. I seized the moment, ignoring the searing pain in my leg, and tackled it to the ground, stabbing down with every ounce of strength I had left. It let out a final, agonized howl before going still. Silence fell once more. I knelt there, bloodied and gasping for air, my wounds burning like fire ¡ª but I was alive. And the power still pulsed within me, stronger than before. The pain in my side and leg screamed louder now, but I forced myself to move. I needed somewhere to regroup, somewhere higher ¡ª safer. My gaze landed on a nearby tree, tall and sturdy, its branches reaching into the night sky. Gritting my teeth, I limped over and used my knife to carve footholds into the bark. Every movement sent flares of pain through me, but I pressed on, scaling the tree inch by inch until I reached a thick branch, high above the ground. I slumped against the trunk, knife still in hand, and let out a shuddering breath. I needed to control this energy ¡ª this foreign force running rampant through my body. If the stories from the murim and wuxia novels I used to read were even half true, then I had to start somewhere. Closing my eyes, I focused inward, trying to guide the wild current within me. I pictured the qi nodes I had read about ¡ª points in the body where energy gathered and flowed. The dantian just below the navel, the heart node at the centre of the chest, the baihui at the crown of the head, and the various minor nodes along the limbs ¡ª intersections of invisible pathways. But those were just the nodes ¡ª reservoirs of power. The real challenge lay in the meridians, the channels connecting them. If my energy was like a river, then the meridians were the canals guiding its flow. Right now, those canals felt clogged, blocked by invisible barriers. The energy stormed within me, chaotic and directionless. I grit my teeth and pushed the energy harder, forcing it to move through one of the main meridians ¡ª the yangwei, running from my lower abdomen up my spine. It resisted, like trying to shove a boulder through a narrow tunnel. The pain in my side flared again, but I didn¡¯t stop. Breathe. Focus. I visualized the meridian path, tracing it with my mind, willing the energy to surge forward. The resistance built to a breaking point ¡ª and then, like a dam bursting, something gave way. A meridian point snapped open in my left shoulder. A flood of energy roared through me, racing up my spine like liquid fire. The pain momentarily disappeared, replaced by a burning heat that spread through my limbs. My vision blurred, the world spinning, but the flow was no longer stagnant. It moved ¡ª wild, yes ¡ª but it moved. The wound on my side still ached, but I felt a faint tingling around it ¡ª the energy now scraping against the edges of my injury, as though testing the boundaries of what it could mend. My breathing slowed, heart still pounding, but steadier now. I didn''t know if this was truly ''qi'' or something else entirely¡­ but it was mine now. And I was going to master it. The last of my strength ebbed away, the adrenaline crash hitting me like a falling stone. My head lolled back against the tree, the faint glow of the moon filtering through the branches above. The world tilted, the pain dulled, and my thoughts grew distant. There was no way I was dying before I found my brothers. And with that final, stubborn thought, I let sleep claim me. OPPORTUNITIES De-Reece awoke with a start, still hurt. While he was in a better condition than before, he could feel the ache in his muscles and the sharp sting of his wounds. His stomach grumbled a painful reminder that rest alone wouldn¡¯t keep him alive. As he stretched against the hard bark of the tree, the events of the previous night came flooding back. "I guess I should try meditating again," he muttered, voice hoarse. "It did help a little last night." Closing his eyes, he focused inward, recalling the limited knowledge of cultivation he had pieced together from the wuxia novels he once devoured back on Earth. He guided the wild energy through his body once more, retracing the paths he had carved open the night before. It was like running a stream through rocky terrain ¡ª rough and jagged, but slowly, the flow smoothed. He visualized the meridians ¡ª the invisible channels that carried qi ¡ª starting from the dantian below his navel. From there, he willed the energy upward, toward his heart node, then branching out along the arms and legs, retracing the path he had carved the night before. The energy gathered at the yangwei point near his left shoulder, the only meridian he had managed to force open so far. The sensation was a dull throb at first ¡ª like pressing a bruise ¡ª but as he pushed the energy through again and again, the flow grew smoother, reinforcing the fragile channel. It was like widening a narrow stream, solidifying the connection bit by bit. Half an hour passed. The changes were small, but noticeable. His body almost seemed to have a sheen to it though he noticed inwardly. The constant throb of pain dulled ever so slightly, and his bleeding had slowed basically stopping. It wasn¡¯t true healing ¡ª not yet ¡ª but it was a start. The world wouldn¡¯t wait for him to master this power. He needed food. Gritting his teeth, De-Reece began his descent from the tree, carefully following the path he had carved into the bark the night before. His ears twitched at a new sound ¡ª the soft, steady trickle of water. A stream. "Maybe I can find something to eat there," he thought aloud, his voice a rasp against the quiet forest. The forest was a different world in the morning light. The trees, massive and ancient, seemed to glow a deep ruby red ¡ª something he hadn¡¯t noticed during his frantic struggle for survival the night before. He ran his fingers along their bark as he walked, marvelling at their strange beauty. When he finally reached the stream, its water clear and running lazily over smooth stones, he crouched and took a cautious sip. The cold liquid soothed his dry throat and washed away the metallic taste of blood. But water wasn¡¯t enough. His gaze shifted to the fish darting through the shallow pools ¡ª small, quick, but plentiful. "Alright," he muttered. "Time to get creative." Pulling out his zombie knife, he searched for a sturdy branch from one of the ruby trees. With quick, precise strokes, he shaved it down into a crude spear ¡ª sharp, but rough. He made two more, the effort burning what little energy he had left. De-Reece stepped into the stream, careful not to disturb the water too much. Every movement sent a jolt of pain through his injured leg, but he pushed it aside, focusing only on the fish. He waited. A flash of silver. He struck, the spear plunging into the water ¡ª and missed. Cursing under his breath, he reset, adjusting his grip. Another flash ¡ª this time, he drove the spear down hard, feeling the satisfying resistance of flesh. A fish wriggled on the end of his spear, flopping violently. "Got you," he whispered, a small grin breaking across his face. The first bit of real progress. He caught two more fish after a painstaking hour, each success a small victory against the unrelenting cruelty of this new world. Exhausted but satisfied, De-Reece gathered some dry branches and stones to set up a small fire. It was a slow, laborious process, but eventually, a tiny flame crackled to life. As the fish roasted over the open flame, he leaned back against the ruby tree, the warmth of the fire and the smell of cooking food easing his tense mind. Once he had eaten, De-Reece rose, his body still sore but his resolve stronger. He doused the fire and followed the stream further into the forest. After about an hour or so of walking, while he mentally mapped the forest in his mind. The sound of rustling leaves made him stop. It was then that he saw it ¡ª a glimmer of light in the distance, a soft glow radiating from something obscured by thick underbrush. Creeping closer, he pushed aside the leaves to reveal a small clearing ¡ª and there it was. A fruit, glowing faintly with a golden hue, hanging from a low-hanging branch. But beneath it, curled in a tight coil, was a snake. Its scales shimmered like polished obsidian, and though its eyes were closed, De-Reece felt the quiet danger it exuded. The fruit was there for the taking ¡ª but so was death, waiting patiently at its base. De-Reece''s mind raced. He knew brute force wouldn¡¯t work this time. His injuries were too fresh, his strength too limited. He needed a plan ¡ª something cunning. He stepped back into the forest, his thoughts spinning. "I need something to use against it ¡ª something to distract or disable it." His gaze flicked to the branches, the rocks, and the underbrush. "Or maybe... something with poison of its own." He thought back to his old world ¡ª how smaller, weaker creatures often relied on venom or toxins to level the playing field against predators. If he could find an insect, a frog, or something similarly dangerous, he could extract its poison and coat his weapon. This wasn¡¯t just about brute strength anymore. This was survival ¡ª and intelligence would be his greatest weapon. He stepped back into the forest, his thoughts spinning. "I need something to use against it ¡ª something to distract or disable it." Wandering deeper along the stream, he finally spotted it ¡ª a vibrant amphibian with iridescent blue skin perched on a mossy rock. The creature was no bigger than his palm, but its striking colour screamed danger. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Just as he prepared to capture it, a sudden ripple in the water caught his eye. It looked like a Komodo dragon a metre in length but with another metre in length of tail. Black but with a blue tone to its scales, using its tail to propel itself through the water. The Komodo dragon-like creature continued to hunt this creature knowing it was poisonous this was confirmed when the small amphibian-like creature pulled a dragon-fly out of the air for it to sizzle like it had been filled with a corrosive substance once it had it on its tongue. So this creature was either immune to the poison or strong enough to not care. This was not something he could fight. Shit. Now how to approach this situation? Just when he¡¯d found what he was looking for, something just had to pop up. Just then The amphibian tensed, its tiny throat pulsing as it sensed the same threat De-Reece had. For a moment, none of them moved ¡ª the predator, the prey, and the man caught in between. Then the Komodo dragon lunged. Water exploded in all directions as the beast propelled itself forward, jaws snapping with a sickening clack as the amphibian leapt into the air. De-Reece barely managed to throw himself sideways, rolling through the wet moss and feeling the sting of pebbles scraping his skin. The dragon hit the bank where the amphibian had been, sending a spray of mud skyward. Without thinking, De-Reece scrambled back, putting distance between himself and the creature. His mind raced. He needed the amphibian ¡ª its poison could be the key to taking down the snake guarding the fruit. But now, with this dragon-like predator in the mix, the simple plan of grabbing it and going was laughable. The amphibian darted further up the bank, but the Komodo dragon ¡ª quicker than its bulk suggested ¡ª slithered after it, using its powerful tail to push off the ground like an eel through water. It moved with a predatory grace that sent a chill down De-Reece¡¯s spine. ¡°Shit, shit, shit,¡± De-Reece hissed, eyes darting from the dragon to the amphibian. And then an idea struck him. He needed a distraction ¡ª something to turn the dragon¡¯s attention elsewhere. Fumbling, he grabbed a loose stone from the streambed and hurled it hard at the creature''s head. It struck the dragon just above its left eye, not hard enough to wound, but enough to earn its fury. The dragon¡¯s head snapped in De-Reece¡¯s direction, a deep, rumbling hiss escaping its throat. Its black-blue scales shimmered as it reared up, front claws scraping at the ground. But in that brief moment, the amphibian seized its chance. It bolted a blur of blue against the green moss, hopping erratically towards the thicker underbrush. ¡°No, you don¡¯t!¡± De-Reece muttered, springing to his feet despite the searing pain in his calf. His heart pounded as he chased after the amphibian, the sound of the dragon¡¯s enraged hisses echoing behind him. As he sprinted, he reached inward, grasping for the wild energy within him ¡ª the same force he had channelled the night before. Gritting his teeth, he guided the flow downwards, forcing it into his legs. It was like setting fire to his muscles, an intense burning that quickly transformed into a surge of raw speed. The energy roared through his veins like molten lava, spiralling down from his core and pooling in his limbs. Each pulse of power was a drumbeat in his mind, synchronising with his racing heart. His legs felt both weightless and unyielding, as though every muscle fibre had been reforged in an instant. The world blurred slightly at the edges as his body responded. Each step became faster, more powerful, his feet skimming the forest floor with an unnatural grace. The wind whipped past his face, his mind laser-focused on the fleeing amphibian. The amphibian veered left, darting under a gnarled root. De-Reece dived after it, slamming his hand down, barely missing it. The creature¡¯s skin was so slick it was like grabbing wet glass. Behind him, the dragon crashed through the brush, sending broken twigs flying. It wasn¡¯t giving up. ¡°Come on,¡± De-Reece growled, lunging again. This time, his fingers caught the amphibian''s leg. The creature thrashed violently, and De-Reece felt a sudden, cold burn on his palm ¡ª a sure sign that the thing¡¯s skin secreted some kind of toxin. But he didn¡¯t let go. Instead, he yanked the squirming creature close, ripping a strip of fabric from the hem of his shirt with his teeth. His fingers worked fast, tying the amphibian''s limbs together with a tight knot to keep it from escaping. He stuffed the bound creature into the small pouch at his belt. The sting in his palm was already spreading up his wrist, but there was no time to stop and assess the damage. The dragon was almost on him. His mind spun, calculating. He couldn¡¯t outrun it forever ¡ª not without a plan. Spotting a low-hanging branch ahead, De-Reece made a split-second decision. Channelling the burning energy into his legs once more, he surged forward, his body a blur of motion. At the last moment, he leapt, grabbing the branch and using the momentum to swing his body up and over. The dragon lunged beneath him, snapping at empty air. De-Reece didn¡¯t stop ¡ª he kept moving, using the branch as leverage to propel himself further into the trees, each movement fuelled by the coursing energy within him. The dragon twisted below, snarling in fury, but De-Reece was already several steps ahead, slipping into the dense undergrowth. Then he saw it ¡ª a narrow cliffside just ahead, a jagged line of stone cutting through the forest. His mind sharpened. He darted toward the cliff, the dragon still tearing through the brush behind him. Edging along the rock face, he spotted a small opening ¡ª a cave, barely wide enough for him to squeeze through. Without hesitation, he hurled himself towards it, scrambling into the dark, his shoulder scraping against the rough stone. The dragon slammed against the cliff face, claws raking the rock, but the entrance was too narrow for its bulk. Breathing hard, De-Reece pressed himself further into the cave¡¯s cool darkness, his heart still thundering in his chest as the dragon roared in frustration outside. Growth De-Reece''s breathing slowed, each inhale echoing softly against the stone walls of the cave. The coolness of the rock pressed against his back as he shifted, peering into the darkness ahead. His heart still thundered from the chase, but now the dragon''s roars were muffled by the thick stone, distant and impotent. As his eyes adjusted, something caught his attention ¡ª a faint, unnatural glow. Pale light pooled along the walls, illuminating the path further inside. De-Reece''s brows furrowed. These weren¡¯t natural luminescent fungi or glowing minerals. No, the light was steady, unyielding. He stepped closer and confirmed his suspicions ¡ª small stones, smooth and round, had been placed at intervals along the cave walls. Man-made. Someone had been here before. His pulse quickened, but not from fear. Caution guided his steps now, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his zombie knife. each stone seemed precisely positioned, forming a subtle trail leading deeper into the cavern. The path twisted and narrowed until De-Reece stumbled upon something unexpected ¡ª a trapdoor. It was almost flush with the ground, only a faint outline and a small, switch in the corner giving it away. The air around it smelled stale, undisturbed for who knew how long. De-Reece crouched, pressing the small hidden button. It groaned in protest, but after a few moments of determined effort, the trapdoor swung open with a gritty scrape. A short ladder led into a small chamber below, carved carefully into the rock. The space was barely large enough for him to stand upright. It was dimly lit by more of the glowing stones, casting eerie shadows across the contents of the hidden room. His gaze darted across the shelves and crates. Dust coated most surfaces, but the items within appeared surprisingly well-preserved. De-Reece''s fingers brushed over a small pile of coins ¡ª a modest sum of money, though hardly a fortune. Next to it, a cluster of crystals, faintly pulsing with energy, rested in a velvet pouch. He recognised them as low-grade spirit crystals ¡ª useful for cultivation, well if all the reading he had done had described them correctly he wouldn''t be using them until he was sure. But what truly drew his attention were the books. Several manuals, bound in worn leather, lay stacked along the shelf. Their titles, though faded, were still legible. ''Fundamentals of Elemental Arrays,'' ''Essence Refinement Techniques,'' and ''Cultivation Path of The heavenly Demon.'' Cultivation and array manuals and what looked like a simple alchemist''s book too. De-Reece''s mouth went dry. These weren¡¯t simple meditation guides ¡ª they were foundational texts for manipulating energy and constructing elemental defensive or offensive arrays. The knowledge that could give him an edge. Beside the books, a small wooden case held vials filled with various liquids ¡ª some clear, others shimmering with a faint glow. He unlatched the box carefully, inspecting each vial. Healing elixirs? Poison antidotes? Without proper examination, it was impossible to tell, but their presence hinted at someone far more prepared than a mere wanderer. And then another two vials caught his attention they had a brownish complexion to the pills in the first vial and a blue haze to the second set. Then, he noticed the pouch. At first glance, it seemed entirely ordinary ¡ª plain brown leather, slightly worn at the edges. Yet when De-Reece picked it up, the weight felt off. Too light for something so full. Frowning, he opened the drawstring and tentatively reached inside. His hand went in deeper than it should have. Much deeper. His arm sank past his wrist, past his elbow. It was a spatial pouch. De-Reece''s mind reeled. A storage space about a meter squared, hidden within something that looked so simple. These were rare, valuable, and often only owned by powerful cultivators or wealthy merchants. Swallowing hard, he slung the pouch onto his belt, his mind racing. Who had left all of this here? And why? Whatever the answers, De-Reece knew one thing for certain ¡ª his discovery had just shifted the balance of his future. The dragon outside was the least of his worries now. With one last glance at the chamber, he gathered the manuals, vials, and crystals, tucking them securely into his new spatial pouch. For the first time since appearing here, he smiled ¡ª he''d always enjoyed reading, even as a kid. It didn¡¯t matter if it was a newspaper or a fantasy book, he¡¯d read it. He hadn¡¯t originally planned to spend long in the cave, mostly just trying to find a path to a different exit, but how could he leave this cultivation heaven? He looked down at the ''Cultivation Path of The Heavenly Demon'' manuscript in front of him and opened it. He was instantly dragged into a vision ¡ª something he hadn¡¯t expected. A towering figure appeared before him, a presence so overwhelming it seemed to press against De-Reece''s very soul. His face was shrouded in shadow, yet his long black hair, tied in an elegant Chinese bun, flowed like a dark river down his back. His robe was a masterpiece ¡ª black as midnight, with intricate gold and crimson embroidery forming swirling patterns of dragons and flames. The aura he exuded was not just power ¡ª it was absolute authority, a force of will that demanded submission. His voice resonated through the void, deep and steady, carrying a weight of unshakable conviction. "I am the Heavenly Demon, Cheon Ma Sin Gun," he declared, each word a thunderclap in De-Reece''s mind. "I was born a man, and I shall die a man ¡ª but the world saw fit to brand me a demon. Perhaps because I walked a path carved from dominance and strength, where mercy was a luxury, I could not afford." He took a step forward, the hem of his robe trailing like a dark flame behind him. "Remember this ¡ª power does not bow to kindness. Pity is the chain that binds the weak. And yet..." his voice softened, just slightly, "I learned too late that those closest to you must be protected ¡ª not with words, but with unwavering might." His gaze, though hidden, seemed to pierce De-Reece to his core. "The road ahead will break you if you let it. Perhaps your path will diverge from mine ¡ª perhaps not ¡ª but know this: to ascend in the brutal world of cultivation, there is no room for hesitation." The Heavenly Demon extended a hand, and tendrils of dark energy coiled around his fingers. "You are too weak for me to pass down true power. For now, I shall grant you a movement technique ¡ª ''Phantom Shadow Steps.'' It is a foundation, a beginning. Each step blends speed with unpredictability, allowing you to shift your weight and balance at impossible angles, creating the illusion of teleportation. With enough mastery, you will leave behind only a blur ¡ª an afterimage ¡ª while you close the distance to strike." He let the energy dissipate, his voice once again firm. "Reach the Qi Refining stage, and the true path of the Heavenly Demon will open to you. When you find a follower worthy of your trust ¡ª one who would lay down their life without question ¡ª return to me through this manuscript, and I shall gift them power worthy of your name." "These vials you discovered are not mere trinkets," his voice rumbled. "The clear ones ¡ª antidotes ¡ª will purge your body of poisons, a safeguard against treachery. The bone-cleansing marrow liquid, taken at the 3rd, 6th, and 9th node breaks during body refinement, will strip away the filth within your bones. Painful ¡ª but necessary." He gestured subtly, and the brown and blue vials seemed to shimmer in De-Reece¡¯s memory. "The brown pills ¡ª body-tempering pills ¡ª are for after the body construction stage. They will fortify your muscles, tendons, and bones, reinforcing your mortal shell with spiritual energy something that is not normally done during the body tempering stage. And the blue-hazed vials hold healing elixirs ¡ª vital in emergencies, to mend wounds and fractures swiftly. Waste none of them ¡ª each represents struggle and sacrifice." His hand hovered over an invisible hilt at his side. "There is a sword ¡ª one I wielded in my youth, a weapon forged in blood and struggle. It lies hidden within the cave you now stand in, sealed within a slot in the wall. Take it. It will serve you well on the first steps of your journey." His final words echoed like a commandment. "Stand tall, young demon. The world will not suffer the weak, and the disciples of the Heavenly Demon will never allow you to disgrace this path. Be strong ¡ª or be forgotten.". He wore a magnanimous cultivator robe, black with gold and red embroidery. He was instantly dragged back ¡ª but had he even left the room? Had any time even passed? He sat, confused, De-Reece¡¯s heart pounded ¡ª not from fear, but from something far more potent. Admiration. The Heavenly Demon, Cheon Ma Sin Gun, was everything he had envisioned a true cultivator to be ¡ª a figure of overwhelming strength, unyielding will, and relentless ambition. His words didn¡¯t break De-Reece¡¯s spirit; they ignited it. This was no mere lecture ¡ª it was a gift. A glimpse into a path carved from dominance and sacrifice, one that resonated with the fire burning deep within De-Reece¡¯s core. The weight of the Heavenly Demon¡¯s presence didn¡¯t crush him; it lifted him. When the vision faded, and the silent room returned, De-Reece found himself gripping the manuscript tightly, his knuckles whitening even though he had caramel skin. His mind buzzed with every word spoken, every lesson etched into his soul. "I will not disgrace this path," he whispered to himself, a fierce smile tugging at his lips. "I will grow strong ¡ª not to beg for mercy, but to command it, that¡¯s the only way to protect those below you." His gaze dropped to the newly-formed writing and diagrams on the manuscript¡¯s pages. The "Phantom Shadow Steps" ¡ª a foundation, a beginning. He welcomed the challenge, the struggle. This was the path he had been waiting for. Phantom Shadow Steps was not a technique bound by mere footwork ¡ª it was a manifestation of control over Qi flow and spatial awareness. At its core, the technique relied on the cultivator¡¯s ability to synchronize their internal Qi circulation with their physical movements, blurring the line between reality and illusion. The technique operated on three fundamental principles:
  1. Qi Infusion and Flow: The cultivator channels their Qi into their legs and meridians, not in a constant stream, but in controlled bursts. This sudden infusion of energy allows for short, explosive movements ¡ª abrupt shifts in direction that defy natural momentum. By alternating the flow of Qi between the Yin and Yang meridians of the lower body, the cultivator creates a disjointed rhythm, making their movements unpredictable to the naked eye.
  2. Afterimage Projection: As Qi bursts through the leg meridians, it leaks ever so slightly into the surrounding air, disturbing the flow of spiritual energy in the environment. This "Qi residue" leaves a faint imprint ¡ª an afterimage ¡ª mimicking the cultivator''s last position for a brief moment. To an opponent, it appears as if the cultivator has split into two forms: the lingering shadow and the real body.
  3. Weight Redistribution and Balance: Unlike ordinary movement techniques, Phantom Shadow Steps requires the user to shift their weight at impossible angles, almost as if defying gravity. This is achieved by circulating Qi into the Baihui and Yongquan points ¡ª the apex of the head and the soles of the feet ¡ª creating a temporary stabilization of balance even in mid-step. A master of the technique can push off the ground with minimal contact, appearing to float or teleport short distances.
Stages of Mastery: In essence, Phantom Shadow Steps doesn''t simply rely on speed ¡ª it distorts an enemy''s perception, manipulating both Qi and space to create the illusion of being everywhere at once. True mastery lies not in how fast one moves, but in how seamlessly one merges Qi with motion, becoming a phantom in both body and spirit. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The cave was silent, save for the faint rustle of De-Reece¡¯s robes as he moved, he had decided to adopt the robes of the heavenly demon he had found in the spacial bag. The air felt heavy, dense with an unseen pressure ¡ª Qi, the lifeblood of cultivation. It was everywhere, flowing like an invisible current just beyond his grasp. He could feel it, but like trying to catch smoke with bare hands, it eluded him. He stood at the center of the stone chamber, the ''Cultivation Path of The Heavenly Demon'' manuscript open before him. Every word from the Heavenly Demon, Cheon Ma Sin Gun, still echoed in his mind: "Qi does not merely live within you ¡ª it seeps into the world around you. To master the Phantom Shadow Steps, you must blur the line between your body and your surroundings." De-Reece''s heart burned with a strange mix of awe and determination. The Heavenly Demon was more than just a figure of power; he was the embodiment of strength tempered by loss. His words were etched into De-Reece''s very soul, each one a reminder that to walk this path was to embrace dominance, but also to shoulder the weight of its consequences. He clenched his fist. This was his first step on that path. Drawing a slow breath, he gathered his Qi, guiding it from his dantian up to the only node he had opened so far ¡ª the Yangwei point in his shoulder. It was a mistake, he realized now. The Heavenly Demon had made it clear: the foundation of movement techniques lay in opening the leg meridians first, establishing a direct flow of Qi to the limbs responsible for speed and balance. But De-Reece, in his impatience, had chosen the Yangwei point, seduced by the thought of powerful strikes and overwhelming force. Now, as he attempted to channel Qi into his legs, it faltered, leaking awkwardly from his shoulder, disrupting his balance. His first attempt was a disaster. He pushed off the ground, trying to execute the first form of Phantom Shadow Steps ¡ª a simple burst of speed meant to create the illusion of an afterimage. But the Qi, poorly directed, surged unevenly. His right shoulder flared with energy, throwing his momentum off. Instead of a seamless glide, his body jerked sideways, and he tumbled to the ground. Pain flared through his arm, but it paled in comparison to the frustration bubbling inside him. "If only I had opened a leg meridian first..." he muttered bitterly. "I was too eager." But he couldn''t stop now. He wouldn''t. The Heavenly Demon hadn¡¯t walked a path of hesitation. He hadn¡¯t wept over his mistakes ¡ª he had carved his way through them. De-Reece gritted his teeth and rose to his feet, the pain in his shoulder a reminder of his arrogance. This wasn¡¯t about doing it perfectly; it was about moving forward, step by step. He tried again. This time, he focused on what little control he had. The Qi surged from his dantian to his shoulder, then bled down into his arm. It wasn''t ideal, but he forced himself to adjust, using the momentum to swing his torso forward. His right foot shot out, awkwardly dragging his left behind it. A blur. Not a true afterimage, but a flicker ¡ª the faintest ripple in the air where he had just been. It was clumsy. His shoulder pulled too much, his legs too little. He stumbled to a halt a few feet away, his breathing ragged. But it was something. He stared at the spot where the air still seemed to shimmer, however briefly. A crude imitation of what the Heavenly Demon had shown him, but an imitation nonetheless. A fierce smile crept across De-Reece''s face. "I will not disgrace this path." He could already imagine it ¡ª a future where his steps would leave nothing but ghostly afterimages, where his enemies would strike at shadows while his true self closed in for the kill. The Heavenly Demon had said power did not bow to kindness. De-Reece would master these steps not for mercy, but for domination. And though his shoulder burned and his Qi flow stuttered, his resolve remained steady. This was only the beginning. Three days passed. The cave''s silence had become a familiar companion, broken only by the steady rhythm of De-Reece''s movements. Each day, he pushed himself harder, driven by the Heavenly Demon''s words and his own gnawing regret at his hasty decision to open the Yangwei point first. It was a constant reminder of his impatience, a lesson carved into his very bones. But he adapted. Instead of cursing his mistake, De-Reece had spent hours refining his Qi control. He learned to guide the energy from his dantian up to his shoulder, then force it back down along the pathways of his torso, diverting it into his thighs. It wasn¡¯t perfect¡ªthe Qi still refused to flow freely into his legs, stopping short of his knees¡ªbut it was progress. Today, as he gathered his Qi, the flow felt less erratic. His shoulder still burned with the excess energy, but he no longer let it throw him off balance. Channeling the Qi into his thighs, he pushed off the ground. A ripple. His form blurred, a brief shimmer in the air as he moved¡ªnot quite an afterimage, but no longer the clumsy stumbles of before. His steps were sharper, quicker, though still awkward. His legs didn¡¯t carry him as far as they should, the incomplete Qi flow limiting his speed, but the difference was undeniable. He was faster. Breathless, De-Reece stopped, his chest heaving but his lips curling into a fierce grin. "Low mastery..." he whispered, almost in disbelief. It was rough and unrefined, but he had taken a step forward. The Heavenly Demon''s path was brutal and unforgiving. But De-Reece was learning that it wasn''t about moving flawlessly¡ªit was about never stopping. Yet, his training hadn''t been limited to movement alone. After taking the antidote from one of the vials the Heavenly Demon had left behind, De-Reece turned his attention to the other tomes in his possession. One caught his eye: ''Formations and Arrays.'' He learned that formations were constructs tied to the natural attunement of the earth itself. They manipulated the flow of Qi in an area, bending nature''s will to create barriers, traps, or enhancements. Arrays, on the other hand, were more artificial, man-made imitations of formations. They required physical objects¡ªflags, talismans, or stones¡ªto anchor the flow of Qi, forcing it to conform to the user''s intent. The logic behind them fascinated him. While he lacked the skill to deploy anything complex, De-Reece now understood how to identify basic formations and the telltale shimmer of an active array. And then there was the alchemy book. Buried within its pages, he discovered a method to extract poison from the blue amphibious creature he had sealed away in his pouch. The process was meticulous ¡ª a careful combination of drawing out the venom and refining it with herbs he''d scrounged from the cave¡¯s crevices. After hours of trial and error, he produced a poison potent enough to coat a blade. Dark, oily, and faintly glowing, the concoction clung to the edge of his dagger, promising death with the lightest cut. "A step forward in movement, a step forward in knowledge," De-Reece mused, watching the poison shimmer. And with that, he prepared for the next attempt. De-Reece moved like a shadow through the underbrush, his mind a storm of tactics and anticipation. Each step was careful, deliberate ¡ª a far cry from the clumsy stumbles of three days prior. He had not come this far just to fail. Pushing aside a curtain of broad leaves, his gaze settled on the clearing ahead. The fruit still hung there ¡ª a golden beacon of power ¡ª and beneath it, the snake lay coiled like an obsidian statue, its scales rippling with a faint, dark sheen. Though its eyes remained closed, De-Reece knew better than to assume it was unaware. Predators like this never truly slept. He crouched low, steadying his breath. His fingers brushed the hilt of his zombie knife, now coated in the poison he''d extracted from the blue amphibious creature. The venom clung to the blade in a dark, oily film ¡ª subtle yet deadly. "I can''t overpower it," he reminded himself. "But I don''t have to." The plan was simple in concept but perilous in execution. First, he needed to bait the snake into striking. Snakes, especially ones like this, relied on explosive speed ¡ª a burst of muscle coiling and uncoiling like a drawn bowstring. If he could force it to strike first, its momentum would leave it momentarily vulnerable. The Heavenly Demon had often spoken of using an opponent''s strength against them ¡ª even a fraction of that wisdom could tip the scales in De-Reece''s favour. If it lunged, he could use what little mastery he had of the Phantom Shadow Steps to sidestep the attack ¡ª not with the seamless blur of a true master, but with the ragged flicker he''d managed to achieve through sheer will. It wouldn¡¯t be elegant, but it might be just enough. Then, once the snake overextended, he''d strike its side ¡ª not aiming to kill but to wound. The poison would do the rest. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, gathering Qi from his dantian, feeling it rush up to his shoulder and forcing it back down into his thighs. The imbalance was maddening ¡ª like pouring a stream uphill ¡ª and the Yangwei point in his shoulder throbbed with unused energy. Regret gnawed at him. Opening the shoulder node first had been a mistake; he should have chosen one in his legs, a foundation for movement. Now, he was stuck trying to redirect a flow never meant to be rerouted ¡ª every step felt half-formed, every flicker of speed just shy of true mastery. from his dantian, feeling it rush up to his shoulder and forcing it back down into his thighs. It was an awkward flow, like trying to redirect a raging river through narrow canals, but he managed to circulate enough to prepare for a sudden burst of movement. The snake shifted. De-Reece''s eyes snapped open. He grabbed a small stone from the ground and, with a flick of his wrist, sent it sailing through the air. It struck a tree trunk a few paces to the snake''s left with a sharp crack. The snake''s head whipped around instantly, its body uncoiling in a fluid ripple of muscle and scales. Its tongue flicked out, tasting the air, and its eyes ¡ª cold and unblinking ¡ª searched for the source of the disturbance. Now. De-Reece shot forward, channeling his unstable Qi into his thighs. His shoulder flared with unused energy, throwing him slightly off balance, but he adjusted mid-step. His form blurred ¡ª not a true afterimage, but a brief shimmer. The snake reacted with terrifying speed. It lunged, its jaws parting wide enough to swallow his arm whole. "Too fast!" De-Reece''s mind screamed, but his body moved before fear could root him in place. He twisted, his Phantom Shadow Steps faltering but pushing him just far enough to the side. He could feel the rush of air as the snake''s fangs grazed the edge of his cloak. "Sloppy ¡ª too much Qi in my shoulder again ¡ª" Off-balance but determined, he drove his zombie knife forward, slicing a thin line across the snake''s side. The cut was shallow ¡ª too shallow. "Not deep enough ¡ª damn it ¡ª" But the poison was already at work. The dark oil clung to the serpent''s scales, seeping into the wound. The snake recoiled, hissing violently, its tail whipping out and knocking De-Reece backward. He hit the ground hard, skidding across the dirt. Pain flared through his ribs, but he forced himself to roll to his feet. The serpent thrashed, its movements growing erratic. The poison was slowing it ¡ª not enough to kill, but enough to dull its deadly speed. "This is my chance." De-Reece surged forward again, his Qi straining through his unbalanced pathways. He forced it into his thighs ¡ª a crude mimicry of the true Phantom Shadow Steps ¡ª and darted to the side, creating a fleeting blur. The snake struck, but too late. He sidestepped, driving his zombie knife deep into the base of its skull. This time, the blade sank in fully, the venom spreading like a dark thread through the serpent''s body. The snake convulsed, its hiss trailing off into a weak rattle. Moments later, it lay still. De-Reece didn''t move for several heartbeats, his chest heaving. Victory ¡ª but at a cost. His Qi flow was chaotic, his shoulder still burned from the imbalance, and his ribs ached from the blow. But he was alive. He stepped past the snake''s corpse, his gaze lifting to the glowing golden fruit. Carefully, he reached up, his fingers grazing its smooth surface. It pulsed faintly, as though alive. With a firm twist, he plucked it from the branch. Power ¡ª raw, unrefined ¡ª seemed to thrum within the fruit. The Heavenly Demon¡¯s words echoed in his mind once more. "Strength must be earned, not gifted." De-Reece clenched the fruit tightly. This was another step on his path ¡ª another tool in his arsenal. He slipped the fruit into his pouch and began to retrace his path back to the cave he stopped. ¡°Can¡¯t I cook and eat this snake?¡± he thought inwardly, only now remembering he hadn¡¯t remembered to eat much recently. ¡°If it¡¯s a choice between either eats snakes or die in this weird world. I''m eating snakes¡±. With that, he hoisted the snake¡¯s massive body up and into his spacial bag, now only realising how thick the snake actually was, a fact forgotten in the heat of battle. His steps were slower now, his body worn from the fight, but his resolve had only hardened. By the time he returned to the cultivation cave, a storm of Qi raged within him ¡ª wild, untamed energy surging through where his dantian would be like a roiling sea. The moment the snake died, he had felt it ¡ª a sudden rush, as though the creature''s life force had ignited a hidden spark within him. It wasn''t just a trickle of power ¡ª it was an overwhelming flood, pressing against the fragile boundaries of his meridians. He dropped to the ground the instant he entered the cave, his body trembling from the sheer intensity. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he forced the Qi down, channelling it away from his already overburdened shoulder and into his legs. The first node ¡ª buried deep within his right thigh ¡ª felt like a wall of iron. He pushed harder, gritting his teeth, the pain sharp and unforgiving, like molten steel carving through his flesh. With a final, agonizing burst of will, the node cracked open, sending a shockwave of energy spiralling through his leg. The release was so intense his vision blurred, but there was no time to stop. The second node ¡ª his left thigh ¡ª loomed before him, unyielding and cold. The excess Qi battered against it, wild and erratic. De-Reece growled under his breath, using every shred of focus to guide the chaotic flow. Minutes dragged into what felt like hours, his body screaming in protest, until at last ¡ª with a jolt that left him gasping ¡ª the second node shattered. Qi poured through his newly opened pathways, flowing freely down both legs for the first time. The balance he''d lacked for days was still crude, but for once, the energy no longer felt trapped or misdirected. Exhausted but triumphant, De-Reece leaned back against the cave wall, his breath coming in ragged bursts. He had done it ¡ª two leg nodes broken open. The next step on the path of the Heavenly Demon had been taken. the air felt heavier ¡ª as though the very walls recognized the shift within him. He placed the fruit beside the alchemy tools and the Formation and Arrays book. Sitting cross-legged, De-Reece closed his eyes and began to steady his breath. This was only the beginning. Self-Improvement After arising from meditating, only now did De-Reece realize how hungry he was. "Right," he thought to himself. "I need to eat." Taking out the snake, he expertly filleted it, regretting the lack of seasonings in this new world. Still, food was food. He set off to gather firewood, his path winding through the forest of massive oak-red trees stretching high into the sky. Their towering forms made him feel small ¡ª a reminder that, despite his recent progress, he was still at the base of an insurmountable mountain. He gathered dry branches and twigs, methodically checking their weight and snapping them to ensure they were dry enough to burn. The silence of the forest pressed down on him, each crack of a branch echoing louder than it should. His mind wandered back to the Heavenly Demon¡¯s words ¡ª strength through mastery, not recklessness. Even in something as simple as collecting firewood, there was an eerie sense of purpose now, as though every act, no matter how small, was another stone on the path to his growth. During the journey, De-Reece practiced, leaping from tree to tree. At first, his steps were clumsy, his control over the Phantom Shadow Steps still unrefined. But as the hours passed, a strange feeling crept over him ¡ª freedom. The wind rushed past his face, and for a fleeting moment, it felt like he was untethered from everything. No death, no battles, just motion. Then the weight of memory hit him ¡ª the faces of his lost brothers, the sound of their laughter ¡ª gone. The sensation of freedom evaporated as quickly as it came, replaced by a cold emptiness. Grinding his teeth, he refocused, pushing his Qi down into his newly opened leg nodes. Though the flow still felt awkward ¡ª like trying to redirect a river through half-built canals ¡ª it was better than before. The choice to open the shoulder Yangwei point first gnawed at him. If he had opened the leg nodes instead, his movement would have been smoother by now. His steps would be faster, his control sharper. It was a mistake born of haste ¡ª one he vowed not to repeat. By the time he stumbled across a small deposit of rock salt, his Phantom Shadow Steps had grown steadier, the flickers of movement less erratic. It wasn''t mastery, but it was something. "Better than nothing," he muttered, pocketing the salt into his spatial pouch. On his way back, De-Reece froze. A monkey tribe ¡ª brown-furred creatures with red stripes running down their backs ¡ª perched in the distance. War paint? No, just the natural color of their fur. Their faces bore husky-like markings around their eyes, giving them a fierce, almost tribal look. The leader, larger than the rest, gnawed on a thick root, its gaze scanning the forest with a sharpness that spoke of intelligence. De-Reece''s hand hovered over his zombie knife, but he shook his head. Not yet. He would challenge them eventually ¡ª test himself against their speed and strength ¡ª but now was not the time. Quietly, he retreated. Back at the cave, he prepared his meal, breaking down the rock salt into finer grains and sprinkling it over the snake meat. Each bite was a revelation ¡ª not because of the flavor, which was still bland and metallic ¡ª but because he could feel the faint pulse of Qi within the meat. It wasn''t much, but it was something. The snake''s lifeforce had not completely dissipated, and with each swallow, a whisper of energy trickled into his own meridians. His eyes widened in amazement. "Even eating can strengthen me?" After finishing his meal, De-Reece crossed his legs and ran his Qi through his newly opened meridians. The flow was rough, still burdened by the imbalance from his shoulder Yangwei point, but he pressed forward. When he felt a stable circuit form ¡ª however crude ¡ª he retrieved the body-tempering pills left by the Heavenly Demon. Without hesitation, he swallowed one. The pain was immediate. It felt like molten iron coursing through his veins, each pulse of Qi clashing violently against his unrefined pathways. His muscles screamed in protest, his bones felt as if they were being chiselled from the inside out. De-Reece bit down on his lip hard enough to taste blood, riding out the agony until, at last, the storm passed. When his breathing finally slowed, he felt¡­ renewed. Stronger. Like his body had been reforged, every fibre of his being honed sharper than before. A glimmer of light caught his eye ¡ª a mirror tucked away in the corner of the cave. For the first time since coming to this world, he saw his reflection. Shock hit him like a hammer. The face staring back wasn''t the 26-year-old man he remembered. It was younger ¡ª leaner ¡ª with skin smoother than it had been in years. His body, though still broad and muscular, seemed just shy of fully matured. "Sixteen?" De-Reece muttered, running a hand through his hair. He hadn¡¯t noticed it before ¡ª all the chaos of fighting, training, and surviving had kept him too preoccupied ¡ª but there was no denying it now. He was in his younger body. "Well, damn," he whispered, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. He had always looked older than his age, even back then, but this¡­ this was something else. One thing puzzled him, though. His dreads were still there ¡ª a style he hadn¡¯t grown until later in life. It was a strange comfort like a piece of his old self had refused to be left behind. Shaking off the confusion, De-Reece''s gaze landed on the glowing golden fruit resting beside the alchemy tools and the Formation and Arrays book. He still didn''t know what to do with it. Eating it blindly seemed reckless, yet the power it exuded was undeniable. Despite his study of the formation arrays and alchemy books, there was no mention of this strange fruit. Not even a hint. He thought back to the Heavenly Demon''s words and, thinking of the sword he had hidden, went to retrieve it. It was magnificent ¡ª heavy, but not bulky in appearance. The blade seemed to be made from some black obsidian-like metal, perhaps a fusion of the two. Intricate designs lined its surface, flowing like dark veins of power. Flawless in its craftsmanship, it was a sword ¡ª but its shape was deceptive. Some might mistake it for a blade at first glance. It looked versatile, capable of both sword and blade techniques, a reflection of the Heavenly Demon''s approach ¡ª adaptable, lethal, unpredictable. De-Reece began training with the sword, channelli ng his Qi through his node points, but the techniques in the book didn''t come naturally to him. His broader, bulkier frame clashed with the fluid, elegant strikes described by the Heavenly Demon. The forms demanded agility and grace ¡ª quick, sweeping motions that seemed at odds with De-Reece''s powerful, grounded stance. Each swing of the sword felt off, like wearing clothes tailored for someone else. His strikes were too heavy, his footwork too rigid. Time slipped away as the sun crawled across the sky. Hours of repetition blurred together ¡ª strike, step, parry ¡ª and each failure stoked the simmering frustration within him. The book spoke of moving Qi like a flowing stream, guiding it seamlessly from node to node, but De-Reece¡¯s Qi felt more like a crashing wave, wild and untamed. By midday, his muscles screamed from overuse. Sweat clung to his skin like a second layer. He forced himself to stop, gnawing on the last scraps of snake meat, only to find the energy gained was meagre ¡ª a whisper of what it had been before. A grim reminder that relying solely on these beasts for Qi would never be sustainable. Gritting his teeth, De-Reece refused to let the day slip away. Rather than forcing himself into the Heavenly Demon''s mold, he tried something different ¡ª heavier, more deliberate strikes. He channelled Qi into his legs, stabilizing his stance, and let his sword arm swing with the strength of his entire body, not just his wrist or elbow. He began blending sword and blade techniques, shifting between quick slashes and bone-crushing chops. The results were crude, unpolished ¡ª but they were his. With each swing, he felt the faintest spark of something new. It wasn''t mastery, not even close, but it was a step forward ¡ª a weapon style shaped by his own hands, not a shadow of another''s. Finally, he sat down, breathing deeply, the weight of the sword resting against his lap. His arms ached, his muscles burning from the relentless repetition of swings and stances, but his mind buzzed with determination. Rather than mimic the Heavenly Demon''s style, he began blending elements of both sword and blade combat, drawing from his own strengths. His strikes became heavier, more deliberate ¡ª not the swift, elegant cuts described in the book, but crushing blows powered by the raw force of his bulkier frame. He shifted his footwork too, anchoring himself like a mountain before letting his sword arc through the air, using momentum rather than grace. The energy within his Qi nodes pulsed in response, not flowing like a gentle stream but crashing like a wave, wild and untamed. Each swing sent a ripple of energy through his veins ¡ª sloppy, but growing steadier with each attempt. Hours blurred together as he hacked at the air, again and again, until the sun began to set. His breathing was ragged, his legs threatening to buckle, but there was a spark in his movements now ¡ª a rough, unrefined technique born from his own instincts. It wasn''t mastery, not even close, but it was his. The beginning of something new. Exhausted, De-Reece slumped to the ground, his body screaming for rest, but his mind refused to yield. Every muscle ached, every joint throbbed, but there was no room for weakness. His brothers were out there somewhere ¡ª lost, scattered ¡ª and he would find them. No matter the cost. He clenched his fists, the cold stone of the cave biting into his palms, a painful reminder that sheer strength alone wouldn¡¯t be enough. He needed more. Tools, knowledge ¡ª something beyond brute force. The Heavenly Demon''s words echoed in his mind: mastery, not recklessness. With a sharp breath, De-Reece''s gaze shifted to the other paths laid out before him ¡ª alchemy and formations. If raw strength couldn¡¯t carve a path to his brothers, then perhaps the subtle art of manipulating the world around him would. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Realizing he lacked the ingredients to pursue alchemy, De-Reece turned his focus to formations. The Heavenly Demon had left no alchemical herbs behind ¡ª either used up or never deemed important enough to stockpile. It made sense, De-Reece realized. The alchemy and formation books were likely not the Heavenly Demon''s works ¡ª more like tributes, desperate offerings from the weak hoping to buy mercy or favour. The books lacked the same fierce, personal touch he''d felt in the sword manual. The Formation and Arrays book, however, offered another path ¡ª manipulating the world itself through elemental forces. If he could master formations, he wouldn''t just rely on his own strength ¡ª he could bend the battlefield to his will, crafting zones of control, concealment, and destruction. The book spoke of elemental infusions ¡ª water for fluidity and concealment, wind for movement and misdirection, earth for stability and defense, fire for raw destruction, gold for sharpness and cutting power, and metal for structure and reinforcement. Each element could be woven into a formation, their properties harmonizing or clashing depending on the user''s intent. Starting small, he followed the most basic formation in the book ¡ª a simple concealment array using water and wind elements. Painstakingly etching symbols into the dirt, he drew thin, flowing lines for water ¡ª soft curves meant to spread his Qi like a mist ¡ª and sharp, erratic slashes for wind, adding a layer of shifting motion. When he channeled his Qi along the drawn lines, the air itself seemed to ripple. Stepping back, he found the 3x3 meter area in front of him wavering like a mirage ¡ª a crude invisibility formation, blending the fluidity of water with the ever-moving veil of wind. Encouraged, De-Reece pushed further, attempting a basic offensive formation. This time, he combined fire and metal elements ¡ª fire for destructive bursts and metal for precision. The symbols were more complex, demanding sharper focus and precise Qi flow. The fire runes curved aggressively, spirals feeding into jagged metal sigils that braced the formation''s frame. Twice his Qi sputtered out, breaking the formation mid-process, but on the third attempt, a faint crimson glow lined the array. When he threw a small stone into the centre, the symbols flared ¡ª a thin arc of energy, like a molten blade, slashed upwards and split the stone cleanly in two. It was basic, but it was a start. With formations, he wasn''t just a lone fighter ¡ª he could shape the very battlefield itself, commanding the elements and weaving their forces into his design.. If he could master formations, he wouldn''t just rely on his own strength ¡ª he could bend the battlefield to his will. Starting small, he followed the most basic formation in the book ¡ª a simple concealment array. After painstakingly etching symbols into the dirt and channelling his Qi along the drawn lines, he felt a slight shift in the air. Stepping back, he found the 3x3 meter area in front of him wavering like a mirage ¡ª a crude invisibility formation. Encouraged, De-Reece pushed further, attempting a basic offensive formation. The symbols were more complex, demanding sharper focus and precise Qi flow. Twice his Qi sputtered out, breaking the formation mid-process, but on the third attempt, a faint crimson glow lined the array. When he threw a small stone into the centre, the symbols flared ¡ª a thin arc of energy slashing upwards and splitting the stone cleanly in two. It was basic, but it was a start. With formations, he wasn''t just a lone fighter ¡ª he could shape the very battlefield itself. As De-Reece slumped against the cold stone of the cave, the ache in his muscles a steady reminder of the day''s relentless training, his gaze wandered to the scattered books around him. His sword lay across his lap, the dark obsidian-metal blade humming faintly with the remnants of his Qi. The crude, unrefined fusion of sword and blade techniques he had begun forging was only a start ¡ª a foundation. Yet, something gnawed at him. The formations. The invisibility array had been a revelation ¡ª blending water and wind elements, he had managed to distort the air itself, crafting a 3x3 meter veil that shimmered like a heatwave. But it was unstable. The ripple effect flickered at the edges, and he suspected it would collapse with the slightest disruption to his Qi flow. And the offensive formation ¡ª while it had successfully combined fire and metal elements to produce a slashing arc, the cut lacked precision. The stone had split, yes, but not cleanly. The molten edge had scorched the ground beneath it, a wild burst of flame and steel rather than a controlled strike. De-Reece frowned, his mind turning like a millstone. ¡°I¡¯m treating these like weapons,¡± he muttered, clenching his fist. ¡°But formations aren¡¯t swords or blades. They¡¯re... something more.¡± He grabbed the Formation and Arrays book again, flipping through the worn pages until he found the section on elemental infusions. It spoke of balance ¡ª how each element carried its own essence, its own rules. The key, the book emphasized, was harmony. Elements didn¡¯t simply coexist ¡ª they reacted. Fire devoured wind but could be smothered by earth. Water and wind danced fluidly, while metal carved through them both. De-Reece¡¯s thoughts twisted back to his swordwork. The same imbalance he¡¯d felt while blending blade and sword techniques ¡ª that clashing of speed and power ¡ª mirrored the elemental struggles within these formations. ¡°What if I¡­ merge them?¡± The idea struck like lightning. He dragged his sword to his side, stabbing it into the ground before him. With a slow breath, he etched a new formation, larger than the others ¡ª a 5x5 meter array. This time, he wove fire and metal at the core, drawing harsh, jagged symbols that fed into one another, like a molten blade cutting through steel. Around the perimeter, he looped wind and water sigils, forming a swirling barrier to corral the chaotic energy within. As his Qi flowed through the design, the formation sparked to life. A fiery core roared at the centre, but the wind-water shell kept the flames from spiralling out of control, twisting them into a focused spiral. The outer layer shimmered ¡ª not quite invisible, but blurred, making the formation''s heart a flickering, unpredictable blaze. De-Reece stepped back, his breath shallow with anticipation. He hurled another stone into the center. The moment the rock crossed the boundary, the swirling wind funneled it directly into the molten core ¡ª the combined elements snapping together. A razor-thin arc of flame shot out, cutting through the stone mid-flight. This time, the slash was clean, the cut precise. The formation collapsed a second later, the elements destabilizing ¡ª but not before leaving a deep, charred groove along the cave floor. Sweat dripped from De-Reece''s brow. His heart pounded ¡ª not from exertion, but from possibility. ¡°If I can do this with formations,¡± he whispered, his mind racing, ¡°what happens when I merge these elements into my sword techniques?¡± The thought was a spark ¡ª the promise of a new path, one where raw strength met elemental control. De-Reece didn¡¯t want to simply learn the Heavenly Demon¡¯s techniques. He wanted to create his own. As the last embers of the collapsed formation faded into the stone, De-Reece¡¯s mind roared with possibility. His sword still rested in the ground, the obsidian-metal blade drinking in the ambient Qi that pulsed from his experiment. The precision of the elemental slash, the blend of fire''s raw destruction and metal''s honed focus ¡ª it struck a nerve deep within him. This¡­ this is what I''ve been missing. The thought throbbed like a heartbeat. The Heavenly Demon¡¯s techniques were never mine. They were his chains, his rules. But this¡­ this can be mine. He rose to his feet, the ache in his muscles forgotten, and gripped the hilt of his sword. If formations could weave elements into a structured, explosive reaction, why couldn¡¯t he channel the same principles into his swordplay? The Heavenly Demon¡¯s techniques had always felt like shackles ¡ª elegant, graceful, and utterly unsuited to his raw, unyielding power. But with this¡­ he could forge something new. I¡¯m not him. The words burned as fiercely as the fire he had just summoned. I¡¯m not his shadow. Closing his eyes, De-Reece guided his Qi, splitting it into threads. He visualized the elements ¡ª fire for strength and momentum, wind for speed, earth for stability, and metal for precision. The threads tangled at first, the elements clashing, but he bit down on his frustration and focused. Balance. Fire rages ¡ª wind feeds or scatters it. Metal cuts through both ¡ª but without earth, there¡¯s no control. He started with fire and metal ¡ª the combination he had just tested. His Qi blazed along the blade¡¯s edge, the metal element reinforcing the structure as fire surged, contained but fierce. When he swung, the blade left a faint trail of heat in the air, not wild like before, but a razor-thin arc of warmth that hissed as it met the cool cave air. Good¡­ but not enough. Next, he added wind. The challenge was immediate ¡ª the wild current of air pushed against the fire, threatening to scatter it, but De-Reece shifted his stance, letting his legs root into the ground like earth. Stability. The foundation. His Qi flowed like a river along the blade¡¯s surface, wind feeding the fire, causing the thin line of flame to twist and flicker with erratic speed. Too fast. Too wild. Strike. Step. Parry. He repeated the sequence again. And again. Each swing carved a story into the air ¡ª of imbalance, of struggle, of relentless pursuit. But after only a few exchanges, his chest tightened. His breath grew ragged, and the fire on his blade flickered. His Qi was draining too fast. De-Reece halted mid-step, gasping as a wave of exhaustion washed over him. His grip trembled, and his knees nearly buckled. Dammit¡­ He had barely trained for a few hours, and already, his reserves were dangerously low. I¡¯m burning through Qi faster than I can control it. The realization struck like a hammer. In a real battle, I wouldn¡¯t last more than a few minutes. He looked down at his sword, the obsidian-metal blade now dull and lifeless. The infusion of elemental Qi had drained him at an alarming rate. Every strike, every enhancement¡ªit was costing him more than he could afford. I¡¯m strong, but I¡¯m not invincible. What good is all this power if I can¡¯t sustain it? He sheathed the sword, forcing himself to slow his breathing. He needed to rethink his approach. Instead of channeling Qi through the blade constantly, perhaps he could release it in bursts¡ªsmall, controlled moments rather than an all-consuming flow. Maybe only certain strikes should carry elemental power, conserving his energy while still maximizing impact. The Heavenly Demon had brute-forced his way through many challenges, but De-Reece couldn¡¯t afford to. He wasn¡¯t just trying to imitate power¡ªhe was trying to refine it. Panting, De-Reece lowered his weapon. His arms were like lead, his Qi barely a flicker within him, but his mind blazed brighter than ever. This¡­ this is just the beginning. The Heavenly Demon¡¯s shadow still loomed over him ¡ª but now, De-Reece walked a different path. One forged not by imitation, but by creation. One built with discipline, control, and adaptability. Possibilities and danger De-Reece wiped the sweat from his brow, his breath still ragged from the gruelling sword practice. His Qi reserves were running low, a frustrating reminder of his limits. The flickers of elemental power that danced along his blade had been intoxicating ¡ª but fleeting. If he truly wanted to build a sword style of his own, he needed more than just strength. He needed resources. The alchemy books he had studied echoed in his mind. Ingredients ¡ª rare herbs, elemental crystals, and beast parts ¡ª could replenish Qi, enhance physical strength, or even fortify his meridians. Without them, his progress would stagnate. The Heavenly Demon might have left behind knowledge, but he hadn¡¯t left behind the means to fuel that knowledge. De-Reece finished the last of his snake meat, chewing slowly as the faint traces of Qi from the meal dissipated into his body. It was a far cry from the surge he had felt the first time ¡ª now, it was barely a whisper. His limbs ached, his Qi reserves scraped thin, and the weight of exhaustion pressed down on him. Knowing he needed rest, he leaned against the cool stone wall of the cave, letting his body succumb to sleep. When he awoke, the sky beyond the cave mouth was a soft, misty grey. His body felt marginally better, his Qi still faint but steadier, like a flickering candle. Gathering his sword, De-Reece stepped out of the cave into the thick forest of red oak trees. The air was crisp, each breath carrying a faint hint of moss and earth. Mist clung to the underbrush, swirling in delicate tendrils as he moved cautiously, his senses sharpened. The more he learned about Qi, the more he noticed the pulse of the world around him ¡ª the slow, steady thrum of life in the trees, the faint hum of insects, the shifting currents of wind. The forest felt alive, not just with physical movement but with an undercurrent of elemental resonance. The great oaks hummed with earth energy, unyielding and ancient. Moisture in the air pulsed with water''s gentle flow, while the distant rustle of leaves carried the wind¡¯s subtle touch. Even the occasional spark from a distant ember moss hinted at the fire''s restless hunger. Elemental attunement. The concept from the formation book clicked into place. Everything had an element: water flowed with fluidity and change, earth stood firm and unyielding, fire consumed and transformed, the wind carried both freedom and unpredictability, and metal cutting with ruthless efficiency. By attuning himself to these elements, he could better locate ingredients tied to them. His first find was subtle ¡ª a patch of Bloodroot, its crimson-veined leaves almost blending into the undergrowth. The alchemy book had described it as a fire-attuned herb, known to stimulate Qi circulation and help with minor injuries. He carefully uprooted a few stems, storing them in his spatial pouch. Even as he touched the roots, a faint warmth buzzed against his fingertips ¡ª the subtle signature of its elemental essence. Further ahead, he noticed a thin, glistening vine spiralling around a tree. Silver thread Vine ¡ª an earth and metal hybrid plant, often used to reinforce bones and strengthen Qi pathways. De-Reece¡¯s fingers brushed the vine, feeling the faint pulse of energy within it, a steady, almost metallic thrum. He remembered the book''s warning about overharvesting ¡ª taking too much could disrupt the elemental balance in the area. He only clipped what he needed. I can feel them, he realized. The elements ¡ª they''re not just theories. They''re alive. As he collected more herbs ¡ª a few Windshade Flowers swaying unnaturally in a still breeze, a patch of Ember Moss clinging to a sunlit rock ¡ª a distant chittering sound made him freeze. His gaze snapped up to the trees, and there they were. The monkey tribe. The brown-furred creatures with their distinct red-striped markings moved with agile grace through the branches. Their eyes, encircled by husky-like fur patterns, gleamed with sharp intelligence. Some carried crude weapons ¡ª sharpened sticks and rocks tied to vines. Others clutched bundles of strange fruits and herbs. De-Reece crouched low, his back pressed against the rough bark of a red oak, eyes fixed on the swaying branches above. The monkey tribe moved with an organised purpose that sent a chill down his spine. This wasn¡¯t random foraging ¡ª it was methodical. Calculated. Each monkey carried something: herbs tucked behind their belts of woven vine, crude pouches slung over their shoulders, and makeshift weapons grasped in nimble hands. Some clutched the glowing blue flowers he now recognized as Moonlit Iris ¡ª rare and potent in Qi-enhancing elixirs. Others carefully gathered Frostpetal Leaves, their silvery sheen catching the dappled light filtering through the canopy. They know what they¡¯re doing. His mind spun. The alchemy book had been clear ¡ª these were no common plants. They had elemental properties tied directly to the flow of Qi. For the monkeys to target them so precisely, someone had either trained them, or they were following instructions left behind. De-Reece¡¯s hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. His Qi reserves were still low, a constant reminder of his limits, but his strategic instincts roared to life. Rushing after the tribe headlong would be reckless. No ¡ª this required patience. Observe. Plan. Execute. Moving carefully, he followed the monkeys from a distance, weaving through the underbrush and using his growing grasp of formations to mask his presence. His fingers traced subtle patterns in the air, channelling his remaining Qi into a simple Invisibility Formation ¡ª a small, 5x5 meter array that bent the light around him, having expanded 2 metres with practise. It wasn¡¯t perfect ¡ª the flickering of his Qi made it slightly unstable ¡ª but it was enough to blend into the forest¡¯s natural shadows. The deeper they went, the more the forest changed. The red oaks thinned out, replaced by twisted trees with dark, sinewy bark and long, grasping roots. Patches of glowing fungi clung to rocks, pulsing faintly in hues of purple and green. The elemental resonance shifted ¡ª no longer the balanced harmony of earth and wind, but something more chaotic. Unstable. Finally, the monkeys halted. Nestled in the heart of a sunken grove was a crumbling structure ¡ª an abandoned alchemist¡¯s lab. Vines strangled the stone walls and shattered glass littered the mossy floor. The air buzzed with faint remnants of alchemic energy, the aftershock of Qi-based experimentation. A sickly green mist hovered above the ground, swirling unnaturally, and the stench of scorched herbs and decayed matter clung to the air. But this wasn¡¯t just a ruin. Near the entrance, a small cauldron still smoked, a sickly green vapour twisting into the air. A pile of freshly gathered herbs lay beside it, sorted into neat bundles ¡ª Ash Bark, Ember Moss, and more Moonlit Iris. Someone had been here recently. The monkeys chattered among themselves, placing their gathered materials in designated spots. One particularly large monkey ¡ª its red stripes darker than the others ¡ª tugged at a length of chain anchored to the wall, revealing a hidden compartment. Inside were more refined alchemic tools ¡ª bone-carved knives, crystal phials brimming with liquid, and a scattering of gold coins. But what caught De-Reece¡¯s eye was a small bronze signet ring resting atop the pile ¡ª a symbol etched into its surface: a coiled serpent devouring its own tail. An Ouroboros. His heart thudded. The alchemy tome mentioned that certain symbols could be tied to sects or factions, but his knowledge was shallow. He couldn¡¯t place the name or significance of the Ouroboros, but its presence spoke volumes ¡ª this lab wasn¡¯t just a stray hideout. It belonged to someone. Perhaps a dark alchemic sect or rogue cultivator group. A sudden flare of Qi resonated from within the lab ¡ª faint, but distinct. It wasn¡¯t the wild, chaotic energy of beasts. This was controlled, deliberate. Cultivators. He edged closer, peering through a cracked window. Inside, two figures moved about the lab ¡ª both clad in dark robes, their faces obscured by hoods. The taller one poured a viscous black liquid from a vial into the cauldron, while the other carefully mixed a powdery substance De-Reece couldn¡¯t identify. Then he saw it ¡ª a small cage shoved into the corner of the lab. Inside, a quivering beast no larger than a rabbit thrashed weakly, its fur matted with blood. Dark runes were carved into its body, pulsating with an eerie crimson glow. Blood alchemy. Rage coiled in De-Reece¡¯s gut. This wasn¡¯t just alchemy ¡ª this was dark magic. These cultivators weren¡¯t seeking balance or healing; they were twisting Qi through pain and suffering, using the life force of innocent beasts to fuel their experiments. His grip on his sword tightened. But he didn¡¯t move. Not yet. De-Reece forced himself to stay hidden, his heart pounding in his chest. He needed more information. Charging in headfirst could mean death ¡ª not just for him, but for the caged beast as well. If these cultivators were part of a larger force, killing them without understanding their purpose might only draw more danger to him. Think, De-Reece. Think. He listened closely, focusing on their hushed voices. The taller cultivator spoke first, his tone cold and clinical. "We need more blood essence," he muttered. "This beast¡¯s Qi is too weak. If we can¡¯t extract a pure core, the master will have our heads." The shorter one grunted. "We should¡¯ve used the crimson moon fox. Its core was stronger ¡ª but no, you had to drain it dry last time. We¡¯re running out of time. The master expects the elixir by the next moon." The master. De-Reece¡¯s mind raced. There was a chain of command ¡ª these weren¡¯t rogue alchemists acting alone. They were servants to a greater power, someone capable of blood alchemy on a level far beyond their skill. I need to know who this master is. "Plus," the shorter cultivator muttered, his voice a low growl, "those traces we found ¡ª someone¡¯s here. They might be onto us." "I don''t believe that," the taller alchemist replied, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in his tone. "It could just be some wanderer passing through. Don''t stir up trouble we don''t need." The shorter one snorted. "Hmm... the master might want to know either way." The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. But more than that ¡ª I can¡¯t let them leave here alive. They know of me or suspect me at least. If even one of these cultivators escaped, they could report back to their master, painting De-Reece as a threat. Worse still, the traces he may have unintentionally left behind ¡ª the faint Qi fluctuations from his formations, the broken twigs along his path ¡ª gnawed at his mind. His survival hinged not just on his strength but on his ability to remain a ghost ¡ª a whisper in the dark, untraceable and forgotten. Eliminate them. Destroy the evidence. Leave nothing behind. His eyes flicked to the cauldron. If he could sabotage it ¡ª overload the elemental balance within ¡ª it could explode, creating a brief moment of chaos. Enough time for him to strike. "He crouched low¡ªhe had to act now. They knew about him. Without hesitation, he quickly consumed a handful of medicinal herbs and half a qi-restoring potion. He knew this wasn¡¯t the most efficient way¡ªrefining the herbs into a pill or potion would yield far greater results. But this was a life-or-death situation, and he didn¡¯t have that luxury. He still didn¡¯t fully understand the rules of this strange world, but right now, he needed every ounce of strength he could get." Drawing a slow breath, De-Reece began weaving his Qi into a small formation ¡ª a destabilizing rune, using his limited elemental energy with sharp precision. Though his reserves weren¡¯t empty, he was acutely aware of their limits ¡ª every thread of Qi had to be placed with care. He didn¡¯t need a grand display ¡ª just enough to shatter the cauldron and unbalance the delicate concoction brewing within. Strike fast. Strike hard. The moment the formation clicked into place, De-Reece tensed ¡ª ready to become a storm. The formation clicked into place, a silent thread of Qi slicing through the alchemic balance within the cauldron. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then, a violent hiss erupted ¡ª the sickly green liquid bubbling over as the delicate elemental alignment collapsed. Fire clashed with water essence, wind spiralled wildly, and the cauldron shuddered before exploding in a blast of corrupted Qi and searing heat. The taller cultivator staggered back, his robes catching the brunt of the blast, the acrid smoke clinging to him like a living thing. Glass shattered, shelves toppled, and the lab descended into chaos. De-Reece was already moving. Phantom Shadow Steps carried him forward ¡ª his form a flicker in the smoke. Each step was a ghostly whisper, his Qi barely a ripple as he closed the distance, sword gleaming with a faint, elemental sheen. His fear of exposure twisted into sharp intent ¡ª a desperate need to silence every witness. The shorter cultivator coughed, waving the smoke from his face, his hand reaching for a talisman hidden in his sleeve. His mouth opened to shout ¡ª to call for aid, to alert someone ¡ª but De-Reece¡¯s blade flashed. The strike wasn¡¯t elegant. The sword cut deep into the cultivator¡¯s arm, severing tendon and bone. A scream died in the man¡¯s throat as De-Reece pivoted, stepping into his shadow, and with a brutal twist, drove his blade through the man''s ribs. The cultivator choked, a bubbling sound escaping his lips as blood spilled over the stone floor. In the next breath, De-Reece felt it ¡ª a sudden, raw surge of Qi flowing from the dying man, an invisible current rushing into his meridians. It was wild, tainted with the cultivator''s own corrupted essence, but De-Reece welcomed it, his body drinking in the stolen power. His muscles tightened, his core flaring as if stoked by unseen flames. The sensation was both intoxicating and unsettling ¡ª a dark reward for his brutal efficiency. No time to stop. No time to think. The taller one, recovering faster than De-Reece expected, launched a blast of fiery Qi from his palm ¡ª a roaring ember that lit the air. De-Reece twisted, barely avoiding the flames as they singed the hem of his cloak. His sword arm burned with the heat, but he gritted his teeth, pushing past the pain. I can¡¯t let him escape. The taller cultivator darted for the lab¡¯s back entrance ¡ª a hidden door now exposed by the blast. De-Reece¡¯s fear surged. If the man fled, his master would know. They would hunt him. He would be a target. ¡°NO.¡± Raw, unrefined elemental Qi flared within De-Reece¡¯s blade ¡ª a chaotic blend of wind and fire essence, unstable but deadly. He poured his fear into the strike, a savage swing aimed not for precision, but for devastation. The blade collided with the wall beside the escaping cultivator, sending a shockwave of combined elements rippling outward. Stone cracked and wood splintered, cutting off the man''s escape route. Cornered. De-Reece didn¡¯t give him a chance to react. Phantom Shadow Steps carried him forward again, his sword carving a brutal arc that slashed across the cultivator¡¯s chest. The man stumbled, blood spraying the wall, his Qi faltering as his body sagged. The silence that followed was deafening. Then, a rush. A surge of Qi unlike any before. It flowed from the fallen cultivators, drawn into De-Reece¡¯s body like a starving beast devouring a meal. It was raw, unfiltered, and seethed with lingering remnants of their corrupted techniques. His meridians burned as they absorbed the stolen energy, his muscles tightening as if reforged in unseen flames. He clenched his jaw, holding himself steady as the Qi stormed through him, flooding into his core. The sensation was intoxicating¡ªa taste of power that threatened to unravel his control. He forced his breathing to steady, grounding himself in the moment. This was not the time to revel in stolen strength. His mind still screamed of danger ¡ª of the master they spoke of, of the traces they had found of him. He couldn¡¯t leave a single clue behind. With a cold, mechanical focus, he gathered the bodies, dragging them into the wreckage of the lab. His hands moved with practised efficiency as he rifled through their robes¡ªsnatching up unknown pills sealed in jade bottles, talismans charred at the edges, and small pouches clinking with silver and bronze pieces. All of it disappeared into his spatial bag. The cauldron''s shattered remains still pulsed with unstable Qi, a silent threat lingering in the air. He carved another formation into the stone floor ¡ª a crude but effective destruction array, designed to collapse the entire structure. Before activating the array, De-Reece¡¯s gaze flicked around the lab. Shelves of alchemical ingredients lay scattered¡ªcrystals, powders, and herbs he recognised from the Alchemy tome. His fingers moved quickly, grabbing vials and pouches and sweeping them into his spatial pouch. His heart pounded, both from urgency and the sharp realisation of what this haul meant¡ªpills, reagents, and tools for alchemy. Power. Then his eyes fell upon a small iron cage in the corner, half-hidden by a toppled shelf. Inside, a creature no larger than a fox, with dark fur streaked with faint blue lines of Qi that seemed to pulse in rhythm with its shallow breathing, whimpered. Its form was wiry but elegant, claws slightly elongated and teeth sharp enough to suggest it wasn¡¯t merely prey. Faint tendrils of elemental energy clung to its fur¡ªlike mist rising from a cold river. Its eyes, a brilliant shade of deep violet, intelligent and wide with fear, met his. Another pawn in their twisted games. Without hesitation, De-Reece shattered the lock with a precise strike of his blade. The creature darted out, circling his legs briefly before slinking into the shadows behind him. ¡°Come or die here,¡± he muttered, not expecting a response. The lab was a ruin now¡ªglass shards glimmering like jagged stars, smoke thick as a storm cloud. The array was ready. He placed the last Qi-infused stone into the formation¡¯s center. The symbols carved into the floor pulsed¡ªonce, twice¡ªbefore the ground trembled. A faint ripple of energy began to spread. As the array activated and the alchemic lab began to quake, De-Reece stepped back into the forest¡¯s embrace, his Phantom Shadow Steps already blending him into the night. No witnesses. No evidence. No escape. The master would hear nothing of this. The forest was a whisper of shifting leaves and distant calls, the kind of quiet that De-Reece had learned to distrust. Each step back to his hidden cave was measured, his Phantom Shadow Steps keeping him a fleeting blur between the trees. Yet, there was something else¡ªa presence. Not a threat, but a shadow trailing him, silent but constant. It was the creature. The black-furred animal with the faint blue Qi lines running like rivers through its sleek body. Now that De-Reece had a better look, it resembled a small tiger¡ªits muscles lean, its fur dark enough to merge with the forest''s shade. But those blue lines¡­ they pulsed, almost breathing, flowing along its spine and legs like a living formation. A rare beast, one he hadn''t seen even in the alchemic tomes. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to appreciate its otherworldly beauty. The creature''s deep violet eyes watched him carefully, not with fear, but a quiet intelligence. It kept its distance yet stayed close enough to suggest it had chosen to follow him. Strange. Why does it follow me? The thought was cut short by his own carelessness. As his fingers itched to rummage through his spatial bag¡ªchecking the spoils of his brutal assault¡ªreality hit him like a cold wave. He was still in the open. Vulnerable. The master could have sent more men. More eyes could be watching. Jaw tight, De-Reece pushed down the urge to examine the pills and artefacts right then and there. He shifted his focus, scanning the trees, listening beyond the steady thrum of his own Qi. The forest felt too still. His mind, sharp with the lingering fear of exposure, urged him onward. With a last glance at the strange beast, De-Reece picked up his pace, retreating back into the safety of his cave. The cave greeted him with its familiar dampness, a sudden, almost jarring shift from the tense, watchful quiet of the forest. The stale coolness seemed more suffocating than comforting, as if the stone walls themselves were closing in. Shadows clung to the corners, and the faint remnants of past Qi formations whispered from the floor¡ªa reminder of his desperate attempts at cultivation. Each step inside felt like shedding a layer of the outside world, but the fear lingered. Was he truly alone? Had he been followed? Even here, in the heart of his hidden refuge, the weight of exposure gnawed at him. a stale coolness in the air that seemed to seep into his bones. The creature slinked in after him, its violet eyes flickering like twin embers in the dim cave light. It paused for a moment, head tilting as though sensing the turmoil within De-Reece¡ªthe roiling Qi, the grimace still etched on his face. A low, almost imperceptible rumble escaped its throat, not quite a growl but a sound of muted curiosity or perhaps concern. It slipped into a darker corner, its gaze never leaving him. slipping into a darker corner, its violet eyes still watching. Finally, alone, De-Reece emptied the contents of his spatial bag onto the ground. Pills sealed in smooth jade bottles, talismans singed at the edges, small pouches of silver and bronze coins¡ªall spoils from the lab. Alongside them, he found a small bundle of preserved food: hard biscuits, dried meat, and a tightly wrapped cloth holding what appeared to be pickled roots¡ªsustenance the alchemists must have kept for themselves. Tucked near the bottom was a small, crystalline fruit, its surface shimmering faintly with a soft azure glow¡ªan ingredient he recognized from the alchemic tomes, though its exact use eluded him for now. hard biscuits, dried meat, and a tightly wrapped cloth holding what appeared to be pickled roots¡ªsustenance the alchemists must have kept for themselves. Then there were the alchemic reagents: powders, crystals, and dried herbs¡ªsome familiar, others alien to him. His heart thudded with a strange mix of triumph and fear. He had stolen these, killed for these. And now, the real work began. He lit a small flame with a spark of Qi, letting it hover over his palm before setting it beneath a battered bronze cauldron. The alchemic tools he''d taken were basic¡ªchisels for carving formations, measuring spoons of various spiritual metals¡ªbut they would have to do. Yet, before he could begin his experiments, the surge of Qi from the earlier fight gnawed at his insides. It still roiled within him, untamed, pressing against his meridians like a caged beast. He grits his teeth. His right shoulder meridian throbbed, the flow of Qi blocked, pulsing painfully each time as the stolen energy raged within him. If he didn''t break through, it would fester, slowing his cultivation. No choice. De-Reece steadied his breathing, focusing inward. He gathered the storm of Qi within his core, directing it like a flood toward his right shoulder meridian. The pain sharpened instantly, a burning lance beneath his skin. His muscles twitched, his vision blurred¡ªbut he pushed harder. A sudden crack¡ªa snap of something internal¡ªand the Qi broke through. His right shoulder flared with a searing heat before the energy flowed freely, merging into his network. He barely had time to catch his breath before the next wave crashed against the meridian running through his spleen. This one was tougher, half-sealed, a barricade of unyielding essence. De-Reece bit down hard, sweat beading on his forehead as he drove the Qi forward. Minutes felt like hours¡ªevery heartbeat a drumbeat of agony. The pain clawed through his midriff, a searing heat spreading from the spleen meridian outward like molten metal coursing through his veins. Each push of Qi felt like knives twisting under his skin, his muscles clenching involuntarily, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. It wasn''t just pain¡ªit was torment, raw and unforgiving, a battle of will as much as body. Then¡ªanother snap. The meridian opened halfway, and Qi spiralled through, wilder and more turbulent than before. Panting, De-Reece collapsed against the cave wall. His body screamed, and his mind reeled, but the energy within him now flowed smoother¡ªstronger. Yet, he knew he couldn¡¯t let the storm within him rage unchecked. With trembling hands, he folded his legs beneath him, straightening his spine despite the searing ache that rippled through his midriff. His breathing slowed¡ªinhale, exhale¡ªeach draw of air pulling the chaotic Qi back toward his core. The flow resisted at first, an untamed current still reeling from the forced meridian breakthroughs, but with each steady breath, De-Reece wrestled it into submission. The pain dulled into a distant throb, and his mind sharpened, like steel cooling after being drawn from the forge. The creature¡¯s violet eyes flickered from the shadows, unblinking as it observed him. For a moment, there was only silence¡ªthe faint drip of water from some unseen crevice and the hushed pulse of his own Qi finding its rhythm once more. Only then did De-Reece open his eyes. He was ready to begin. The creature watched him still, silent and unblinking. With a steady hand, De-Reece reached for the nearest jade bottle, popping the seal with a flick of his thumb. The scent of bitter herbs and faint Qi essence drifted up. He was ready to begin. Knowledge The flame flickered beneath the bronze cauldron, steady yet delicate, a thin strand of Qi guiding its heat. De-Reece''s fingers hovered just above the cauldron''s rim, his mind teetering between anticipation and caution. The alchemic tools he''d looted were sparse¡ªcrude chisels for carving formations, small jade bottles for holding pills, and spoons of varying spiritual metals¡ªbut they would have to suffice. He unwrapped a bundle of dried herbs, the preserved roots curling inward, and measured out a small portion of powder he vaguely recognized from the alchemy tome¡ªa basic ingredient for low-level health pills. Alongside it, he placed a pinch of crushed crystal and a few drops of a dark liquid, swirling with faint traces of Qi. It wasn¡¯t a complex recipe, but it was a start. The fire beneath the cauldron crackled, and with a slight pulse of Qi, De-Reece adjusted its intensity. A small bead of sweat traced his brow, not from the heat, but from the focus required. His Qi control still felt clumsy, like trying to steer a wild horse through a narrow path. As the mixture began to simmer, De-Reece reached out with a thread of Qi, attempting to guide the alchemic reaction. The ingredients trembled within the liquid, tendrils of steam curling into the air. For a moment, his breath steadied¡ªhe could feel the energy within the cauldron responding to his will. Then it happened. A sudden flare of Qi¡ªtoo much, too fast. The fire roared higher, licking the sides of the cauldron. The mixture within hissed violently before blackening, the acrid scent of burned herbs filling the cave. De-Reece cursed, snatching the cauldron off the flame, his fingers stinging from the heat. The creature in the corner flinched at the sudden noise, its violet eyes narrowing as if assessing the danger. De-Reece gritted his teeth, the charred remnants of his first attempt a bitter reminder of his inexperience. The ingredients were stolen¡ªit shouldn¡¯t matter if he wasted them. Yet, it did. Each burnt root, each spoiled crystal, felt like a blow to his pride. He pressed his palm against his thigh, steadying his thoughts. "Again," he muttered, voice low, a whisper meant more for himself than the silent beast watching him. De-Reece''s second attempt fared no better than the first. He had measured the ingredients with a trembling hand, his Qi slipping at the crucial moment of infusion. The flame, too strong, scorched the powder before it could dissolve, turning the mixture into a bubbling black tar. The cauldron gave a sharp pop as the liquid seized, a foul smoke curling upwards. De-Reece¡¯s jaw tightened, the loss of more precious ingredients a hollow thud in his chest. Each failure gnawed at his pride. It felt like he was squandering his stolen fortune. His third try felt more controlled. The fire stayed steady, his Qi more restrained¡ªuntil the liquid Qi extract dripped too quickly. A single extra drop and the balance shattered. The potion flared, a brief pulse of wild energy cracking through the mixture. It congealed instantly into a useless, brittle lump, crumbling to ash the moment he stirred it. De-Reece exhaled sharply, fighting the urge to hurl the cauldron against the cave wall. De-Reece adjusted the flame once more, this time keeping a tighter grip on his Qi, reigning in the wild surge that had cost him before. He measured the ingredients again, more precise this time. The roots went in first, their essence seeping into the water. Then the powder, its particles dissolving in delicate spirals. The liquid Qi extract came last, dripping slowly, each drop rippling with faint energy. Minutes stretched into an hour, each second a careful balance between control and instinct. The mixture shifted colours¡ªfirst a murky brown, then a faint amber. His Qi guided the process, wrapping around the ingredients like invisible strings, weaving them together. Then, a soft glow. The liquid thickened, and small orbs began to form at the surface. De-Reece clenched his jaw, carefully coaxing the energy until the orbs solidified into crude, uneven pills. They weren¡¯t perfect¡ªnot even close¡ªbut they held Qi, however faint. Health pills, low-level but functional. After a brief respite, De-Reece set about his next task¡ªa separate concoction, this time aimed at body refinement. He steeled himself, recalling the delicate balance needed to merge the more volatile ingredients. The fire flickered with an almost predatory hunger, but De-Reece kept his Qi steady, refusing to repeat past mistakes. Slowly, the essence of the herbs bled into the liquid, mingling with the powdered minerals. Each droplet of Qi extract fell like molten silver, the liquid darkening, then lightening again as the ingredients wrestled for dominance. Time dragged as he adjusted the flame, sweat beading at his temples, his Qi dancing on a razor¡¯s edge between control and chaos. Finally, the mixture thickened, and small green orbs began to rise to the surface. De-Reece guided the energy with gritted teeth, his body tense with the effort of maintaining perfect balance. One misstep, and it would all be for nothing. At last, the pills formed¡ªpale green, their weak aura pulsing gently from within. They weren¡¯t masterpieces, but they were his. The result of struggle, patience, and raw determination. De-Reece finally exhaled, his shoulders slumping. The creature tilted its head, stepping just a bit closer from its shadowed corner, nostrils flaring slightly at the scent of the freshly formed pills. A low rumble escaped the creature''s throat, its eyes locked onto the body-tempering pills. It stepped closer again, muscles coiling beneath its sleek black fur lined with glowing blue Qi veins. There was a hunger in its gaze¡ªnot for food, but for the strength within the pills. De-Reece''s hand hovered over the pills. "These are mine," he said softly, but his voice lacked any harsh tone. The creature let out a small, almost pleading growl, lowering itself slightly, a subtle gesture of submission. With a sigh, De-Reece picked up one of the body-tempering pills, his fingers tightening briefly before he tossed it to the beast. "Just one," he muttered, watching as the creature snatched the pill mid-air, swallowing it whole. You''re just Like me alone, too, he thought maybe your siblings were trying to find you, too. The blue Qi lines on its body pulsed faintly brighter for a moment before dimming back to their usual glow. His fingers hovered over the remaining pills, and for the first time since the brutal fight at the lab, a small cocky smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. Progress on his path. As the sun began its slow ascent, streaking the forest in pale hues of dawn, De-Reece stood at the cave''s mouth, a thin trail of vapour curling from his breath in the cool air. His muscles, though still bearing the strain of recent battles and cultivation breakthroughs, felt more solid¡ªmore responsive. There was a flicker of confidence in his chest, a small ember kindled by his hard-won progress. His Phantom Shadow Steps training began in calculated silence. Each movement was deliberate, his feet striking the ground with minimal noise. He stepped¡ªvanished¡ªreappeared a few paces away, his form rippling like a wraith against the backdrop of morning mist. The first few attempts were shaky, his Qi surging too fast or too slow, disrupting the delicate rhythm of the technique. But De-Reece gritted his teeth and tried again. One step, flow the Qi through the meridians in his legs¡ªstarting from the soles of his feet, guiding the energy upward through his shins, and threading carefully behind his knees. Another step, tightening the burst of Qi as it rushed toward his hips, pushing the energy into a controlled surge. Each pulse of Qi felt like a thread being tugged, a fine balance between strength and control. His movements started smoothing out, his form flickering more fluidly until his shadow seemed to blur between points like smoke caught in the wind. The sensation of disappearing and reappearing, not by speed alone but by artful manipulation of presence and internal flow, sent a strange thrill through him. Then came the creature. The black-furred beast, its body threaded with glowing blue Qi veins, slinked from the underbrush, its violet eyes alight with curiosity. It watched him intently, head tilted, tail flicking softly against the ground. When De-Reece vanished and reappeared again, the creature suddenly bolted forward, darting between trees and weaving through the brush with predatory grace. For a moment, De-Reece faltered. Was it testing him? He inhaled sharply and shifted into motion, meeting the creature¡¯s sudden movements with his own. Phantom Shadow Steps blurred his form as he zigzagged through the forest, his body moving in sync with his Qi. The beast was quick¡ªfar quicker than De-Reece¡ªbut each time he reappeared ahead or to the side, a flicker of satisfaction sparked in his chest. He was keeping pace, even if barely. When the creature leapt for a low-hanging branch and twisted midair to swipe at a nearby tree, De-Reece reacted¡ªvanishing, only to reappear behind it, his blade drawn in a fluid motion before he caught himself. The beast turned, a low, pleased growl reverberating from its throat as if acknowledging his growing skill. Exhausted but invigorated, De-Reece returned to the cave, his limbs aching but his resolve unshaken. He set down his sword and unwrapped the alchemic ingredients he had looted from the lab. The crude bronze cauldron still bore the faint scorch marks from his previous failures, but he didn''t let his mind linger on past mistakes. This time, he focused solely on the delicate art of flame control. The health pills were a struggle, but he''d cracked that process¡ªnow it was time for something a step higher. He measured out the herbs for body-tempering pills, his fingers steady. A pulse of Qi ignited the flame, and the cauldron''s base glowed a soft orange. The liquid inside rippled as each ingredient entered¡ªroots dissolving into tendrils of golden essence, powdered minerals merging into the blend like drifting smoke. The rare, pale-blue stalk of an unfamiliar plant, something he''d looted from the alchemists'' lab, floated atop the surface for a brief moment before sinking slowly, releasing a faint shimmer of Qi that danced along the liquid''s surface. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The creature watched from the edge of the cave, its nose twitching at the pungent aroma of the concoction. De-Reece gritted his teeth as he fed his Qi into the process, adjusting the flame¡¯s intensity as the liquid darkened to a deep jade hue. A single drop of liquid Qi extract fell into the mix, sending ripples of energy outward. Carefully, painstakingly, he guided the reaction, balancing the blend¡¯s volatile nature. Minutes bled into an hour before the surface shimmered, and orbs began to rise. De-Reece¡¯s heart pounded¡ªnot from fear but focus¡ªas the liquid congealed into small green pills. This time, they were smoother, more refined, each one a perfect sphere with a faint, swirling line etched along their surfaces¡ªpill lines. The alchemic tome had spoken of these: subtle marks of quality and balance. However, it had also mentioned these were but the lowest form of pill lines, a mere whisper of the true mastery an alchemist could achieve. Even so, the pills pulsed with a steady Qi, stronger and more vibrant than his previous attempts. The small creature approached cautiously, its violet eyes fixated on the freshly crafted pills, but there was a flicker of something more¡ªcuriosity, perhaps even concern. It edged closer, its nostrils flaring as it sniffed the potent Qi radiating from the pills. De-Reece noticed the way its gaze flickered between him and the concoctions, as though trying to understand his intent or his pain. For a brief moment, a strange sense of companionship stirred within him¡ªwas it merely drawn by the scent of power, or was there something deeper forming between them? nostrils flaring as they caught the potent scent of Qi swirling from them. With a soft, almost pleading growl, it pawed at the ground and looked up at De-Reece expectantly. He hesitated for a moment¡ªthese pills were a hard-earned result of his painstaking work¡ªbut with a sigh, he picked one up and tossed it gently towards the beast. The creature snatched the pill mid-air with a snap of its jaws, swallowing it whole. Instantly, the blue Qi lines along its black fur flared brighter, like rivers of energy surging beneath its skin. De-Reece¡¯s brows knit together in thought. The reaction was intense¡ªtoo intense for a simple body-tempering pill. Was there something unique about the beast¡¯s bloodline? Driven by curiosity, De-Reece sifted through the alchemic tome, his fingers trailing over ancient inscriptions until he found a passage discussing high-level bloodline-improving pills. The text spoke of rare ingredients and precise Qi manipulation, far beyond his current skill level. Still, the seed of ambition was planted. He spent hours attempting the complex formula, each failure burning the ingredients to ash or causing the cauldron to sputter violently. Frustrated but undeterred, he finally pushed the tome aside and refocused his mind¡ªhe needed to master the basics first. After clearing his mind, he returned to his sword training, channelling his emotions into his blade. Each strike was sharper and more fluid, the movements echoing a growing ruthlessness within him. Yet, with each swing, he felt an unsettling dissonance¡ªan unyielding conflict between the raw, aggressive nature of the Heavenly Demon Sword Style and his own instincts. He began to adapt, blending the lethal precision of his swordsmanship with the fluid unpredictability of his footwork. The Phantom Shadow Steps merged with his blade work, creating a style that seemed to strike from shifting angles, elusive yet deadly. For a moment, De-Reece paused, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. The Heavenly Demon had likely known this style was never meant to fit him perfectly¡ªbut perhaps that was the point. As a disciple of a Heavenly Demon, wasn''t it expected that he carve his path, to break free from the mould and forge something uniquely his own? As the sun dipped lower, his blade moving with a rhythm both chaotic and controlled, he whispered the name of his evolving technique: domineering Demon Swordplay. The following morning broke with a soft hush, the forest draped in a thin veil of mist. De-Reece emerged from the cave, the creature padding silently behind him¡ªalways just a step away, like a shadow clinging to his heels. He spared the beast a glance, noting how its violet eyes flickered from him to the surroundings, ever watchful. Today, his mind sharpened on a new goal: to refine his alchemy and strengthen his combat techniques. The night before had solidified one thing¡ªprogress was within his grasp, but true mastery required relentless effort. He began with alchemy. The bronze cauldron, still bearing the faint scorch marks from his previous failures, sat resolute before him. Sorting through the ingredients he had looted from the alchemists'' lab, De-Reece carefully separated herbs, powdered minerals, and the few precious stalks of rare plants he hadn¡¯t yet dared to touch. His first task: to perfect the body-tempering pills. He measured the ingredients with precise movements, each action bolstered by his newfound confidence. The creature crouched at the cave''s entrance, its nose twitching each time De-Reece added something to the cauldron, a low rumble of anticipation vibrating in its chest. Igniting a thin thread of Qi, De-Reece fed the flame under the cauldron, keeping it steady but strong. This time, there was no rushing¡ªno reckless surges of energy. Instead, he let the flame breathe, the soft orange glow licking at the base of the cauldron like a patient predator. The liquid darkened, shifting from a pale gold to a deep jade, the mixture bubbling and releasing thin ribbons of Qi-infused steam. Minutes stretched into an hour, but De-Reece held firm. When the first pill surfaced, his heart thudded in his chest. Perfectly round, smoother than before, and bearing the faint swirl of pill lines¡ªstill the lowest form, but a clear mark of improvement. He managed to produce three pills this time, each one better than his last batch. The creature, unable to resist, growled softly, stepping closer. De-Reece chuckled under his breath, tossing one pill in the beast¡¯s direction. It caught the pill mid-air, swallowing it in one smooth motion. Again, the blue Qi lines along its black fur flared, brighter and more intense than before. ¡°Greedy thing,¡± De-Reece muttered, though his tone lacked any real bite. With the body-tempering pills completed, his focus shifted. Bloodline pills. The tome had spoken of their rarity and complexity¡ªfar beyond what he was capable of¡ªbut De-Reece wasn¡¯t one to back down from a challenge. He gathered the most potent ingredients he could find, carefully layering herbs and powdered cores into the cauldron. The flame roared as he fed it a thread of Qi, but this time, it spiraled out of control. The liquid inside hissed violently, a sharp pop echoing through the cave as a plume of dark smoke rose from the cauldron. Another failure. Grinding his teeth, De-Reece wiped a sheen of sweat from his brow and began again. This time, he slowed the process¡ªfeeding his Qi in smaller increments, monitoring the flame¡¯s intensity with the utmost care. Hours passed. The sun arced high, then began its slow descent. Finally, the cauldron yielded two small bloodline pills¡ªfar from perfect, their surfaces rough and uneven, but still successful. The creature perked up instantly, slinking closer, its gaze locked onto the pills. De-Reece lifted one, considering the beast''s reaction. It had devoured the body-tempering pills without hesitation¡ªbut these? There was a hunger in its eyes now, a raw intensity that hadn¡¯t been there before. ¡°No,¡± De-Reece said softly, pocketing both pills. ¡°Not yet.¡± The creature let out a low, disappointed growl but didn¡¯t press further. With his alchemic work done for the day, De-Reece turned to his combat training. The weight of his sword felt familiar in his hand now¡ªa tool no longer foreign, but an extension of himself. He began with the foundation of his old teachings¡ªthe sharp arcs and devastating slashes of the Heavenly Demon Sword Style. But this time, he no longer adhered strictly to its rigid forms. With each swing of his blade, he wove in the fluid unpredictability of his Phantom Shadow Steps, letting his footwork dictate the flow of his attacks. His form blurred¡ªstriking from an unexpected angle, vanishing before reappearing behind an imagined opponent. It was no longer just the Heavenly Demon Sword Style¡ªit was his style. A fusion of ruthless precision and shifting movement, unpredictable and domineering. The creature watched, its violet eyes fixed on him, and in subtle mimicry, it too shifted its stance, darting side to side with a primal echo of De-Reece''s steps. The creature watched, eyes tracking his every move. There was a moment¡ªwhen De-Reece shifted between strikes, his blade carving an unpredictable path¡ªthat he felt it. The faintest echo of something new, something distinctly his. The foundation of the Heavenly Demon Sword Style remained, but it was evolving¡ªwarping into something more fluid, more chaotic. He paused, his blade humming with residual Qi. A small smirk tugged at his lips. Perhaps the Heavenly Demon had known this all along¡ªthat De-Reece wasn¡¯t meant to remain bound by the Heavenly Demon Sword Style forever but to use it as a stepping stone. The domineering demon swordplay he was now forging was a reflection of himself¡ªhis brand of brutality and fluidity. The style was a foundation, not a shackle. After all, wasn¡¯t that what a true disciple of a Heavenly Demon did¡ªbreak free from limitations and forge something uniquely theirs? The style was a foundation, not a shackle. As the day waned, the bond between De-Reece and the creature seemed to deepen¡ªnot through words or gestures, but through mirrored actions. Each time he vanished and reappeared, the creature''s movements seemed to mimic his¡ªalbeit with a feral grace that was uniquely its own. They were both learning. Both evolving. And somewhere in the depths of the forest, an ominous presence stirred. De-Reece felt it at the edge of his perception¡ªa faint ripple of Qi, distant yet undeniably there. But his training wasn¡¯t finished yet. As the evening crept in, shadows lengthening across the forest floor, De-Reece delved into formations¡ªan art he knew could be the difference between survival and death. Starting with mirage formations, he practiced weaving his Qi through the delicate patterns, the air shimmering faintly as illusions flickered into existence, distorting his surroundings. Offensive formations followed circles of carved symbols etched into the stone floor of the cave, designed to strike out with bursts of Qi when triggered. His control was clumsy at first, the formations either failing to activate or releasing weak bursts of energy. But with each attempt, his precision grew¡ªlines becoming sharper, energy flowing smoother, the results more deadly. Lastly, he turned to concealment formations¡ªones meant to mask his Qi and the entrance to the Heavenly Demon¡¯s cultivation cave. It took hours to lay the intricate patterns, his focus unwavering. When at last the formation activated, the entrance seemed to blur, blending seamlessly into the rock face. Anyone without a sharp sense of Qi would pass right by without a second glance. Tomorrow, his training would continue¡ªbut so too would his search for answers. Seated within the cave, De-Reece studied the three body-tempering pills resting in his palm. They were perfectly round this time, their surfaces smoother than before, each etched with faint, swirling pill lines¡ªa mark of higher quality. The alchemic tome had spoken of these lines, deeming them the lowest tier of such markings, but to De-Reece, they were a sign of progress. He stared at the pills for a long moment, his thoughts drifting. Progress¡ªit was what drove him now. Not just the sharpening of his swordplay or the deepening of his Qi reserves, but the hope that each step forward brought him closer to civilisation. Closer to his brothers. The thought gnawed at him constantly. Were they safe? Were they even alive? The forest felt endless, but somewhere beyond it lay answers. He couldn¡¯t wander in isolation forever. Jaw tight, he swallowed one pill without hesitation. A wave of burning heat coursed through his body, his meridians flaring as the medicinal power surged through his limbs. Muscles tensed and pulsed beneath his skin, the sensation bordering on pain¡ªbut it was a pain he welcomed. Each beat of his heart seemed to forge his body stronger and harder, his Qi flowing more smoothly than before. When the intensity finally dulled, leaving a lingering warmth in his core, De-Reece clenched his fists. He could feel the change¡ªnot drastic, but undeniable. His body was tougher, his Qi more responsive. It was time. Proof Of Progress Nightfall cloaked the forest in a suffocating stillness. The only sounds were the distant rustle of leaves and the low hum of unseen creatures. De-Reece stood at the edge of a narrow path, his gaze fixed on a cluster of trees where he had first caught a glimpse of the silver-backed monkeys. Their red-striped faces and husky markings were seared into his mind¡ªcreatures as territorial as they were vicious. But tonight, he wouldn¡¯t wait for them to find him. The creature at his side moved in silence, a shadow with glowing violet eyes. It mirrored De-Reece''s stance, its movements fluid and deliberate, as though it had absorbed the essence of his Phantom Shadow Steps without a word exchanged between them. It wasn¡¯t just following him¡ªit was learning. De-Reece''s fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword, the weight a familiar comfort. His Domineering Demon Swordplay was untested in real combat, but hesitation would only invite death. He let a thin thread of Qi trickle through his leg meridians, the energy buzzing just beneath his skin. Each step was silent, his form shifting and flowing with an unpredictable rhythm as he advanced. He didn''t have to search long. A soft growl echoed from the trees ahead¡ªthen a flash of movement. A silver-backed monkey dropped from a branch, its crimson-striped face twisted into a snarl. More followed, their numbers swelling in moments until half a dozen beasts formed a loose circle around De-Reece and his companion. The lead monkey bared its teeth, a guttural hiss filling the air. De-Reece didn¡¯t flinch. With a sharp exhale, he moved. His footwork blurred¡ªa seamless fusion of Phantom Shadow Steps and his own domineering slashes, each movement fuelled by the urgency that clawed at his chest. Every step, every strike wasn¡¯t just a display of skill¡ªit was a declaration of his intent to carve a path forward, to grow strong enough to find his brothers and face whatever lay within civilisation. The foundation of the Heavenly Demon Swordplay still pulsed beneath his actions, but De-Reece felt the shift¡ªthis was his swordplay now, moulded by his hands and sharpened by his purpose. His blade carved a ruthless arc, severing the closest monkey¡¯s arm in a single fluid motion. It shrieked, but De-Reece had already vanished, reappearing behind another as his sword thrust forward, skewering the creature¡¯s chest. Blood sprayed, dark and hot against the cool night air. The rush came almost immediately. As the monkey''s life faded, De-Reece felt a thin thread of energy surge into him¡ªsubtle, yet undeniable. It was the same as before¡ªeach kill, each death, seemed to feed him, the energy trickling into his Qi reserves like a stream flowing into a larger river. It was a dark, unspoken rule of this world¡ªstrength could be taken, devoured, from the fallen. The monkeys responded in kind¡ªdarting with alarming speed, claws flashing. De-Reece sidestepped, his footwork a chaotic dance, every movement flowing like water yet striking like a hammer. His sword didn¡¯t just follow a pattern¡ªit bent to his will, adapting to the frenzy of the battle. A flash of black fur shot past him. The creature lunged at one of the monkeys, its jaws snapping with brutal efficiency. Where De-Reece¡¯s attacks were calculated, the beast fought with savage grace¡ªtearing into its foes without hesitation. And yet, De-Reece noticed how it moved in tandem with him¡ªhow it shifted its position whenever he did, keeping the flow of combat unbroken. A monkey broke from the circle, screeching as it bolted into the underbrush. Panic flared in De-Reece¡¯s chest. If it escaped, the others would know his location¡ªhis secrecy, his advantage, would be lost. He surged forward, Qi flooding his legs as he pushed his Phantom Shadow Steps to the limit. His form blurred, then reappeared in front of the fleeing beast. With a vicious swing of his sword, he cut through its neck. The monkey collapsed mid-sprint, a lifeless heap on the forest floor. Another pulse of energy slithered into him, a small but satisfying addition to his reserves. It wasn¡¯t enough to break through a meridian, but he could feel the gradual accumulation of strength. Breathing hard, De-Reece scanned the area. The remaining monkeys were either dead or too injured to move. He wiped his blade clean, his heart still pounding from the adrenaline¡ªbut beneath that, a simmering sense of pride. His Domineering Demon Swordplay was more than just a concept now¡ªit was a weapon, forged from the Heavenly Demon¡¯s foundation but sharpened by De-Reece¡¯s own hands. And the creature¡­ It padded back to his side, blood staining its fangs, but its violet eyes were steady¡ªfixed not on the corpses, but on De-Reece himself. It had moved like him, fought like him. He met the creature¡¯s gaze. ¡°You¡¯re picking up bad habits,¡± he muttered. The beast merely flicked its tail, unbothered. The battle was over¡ªbut the path ahead was only just beginning. The forest seemed to darken as De-Reece moved deeper into the monkeys¡¯ territory. The air was thick with an acrid scent¡ªdried blood, rotting leaves, and the pungent musk of beasts marking their domain. The deeper he went, the more clawed-up trees he passed, their bark shredded into jagged strips. Bones, both animal and humanoid, littered the underbrush. He didn¡¯t hesitate. This wasn¡¯t just about testing his strength¡ªit was about dominance. If he wanted to find civilisation, to grow strong enough to face whatever lay beyond this forest, he had to crush the creatures that stood in his way. The creature padded beside him, its black fur rippling with each smooth step. Its violet eyes gleamed in the gloom, ever watchful, ever silent. De-Reece halted as a crude clearing opened before him¡ªgnarled roots twisting out of the ground like claws, forming a natural arena. The stench was worse here. In the centre, a hulking figure loomed. The boss monkey. It was twice the size of the others, its fur a matted silver-black with streaks of crimson along its face. A jagged scar split one eye, and its fangs glistened with old blood. Two smaller monkeys flanked it¡ªlieutenants, judging by their wary but aggressive posture. De-Reece¡¯s fingers brushed the formation flags tucked into his belt. He had prepared for this. In a blur of movement, he flicked the flags outwards, Qi pulsing through his fingers as they embedded into the ground in a rough triangle. The moment the last flag struck soil, the formation activated¡ªa Mirage Formation. The air rippled like water, his figure splitting into five illusory copies that mirrored his every move. The boss monkey roared, the sound shaking the trees. The two lieutenants leapt forward, but De-Reece was already in motion. His Phantom Shadow Steps carried him through the illusions, his form flickering as he weaved between the monkeys¡¯ attacks. His sword lashed out¡ªa brutal slash aimed at the closest lieutenant. Blood sprayed as his blade carved across its side, but it wasn¡¯t enough to kill. The creature shrieked, spinning with surprising agility, claws raking through one of his illusions. Another flicker¡ªDe-Reece appeared behind it, his sword thrusting forward, this time skewering its heart. The moment the life left its body, a pulse of Qi surged into De-Reece¡ªless than he¡¯d hoped, but still noticeable. His own energy swirled, greedily absorbing the essence left behind by the slain creature. One down. But the boss monkey didn¡¯t idle. With terrifying speed, it closed the distance, a massive clawed hand swiping at De-Reece''s head. He barely dodged¡ªtoo slow. Pain bloomed across his shoulder as the claws tore through his robes, blood soaking the fabric. Gritting his teeth, he fell back, his free hand flicking a second formation flag into the air. A sharp pulse of Qi¡ª The offensive formation burst to life, a web of glowing lines trapping the remaining lieutenant. The monkey thrashed, darting from side to side in a desperate attempt to break free, its claws raking against the glowing barriers. Spears of energy shot up from the ground, but the beast twisted, narrowly avoiding the first volley. De-Reece''s jaw tightened¡ªthis one was faster, more cunning than its fallen companion. Channelling more Qi into the formation, he adjusted its flow, forcing the spears to strike in unpredictable patterns. The monkey let out a furious screech, its movements growing frantic. Finally, a spear impaled its leg, pinning it in place. Another followed¡ªthen another¡ªuntil the last strike pierced through its chest, ending its struggle with a final, echoing shriek. As the lieutenant''s life slipped away, another rush of Qi flowed into De-Reece¡ªstronger this time, more potent. His meridians flared with the sudden influx, his muscles tightening as his body greedily absorbed the energy. The difference in strength between the two underlings was clear. Only the boss remained. It howled in fury, slamming its fists into the ground with enough force to crack the earth. The formation trembled but held. De-Reece¡¯s heart pounded¡ªhe couldn¡¯t let the beast shatter the array. His footwork flowed between Phantom Shadow Steps and his own unpredictable movements¡ªslipping, twisting, and striking with the ruthless precision of his Domineering Demon Swordplay. His sword became an extension of his will¡ªslashing in wide arcs, darting in with quick, merciless thrusts. Then, the boss monkey feinted. It lunged, but instead of aiming for him, its clawed hand shot past his defence¡ªtoward his unprotected side. De-Reece saw it too late. A blur of black fur. The creature launched itself at the boss monkey, sinking its fangs into the beast¡¯s arm. The monkey roared in pain, its free hand glowing faintly as it gathered a thin layer of Qi around its claws, raking them viciously across the creature''s side and sending it sprawling. The blow should have broken bone, but the black-furred beast scrambled back to its feet almost instantly, baring its bloodied fangs. The distraction, though costly, was enough¡ªDe-Reece seized the opening. Qi flooded his legs¡ª Phantom Shadow Steps. He reappeared behind the boss, his sword a flash of silver in the night. With a brutal swing, he cleaved off the boss monkey''s arm, a spray of blood misting the air. The beast let out an ear-splitting roar, its remaining hand crackling with a faint shimmer of Qi as it lashed out in a wild fury. De-Reece barely managed to twist away, but not fast enough¡ªclaws raked across his side, a sickening crunch echoing as pain flared through his ribs. He staggered back, gritting his teeth, blood trickling down his torso. The boss monkey was losing blood rapidly, its breathing ragged, yet the Qi in its strikes seemed to grow sharper¡ªeach attack more precise, more deadly, as if the creature''s desperation was fueling its power. De-Reece knew his own reserves were dangerously low. The constant drain from maintaining the formations and fighting the lieutenants had left his Qi flickering like a dying flame. This had to end now. The creature at his side, sensing the shift, let out a low growl. It darted forward, a blur of black fur, its movements oddly familiar. De-Reece¡¯s eyes widened¡ªwas it mimicking his Phantom Shadow Steps? The creature weaved in and out of the boss monkey¡¯s reach, biting at its legs, retreating, and striking again with almost surgical precision. The boss monkey bellowed in rage, gathering Qi into its claws and slashing wildly. One strike connected¡ªthe small beast was flung across the clearing, slamming into a tree with a dull thud. De-Reece¡¯s heart clenched at the sight of the creature''s limp form, but he forced the pain aside. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. In that moment, something within him sharpened¡ªhis focus becoming a blade of its own. He channelled every ounce of remaining Qi into his legs, feeling the familiar pulse of Phantom Shadow Steps, but something shifted. His movements blurred¡ªnot one shadow, but two mirrored his form. Low, medium mastery. He surged forward, his twin shadows flanking him, confusing the wounded beast. The boss monkey''s bloodshot eyes darted between the flickering forms, but it couldn¡¯t keep up. De-Reece closed the distance in a flash¡ªhis sword a streak of silver in the moonlight. De-Reece¡¯s blade cleaved through the boss monkey¡¯s neck. The severed head tumbled to the ground with a sickening thud, blood spraying in violent arcs. The beast''s body shuddered once¡ªtwice¡ªbefore collapsing like a felled tree. A savage pulse of Qi exploded from the dying creature, far stronger than anything De-Reece had felt before. It struck him like a wave of fire, his meridians flaring with the untamed energy. His core roared in response, greedily devouring the influx of power, each thread of Qi more potent than what he had gained from the lieutenants. For a moment, his vision blurred, the sheer intensity almost too much to contain. But he forced it into submission, teeth gritted, claiming the wild strength of his fallen foe. Silence. The beast''s massive body swayed, then crumpled to the ground. Blood pooled at De-Reece¡¯s feet. A violent pulse of Qi, far stronger than anything he had felt before, rushed into him. It was wild, raw, and nearly overwhelming. His meridians drank in the energy, his core stirring as the boss''s death granted him a surge of strength unlike the others. His chest heaved, every muscle screaming from exertion, but he remained standing. The fight was over. The creature limped back to his side, blood staining its muzzle. It didn¡¯t whimper, didn¡¯t shy away¡ªit simply watched De-Reece, those violet eyes steady. For a moment, they stared at each other. De-Reece let out a shaky breath, a rare smile flickering at the corner of his mouth. ¡°You really do pick up bad habits.¡± The creature¡¯s tail flicked. The boss was dead, the lieutenants slain. Their lair now lay open for him to claim¡ªor to plunder. And De-Reece knew this was just another step on his path¡ªone carved by his own hand, with the blood of his enemies marking the way forward. The night was thick with silence, broken only by the faint rustling of leaves as De-Reece approached the mouth of the cave the boss monkey had been guarding. The entrance was a gaping maw in the rock face, partially obscured by overgrown vines and the faint scent of decay. Blood still slicked his sword, the crimson droplets falling like whispers onto the stone floor as he stepped inside. The creature padded after him, its black fur blending into the darkness, those ever-watchful violet eyes gleaming in the faint moonlight filtering through cracks in the rock. Despite its limp and bloodied side, it kept close, a silent shadow at De-Reece¡¯s side. The air grew heavier the deeper he went. The stench of unwashed fur and rotting meat mingled with something else¡ªa faint, sweet aroma that tugged at his senses. His grip on the sword tightened as he moved past piles of bones, scraps of discarded fur, and tattered remains of the monkeys'' victims. But then, his gaze shifted to the back of the cave, where the real hoard lay. A crude nest of dried grass and leaves had been built against the far wall, surrounded by an array of items the boss monkey had hoarded. Unlike the withered herbs and half-eaten fruits scattered at the cave''s entrance¡ªlikely the scraps passed along to the alchemist¡ªthese were different. These were vibrant and potent. Clusters of glowing herbs, their leaves shimmering with faint Qi, were piled alongside fruits that radiated a quiet power. De-Reece¡¯s breath caught as his gaze fell on the centrepiece of the hoard: a single, dark blood-red fruit resting on a bed of withered grass. Its skin seemed to pulse softly as if a heartbeat thrummed within. ¡°This¡­¡± he murmured, kneeling beside the fruit, his fingers hovering just above its surface. The alchemic tome''s teachings whispered in his mind¡ªthis was no ordinary fruit. It reeked of untapped potential, condensed vitality and raw, untamed Qi. A Bloodshade Fruit. Consuming it recklessly could spell disaster, but refining it into a pill could grant incredible strength. De-Reece¡¯s gaze darkened. The boss monkey hadn¡¯t been a fool. It had kept the best for itself, hoarding power while tossing mere scraps to the alchemist. A selfish king ruling over its lesser subjects. Without wasting time, he carefully gathered the herbs and fruits, his mind already racing with possibilities. The Bloodshade Fruit would require time and skill to properly refine¡ªtime he didn¡¯t have right now. But the body-tempering pills could be improved further, and perhaps, if he studied the properties of these herbs closely, he could even start laying the foundation for a weak bloodline pill. The creature watched him work, its head tilting as De-Reece inspected each herb, mentally cataloguing their uses. Despite its injuries, it didn¡¯t rest. Instead, it prowled around the cave''s entrance, its violet eyes flickering toward the forest beyond, as if guarding him from unseen threats. With his spoils secured in his pouch, De-Reece rose. Pain still flared through his broken ribs, but the surge of Qi from the boss monkey''s death kept him upright. Every kill had strengthened him¡ªthe lieutenants¡¯ Qi had been potent, but the boss''s essence had nearly overwhelmed him. It was brutal, primal energy¡ªa reminder that survival in this world meant taking from others and absorbing their strength. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he muttered to the creature, his voice rough. It flicked its tail in response and fell into step beside him. As the moon climbed higher into the sky, De-Reece made his way back to the Heavenly Demon¡¯s cultivation cave, his mind a storm of plans¡ªstronger pills, refined techniques, and the unyielding desire to carve his own path forward. The Bloodshade Fruit throbbed softly in his pouch, a promise of future power. The familiar stillness of the Heavenly Demon¡¯s cultivation cave welcomed De-Reece like a silent guardian. Shadows clung to the walls, and the faint pulse of ancient formations rippled beneath his feet, protecting the secluded haven. He moved with purpose, placing the herbs and fruits on a stone table near the alchemic tools he had salvaged. But before anything else, there was a more urgent matter. The raw Qi he had absorbed from the boss monkey still churned within him¡ªa raging storm barely contained. It wasn''t just a matter of cultivating it slowly; he needed to break through, to push past his limits. He sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, his sword resting at his side, and focused inward. The Qi spiraled within him, pressing against his meridians, threatening to tear them apart if left unchecked. His spleen node¡ªit was on the verge of opening. A vital point in his cultivation path. Channeling the absorbed energy, he directed the swirling Qi toward the node, gritting his teeth as pain flared through his core. It was like shoving a boulder through a narrow gap¡ªexcruciating, unyielding. Then¡ª A snap. His spleen node burst open, and a flood of power surged through him. It was different from before¡ªthis wasn¡¯t just Qi enhancing his physical strength. This was something deeper, something that awakened a raw, predatory instinct within him. His senses sharpened, his muscles seemed to coil with new potential, and his blood roared in his veins like a caged beast. De-Reece''s breath came in short gasps, his vision blurring for a moment before clearing. He clenched his fists, feeling the new power coursing through him. The spleen node was no longer a barrier¡ªit was a wellspring. But there was no time to bask in the breakthrough. He turned his focus to the herbs and fruits he had gathered. Sorting them into piles, he began grinding, mixing, and infusing Qi into his concoctions. Hours passed in a blur as he worked¡ªrefining the body tempering pills into something stronger, more potent. Finally, he crafted two sets of pills: a batch of advanced body tempering pills and a pair of low-level patterned bloodline spiritual pills¡ªone for himself, the other for the creature. The Bloodshade Fruit remained untouched¡ªits power was too great for this moment. It would have to wait. He placed the bloodline spiritual pill before the creature. ¡°Here,¡± he said softly. ¡°Let¡¯s see what this does for you.¡± The creature sniffed the pill, then swallowed it in a single gulp. Almost instantly, a violent wave of Qi erupted from its small body, its black fur standing on end as raw energy crackled through it. Its violet eyes flared brighter, and a low growl escaped its throat as the Qi surged uncontrollably. Then, just as quickly, the creature''s body sagged, and it collapsed into a deep sleep, its breathing steady but its energy still churning beneath the surface. De-Reece watched in silence, a flicker of satisfaction in his gaze. Then, he took one of the advanced body tempering pills himself. The moment it dissolved on his tongue, a new energy erupted within him¡ªsharper, more refined than before. His meridians ached from the sudden influx, but they held firm, and the storm of power settled into his core. He then takes the spiritual patterned bloodline pill, the moment it touches his tongue, a surge of power unfurls within him¡ªa sensation far more potent than the body-tempering pill. It wasn¡¯t just Qi flooding his meridians; this was something more primal, more ancient. His blood seemed to simmer beneath his skin, a strange resonance building deep within his core. His veins pulsed in time with an unfamiliar rhythm, each beat stirring something long dormant within him And then¡ª A deep, reverberating throb that resonated through every fibre of his being. It was as if his very blood was responding to an ancient call, a distant echo of something greater hidden within him. The sensation wasn''t just a pulse¡ªit was a promise, a whisper of untapped potential. His veins hummed, his Qi trembling under the weight of something primal, something older than his own understanding. A throb. From the pendant around his neck. It pulsed once¡ªtwice¡ªeach beat echoing in time with his own heart. De-Reece''s eyes snapped open, his blood suddenly singing with a distant, ancient rhythm. Something within him shifted¡ªan awakening. His bloodline had stirred. The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. This wasn¡¯t just some passive inheritance¡ªit was powerful, wild, and perhaps even dangerous. His bloodline wasn¡¯t meant to lie dormant; it hungered, clawed at his very core, demanding to be recognized. Before he could fully grasp what this meant, a low rumble echoed beside him. The creature stirred. Its body, once small and nimble, had grown noticeably larger¡ªnearly the size of a dog. But the most striking change was the third eye now opened at the center of its forehead, glowing with an ominous violet light. Its regular eyes, now more intense than ever, locked onto De-Reece with an unspoken understanding, a shared intensity. And then he noticed something else¡ªthe way it moved, the way it blinked¡ªsubtle, but undeniably familiar. It mirrored him. His emotions, his energy, his very essence¡ªit was as if the bond between them had deepened in ways he couldn¡¯t yet comprehend. Despite the raw power coursing through him, De-Reece felt a sudden, sharp pang of loneliness. This cave, this endless wilderness¡ªit was no place for him to stay. Not if he wanted answers. The pendant throbbed again against his chest, and memories of his brothers¡ªflashes of their faces, their laughter¡ªrushed through his mind. The need to find them, to uncover the truth of his bloodline, grew unbearable. It was time. He would find civilization. And he would find his brothers. The decision settled within De-Reece like a stone sinking into a deep pool. He couldn¡¯t stay hidden in the Heavenly Demon¡¯s cultivation cave any longer¡ªthere were answers waiting for him beyond the wilderness, and his brothers were out there somewhere. He would find them. The following hours were a flurry of preparation. He gathered the herbs and fruits he had taken from the boss monkey''s hoard, carefully storing them alongside the Bloodshade Fruit in his pouch. His alchemic tools were packed methodically, every item wrapped in cloth to prevent damage. Though the cave had served him well as a place of refuge and growth, it was clear now¡ªit was merely a stepping stone. Before leaving, De-Reece reinforced the concealment formations around the cave. His fingers traced the lines of ancient runes, his Qi flowing into the symbols to strengthen the barrier. He didn¡¯t expect to return anytime soon, but if fate ever led him back, the cave would still be hidden from prying eyes. As the final formation shimmered faintly and then faded into invisibility, De-Reece stepped outside into the wilds. The air was cool against his skin, the last vestiges of night still clinging to the horizon. The creature padded beside him, its three violet eyes glowing softly in the dim light. Though it didn¡¯t speak, its presence was a silent comfort. Their journey began in silence, De-Reece moving with a newfound confidence, his steps more sure than ever before. The energy from his opened spleen node coursed through him, enhancing his physical strength, while the spiritual patterned bloodline pill had left a deeper mark¡ªhis bloodline had awakened, stirring an untapped power that simmered just beneath the surface. Hours bled into one another as they navigated through dense forests and rocky outcrops. The creature moved in tandem with him, its movements oddly synchronized with his own¡ªwhen De-Reece slowed, so did it; when he tensed, sensing danger, the creature''s fur bristled in response. Their bond was no longer just a matter of proximity¡ªit was something more instinctual, more profound. As the sun began to dip lower, hunger gnawed at De-Reece''s stomach. Without a word, the creature suddenly darted ahead, a blur of black fur and violet light. Moments later, it returned, two limp ware rabbits hanging from its jaws. De-Reece let out a low chuckle, both impressed and grateful. He quickly cleaned the rabbits with a practiced hand, his sword slicing through fur and flesh with precision. A small fire crackled to life, and soon the rich scent of roasting meat filled the air. As they ate in silence, De-Reece studied the creature¡ªthe way its third eye flickered with a faint glow, the intelligence in its violet gaze. It wasn¡¯t just an ordinary beast. It was something more, something¡­ boundless. Like the very cosmos¡ªever-expanding and mysterious. "Solar," he murmured softly, the name slipping from his lips like a whisper to the stars. "That''s what I''ll call you." The creature¡ªSolar¡ªtilted its head, as if considering the name, then let out a low, approving growl. By late afternoon, the dense wilderness began to thin. The towering trees grew sparser, replaced by rolling hills and narrow dirt paths¡ªsigns of human presence. De-Reece¡¯s heart quickened. Civilization. It wasn¡¯t long before he spotted it¡ªa small village nestled at the foot of a distant hill, smoke curling lazily from thatched rooftops. It was no grand city or bustling town, but it was the first human settlement he had seen since awakening in this harsh world. A strange mix of anticipation and wariness settled in his chest. This village might hold answers¡ªor it might be yet another step in a longer, more treacherous path. De-Reece tightened the strap of his pouch, his sword resting lightly at his hip. The creature let out a low, rumbling sound, its third eye flickering with faint light as it too fixed its gaze on the distant village. "Hide it," De-Reece said softly, his gaze locked on the village. "We don¡¯t know how they''ll react." As if understanding, Solar blinked once, twice and the third eye slowly dimmed, its glow vanishing beneath a thin veil of fur. Chapter 8 - New Beginnings De-Reece cautiously entered the village, his eyes scanning everything¡ªthe worn dirt paths, the simple but sturdy wooden houses, and the faint scent of livestock and burning wood. The people moved about their daily routines, but there was a subtle wariness in their eyes when they noticed him. Strangers, it seemed, were not a common sight. He noted their clothing¡ªroughspun tunics and cloaks, simple yet practical. Some villagers bore small weapons¡ªshort swords or daggers¡ªtucked at their belts, while a few older men carried walking sticks that looked a touch too refined to be mere canes. Cultivators, perhaps, though at a minor level. A figure stood out¡ªa broad-shouldered man near the centre of the village square, his arms crossed as he observed De-Reece''s approach. His aura was heavier than the others, a faint ripple of Qi hinting at his strength. A local warrior, maybe even a minor cultivator, tasked with maintaining order. Conversations murmured around him¡ªhushed mentions of trade routes to a distant city, complaints about the scarcity of certain herbs, and passing remarks about currency. Copper shards, silver marks¡ªterms De-Reece tucked away for later. A few villagers spoke of caravans that came through once every few months, while others gossiped about nearby towns with more skilled cultivators guarding their gates. The village head¡¯s name surfaced more than once¡ªa man named Eldrin, known for his firm yet fair leadership. This village was but a small thread in the tapestry of a much larger world, and De-Reece could feel the weight of unseen forces beyond these humble walls. He kept his steps steady, his expression calm, blending observation with quiet confidence. Whatever lay ahead, he would face it step by step¡ªjust as he always had. He kept his steps steady, his expression calm, blending observation with quiet confidence. As he passed through the village square, his gaze drifted to a small gathering near an inn¡ªa modest, weathered building with a sign depicting a tankard and a bundle of herbs. The quiet hum of conversation tugged at his curiosity. Stepping inside, he found a handful of villagers nursing drinks and trading stories. De-Reece moved to a quiet corner, listening intently. Snatches of conversation spoke of strength and cultivation¡ªhow a distant city held powerful sects, how lineage could determine one''s future. Words like ''core formation'' and ''spiritual roots'' surfaced, unfamiliar yet laced with meaning. The barkeep, a grizzled man with a scar running from temple to chin, exchanged hushed words with a traveler about a looming sect selection¡ªa grand event held once every decade where the strongest youths from the region gathered to prove their worth. De-Reece''s jaw tightened. Strength, cultivation, lineage¡ªthis world valued them above all. The path ahead wasn¡¯t just about survival anymore. It was about rising above. With the day nearing its end, De-Reece secured a modest room at the inn, paying a single bronze coin for the night. After a brief exchange with the innkeeper, he decided to pay for a full week¡ªseven bronze coins clinking softly into the man''s calloused hand. Through subtle questions and careful listening, De-Reece picked up the basic currency conversions: one silver mark was worth a hundred bronze coins, and a single gold piece held the weight of a thousand bronzes. It was a quiet relief to know the small pile of gold he''d taken from the Heavenly Demon¡¯s stash could last him a while, but it also put into perspective just how humble the villagers'' wealth was¡ªmost only seemed to carry bronze and the occasional flash of silver. The room itself was small and simple, a rough wooden bed and a single table, but it offered shelter and a place to gather his thoughts. Solar curled up at the foot of the bed, its violet eyes gleaming softly in the dim light. Once the door was shut and the room fell into quiet stillness, De-Reece settled cross-legged on the floor, his mind already slipping into a meditative state. The energy from his spleen node rippled faintly within him, but it was unrefined¡ªlike a wild current that needed direction. He focused inward, guiding the energy through his meridians, feeling the pulse of his bloodline flicker ever so slightly, as though a sleeping beast stirred within him. After steadying his cultivation, he pulled out one of the low-level body-tempering pills he had refined earlier. "Here," he said softly, holding it out to Solar. "I Bet you''re Hungry." Solar''s violet gaze flicked from the pill to De-Reece before, with a quick dart of its tongue, it swallowed the pill whole. A sudden surge of faint, crackling energy rippled around the small creature. Its fur bristled for a moment, a low growl escaping its throat, before it finally settled, curling back into a ball. De-Reece noticed the subtle but sharp rise in Solar''s Qi¡ªlike a candle flame flaring brighter before calming. He exhaled slowly, his bond with Solar growing stronger with each shared moment of growth. Tomorrow, they would venture further¡ªbut tonight was for strengthening what lay within. The next morning, De-Reece ventured to the village market¡ªa humble collection of stalls selling everything from dried meats to simple herbs. Carefully, he traded a few of the more common herbs he''d gathered, keeping the Bloodshade Fruit well hidden. His sharp eye caught sight of an older man hunched over a small cauldron, muttering to himself¡ªan alchemist, though clearly past his prime. Curious, De-Reece struck up a conversation, subtly letting slip his own knowledge of alchemy. At first, the old man¡¯s gaze held a flicker of scepticism, but as De-Reece spoke of pill refinement, the delicate balance of spiritual herbs, and the intricate art of merging energies within a cauldron, that scepticism gave way to something resembling respect. The old alchemist''s grizzled hand hovered over a small vial of crushed duskroot, and De-Reece calmly pointed out the faint shimmer within the powder¡ªa sign of improper drying techniques, which could diminish its potency. A brief silence followed before the old man gave a slow nod. "Not bad for a young one," he muttered, passing De-Reece a few extra supplies¡ªparchment, a tiny measuring scale, and a vial of purified water. As De-Reece accepted the items, he realized this was more than just a trade¡ªit was the first thread of a connection in this new world. Knowledge, it seemed, could be just as valuable as currency. His gaze drifted past the market stalls until it settled on a modest forge at the edge of the square, smoke billowing softly from its chimney. Something about the rhythmic clang of metal on metal pulled at him¡ªa distant echo of a life left behind. Steeling himself, De-Reece approached the forge where a burly man, the foreman, wiped sweat from his brow and eyed him with mild curiosity. "Looking for something, boy?" the man asked, his voice gruff but not unkind. De-Reece''s fingers twitched at his side, recalling the countless times he''d dreamt of trying his hand at smithing back on Earth¡ªa fantasy never realized. "I was wondering if you''d let me watch¡­ maybe even try," he replied evenly. "I''ve always been curious about the craft." The foreman grunted, then chuckled. "Curious, eh? Curiosity''s good, so long as it doesn''t get you burned. Fine¡ªshow me you can hold a hammer first." As De-Reece stepped forward, the forge''s heat washing over him, he couldn''t help but feel a strange satisfaction. This was more than idle curiosity¡ªit was another step in adapting to this world, blending survival with the remnants of who he once was. As De-Reece stepped forward, the forge''s heat washing over him, he couldn''t help but feel a strange satisfaction. The foreman handed him a hammer¡ªits weight should have been solid, heavy¡ªbut in De-Reece¡¯s grasp, it felt almost weightless. His strengthened body, bolstered by the awakening of his bloodline and his cultivation, responded instinctively. With a steady breath, he raised the hammer and brought it down in a smooth arc, striking the glowing metal with a resonant clang. The foreman''s bushy eyebrows lifted slightly¡ªnot quite surprise, but a flicker of interest. The foreman stepped forward, taking the hammer back and demonstrating a series of firm, precise strikes¡ªslow, methodical, like a rhythm meant to be memorized rather than mimicked. "It¡¯s not just strength," the man muttered. "It¡¯s about control. Every swing shapes the metal, every beat adds to its core." De-Reece watched intently, his mind slipping into that same focused state he entered when practicing his Demon Sword style¡ªan unyielding rhythm, like his body and spirit were aligning with something deeper. When the hammer was placed back in his hand, he didn''t think¡ªhe just moved. Blow after blow, the strikes echoed through the forge with a steady cadence, the clanging of metal resonating in time with the thrum of his own Qi. The foreman''s smirk deepened. "Not bad, boy. Not bad at all. Come back tomorrow, if you''re serious about this." De-Reece hesitated only a moment before nodding. "I will." The foreman paused, wiping his hands on a soot-stained rag. "What¡¯s your name, then?" There was a flicker of silence as De-Reece considered his answer¡ªhis true name felt too weighted, too tied to a past that didn¡¯t quite fit this world. Finally, his lips parted, and the name came with quiet certainty. "De," he said. "Cheon Ma De." As the sun crested higher in the sky, casting long rays over the quiet village, De-Reece found himself wandering the narrow paths once more, this time with purpose. His steps were slow, his gaze sharp, absorbing every detail around him. Solar padded silently at his heels, its fur shimmering like liquid shadow. The village had begun to stir to life. Merchants haggled over prices at their humble stalls, children darted between homes playing simple games, and farmers hauled baskets of freshly gathered produce. But it was the conversations¡ªthe murmurs that floated past his ears¡ªthat truly caught De-Reece''s attention. At the corner of a small alley, two middle-aged men leaned against a wall, their voices low yet urgent. ¡°Heard the sect selection¡¯s coming again,¡± one said, his tone a mixture of excitement and apprehension. ¡°Another chance for the young ones to break free from this place.¡± ¡°A chance?¡± The other scoffed. ¡°It¡¯s a gamble, at best. Only two from this village have ever had the potential to be chosen¡ªJoran and Kalia¡ªand even they still have to prove themselves when the time comes.¡± De-Reece paused just long enough to catch the names tossed between them¡ªJoran and Kalia. The only two youths spoken of with a certain weight in their names, as though their strength or talent set them apart. He filed the names away in his mind, along with the word ''sect.'' Further along, near the village well, a group of younger villagers¡ªboys and girls barely older than teenagers¡ªgathered in a loose circle. Their wooden training swords clashed clumsily against each other, their moves rough, unrefined, but driven by determination. ¡°Joran¡¯s definitely getting chosen this time,¡± one boy muttered between strikes. ¡°He¡¯s been training every day with the village head¡¯s guidance.¡± ¡°And Kalia¡¯s spirit root is stronger than anyone else¡¯s,¡± a girl added. ¡°She might even get into the inner sect.¡± The words swirled in De-Reece¡¯s head, painting a rough picture of the world¡¯s hierarchy. Sects were more than just training grounds¡ªthey were a path to power, status, and freedom from the limits of small village life. To be chosen meant salvation for some¡­ and a cruel reminder of their mediocrity for others. He approached the training ground¡ªa patch of hard-packed dirt, its edges marked by simple wooden posts¡ªand stood at a distance. The sparring youths noticed him, their strikes faltering as their eyes flicked to the stranger with the dark-furred creature at his side. A tall figure stepped forward from the crowd. Muscled and confident, Joran''s sharp gaze measured De-Reece. ¡°You new here?¡± he asked, his wooden sword resting casually on his shoulder. De-Reece met his gaze, his voice calm. ¡°Just passing through.¡± Kalia, a lean girl with a quiet intensity, studied Solar with a flicker of curiosity. ¡°That beast¡­ it¡¯s not from around here.¡± De-Reece said nothing, only offering the faintest of smiles. Let them wonder. Let them think. Joran¡¯s gaze lingered on De-Reece for a long moment, a small smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. The gathered youths whispered among themselves, their curiosity and anticipation building like a low rumble of thunder. Kalia stepped closer, her sharp eyes flicking between De-Reece and Solar. ¡°Spiritual beasts like that aren¡¯t common in villages like ours,¡± she said softly, the unspoken question hanging in the air. ¡°They¡¯re usually bound to¡­ well, those with stronger lineages.¡± Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. De-Reece''s expression remained neutral, but his mind spun. Stronger lineages? It seemed strength wasn¡¯t just about cultivation¡ªit was tied to blood, family, and status. He offered a slight shrug. ¡°Solar¡¯s just a companion,¡± he replied. Joran chuckled, his voice carrying a hint of challenge. ¡°A companion that rare? You must be someone special.¡± His wooden sword thumped against his shoulder again, a steady rhythm. ¡°Why don¡¯t we see how special you are?¡± It was less of an invitation and more of a test. The crowd hushed, waiting for De-Reece¡¯s response. For a moment, De-Reece considered refusing¡ªbut something in Joran¡¯s stance, in the quiet weight of Kalia¡¯s gaze, made him reconsider. He needed to understand their strength, their techniques, and the true measure of what this world considered talent. This was a chance to observe, to learn. ¡°Fine,¡± De-Reece said simply, stepping onto the hard-packed dirt of the training ground. Solar padded back a few steps, watching with unblinking violet eyes. Joran tossed De-Reece a spare wooden sword. It was lighter than De-Reece expected, almost toy-like compared to the blade he had found back in the Heavenly Demon¡¯s cave. Still, it would do. They circled each other slowly. Joran''s confidence radiated off him like heat, and the way he shifted his weight spoke of practiced footwork¡ªbasic but solid. The crowd edged closer. Joran struck first, a probing swing aimed at De-Reece''s side. De-Reece sidestepped, his movement fluid, the wooden blade humming through empty air. Another strike, this time a thrust¡ªDe-Reece parried it with minimal effort, the impact jarring Joran''s arm slightly. ¡°You¡¯re quick,¡± Joran muttered, his smirk slipping. De-Reece didn¡¯t respond. He let the rhythm of the fight take him, slipping into a pattern not unlike his Domineering Demon Swordplay, though he kept its ferocity in check. He mirrored Joran''s strikes, testing him, feeling out his limits. The spar gradually escalated. Joran¡¯s strikes became more aggressive, and then¡ªfaint but undeniable¡ªa ripple of qi flickered through his next swing. It was clumsy, unrefined, but it sharpened the speed and force behind his attack. De-Reece¡¯s eyes narrowed, a spark of irritation flaring within him. Even in a simple spar, Joran was already drawing on his qi. De-Reece sidestepped, parrying the enhanced strike with a twist of his wrist, the impact resonating deeper than before. A bead of sweat rolled down Joran''s temple, his jaw tightening as his frustration mounted. Then De-Reece pressed forward¡ªjust slightly. A flick of his wrist sent Joran¡¯s blade wide, and with a subtle shift of his weight, he invoked the lowest degree of Shadow Phantom Steps. His form blurred, a whisper of movement, and in an instant, he was behind Joran. The crowd gasped, unable to follow his sudden repositioning. Joran spun, his stance faltering. Before the match could tip further, a sharp voice cut through the growing tension. ¡°Enough.¡± Kalia stepped between them, her gaze firm. ¡°We¡¯re not here to break bones.¡± Joran¡¯s jaw tightened, but he relented, lowering his blade. De-Reece did the same, though his grip remained loose and ready. The crowd slowly dispersed, murmuring about the stranger who had matched Joran¡¯s speed so effortlessly. Whispers rippled through them¡ªsome questioning if De-Reece might actually be stronger, others wondering just how much he was holding back. Kalia studied De-Reece for a moment longer. ¡°You fight like someone trained¡ªnot just some wanderer.¡± De-Reece simply smiled. ¡°I pick things up quickly.¡± And with that, he turned, Solar falling into step beside him, the faint echo of the spar lingering in the quiet air. Later that evening, De-Reece and Solar sat outside the small inn, a simple meal of roasted ware rabbit laid out before them. Solar, ever watchful, nibbled at a piece of meat, its violet eyes flickering with a faint glow. The night air was cool, the distant murmur of villagers still audible from the nearby tavern. De-Reece¡¯s mind replayed the spar, dissecting Joran¡¯s use of qi. It was unpolished but still effective¡ªa reminder that even here, in this humble village, cultivation ran deep. ¡°You keep surprising people,¡± a voice said. De-Reece didn¡¯t have to look up to know it was Kalia. She stepped into view, her arms crossed, a curious tilt to her head as she studied Solar once more. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a spiritual beast like that,¡± she said softly. De-Reece tensed slightly. ¡°It¡¯s a massive world out there always more to see¡±, he replied Kalia raised an eyebrow. ¡°A good instinct.¡± She settled onto the wooden step beside him, silent for a moment. ¡°You didn¡¯t come from around here,¡± she finally said. ¡°And you didn¡¯t learn to fight like that in some backwater village.¡± De-Reece tore a piece of meat for Solar, choosing his words carefully. ¡°I¡¯ve travelled.¡± Kalia smiled faintly. ¡°You don¡¯t trust easily. Smart.¡± Silence settled between them again, but it wasn¡¯t uncomfortable. ¡°Joran wasn¡¯t using his full strength either,¡± Kalia finally added. ¡°But you knew that already.¡± De-Reece glanced at her, his gaze steady. ¡°I did.¡± Her smile deepened. ¡°Maybe next time, we¡¯ll both stop holding back.¡± The night hung heavy, the air thick with the scent of charred meat and damp earth. The faint crackle of flames from the kitchen inside the inn played like a distant rhythm as De-Reece fed the last bit of roasted ware rabbit to Solar, who snapped it up with a satisfied chuff. The quiet between them was easy, a rare moment of stillness. ¡°You didn¡¯t come here just to fight Joran,¡± Kalia''s voice broke the silence again, softer this time. De-Reece didn¡¯t flinch, though his hand hovered over Solar¡¯s sleek black fur. ¡°No,¡± he admitted. ¡°I¡¯m looking for something.¡± Kalia tilted her head, the firelight catching the faint sheen of sweat still clinging to her neck from the earlier spar. ¡°What?¡± He considered lying but thought better of it. ¡°A way forward. Somewhere with answers.¡± A smile tugged at the corner of Kalia¡¯s mouth, though her eyes remained serious. ¡°Then you¡¯re not the only one.¡± De-Reece¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She leaned back on her hands, staring up at the dark sky. ¡°The sect selection.¡± De-Reece¡¯s mind whirled. He¡¯d heard whispers of sects in the village already¡ªplaces of power and cultivation¡ªbut this was the first time someone had mentioned a selection. Kalia didn¡¯t seem to notice his silence. ¡°It happens every few years. Representatives from one of the lower sects come through the nearby towns and villages, testing anyone who thinks they have the talent to become a disciple. Those deemed worthy are given a token ¡ª a chance to be tested again at the sect-wide selection, where all the sects gather and choose from the best.¡± De-Reece¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but his chest tightened. A path forward¡ªa way into this world¡¯s deeper layers. ¡°Joran and I¡­ we¡¯ve been training for it since we were children,¡± Kalia continued, her voice steady but distant. ¡°For people like us, it¡¯s the only real chance to leave this place. To be more than farmers or hunters.¡± De-Reece¡¯s jaw shifted. ¡°And if you don¡¯t get chosen?¡± Her smile faded. ¡°Then you stay.¡± The weight of her words pressed down heavier than the night air. De-Reece studied her for a moment before speaking again. ¡°And how many get chosen?¡± Kalia laughed softly, though there was no humor in it. ¡°Not many. Out of all the villages, maybe two or three every time.¡± Solar¡¯s ears flicked at the sound, but the creature remained curled by De-Reece¡¯s side. The silence stretched on again, but this time, it was heavier¡ªladen with unspoken hopes and fears. Finally, Kalia rose, brushing the dust from her simple training robes. ¡°You should come by the training grounds again,¡± she said. ¡°I think Joran would like another round.¡± De-Reece smirked faintly. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Kalia lingered for a moment longer, then gave a small nod and disappeared into the night, leaving De-Reece and Solar alone once more. But now, De-Reece¡¯s thoughts weren¡¯t on the spar or even on Joran. They were on the sect selection¡ªand what it might mean for his path forward. Morning came slowly, the pale light creeping through the wooden shutters of De-Reece''s rented room. He rose without hesitation, his mind still circling Kalia¡¯s words from the night before. Sects, tokens, selections¡ªit all seemed like a distant world, but one that now loomed closer. And if there was a chance his brothers were out there¡ªif they, too, had sought a way forward¡ªthen he had to follow that thread. The next day, after a simple meal shared with Solar, De-Reece made his way back to the forge. The air was thick with the scent of burning coal and hot iron. The foreman grunted in acknowledgement as De-Reece approached, already setting out tools. ¡°Back again, De?¡± the foreman asked, a hint of a smirk on his scarred face. De-Reece nodded. ¡°I want to keep at it.¡± The foreman simply jerked his head toward the anvil, and De-Reece fell into step, the rhythm of hammer strikes coming as naturally as the flow of his sword forms. His movements were fluid yet forceful, each strike precise. By the time the morning sun hung high, the foreman¡¯s subtle nod of approval said more than words ever could. With soot still clinging to his hands, De-Reece left the forge, Solar padding silently beside him. The afternoon belonged to training. In a quiet clearing outside the village, De-Reece drilled relentlessly, his blade carving the air in sharp arcs. Solar mirrored his movements, the bond between them growing stronger with each synchronized shift of their bodies. It was unspoken¡ªan understanding forged through battle and survival. De-Reece pushed harder, slipping into the fluid steps of Shadow Phantom Steps, his form vanishing and reappearing as his footwork blurred with speed. Solar, too, moved with a predatory grace, its violet gaze locked onto De-Reece¡¯s every motion. As the sun dipped lower, De-Reece finally sheathed his sword, his breath steady despite the hours of exertion. He wasn¡¯t just training for himself anymore. He was training for the path ahead¡ªand for the brothers he had yet to find. The night draped the village in a cloak of silence, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves against the window. A single candle flickered on the small wooden table in De-Reece''s room, casting long, wavering shadows over the series of carefully selected herbs laid out before him. Their fragrances mingled in the still air¡ªa potent blend of earthy bitterness and sharp sweetness. Solar lay curled in a corner, its sleek black form barely stirring as De-Reece crushed, ground, and refined each ingredient. The Bloodshade Fruit remained hidden¡ªtucked safely away¡ªbut the lesser herbs, those still valuable but not overtly rare, would serve his purpose today. He worked with quiet intensity, his fingers moving with the same precision he wielded his sword. The small furnace flickered softly, and before long, a faint medicinal aroma filled the room but was trapped in the formations he laid. Hours slipped by unnoticed until, finally, two small bottles sat before him¡ªeach holding ten neatly formed pills. The first bottle contained low-level spiritual-lined body tempering pills, simple but effective for the common cultivator. The second held low-level spiritual-lined healing pills, their faint, intricate patterns spiralling across their surfaces a testament to De-Reece''s growing alchemical skill. He didn¡¯t want to draw too much attention, but he needed to start somewhere. His mind lingered on the thought of his brothers ¡ª if a sect selection was truly on the horizon, then making himself known as a skilled alchemist might be the first thread he could pull to weave his path forward. As he gathered the pills into his robes, a subtle warmth pulsed through him ¡ª a faint, almost overlooked sensation. It wasn¡¯t from the pills themselves but from the act of creating them. Qi. He realized, for the first time, that his alchemy wasn¡¯t just a craft¡ªit was a form of cultivation in itself, each refined pill leaving an imprint of energy within him. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was there. His fingers briefly brushed the pendant around his neck, a reminder of the greater power still lurking beneath the surface. Before the first light of dawn, De-Reece knelt beside Solar, holding out a low-level body tempering pill. The small creature sniffed it cautiously, then snapped it up in a single gulp. A faint shimmer pulsed beneath its sleek black fur, and De-Reece watched as Solar''s muscles seemed to tense and ripple briefly before the creature let out a soft huff, curling back into its corner. Satisfied, De-Reece settled himself onto the floor, crossing his legs as he slipped into a meditative state. The lingering qi from his pill-crafting the night before still swirled faintly within him. He guided the energy through his channels, slowly circulating it, his control over his cultivation becoming ever more precise. An hour passed in stillness before he finally opened his eyes. Pulling a deep hood over his head and wrapping a dark scarf around the lower half of his face, De-Reece secured the bottles inside his robes. Solar gave him a questioning look, tilting its head, but De-Reece merely gave a faint smile and whispered, "Just a little test. Stay here." The creature huffed softly but obeyed, curling back into a ball.
The village market bustled with activity, a lively mix of traders, farmers, and wandering cultivators bartering for goods. Stalls lined the main street¡ªselling everything from weapons to herbs¡ªand the air buzzed with the clamour of deals being struck. De-Reece moved carefully, choosing a less crowded corner where wandering cultivators occasionally paused to check for hidden gems. He set the bottles down on the edge of a worn wooden stall, each pill carefully separated into its own small vial. Ten vials for the body tempering pills, and ten for the spiritual-lined healing pills ¡ª a subtle choice to make the sales feel more exclusive. Keeping his head low and voice steady, he spoke softly but clearly, "Pills for sale¡ªbody tempering and healing." At first, there was little reaction. But as a young cultivator, his robes plain but marked by faint talismans, caught sight of the patterned pills, his eyes widened. "These¡­ these are spiritual pills? With patterning?" De-Reece gave a slight nod, saying nothing more. The commotion drew a few others¡ªa middle-aged man with calloused hands who seemed to be a local alchemist, a wiry hunter with a bow strapped across his back, and a girl clutching a small pouch of bronze coins. The alchemist leaned in, squinting at the pills. "Where did you get these?" "Made them," De-Reece replied, his voice a shade lower. The man¡¯s eyebrows shot up. "You? A hooded stranger claiming to be an alchemist? Prove it." De-Reece''s jaw tightened. Drawing a spare herb from his pocket¡ªa lesser spirit root¡ªhe snapped it cleanly in half and placed one fragment in his palm. With a deft flick of his wrist, he activated a small array etched into a talisman he¡¯d hidden beneath his sleeve. The fragment dissolved slowly, its essence pooling into a faint, glowing droplet in his hand. The alchemist''s mouth opened, closed, then opened again. "That¡¯s¡­ legitimate." The hunter stepped forward. "How much for a body tempering pill?" "Fifty bronze," De-Reece said calmly. "Fifty? That''s cheap for a pill of this quality," the girl murmured, clutching her pouch tighter. "And the spiritual one?" the young cultivator asked. "one silver," De-Reece replied. The prices were reasonable¡ªenough to turn a profit but not enough to cause a stir. He needed to build trust first, to plant seeds of curiosity without inviting danger. Coins exchanged hands, and De-Reece sold two body tempering pills and one healing pill before packing up the rest. The alchemist watched him carefully the entire time but said nothing more. As De-Reece melted back into the crowd, a ripple of hushed conversations followed in his wake. The village had never seen an unknown alchemist¡ªcertainly not one capable of crafting patterned pills. And now, the name of a mysterious hooded seller had begun to spread. Before any could follow, De-Reece quietly slipped into a side alley, his movements a blur of practised steps ¡ª the faintest whisper of his Shadow Phantom Steps guiding him through the narrow paths, unseen and unnoticed. Back in his room, De-Reece unwrapped the scarf and lowered his hood, setting the remaining pills back on the table. Solar padded over, sniffing at the bottles before looking up at De-Reece with an expectant gaze. "It¡¯s a start," De-Reece muttered. He leaned back against the wall, his mind already spinning ahead¡ªabout the coins he''d earned, the attention he''d drawn, and the silent steps he''d just taken toward both blending in¡­ and standing out. The path to the sect selection might have begun with a simple sale¡ªbut De-Reece knew better than anyone.The quietest ripples often grew into the deadliest storms.