Sigh… finally, when I thought I had found my sister, she entered the portal.
Even though I closely followed, I was still transported to this strange place. Ah, it's frustrating… now where should I look for sister? Jiang Mu thought with a troubled expression.
From where he stood, all he could see was an endless expanse of forest stretching in every direction.
But this place is really weird. Normally, there should be lots of ferocious beasts and birds, but until now, I haven't even seen a single bug.
Should I be happy that nothing has happened so far? Jiang Mu muttered inwardly with confusion.
Nevertheless, I should find sister as early as possible and leave this place. Honestly, what was sister thinking, entering the portal with those fearsome cultivators…
Jiang Mu climbed down from the tree and leapt directly into a muddy patch."Umm… here comes extra work," he grumbled as the mud splashed onto his clothes.
"This area is too muddy… and on top of that, I'm sweating terribly." He lifted his gaze to the blazing sun with weary eyes.He trudged out of the mud with a haggard expression.
Haa… how good would it be if I were a cultivator?
I could have flown across the skies, and these muddy clothes would be no problem. With just a flick of a finger, I could clean them… I really envy those cultivators.
"…Naii, naii, what am I thinking? I have to find my sister as quickly as possible." He shook his head, clearing away useless thoughts, and dashed into the bushes.
.....
If my guess is correct, these ferocious beasts only possess the strength of a soul spirit—not greater than that, Ye Kaishan thought as he watched the trial on the screen. It's a good decision for them to form groups.
Even though, in confrontation, weaker cultivators were falling one by one, Ye Kaishan judged solemnly: By the end of this trial, fewer than half the cultivators who entered will remain.
He glanced at the representatives beside him.
Some bore serene expressions, others watched with amusement. Song Yan, however, simply sipped her tea, her eyes half-lidded, as if she were in her own world.
Well… perhaps this is normal here, Ye Kaishan mused, his gaze steady on the screen. If anyone is abnormal here, it should be me.
Sometimes I really forget the concepts of this world… Strong devours weak, huh.
He gave a wry smile. Those who stand till the end will be the strong ones.
"Is something troubling you?" Song Yan's voice entered his mind through a soul link, noticing the change in his expression.
"…Not particularly," Ye Kaishan replied, his eyes still fixed on the fight between cultivators and beasts.
Song Yan also looked at the screen. A faint smile curved her lips before she closed her eyes once more, taking another sip of her tea.
Sometimes, you really act too soft, she thought to herself.
But… this side of you—I don't hate it. A gentle smile curved her lips as she took another sip.
.....
"Hey, Yun Xi! What are you doing?" A red-haired cultivator shouted, glaring at a petite girl ahead of her.
"Uh? What do you mean? Aren't we heading into the forest?"
"Haa… are you an idiot or what? If you're joking, stop it—it's not funny at all!"
"Don't you feel the soul strength coming from the forest? Wait—Bai Ling, she's only in the soul breaking Realm. It's reasonable she can't feel it," another female cultivator from the group intervened.
"Soul strength? What do you mean?" Yun Xi blinked in confusion.
"Tch… Just don't head inside. We'll rest here in the meadow for a bit before moving on," Bai Ling said, her eyes fixed on the vast forest ahead.
"Yes, don't go in. This part of the forest isn't like the previous ones," another woman warned Yun Xi.
"Umm… if you say so," Yun Xi muttered with nervous hesitation.
"Hey, you three, come look at this," a woman from their group called out, kneeling as she inspected the soil.
"Huh? Now what is it, Xue Hua?"
"There are footprints heading inside," Xue Hua replied.
"Really?"
"Let me see." Yun Xi rushed over to look.
"Yes, you're right. They're definitely heading inside."
"Tch… looks like someone gathered a big group. Well, it's reasonable. We're only four—we should leave and try our luck elsewhere," Bai Ling dismissed, ignoring the tracks.
"But—"
"Now what, Yue Lan? We don't have time to waste. If you have something to say, then say it," Bai Ling cut in impatiently.
Yue Lan approached, her tone hesitant. "There's only one set of footprints. A single person went inside."
"What?"
Bai Ling's brows furrowed. She examined the ground herself. Indeed—it wasn't a group. It was just one person.
"Who could that be?" Yue Lan whispered to herself.
"Well… looks like that person isn't scared of anything. Either way, we should leave and find another place," Yun Xi muttered with fear.
"No. Now we're going inside," Bai Ling said firmly, her voice cold with resolve.
"Wait—Bai Ling, you're being reckless!" Xue Hua replied worriedly.
"That's not the case." Bai Ling looked at the footprints once more. "By now, many groups should have entered the forest already, but some individuals must have gone in alone as well." Bai Ling clenched her fist as she spoke.
"So what? That doesn't mean we should follow! It could be life-threatening!" Yue Lan said seriously.
"Haa… life-threatening, huh?" Bai Ling spoke with a solemn expression. "You know the cultivators who entered this trial are at the same cultivation level as us. If they can go alone, why can't we? There's no need to fret—if we sense danger, we'll flee immediately." She finished with a confident smile.
"You really are troublesome," Yue Lan sighed.
"But we just fought recently. Shouldn't we rest for a while?" Yun Xi asked, her gaze lingering on the gloomy forest.
"What are you talking about? It's already been half an incense stick's time. That should be enough rest," Bai Ling replied firmly.
"Don't think too much. Let's go," Xue Hua said, reassuring Yun Xi.
"Umm… haaa, fine. Let's head inside."
With that, all four dashed into the shadowy forest.
Meanwhile…
"It should be enough rest," Jiang An muttered as she stood, her thoughts sharpening. First things first—I should leave this place. Even though it's unusually quiet here, I don't know when danger might arrive.
Her gaze swept over the gloomy forest surrounding her. Even the sunlight struggled to pierce through the dense canopy, and the occasional chilling gust of wind crept along her spine. I don't think I should stay here any longer than this.
Looking down at the lake, Jiang An considered, I should drink some water. Who knows if I'll find any ahead. She bent on one knee and cupped her hands, ready to drink.
"Umm… what is this?" Her eyes widened as they caught sight of a small flower near the shore. It was pure violet, with red pollen, and nestled within a snake-like structure that emitted a faint glow.
Instinctively, Jiang An plucked the flower. This… doesn't look like an ordinary flower.
If I remember correctly, one can gain points not only from hunting beast cores, but also from collecting spirit herbs. Could this be one of them?
She brought her wooden sign near the flower, Holding her wooden sign near the flower, she watched in surprise as the object absorbed it in a flash—the blossom vanished as if swallowed.
"Woah… it really was." Jiang An's eyes widened as she stared at the sign.
Her eyes widened further. "It's showing… a hundred?"
It went directly from zero to a hundred… is it really that easy to collect this many points? Jiang An stared at the wooden token with doubt clouding her eyes.
She paused, staring at the token for a brief moment, but didn't dwell on it for long. Slipping it away, she lifted her gaze toward the distant mountain range. I should head there. Spirit beasts mainly reside in the forest…
Her eyes shifted back to the shady, oppressive woodland behind her. The gloom hung so heavily it felt as though the darkness itself might swallow her whole.
Even though I haven't encountered a single beast yet, I need to hurry. With quickened steps, she vanished into the trees, moving toward the mountains.
Crack—
The sound echoed after Jiang An's departure. From the shadows of the dark forest, two jade-like legs slowly emerged, carrying their owner toward the lakeshore.
A pair of crimson ruby eyes gleamed from behind a thin veil. The figure, dressed in flowing crimson robes, walked barefoot—yet every patch of grass her feet touched withered instantly, as though its life force had been drained away.
She paused, her serene expression betraying nothing, and gazed in the direction Jiang An had gone. Without a word, she began to follow.
....
"Hmm…"
In the suffocating darkness, a pair of eyes slowly opened—slitted vertical pupils glowing a deep, blood-red. They shone with a beauty as mesmerizing as it was horrifying, cutting through the gloom like embers of malice.
The aura of the Violet Bloodpollen Flower… it has vanished?
What is happening on the surface?
The gaze lifted upward. Two long antennae swayed restlessly, probing the air as if searching for the faintest disturbance.
After a moment, a low thought resonated. Humans? I have not restrained my soul aura. Anyone with even a trace of cultivation should sense it clearly. Yet they still dare to trespass upon my land…
The eyes narrowed, radiating cold intent. Very well. Since you've come—be my guest, and remain here forever.
Krik… krik-krik…
The beast's massive pincers clashed together, the sound ringing through the darkness like steel blades colliding, echoing with murderous promise.