** The First Battle (It would have been easier if you just gave me a goddamm weapon! - James) **
As Ye Chen sat amidst the cave's shadows, frustration still lingering from his prior rant, his gaze fell upon the Qi manipulation technique laid out before him.
A glimmer of excitement ignited within him at the prospect of delving into cultivation.
Eagerly, he reached for the technique, determined to start his journey as a cultivator.
However, just as he was about to immerse himself in learning, a sense of unease washed over him. It was as if the author's intentions were looming over his efforts.
In a moment of apprehension, Ye Chen realized the author might not make it as simple as he hoped. The prospect of an easy breakthrough seemed to be slipping away.
The frustration boiled inside him at the potential interference.
His hands hovered over the technique, a mixture of excitement and exasperation contorting his expression.
"Come on!" he muttered under his breath, almost pleading with the unseen forces controlling his fate.
"Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
Ye Chen's irritation surged as he sensed the author's reluctance to grant him an effortless entry into the world of cultivation.
The imminent obstacle set before him threatened to shatter his hopes of a swift initiation.
An exasperated sigh escaped him as he hesitated, grappling with the author's manipulative tendencies.
The tension between his yearning for progress and the author's potential interference pushed him to the edge, teetering on the brink of frustration.
As Ye Chen reluctantly awaited his fate, a surprising turn occurred. The author, grumbling about the lack of progress, relented.
With a sense of begrudging concession, the narrative was allowed to take a leap forward.
Elation surged through Ye Chen as he delved into the Qi manipulation technique.
In the passage of a couple of days, Ye Chen devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Qi manipulation technique.
However, within the narrative's flow, it seemed like the blink of an eye, merely a few sentences, and Ye Chen found himself achieving the 5th stage of the Mortal Realm.
Surprised by the rapid progression, Ye Chen couldn't help but marvel at the discrepancy between perceived time and narrative brevity.
"Well, that was unexpectedly quick," he commented, a wry smile tugging at his lips, as he slyly winked at the unseen audience.
"Feels like it took no time at all, just a few sentences' worth in this storytelling speed run."
Surprised at the rapid progress, Ye Chen couldn't help but revel in the unexpected acceleration of his cultivation journey.
The irony of the author's rushed storytelling didn't escape him, prompting a cheeky acknowledgment directed at the audience.
As Ye Chen settled into his newfound cultivation status, the author, irked by his cheeky comment, swiftly steered the narrative towards a classic plotline.
Suddenly, Ye Chen found himself thrown into the realm of battling beasts for their prized beast pills, either for monetary gain or to utilize them for his cultivation.
"Ah, the old 'fight beasts for their pills' routine," Ye Chen quipped, unable to resist the opportunity to poke fun at the predictable narrative twist.
"Seems like someone's leaning heavily on the clichés, huh?" he remarked, casting a wry glance at the invisible author while addressing the audience.
"Convenient, isn't it? Always a good excuse for character development."
Despite his snide comments, Ye Chen couldn't suppress a spark of excitement at the prospect of finally commencing his cultivation journey.
The lure of advancing his abilities, even through the overused trope, was enough to kindle a genuine sense of anticipation within him.
As Ye Chen stood in the cave, grappling with his lack of equipment and the eerie absence of audience interaction, the author's narrative stepped in, guiding him through the forest.
With a mere suggestion from the unseen puppet master, Ye Chen found himself navigating deeper into the woods.
The author's narrative prowess acted as his guiding light, nudging him hour by hour, leading him further into the dense foliage.
Despite the initial turmoil of being unequipped, Ye Chen followed the author's unspoken directions, tracing a path deeper into the forest.
Each step taken under the author's narrative guidance allowed him to progress, albeit with a sense of trepidation looming over him.
As he journeyed further, the forest grew thicker, shrouded in an eerie silence broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves.
Ye Chen's reliance on the author's narrative directions became both his saving grace and a reminder of his dependency on this unseen force controlling his fate.
As Ye Chen traversed deeper into the forest under the author's unspoken guidance, a sense of unease settled within him.
Suddenly, a disconcerting rustle of branches disrupted the eerie silence.
Startled, Ye Chen spun around, only to be confronted by a monstrous creature, resembling a leopard, its presence emitting distinct qi fluctuations mirroring his own strength.
Caught off guard by the unexpected encounter, Ye Chen's heart raced with a mix of surprise and apprehension.
The creature stood its ground, its feline-like form exuding a primal ferocity.
A tense standoff ensued as Ye Chen assessed the situation, his mind racing to formulate a plan in the face of this unexpected adversary, eerily matched to his own cultivation strength.
Ye Chen's realization hit hard as he stood weapon-less facing the menacing creatures he was expected to battle.
Turning to the unseen audience, he attempted to implore them, his tone laced with urgency.
"Hey, anyone out there? A little help, perhaps?"
Ye Chen pleaded, trying to elicit support from the audience.
Yet, an unsettling silence prevailed, no chapter comments or reviews in sight. A sense of abandonment settled upon him like a heavy shroud.
Realization dawned on Ye Chen as the stark truth became apparent—he was alone, left at the mercy of this manipulative puppeteer of an author.
"Damn it!" he exclaimed in frustration, a mixture of anger and helplessness colouring his voice.
"Left stranded by this sadistic storyteller, aren't I?"
The harsh reality of his situation sank in.
Bereft of assistance or intervention from the readers, Ye Chen faced the impending challenge unequipped and isolated, cursing the unforeseen consequences of his interaction with the whimsical author.
In the heart of the forest, an intense clash unfolded between Ye Chen and the leopard-like creature.
Armed with nothing but his wits against the razor-sharp claws and agile attacks of his foe, Ye Chen found himself in a gruelling battle.
The creature lunged, claws slashing through the air.
Ye Chen dodged, narrowly evading the vicious strikes.
With a swift motion, he countered, using every bit of his martial instinct to fend off the beast's relentless assault.
The fight raged on, both combatants trading blows in a deadly dance.
Despite his usual snarky demeanour, Ye Chen's quips faded into silence as the severity of the situation dawned upon him.
The pain from a claw gash across his arm was a stark awakening, jolting him into the grim reality of the battle.
With every move, every calculated strike, Ye Chen fought valiantly, pushing his limits in a desperate bid to survive.
His breaths came in ragged gasps, sweat mingling with blood, as the ferocious creature continued its relentless assault.
As the struggle intensified, Ye Chen's thoughts shifted from wit to survival.
Each blow he landed came at a cost, the pain searing through his body.
His fighting spirit remained unwavering, but the realization that his situation was dire began to sink in, the sharp sting of injury driving the gravity of the situation home.
Ye Chen held the leopards head as he straddled its back, forcing his thumbs into its eyes.
With a sickening 'POP', thick eye goo squirted into hi face and mouth as he searched deeper into the leopards skull.
Feeling the outline of the brain he pushed.
Killing the squirming leopard as its jaw was latched onto his shoulder finally gave way, relinquishing its grip.
After a gruelling battle that left both Ye Chen and the leopard battered and bloodied, the creature finally lay defeated at Ye Chen's feet.
Despite the staggering wounds covering his body, Ye Chen stood tall, his stance marked by resilience and defiance.
Breathing heavily, his pale face contrasting with the ferocity of the recent fight, a faint smile curved Ye Chen's lips.
"Is that all you've got?" he quipped, his voice carrying a hint of jest, directed at the unseen orchestrator of his trials.
The dark countenance born of the struggle was swiftly replaced by the familiar playful and sarcastic tone.
Despite the severity of his injuries, Ye Chen's spirit remained unbroken, his resilient demeanour resurfacing amidst the wreckage of the battle.
With a mixture of sarcasm and defiance, he stood victorious, a testament to his unyielding determination and the refusal to succumb to the author's challenges.