CHAPTER 77: TENTH...

A glimmering body of water nestled in a crescent-shaped vale, framed by towering pines and willows that draped like the veils of mourning maidens.

But behind its beauty, something stirred.

Not far beneath the surface, Young Master Zhao could sense qi fluctuations which was subtle and rhythmic, like the breathing of a submerged predator.

A Grade 4 Bone-Scaled Carp.

A vicious creature, that possesses both intelligence and cunningness, Its flesh was inedible, but its bones... were said to hum with resonance, ideal for a spiritual core and making low-quality spiritual weapons.

Since, grade 2 and above spiritual weapons don’t work in this domain, it’s better to craft a grade one spiritual weapon.

Zhao Fan’s gaze darkened slightly, the corners of his robe fluttering as he stepped lightly off the ridge, his body descending like a falling leaf.

No words, no hesitation, he landed on the water, causing a single ripple to spread out beneath him without any splash, or disturbance.

The carp did not strike, instead, it continued watching Young Master Zhao.

Young Master Zhao blinked once and a rune appeared above Carp’s body.

Woosh~

The Golden qi rushed forward attacking the only visible weakness which was its eye.

Polp*

With a polp the fish returned to the depths of the lake however it was already too late, Its heart was covered in three Qi-gathering array.

It’s only a matter of time before the Qi heart bursts...

Wooosh!

A strong ripple spread across the lake and the bones emerged on the surface, with quick steps, Young Master collected the bones.

After that, they continued to hunt a few beasts, they also killed a tier 3 thunder boar and ate it, and they also collected some treasure and kept it in the storage ring.

The sun never rose, and the moon never left.

A strange thing, Zhao Fan noted, standing quietly beneath a stone arch veiled in moss and vine. The group had ventured deeper after resting by the lakeside. There were signs that this world was not merely a hunting ground.

The trees whispered, though there was no wind.

The rocks hummed, though there was no song.

No, it’s not a poetic metaphor but a reality. There was a strange dao rhythm moving from tree to tree, and stone to stone, like a secret code.

It seems all these rhythms are being carried to the centre, and Young Master didn’t wish to visit there yet.

Such phenomena weren’t unknown to him, it’s probably the existence of an enlightened tree with a tree spirit, thus, it’s better not to provoke it.

A tree spirit at minimum is a tier-6 beast, something they can’t win against no matter what, and truth be revealed, staying here for a long time isn’t ideal either since, the tree spirit already knows about their existence.

Nodding slowly, Zhao Fan let his gaze sweep across the verdant landscape once more, as he knew they can’t run from here.

Plus,

There was something unsettling about the way the world seemed to pulse with an otherworldly rhythm, as if the very land itself was alive and watching them.

Could it be more powerful than Young Master imagined?

A grade 7 or even 8 tree spirit with vast roots?

"We should leave now..." the Young Master uttered, his voice low and urgent as he stood up from his place near the fire they had created.

"We cannot wait here any longer," he continued, his voice steadying as he realized the gravity of the situation.

They were the only group here so, it’s only logical for the tree spirit to come after them, a predator always chooses the prey in front of it.

Soon, they escaped the fireplace and went to the nearby mountain.

..

Soon, a small little fairy size of around 2 feet, with a confused expression came to the scene.

She ate the leftover boar meat.

Soon a Dao vibration reaches her feet and she quickly realizes where Zhao Fan and others have gone.

"Strange they went to Werewolf’s territory? Why would they leave the safe exploration zone?" She was confused.

It seems that this area has been designated as a safe zone, a refuge where only wild animals and those with relatively low combat abilities can stay.

However, one needs to fathom that this location contains treasures of a lower grade or low quality thus, they would eventually have to visit the other territories.

Alas, better safe than sorry, who could have thought the tree spirit was a friendly figure and this place was a safe zone when there was no figure to guide on this trial.

Well, apparently Tree Spirit is the guide here.

* * *

Zhao Fan stood still, perched atop a jagged rock outcropping overlooking the valley below.

Dark clouds churned low in the sky, though not a single drop of rain fell nor was there any thunder, it was like those foids were merely a show.

The mountains were quieter here, not the peaceful ones but empty without birds or any animals as if the ecosystem was destroyed, or maybe it was simply created like this.

"Something’s wrong," Jia Mei whispered, clutching her clothes tighter around her.

Zhao Fan’s eyes narrowed. "Indeed... We are being surrounded."

"Surrounded?" Ling’er asked with confusion, voice like a fleeting snow.

"indeed... It feels like creatures of shadows, probably wolves, they are weak to light but they also possess the understanding of the Dao of shadow, by attacking your shadow they can harm your real body," zhao Fan explained while he released his Qi and shot at the left... From a small shadow, a wolf jumped out.

It was as if this wolf came from the shadow realm.

A flicker of gold. A whisper of wind.

The shadow burst apart before it could fully manifest... dispersed by Zhao Fan’s qi like dust in the morning sun.

A faint whimper echoed through the stones. It carried no voice, only will.

"Shadowfangs!" Zhao Fan said, voice calm as still water.

"A sub-breed of Nightfangs. Born not of flesh, but of fear and forgotten resentment, perhaps hatred, or even solitude," Zhao Fan explained.

The Ohm vibration until it reaches 0 is absolute be it positive value or a negative value, thus, if you somehow die here you won’t go to hell or heaven and be trapped here.

The vibration will still stay while the body rots, and it needs some kind of manifestation, as the "will" still exists.

So, it will start to seek for a vessel thus, they generally merge with stones, flowers, and stuff but that’s not possible here so, it’s very likely they have merged with shadows...

In a sense,

These shadow wolves are merely the remains of people that have died long long ago.

Nonetheless, they are weaklings and the real predators of this area are Nightfangs.

"We need to leave..."