CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 55: UNINVITED GUEST

The Black Water Forest is a vast, dense forest located just outside Iron Stone City. Only by passing through this forest can one reach the outer edges of the Spirit Beast Mountain Range. As far as Su Chen knew, there were no Spirit Beasts in the Black Water Forest. This is because Spirit Beasts also require a special environment to survive. The mundane world is not suitable for their cultivation and reproduction. Across the whole Profound Cyan Continent, it is said that only a few places are suitable for their survival. The young Su Chen only knew of one, and that was the Spirit Beast Mountain Range.

For two years, he had walked this path countless times, and the people he met along the way had all become familiar faces.

In the city, Uncle Hans was a hunter, Gorantai managed a team of herbalists, and there was even Doug’s team of jewel prospectors. They would enter the Black Water Forest from time to time seeking business opportunities. They were very familiar with Su Chen, though few would greet him because everyone knew he was unlucky.

"Look, that kid is heading to the Black Water Forest again!"

A young man shouted from the carriage.

The bearded driver snapped his whip, laughing heartily, "Little fellow, you’re quick on your feet, but can you keep up with my fast horse? Giddyup!"

The carriage stirred up a cloud of dust, accompanied by laughter, yet Little Su Chen didn’t even lift his eyes, continuing on his way.

He was a child who wasn’t good with words, never easily showing his emotions. For three years he endured the cold shoulders and mockery of his family, but it only strengthened his resolve to grow stronger and bring honor to his father. He firmly believed that only by becoming a powerhouse on the Profound Cyan Continent could he wipe away the grievances and humiliation he had suffered over the years.

So, when Su Hutian rejected his training plan three years ago, he nearly cried from disappointment. However, with his unyielding persistence, Su Hutian was finally moved and agreed to let him train in the Black Water Forest daily, provided he returned before dark. Initially, Su Hutian worried for his safety, sending a few guards to secretly protect him, but Su Chen slyly changed routes, causing the guards to lose track of him. When nothing happened for the next two months, Su Hutian let him be.

In truth, Su Hutian was quite pleased. The Su Chen he envisioned had that stubborn and independent nature. Although his status within the family was waning and his business was falling behind others, watching Su Chen grow day by day filled his heart with hope for the future...

After nearly two hours of walking, Su Chen finally arrived at the Black Water Forest. Gazing out, the forest was as vast as ever, its end unseen. Initially, he had felt fear here, hesitating. After all, a five-year-old child facing such a boundless forest could not help but be afraid.

But when he remembered the mockery and shooing away he’d faced at the training grounds, he could only muster his courage and step inside. From that moment on, he became intimately familiar with this ancient forest. Over three years, Su Chen’s footprints spread across half the forest. He couldn’t claim full familiarity, but he could at least navigate five different paths leading to his favorite training spot, the Wangyue Waterfall. The name he had given it himself, as he was so small he had to look up to see the top of the waterfall.

Soon, Su Chen arrived at the Wangyue Waterfall. Amid the roaring sound, the cascading waterfall came down like hundreds of white silk threads from the sky, plunging into the pool with an ear-piercing sound. Fresh mist greeted him head-on, carrying a refreshing chill.

The waterfall was about a hundred meters high, situated northeast of the Black Water Forest, surrounded by tall trees, where some small, friendly animals lived. Su Chen considered them friends. When he picked fruit, he would share some with them. Over time, these animals developed a trust for him; whenever strangers or danger approached, they would alert him so he could hide in advance.

Upon Su Chen’s arrival, quite a few animals who knew him emerged from the bushes, watching him with goodwill from not far away. Su Chen smiled at them, hung his bag on a tree branch, stripped off his short-sleeved training clothes and pants, and waded barefoot into the pool.

With a splash, after taking a few steps, he suddenly dove forward, plunging into the icy pool water like a nimble fish, swimming freely underwater.

He submerged about three to four meters below the surface, not having to worry about being struck by the relentless waterfall. In two years, his understanding of the Proud Celestial Profound Scripture had reached a point where he could freely circulate the small heavenly cycle without sitting still, though the effect was slightly less. But his body’s resilience and broadened meridians compensated for these deficiencies. A faint warmth circulated within, dispelling the chill brought by the pool water. Just eight years old, Su Chen swam briskly toward the center of the pool.

Upon reaching the pool’s center, the roar above was noticeably louder. The torrent crashing down from above had the force of a mountain, creating waves several yards high on the surface and generating a strong swirl and pulling force. Su Chen stopped in advance, then controlled the rapid flow of internal energy, instantly maximizing the agility of his limbs!

He held his breath, letting himself be pulled into the swirling force without struggle, simply allowing his limbs to rhythmically coordinate with the direction of the whirlpool, accelerating his speed of being sucked in.

Though his head felt dizzy, the comfort created by the energy soon eased it. His body was swept downward until he reached a spot unaffected by the whirlpool’s force, then he sped diagonally upwards again! Soon enough, with a whoosh, he shot out of the water’s surface, shaking his head vigorously like a duck, water splashing everywhere!

"Huff!"

He took a deep breath of fresh air and swam towards the curtain cave beneath the waterfall.

This curtain cave he had only discovered out of a curiosity that suddenly sparked. Initially, he just wanted to endure the waterfall’s onslaught to train his body, not expecting that curiosity would lead him to explore beneath the waterfall, nearly costing him his small life in the whirlpool. Fortunately, he had incredible luck and narrowly escaped, discovering this mysterious curtain cave.

Little did he expect that inside the curtain cave lay an environment greatly beneficial for his cultivation technique. In just three years, he was already capable of circulating his internal energy for ten complete cycles within two hours! Most children his age had no Spirit Beast bloodline, let alone the ability to condense a Sea of Qi and comprehend cultivation techniques. Of course, his years of physical training to expand his meridians played a significant role, but the curtain cave’s contribution was substantial.

The entrance of the curtain cave was several meters from the shore. Su Chen climbed up, his whole body damp, and he walked barefoot into the curtain cave confidently.

Usually at this time, he would head straight for the center of the cave, where the Spiritual Qi was most abundant, allowing for the greatest benefits during cultivation. But this time, his steps halted abruptly outside the entrance.

Because, to his astonishment, inside this familiar curtain cave had appeared a terrifying uninvited guest!