Chapter 4
Within the aftermath of the explosive confrontation, Chen Wei lay sprawled and unconscious, surrounded by a lingering aura of disbelief, the four masters cautiously edging toward the crater, their expressions now a tapestry of astonishment interwoven with uncertainty. Each scrutinized Chen Wei's inert form, grappling with the unprecedented fusion of power and vulnerability that the seven-year-old prodigy had unveiled before them. Meanwhile, the elder master, a seasoned figure etched with the wisdom of years, persisted in his relentless search throughout the sprawling expanse of the academy grounds, the motives propelling him into an enigmatic dance with determination.
In a harmonious counterpoint to the complex orchestration unfolding within the academy, Yang Xin, guided by an enigmatic purpose, seamlessly navigated his departure, effortlessly propelling himself homeward. The precision with which he executed the passage through his room window bespoke a mastery over movement that transcended the mundane. Unbeknownst to him, the poignant gaze of his concerned mother bore silent witness to the hurried actions of her prodigious son, her unanswered pleas a poignant melody woven into the intricate fabric of familial concern.
The village, now a crucible of speculation and rumors, found itself ensnared within a state of perplexity. Whispers, imbued with a palpable tension, wove through the air, carrying tales of a child who had audaciously defied the established norms of martial hierarchy. Amidst the communal murmurings, Yang Xin's singular determination resonated like a leitmotif, echoing through the consciousness of onlookers and casting ripples of uncertainty upon the tranquil surface of village life.
As the young prodigy navigated the village thoroughfares, his discerning eyes, honed by the crucible of experience, identified a colossal forest to the north—a dense expanse that beckoned with the allure of mystery and challenge. Reflecting upon the recent confrontation and the intricacies that permeated his self-perception, Yang Xin mused with a philosophical depth, "That was far from perfect. Despite the vast opportunities bestowed upon me by the rebirth and the potent elixirs, my strength remains a fleeting whisper in the symphony of martial prowess. Were it not for the wealth of experiential sagacity I carry, the outcome might have been a dirge echoing with missed potential."
With an unwavering resolve to transcend the perceived limitations woven into his self-awareness, Yang Xin articulated his commitment to a relentless pursuit of self-betterment, a journey now interwoven into the very fabric of his existence. The northward sprint brought him ever closer to the looming forest, an arboreal tapestry painted in hues of possibility and challenge. In a moment of focused determination, he stepped into the shadowy embrace of the arboreal realm, heedless of a humble sign that whispered cryptic warnings: "Dungeon: Forest of Chaos." Unfazed, Yang Xin ventured into the heart of a Hunter Forest, a realm where martial masters sought to carve trophies from monstrous adversaries—a perilous tableau of challenges and opportunities painted upon the canvas of his relentless pursuit of strength.
Within the dense embrace of the forest, Yang Xin became an ephemeral shadow, weaving through the labyrinthine network of trees with a grace reminiscent of a seasoned dancer. As he traversed the verdant expanse, his movements harmonized with the undulating cadence of the foliage, the leaves whispering tales of his passage.
Amidst the arboreal dance, peculiar creatures materialized in the dappled sunlight. Bunnies, their proportions almost human-sized, exhibited an otherworldly charm as they frolicked beneath the towering canopies. Spiders, their spindly legs stretching like the limbs of ancient oaks, loomed large, each the size of a ping-pong ball, casting intricate webs that shimmered in the play of sunlight.
For Yang Xin, these colossal creatures were but passing denizens in his personal odyssey, a tableau he navigated with the nonchalance of a master traversing his domain. Swift as the breeze, he dispatched approaching insects with clean, precise strikes. His fists, honed through countless battles, sliced through the air, severing the formidable chitinous exoskeletons without the need for a conventional weapon.
After an enthralling twelve minutes of this balletic interaction between man and nature, the forest revealed a breathtaking scene—a serene lake cradled within the bosom of the verdant expanse. Alongside the water's edge stood a colossal tree, its roots intertwined with the very essence of the earth, forming a symbiotic dance between the elements.
This magnificent tree, a testament to nature's grandeur, soared to towering heights, its branches embracing the sky with an elegance that spoke of centuries in silent contemplation. The leaves, dappled in hues of emerald and gold, created a mesmerizing tapestry that fluttered in response to the caress of a gentle breeze. Below the sprawling branches, an assortment of luminous flowers, their colors evoking the palette of a master painter, added an ethereal touch to the sylvan panorama.
Beside the lake, the water mirrored the dance of the heavens above, reflecting the azure sky with a pristine clarity that mirrored the untamed beauty of this untouched haven. A gentle ripple played upon the surface, echoing the heartbeat of the forest, creating a symphony of serenity.
Yang Xin, momentarily entranced by this oasis of natural splendor, allowed himself a fleeting pause. The rhythm of the forest embraced him, inviting a moment of communion with the untamed symphony of life that surrounded him. Yet, as the whispers of the leaves beckoned, a silent understanding passed between the master and the wild—an acknowledgment that this moment was but a brief respite in the relentless pursuit of strength that awaited him in the heart of the Hunter Forest.
Deeper into the forest's embrace, where the verdant canopy interwove with an almost ethereal luminosity, Yang Xin continued to amass momentum, his movements an intricate ballet amid the arboreal stage. Yet, with every stride into the heart of this sylvan sanctuary, the crescendo of nature's chorus intensified, unveiling an ecosystem where the insects and creatures mirrored the wilderness's unforgiving essence.
In the heart of this lush expanse, Yang Xin confronted a creature of palpable dread—a serpent of abyssal darkness, a sinewy colossus coiled around the very essence of the forest. Standing at an imposing 18 meters, this black snake seemed to eclipse the very shadows it cast. Its scales, adorned with a demonic luster, bore the intricacies of an ancient tapestry woven with the threads of malevolence. Its eyes, twin orbs gleaming with an unholy brilliance, locked onto Yang Xin with an intensity that echoed the abyss itself.
As the serpent fixated its malevolent gaze upon the seven-year-old, Yang Xin reciprocated with an unwavering stare. In a whispered murmur to himself, he declared, "Let's see if you can withstand a full-power punch of mine." In the blink of an eye, he vanished from the snake's field of vision, only to reappear moments later, having carved a massive hole through the serpent's colossal body.
The air trembled with a seismic boom, and shockwaves rippled through the forest as the snake succumbed to the force of Yang Xin's punch. It crumpled to the ground, its colossal form now a testament to the astonishing power contained within the small yet formidable fists of the seven-year-old prodigy. Yang Xin, however, met this triumph with a contemplative gaze at his own hand, silently acknowledging that there remained ample room for improvement in his martial prowess.
Undeterred, he resumed his journey through the forest, seeking a sanctuary for his training. Soon, he encountered a tree with a human-sized hole, two meters in height—a perfect haven where no bothersome creatures could disrupt his cultivation. Yang Xin, exclaiming, "Perfect spot to train," hopped into the hole and settled in, embarking on the intricate process of cultivation within the heart of the enchanting yet perilous realm of the Hunter Forest.