CHAPTER 120: ANCIENT FOREST

The following morning, the Li Family compound was abuzz with rumors. Servants whispered about Li Tian’s victories in the tournament, while disciples of the clan muttered in both envy and awe. Though no official acknowledgment had yet been made, the ripples of his success were spreading wider with each passing hour.

Li Tian, however, paid them no mind. He sat in the courtyard of his secluded residence, the crisp morning breeze carrying the faint fragrance of blossoming plum trees. His eyes were closed as he cultivated, but his mind lingered on the system’s words from the night before.

[New Task Generated: Seek the source of the strange fluctuations near the Ancient Forest within seven days. Reward: Unknown.]

He smirked faintly. Unknown rewards were often the most enticing. The Ancient Forest lay several days’ journey to the east, a place whispered about even among seasoned cultivators. The deeper one went, the stranger the qi became, and there were stories of beasts that defied natural law. It wasn’t a place young cultivators casually explored, yet the system had directed him there without hesitation.

Just as he was about to sink deeper into thought, footsteps approached. He didn’t need to open his eyes to know who it was.

"Brother Tian," Li Xue called softly. She carried a small basket of food, her expression bright yet tinged with worry.

He opened his eyes and smiled lazily. "You spoil me, Xue. Again bringing me food when I can handle it myself?"

She set the basket down beside him and sat on the stone bench. "If I don’t bring it, you’ll forget to eat. You always get lost in cultivation or training."

Her words were scolding, but her tone was warm. He reached for a bun from the basket, taking a casual bite. "You worry too much. But... it’s good to have someone who cares."

Her cheeks flushed faintly, though she quickly looked away, pretending to fuss with the basket. After a pause, her voice dropped lower. "Brother, where will you go next? I can feel it... you won’t stay here long."

Li Tian leaned back, gazing at the drifting clouds above. "You’re perceptive, as always. The world doesn’t wait, Xue. I have somewhere I need to be."

She bit her lip, struggling to hold back her words. Finally, she whispered, "Then... promise me you’ll be careful. I don’t want to lose you."

He turned his head, meeting her gaze directly. The sincerity in her eyes was unwavering, and for a moment, the indifferent mask he usually wore softened. "I promise," he said simply.

Before she could respond, another voice cut through the air, this one laced with elegance and allure. "So, this is where you’ve been hiding, Tian."

Both turned to see Xu Fang, one of Li Tian’s stepmothers, approaching. She was dressed in a flowing silk robe, her every movement radiating charm. Her lips curved into a faint smile as her eyes swept over him, lingering just long enough to make her intent clear.

"Word of your... surprising performance has reached even the inner halls," she said, her voice smooth like honey. "It seems I underestimated you."

Li Tian smirked faintly, unbothered by her presence. "It wouldn’t be the first time people underestimated me. I rather enjoy the feeling of proving them wrong."

Her smile deepened. "Confident, aren’t you? Be careful not to let pride blind you. The stronger you become, the more eyes will turn toward you—some filled with admiration, others with envy."

Her words were a warning, though her tone carried an undertone of interest. Li Xue’s expression tightened as she glanced between the two, her hand unconsciously gripping the edge of her dress.

Li Tian leaned forward slightly, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Eyes have been on me since the day I was born, Xu Fang. But let them watch. I don’t live for their approval."

For a brief moment, silence stretched. Then Xu Fang chuckled softly, the sound like a bell. "How intriguing. Perhaps you are not the useless boy everyone believed. Perhaps... you are something more."

She lingered just a moment longer, her gaze lingering on him before she finally turned and walked away. Her presence faded, but the air she left behind was charged.

Li Xue frowned, breaking the silence. "I don’t trust her, Brother. She’s... dangerous."

Li Tian laughed lightly. "Dangerous women make life interesting."

Though he spoke playfully, his mind was already turning toward the Ancient Forest. Whatever lay waiting there, it would mark the beginning of the next stage in his journey. And if danger came knocking—whether from beasts, enemies, or even alluring stepmothers—he was more than ready to face it.

That night, as the compound slept, Li Tian sat alone in his room. Moonlight spilled across the floor, silver and cold. He examined the new technique the system had granted him—Shadow Serpent Step—moving through the motions until his form blurred into afterimages that danced across the walls. Each step was silent, elusive, like a phantom slipping through the darkness.

[Task Reminder: The Ancient Forest awaits. Time remaining: 6 days.]

Li Tian’s lips curved into a cold smile. "Then let’s see what secrets you hold."