Chapter 25 :leaving the forest

The den remained silent. The only sounds were the occasional rustling of leaves outside, the distant cries of nocturnal creatures, and the steady rhythm of Snow and Lian's breathing.

Snow didn't sleep deeply. He never did. His instincts wouldn't allow it. But he rested, his body still and his senses stretched just far enough to detect anything approaching.

Nothing came.

The night passed without incident.

When morning arrived, Snow rose early. He stepped outside the den, his sharp eyes scanning the forest. The scent of blood from their battle had faded slightly, but he could tell other creatures had passed through the area. Smaller scavengers, nothing dangerous.

For now.

Lian emerged shortly after, yawning as she stretched. "Still here, still alive. I'd call that a win."

Snow didn't respond, instead focusing on his breathing. He began a slow cultivation cycle, drawing in the ambient qi from the air.He had reached the fifth level of qi Refining thanks to all the killing and the chaotic essence cultivation technique but it was starting to be harder to advance..

when he first started using this cultivation technique all this killing would have increased his cultivation by a least a whole realm but now it barely increased his cultivation by 4 levels now..And he was starting to get more irritable, his thoughts getting darker ,all this resentment was taking a toll on him.He knew that if he used this longer he would go berserk..he had to find a way to deal with these resentment or he would go berserk. That is why he was only absorbing ambient qi for now..

The den remained their sanctuary for the day, a rare moment of calm amidst the chaos of their journey.

Snow and Lian spent most of the morning tending to their wounds. Snow's injuries were shallow, nothing life-threatening, but Lian had taken more hits than she let on. Deep scratches ran along her arms and legs from the wolves' claws. She treated them quickly, using what little medicine she had left.

"Could've been worse," Lian muttered, tying a fresh bandage around her arm. "At least we got a place to rest."

Snow gave a slight nod but remained silent. His body had recovered well, thanks to his cultivation, but his mind remained unsettled. The Chaotic Essence Cultivation Technique gnawed at him, a festering hunger for more violence, more killing. He had felt it before, but never this strong.

He focused on controlling his breath, on calming the storm inside him. Absorbing only ambient qi helped, but it wasn't enough. He needed something more.

By midday, their strength had mostly returned, though they both remained cautious.

Lian stretched, rolling her shoulders. "We should check the rest of the den. If we're lucky, we might find something useful before we leave."

Snow agreed. The wolves had occupied this place for a long time. Spirit beasts often guarded treasures—whether instinctively or by coincidence.

They moved carefully through the tunnels, their steps light and controlled. Most of the chambers were empty, nothing but old nesting spots and the faint scent of the former pack.

Then, in one of the deeper chambers, they found something unexpected.

A patch of glowing herbs grew near a small underground stream, their faint golden light illuminating the damp cavern walls.There were about 40 of them

Lian knelt, brushing her fingers over the soft petals. "Spirit herbs," she murmured. "Looks like they're absorbing the energy from the water here."

Snow studied them carefully. These herbs weren't particularly rare, but they were still difficult to find. They could be used for healing, cleansing impurities, and even suppressing unstable qi.

He took a few, storing them away. He could sell them later along with monster cores he had collected along the way

With nothing else of value, they returned to the main chamber, resting for the remainder of the day.

That night, Snow meditated,he had eaten 2 of the spirit herbs letting the pure qi they released soothe his dark impulses. It wasn't a solution, but it was enough for now.

At dawn, they prepared to leave.

Snow stood at the entrance of the den, his gaze scanning the forest. The territory was still unclaimed, but that would change soon. The scent of death lingered, a beacon for stronger predators.

Lian adjusted her gear. "Time to move."

Snow nodded. Without another word, they vanished into the forest, leaving the den behind.

Their journey continued.

The journey through the forest remained tense, but without the presence of a dominant predator, the danger lessened.

Snow and Lian moved swiftly, avoiding unnecessary conflicts while taking down the occasional spirit beast that crossed their path. Most were lone beast.

The first day passed with relative ease. A few lesser spirit beasts attacked, but Snow dispatched them quickly, his blade cutting through their defenses with ruthless efficiency. Lian held her own, her dagger swift and precise. Though their fights were frequent, none were life-threatening.

By the second day, they had left the central forest behind. The deeper regions, where stronger spirit beasts roamed, faded into the distance. The trees thinned, sunlight breaking through the once-dense canopy. The air felt lighter, less oppressive.

"We're near the outer edge," Lian noted as they walked. "It's almost… peaceful."

Snow glanced around. The change was noticeable. The beasts here were weaker, their presence scattered. Small herbivores skittered through the underbrush, while low-level predators stalked in the distance, uninterested in them.

They took advantage of the calm, maintaining their pace without pushing themselves too hard. Snow continued absorbing only ambient qi, stabilizing his cultivation. The Chaotic Essence Cultivation Technique still clawed at his mind, but the spirit herbs helped. He rationed them carefully, eating one each night to suppress the growing resentment inside him.The routine continued.

The fourth day arrived without incident.

By midday, they saw it—the city walls looming in the distance.

It was a sprawling settlement, its stone barriers standing tall against the wilderness. Watchtowers lined the perimeter, guards stationed at every checkpoint. Even from afar, they could see the bustling movement of travelers, merchants, and cultivators moving in and out of the gates.

Lian exhaled. "Finally."

Snow remained silent, his gaze sharp. The city represented safety—but also new challenges. He had his own goals, his own path to walk.

And this was just the beginning.

Without hesitation, they moved forward, stepping onto the road that led to the city's entrance.