Teleportation stones were considered precious treasures in the God Realm rare artifacts that could instantly transport a person across vast distances.
However, their destinations were often unstable, and one could only teleport to general coordinates, not a specific point. Still, for Ye Chen, who had left the Earth long ago, this was the fastest way to return.
When the blinding light of teleportation faded, Ye Chen found himself in a lush, remote forest.
Towering trees stood in every direction, their dense canopies filtering the golden sunlight into scattered beams.
A soft breeze carried the scent of damp earth and wild herbs.
"After all this time… I've finally returned," Ye Chen muttered to himself, taking a deep breath.
The familiar scent of the Earth brought a strange comfort.
.He closed his eyes, allowing the feeling to settle into his bones.
Though Earth lacked the rich spiritual energy of the God Realm, there were still untouched places hidden realms and secluded forests where nature's essence had not been tainted by pollution.
In such locations, one could still cultivate to high levels if they were determined enough.
Ye Chen's divine senses stretched outward, scanning the forest for any such spiritual anomalies.
As he floated gently through the forest, moving at a moderate pace, he suddenly spotted a creature that brought a nostalgic smile to his face.
A Wild Mountain Rooster darted between the trees.
Ye Chen's eyes lit up. "That's my favorite!" he grinned. Back in his village days, this bird had been a rare delicacy.
Catching it was nearly impossible without traps, as the rooster was known for its incredible speed and agility.
But Ye Chen no longer needed traps.
With a flicker of movement, he vanished and reappeared directly behind the startled bird. Before it could react, his hand shot out and seized it by the legs.
"Haha! You're mine now," Ye Chen laughed, his voice filled with boyish glee.
He stroked the chicken's feathers affectionately before heading off to find a nearby river.
After reaching the riverbank, Ye Chen quickly cleaned and plucked the bird. His movements were swift and precise his hands a blur as he gutted and prepared the meat in mere minutes.
Next, he used his mental energy to summon dry branches and firewood from the surroundings.
They flew through the air and stacked themselves neatly in front of him.
"Now for some spices," he murmured and disappeared once again.
Minutes later, he returned with fresh herbs and forest spices, likely remnants of a long-forgotten natural medicine field. With expert hands, he marinated the chicken and began skewering it.
A gentle flame flickered from his fingertip and ignited the wood.
He made sure not to use his divine flames, or the entire pile would have turned to ash instantly.
Soon, the scent of roasting chicken filled the forest, rich and savory.
Ye Chen took a deep breath. "Ah… if only I had some proper sauce. But this will do just fine."
Just as he was about to take a bite, a faint scream echoed through the forest.
"Help… please! Help!"
Ye Chen's expression turned serious. Without hesitation, he dropped the chicken and vanished.
Following the sound, he arrived in a clearing where a young woman stumbled through the undergrowth.
Her clothes were torn, her face pale, and she was breathing heavily. Behind her, two armed men dressed in black tactical gear chased after her, rifles in hand.
Ye Chen narrowed his eyes. "Terrorists? On Earth?"
The woman's steps faltered as her legs gave out. She collapsed to the ground, trembling, her strength nearly gone.
The two men quickly closed the distance, grinning cruelly behind their masks.
Just before they reached her, Ye Chen dropped from the sky like a shadow.
His feet landed silently in front of the woman, his presence calm but imposing.
The woman, barely conscious, looked up at him.
Her vision blurred, but she caught a glimpse of his face before everything went black and she fainted.
The two men froze for a moment. One of them raised his rifle.
"You! Get out of the way!" he barked. "This isn't your business, kid, unless you want to die."
Ye Chen didn't move. "Is that so? Go ahead then. Show me what you've got."
The second terrorist snarled. "Let's teach him a lesson first."
He equipped an iron knuckle glove and charged forward, aiming a brutal punch at Ye Chen's face.
Ye Chen didn't even flinch. With lightning speed, he reached out and grabbed the man by the neck.
With a casual flick, he slammed the terrorist into the ground. Bones cracked audibly as the man dropped unconscious, blood pooling beneath him.
The remaining terrorist panicked and opened fire. Bullets tore through the air but none reached Ye Chen. He blurred, his body moving faster than the eye could follow.
Before the terrorist could react, Ye Chen appeared in front of him and struck with a single open palm.
Crack!
The terrorist flew backward, crashing into a tree, coughing blood as his weapon clattered uselessly to the forest floor.
Ye Chen dusted off his robe and turned toward the unconscious woman.
But before he could take another step, his expression shifted.
He could sense several powerful presences moving toward him. More people armed, trained, and closing in fast.
A dozen, maybe more.
He stepped protectively in front of the unconscious woman and narrowed his eyes at the dark forest. "Looks like this is just the beginning…"