Ch 35: Time to Hunt -1
Feng Chen stood at the mouth of his cave, gazing out at the dense forest before him. The warm sun shone down, casting long shadows across the ground.
The gentle rustling of leaves filled the air, accompanied by the distant calls of unknown beasts. He took a deep breath, his mind abuzz with thoughts of his next move.
His strength had increased considerably, and yet, he was painfully aware that he had barely begun to unlock the true potential of his abilities. He had the power, yes... but mastering it, harnessing it completely, was another matter.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"So much to do... and yet here I am, just standing around like an idiot."
The System, ever the snarky companion, took the opportunity to jab at him.
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System Notification:-
Well, maybe if you spent less time talking and more time actually doing, you wouldn't be stuck here whining like a toddler.
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Feng Chen rolled his eyes.
"Can't let me have a moment of peace, can you?"
Still, the system was right. He wasn't going to achieve anything just standing there. He had important tasks ahead, tasks that required more than just brute strength.
He had tools... powerful tools... at his disposal, but he hadn't yet tapped into their full potential. The Barrier and the Qi Gathering Array were vital to his progress, and it was time to put them to use.
He reached into his spatial ring and pulled out the Barrier, feeling the cool surface of the orb in his hand. The energy inside hummed faintly, waiting to be awakened. Beside it, the Qi Gathering Array radiated a soft glow, eager to be deployed.
"Alright, System, how exactly do I use these?" Feng Chen asked, ready to activate the items.
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System Notification:-
Ugh, it's like you never pay attention. Fine, listen closely: You need to pour a sufficient amount of your Qi and blood essence into them. Once that's done, you can place them in your desired location. But try not to screw it up, alright? I don't want to deal with your whining if something goes wrong.
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Feng Chen smirked.
"Sure, sure. I'll be careful."
With a flick of his wrist, Feng Chen summoned his Qi. It flowed smoothly through his body, gathering in his palm before pouring into the Barrier. At the same time, he summoned his Abyssal Devourer Blade and lightly nicked his palm, allowing blood to drip onto the crystal.
The combination of Qi and blood essence caused the crystal to hum louder, glowing brighter and brighter until it was bathed in a radiant white light.
"Looks like that did the trick," he muttered, watching the crystal vibrate with energy.
He repeated the process with the Qi Gathering Array, infusing it with his Qi and blood. It too began to glow, pulsing with power as it came to life.
"Now let's see what these things can really do."
First, Feng Chen carried the Barrier into the depths of his cave. He found a central spot near where he had nested the Mysterious Egg. Carefully, he set the crystal down. The moment it touched the ground, the crystal began to levitate, spinning slowly at first but gradually picking up speed.
White light radiated from it, expanding outward like ripples in a pond. The barrier enveloped the cave, expanding further until it encompassed the surrounding area.
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System Notification:-
Barrier successfully deployed. It is currently invisible to all except the host. No one below the Nascent Realm will be able to breach it. As the host's cultivation grows, the strength and area of the barrier will increase accordingly.
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Feng Chen stood back and admired his work, a satisfied grin creeping onto his face.
"Now that's more like it. I'd like to see someone try to break into this place now."
The barrier was a comforting presence, a silent guardian that would ensure no one could disturb him or the egg while he was away. The system's assurance that only Nascent Realm cultivators and above could pose a threat bolstered his confidence even more.
Next, Feng Chen moved outside the cave and knelt down to place the Qi Gathering Array on the ground. Like the crystal, the array began to activate the moment it touched the earth.
Symbols began to carve themselves into the ground, glowing faintly as the array expanded to cover the entire area within the barrier.
The air around him began to shift as the array started its work, pulling in Qi from the surrounding environment and gathering it within the enclosed space.
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System Notification:-
Qi Gathering Array deployed. The array will continuously gather Qi to support cultivation within the barrier. It is capable of providing enough Qi for a Core Formation Realm breakthrough and will scale with the host's progress.
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Feng Chen nodded, feeling the surge of energy in the air. The Qi was noticeably thicker now, more vibrant and concentrated than it had been moments ago.
His cave had become a sanctuary, a perfect place to cultivate without any distractions or interruptions. Even the Mysterious Egg would benefit from this environment, absorbing the gathered Qi to strengthen itself.
Satisfied, Feng Chen walked back to the entrance of the cave and glanced back at the egg, nestled safely within its bed.
"You better hatch soon, little guy. I've got big plans for you."
With everything in place, Feng Chen knew it was time to move on to his next task: hunting. The mission the system had given him was clear... hunt beasts, claim their cores, and earn his rewards.
But this time, it wasn't just about mindlessly slaughtering creatures for power. He wanted to understand the essence behind the rewards, to grow from the experience in more ways than just gaining strength.
He summoned his Abyssal Devourer Blade and Demon's Vile, both weapons vibrating with a sinister energy, their thirst for blood evident. The dark, demonic power within them stirred as Feng Chen held them, and he could feel their hunger for battle.
"Alright, you bloodthirsty bastards," Feng Chen said with a grin,
"let's see what you can really do."
With a surge of Qi, Feng Chen's Yin and Yang Divine Body activated. His body underwent a subtle transformation, the black and white patterns reappearing on his skin, glowing faintly as they synchronized with his movements. His senses sharpened, his muscles tensed, and the power of Yin and Yang flowed seamlessly through him.
Feng Chen propelled himself forward, using his Qi to enhance his speed. He shot through the forest like a blur, his feet barely touching the ground as he darted between trees. Each step was precise, fueled by the energy swirling within him.
"Come on out, you worthless beasts!" he shouted into the forest, his voice echoing through the trees.
"I'm waiting! Come and face me!"
The forest around him seemed to grow still, the air tense with the presence of unseen predators. Feng Chen could feel it... the beasts were lurking, watching him from the shadows. He knew they could sense his power, but he also knew that they were biding their time, waiting for the right moment to strike.
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System Notification:-
You're really asking for it, Feng Chen. Maybe you'll get lucky, and a Mahayana Realm beast will show up to give you some real trouble
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Feng Chen chuckled.
"Bring it on. If a Mahayana Realm beast shows up, I'll give it the fight of its life."
With another burst of speed, Feng Chen plunged deeper into the wilderness, his eyes sharp and his weapons ready. His heart raced with anticipation as he entered the hunting grounds. The forest felt alive with danger, the shadows hiding powerful enemies that would test his skills to the limit.
But Feng Chen wasn't afraid. He welcomed the challenge.
His hunt had only just begun.