Wang Feng moved through the dense forest like a shadow—silent steps, blurred figure, his speed surpassing what most True Element Realm cultivators could hope to match.
It had been hours since his journey began. The early part of his exploration had been leisurely, wandering through serene valleys bathed in sunlight, occasionally collecting rare herbs nestled among rocks and streams.
But everything shifted once he entered the deeper forest. As the sun dipped below the horizon and shadows stretched long, Monster Beasts began to appear.
Though none had surpassed Early Tier 3 so far, Wang Feng was genuinely surprised—each encounter pushed him into several rounds of battle. Even in his current state, these beasts demanded caution.
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[Status]
[Name: Wang Feng]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 15 years]
[Physique: Five Element True Body (MORTAL), Unyielding Golden Skeleton (SPIRIT), Pure Yang Physique (Embryo)]
[Cultivation: 5th Stage Qi Sea Realm (Peak)]
[Cultivation Technique: Primordial Origin Art]
[Martial Techniques: Shadow Phantom Steps (Low-Mysterious Grade), Five Attribute Sword Art (High-Mysterious Grade), Blazing Bull Charge (Low-Heaven Grade), Vacuum Palm (Low-Earth Grade), Focus Punch (Peak Common Grade)]
[Refined Treasures: Golden Yang Flames (Minor Earth Flame)]
[Artifact Refiner: Peak - Common Grade]
[Array Master: High - Earth Grade]
[Combat Power: 6th Stage Separation and Reunion Realm]
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Wang Feng darted from branch to branch, tree trunk to tree trunk, and through the understory with fluid precision, gliding forward like a streak of wind.
"I wonder… what time did the others take to defeat the Tier 5 beasts?" he mused idly. But the thought was cut short as a subtle tension prickled at the edge of his senses.
He stilled mid-motion, sinking into the tree's shadow like a wraith. His expression sharpened. There it was—a faint, rhythmic sound: wings flapping against the wind, accompanied by the slicing whisper of something cutting through the air.
A cold drop of sweat trickled down his spine. His breath caught.
In that instant, Wang Feng felt it—his position had been discovered.
A black blur hurtled toward him, a streak of motion so fast it nearly rivaled his top speed. Reacting instantly, he ignited his Qi, surging power into his legs and body. With a sharp burst, he activated his movement technique at full force, narrowly avoiding the incoming threat.
But to his surprise, the shadowy attacker twisted mid-air with uncanny precision, adjusting its path toward him once more.
Narrowing his eyes, Wang Feng kicked off the branch with explosive strength, rocketing away as the predator closed in.
But to his surprise, the shadow twisted sharply through the air, adjusting its trajectory mid-flight like it had read his next move.
Wang Feng's eyes narrowed. With a sharp stomp, he launched himself away again, ripping through the foliage in a blur.
He still couldn't clearly make out his attacker—just a swift, formless blur paired with the chilling sensation of being hunted. More concerning was that the creature could seemingly track him even as he melded into the shadows.
Not wanting to waste time or energy on an unknown threat, Wang Feng decided to retreat at full speed. His Qi surged, amplifying his every step, his figure flashing from branch to branch like a phantom.
But it was useless.
No matter how sharply he turned, how fast he moved, the shadow stayed on him—silent, unrelenting.
It was then he caught a sliver of its aura: Peak Tier 3. A level he could handle, if it came to it.
His lips curled slightly. Enough was enough.
"If you're this eager to die..." he murmured under his breath.
Then, without warning—while still mid-stride—he twisted. His body spun with sudden force, muscles coiling, Qi bursting around him like a silent shockwave.
In that single, unguarded moment, when the pursuer least expected it—
Wang Feng struck.
He deactivated his movement technique first, realizing it had no effect against this opponent or even helped it track him. The moment his steps returned to normal, he came to a halt, turning to face the pursuer head-on.
Still, all he could make out was a black blur streaking through the trees and a pair of burning red eyes, like embers glowing in a void.
The creature's eyes narrowed, a flicker of intent visible even from afar. Sensing an opening, it surged forward with explosive speed—faster, more aggressive, closing the distance in a blink.
But Wang Feng was ready.
Just as the enemy came within a few meters, he ignited his most destructive power—his Fire Qi, fused with the blazing Golden Yang Flames. The infernal energy roared to life, engulfing his entire body.
In that instant, the world changed.
A searing blaze erupted outward, banishing shadows and flooding the forest with golden firelight. The surrounding trees glowed under the radiant surge, casting long, flickering silhouettes across the terrain. It was as though a miniature sun had burst to life within the darkness.
And finally—bathed in the unforgiving light—Wang Feng saw it.
And what he was made his skin crawl.
He saw a monstrous bat-like creature that was three meters tall, with a wingspan stretching eight meters wide. Its skin was pitch-black, tightly wrapped around a skeletal frame, giving it a starved, deathly appearance.
Hollow ribs and sharp joints protrude beneath the taut flesh. Its gaping mouth, enough to devour a human whole, lined with jagged, elongated fangs. Two glowing crimson eyes burn with a bloodthirsty gleam, piercing through the darkness.
Shrouded in a cloak of shadowy energy, the creature seems to flicker in and out of visibility, blending with the dense, ominous forest that surrounds it—like a predator born of pure nightmare.
[Pic in discord]
The creature shrieked, a piercing cry that shattered the air as the blazing light from Wang Feng's flames seared into its vision. It flinched, flapping its wings violently to halt its charge and retreat from the searing heat and brilliance radiating from him.
Wang Feng caught the hesitation instantly. Without wasting a breath, he surged forward like a drawn arrow. The Celestial Splitter appeared in his grip, its blade instantly engulfed in roaring Qi and flickering Golden Yang Flames. With a fluid motion, he slashed downward, aiming to cleave through the creature's retreat.
But the beast was not so easily taken.
Its ears twitched, reacting faster than sight. With another deafening shriek, it unleashed a wave of sonic energy—compressed, focused, and violently directed. The sound hit Wang Feng like a sledgehammer, a rippling force that distorted the air as it crashed into him.
He grunted, forced off his feet and flung backward, his body tumbling through the air before slamming to the ground several meters away. A sharp ring echoed in his ears, disorienting his senses for a moment.
He quickly rolled to his feet, eyes narrowing.
"That's some nasty work..." he muttered under his breath, wiping a trace of blood from his lip. His gaze locked on the beast, now circling cautiously above like a predator weighing its next move.
'but, what is there a Ancient Beast like this doing here!?', he complained, tightening his grip on the Celestial Splitter, his flames surged once more, coiling along the blade like serpents. If this thing wanted a fight—it would get one.
Wang Feng's breath slowed as he locked eyes with the shadowy figure. A glint of recognition flared in his gaze.
He had read about this creature—feared, shunned, and rarely spoken of even in the most ancient sect scrolls.
The Nether Ghost DisasterBat
An Ancient Wild Beast birthed from the Abyssal Depths of the world, a creature spawned not from nature, but from calamity itself. It existed in darkness, fed on fear, and struck like a phantom in the night. Wherever it appeared, blood flowed, souls vanished, and silence reigned.
Its purpose was singular—to Consume. It drained its prey's blood and soul in one breath, leaving behind only a husk and a lingering cry of resentment. Tales said that the air around it would always feel heavy with grievance, as if a thousand unwilling spirits trailed in its wake.
A master of Shadow Dao, Yin Dao, and even the elusive Soul and Blood Daos—its combination of affinities made it a nightmare even for ancient cultivators.
Yet...
"Why is it only at Tier 3…?" Wang Feng's thoughts raced. "A beast of this level should be at least Tier 9, maybe even higher. What is it doing here—at this level, in a place like this?"
His brows furrowed. Something was wrong.
This wasn't just a weakened version. It shouldn't exist here. A beast of that lineage didn't naturally appear in these kinds of lower realms—unless it had been placed here on purpose.
A test? A mistake? Or something far worse?
"No matter the reason," Wang Feng thought grimly, eyes sharpening, "if it's only Tier 3, then I still have a chance to destroy it. But I'll have to go all out. No holding back."
He couldn't afford to drag this fight out. One slip, and he could end up as nothing more than a memory—his blood and soul swallowed by the very shadow now creeping toward him.
Wang Feng's Qi pulsed violently as the Golden Flames roared higher—and were quickly joined by an earthen brown glow, a verdant green shimmer, and a deep azure ripple. Elemental energy surged around him like a storm drawn from nature's core itself.
His grip tightened around the Celestial Splitter. With narrowed eyes, he slashed forward, his voice a quiet thunder in the air:
"Earthly Tribulation."
The blade hummed, its body infused with an ethereal brilliance. Fire, Water, Earth, and Wood—four elemental forces swirled in perfect harmony, merging into a singular destructive arc. It was not a mere attack—it was nature's judgment, manifest.
A crushing, suffocating pressure crashed onto the Nether Ghost Disaster Bat. The trees trembled. The very soil rumbled. It was as if the forest itself had declared the creature unworthy of its domain. Nature rejected its presence—Fire sought to burn it, Earth to bury it, Water to drown it, and Wood to bind it.
The Bat shrieked, its crimson eyes flaring with fury and dread. In response, the cloak of shadows around its body surged violently. Darker than pitch, more sinister than night, the shadow wrapped around it like armor forged from the Abyss.
And then—it vanished.
Even with Wang Feng's brilliant flames illuminating the forest, the creature faded from existence like a dying whisper. No heat signature, no fluctuation in Yin Qi—just nothing.
Wang Feng's instincts roared to life as danger surged closer. His senses sharpened, honed to a razor's edge. In a heartbeat, he activated his movement technique, layering it with Blazing Bull Charge, and pushed his body to its absolute limit—muscles coiling with power, every joint primed for speed and precision.
But he was a moment too slow.
The Bat materialized at his flank like a phantom, its jaws snapping down with horrifying speed. It blocked his path with uncanny precision and struck. Wang Feng twisted mid-motion, barely managing to shift his body just enough to avoid a fatal bite—but the fangs sank into his forearm.
A cry tore from his throat as searing pain shot through his arm. Blood drained rapidly, as though siphoned by a vacuum. He felt not just his lifeblood leaving—but his vital essence, as if the creature were trying to drink his very soul.
Snarling through the pain, Wang Feng countered. His free arm surged upward, Celestial Splitter gripped tight. The blade blazed with chaotic Qi—seven turbulent, flickering colors dancing across its edge, each one surging with primal force.
Flame. Water. Wood. Earth. Metal. Yang. Yin.
The sword radiated elemental destruction, a kaleidoscope of raw power.
Sensing the impending danger, the Bat instinctively clamped down, attempting to rip his arm free and escape. But it underestimated him. Wang Feng's physique—tempered through battles—held firm.
With a roar, he brought the blade down.