The forest of Langtian loomed like a living labyrinth, shadows crawling between twisted trunks. A faint, almost imperceptible hum vibrated through the air—a pulse of something unnatural, buried deep within the moss and roots. Tian Yu's steps were silent, yet his black eyes pierced the gloom, sensing currents of power even his mortal body should not perceive.
"This… aura," he whispered, fingers brushing a tree bark. "A fragment of a dao… left to fester in the dark. They think I am blind, weak… but even bound, I see all."
A sudden rustle—sharp, deliberate—made him halt. The hairs on his arms stood on end, a predator's instinct awakening. A shape darted among the underbrush, too quick, too precise for any ordinary animal. Tian Yu's lips curled faintly.
"Curious. A mortal trap… or a hidden prey?"
Before him, the forest seemed to hold its breath. Every leaf, every shadow, every whisper of wind became a thread in a pattern only he could read. And in that instant, he knew: something—or someone—was waiting.
Langtian, a city throbbing with the chaos of markets and the feasts of greedy mortals, was finally left behind. Tian Yu walked slowly along the dirt path, his steps so light they seemed to leave no trace. The plain clothes he had stolen clung neatly to his frame, covering the tatters of what he once wore. His hair, once a tangled mess, had been washed clean in a small river and now hung loose with a faint sheen making him appear like any ordinary youth, unless one stared too long into his eyes.
For within those black eyes shimmered a cosmic shadow that could make even gods tremble.
The morning wind swept through the leaves, carrying with it the damp scent of the forest. Towering trees, their trunks moss-covered, wove together branches into a canopy that hid most of the sky. The cries of wild birds, the hum of insects, and the rustle of branches composed a rhythm unfamiliar to Tian Yu. He glanced upward, eyes tracing the lofty boughs.
"This mortal body… far too frail," he whispered, fingers brushing the bark of a tree. "But the forest… the forest is the first teacher of predators. That wretched god thinks I'll lose myself here? No. Even in this frail body, I remain the master of shadows."
His stomach no longer rebelled, filled well enough from the feast he had secretly stolen at a grand restaurant. What he felt now was something different: silence, solitude, and freedom.
He halted before a moss-covered boulder and sat cross-legged, his hands forming a mudra that once could summon a thousand shadow spirits. Now, only mortal breath passed through his lungs.
He inhaled deeply, exhaled slowly. Yet behind the calm, his mind drifted far beyond the mortal veil.
"This dao seal… it is ironclad. I cannot even stir a grain of my cosmic might." He closed his eyes and scoffed. "But no seal lasts forever. Even the prisons of stars once crumbled in my grasp. Do you truly think this mortal lock will bind me for eternity?"
From the underbrush, a rabbit emerged, its round eyes wary. It paused at the sight of Tian Yu, then bounded forward. But before it could vanish into the thicket, a stone flicked from Tian Yu's fingers struck its head. The creature collapsed instantly.
Tian Yu opened his eyes and gazed at the small corpse. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"See? Even without dao, without divine arts, I can still kill with precision."
He approached, lifted the rabbit with one hand, fresh blood dripping from its wound. A long breath escaped him.
"This mortal shell needs training… and this flesh will serve as proper fuel."
Calmly, he sparked a fire from friction of wood and stone. Thin smoke rose, mingling with the scent of roasting meat. When the rabbit turned golden, Tian Yu tore off a piece and placed it into his mouth.
The flavor was simple, far from the extravagance of restaurant feasts yet there was a different satisfaction. He tilted his head skyward, eyes glimmering.
"Hm… even the wild fare of the mortal world can nourish me. Very well. I shall use this world as my stepping stone. And when this seal breaks those wretched gods will witness the resurrection they sought to bury."
The forest shadows shifted as the sun leaned westward. The sounds of insects gave way to the cries of night birds. Tian Yu rose, brushed off his hands, and ventured deeper into the forest's heart.
Then, in the distance, came a clamor chaotic noise of many bodies moving. Shouts carried on the wind: panic, the clash of blades, the edge of screams.
Tian Yu narrowed his eyes.
"Hm? Another farce? Mortals are ever so noisy."
Yet his lips curved faintly.
"Still… sometimes noise brings opportunity."
He advanced toward the commotion, his form blending with the forest's shadows. His steps made no sound, as if the woods themselves embraced him.
The cries grew sharper: human voices mingled with beastly roars, steel ringing against fangs.
From behind a great tree, Tian Yu peered through the leaves. Before him stood five youths in sect robes, their insignia faintly glowing on their chests. Faces pale, bodies trembling, they struggled to maintain formation.
Circling them was a massive beast a black-fanged wolf, eyes glowing crimson. Drool hissed as it hit the mossy earth. The predator bided its time, savoring the fear in its prey.
"A Bronze-tier beast… we'll never survive!" one disciple cried, his sword nearly slipping.
"Silence! Waver, and it will strike!" their leader barked, though his voice quavered.
Tian Yu leaned casually against the tree, arms folded, a faint smile playing at his lips.
"Hm. Sect disciples who cannot face a mere black-fanged cur. This mortal world grows ever more pathetic."
The wolf pounced. Two disciples shrieked, their blades cutting air in vain. Fangs glistened, inches from a throat.
Crack!
A stone shot from the shadows, striking the wolf's temple. The beast staggered back with a furious snarl, turning toward the trees.
The sect disciples spun in shock, eyes widening as a figure stepped out of the gloom: a lean youth in plain clothes, strides calm yet commanding, gaze cold and unyielding before the towering beast.
"Who… who are you?!" a disciple stammered.
Tian Yu offered no answer. He simply walked forward, as if the wolf were nothing more than a rat blocking his path.
The beast roared, fangs igniting with black aura, its killing intent pressing heavy on the air. But Tian Yu only raised his hand and flicked his finger.
Crack!
The earth beneath the wolf split, roots bursting forth to ensnare its limbs. The beast howled, thrashing, but the bindings tightened, as if the forest itself obeyed Tian Yu's will.
The disciples gasped.
"He… he isn't even using dao!"
Tian Yu drew near, eyes sharp and merciless.
"You're noisy," he said flatly.
With a stomp, the ground quaked. The wolf's skull smashed against a boulder, blood spraying as its body went limp.
Silence swallowed the woods.
The disciples stared, stunned, torn between awe and dread. Their leader stepped forward, voice trembling.
"Th-thank you, brother. May we know… who you are?"
Tian Yu paused. A faint smile curved his lips, but his eyes remained cold, piercing.
"A beggar," he said calmly. "A beggar stronger than your sect."
His words lashed like a whip, leaving the youths flushed with shame and fear. But Tian Yu did not care. He strode past them as if they were nothing but shadows, leaving the wolf's carcass cooling behind.
"This forest is more honest than men. The weak are prey. The strong rule. Remember that."
And with that, he vanished once more into the dark canopy, as if the forest itself had devoured his figure.
But the woods held no rest. The deeper he walked, the colder the air grew. Mist clung thick between the trees, carrying a stench of rusted iron and fractured spiritual energy. Tian Yu lifted his chin slightly, eyes narrowing.
"Hm. Fragmented dao aura… something lies buried here."
Quickening his pace, he pushed through brittle branches and dripping stone. The mist thickened, snaring the last light of dusk.
At last, he arrived at a cave mouth veiled by roots and moss. From within seeped a faint current of power, like the breath of a slumbering giant.
Tian Yu's lips curled.
"The gods caged me in a mortal shell, yet even so, I can still read the world's hidden truths. How ironic."
He stepped inside. The air plunged in temperature, gooseflesh prickling his skin, but his stride was steady. Along the cavern walls sprawled ancient carvings, symbols long erased from mortal knowledge.
At the chamber's heart lay a mossy altar. Upon it rested a small black box, bound in corroded chains that glimmered faintly with power.
The very air boiled, pushing against him, but Tian Yu stood firm, eyes glittering with cold fire.
"An ancient seal… even its cracks alone would frighten ordinary disciples to death. Hm. Intriguing."
He extended his hand slowly. His fingertip brushed the chain.
The cavern shuddered violently. Mist writhed, carvings flared crimson, and whispers rose like a thousand bound souls.
But Tian Yu only grinned.
"Be silent. I once commanded the cosmic void. Do you think a mortal seal like this could ever frighten me?"