chapter 13: void forest?

Chapter 13: void forest?

Inside the stone coffin, Bhoumik peered down, his sharp eyes narrowing as they adjusted to the dim light. His breath was shallow, steady, but his curiosity heightened as he scanned its contents. What he found, however, was not the decaying body of Shen Mu, nor any physical remains at all. Instead, the coffin held a collection of ornate robes, a jade pendant, and a massive sword that seemed to hum faintly with residual energy.

Bhoumik leaned in closer. The robes, though ancient and weathered by time, still exuded an aura of immense power, the kind only a legendary cultivator like Shen Mu could have left behind. But it wasn't the robes that caught his attention. His eyes locked onto the jade pendant nestled carefully beside the sword. The pendant was intricately carved into the shape of a dragon swallowing its own tail, its center glimmering with an ethereal glow.

Something shifted inside him as he stared at the pendant. The jade lotus pendant hanging around his neck, the heirloom he had always carried, began to pulse faintly, as though responding to the presence of the jade pendant in the coffin. The pulse was soft at first but quickly grew stronger, and for the first time since he had found his pendant, Bhoumik felt it reacting to something.

His eyes narrowed. What is this? The resonance between the two pendants was unmistakable. It was as if they were connected by some unseen force, bound by a shared history. Bhoumik reached out slowly, his fingers brushing the cool surface of the jade pendant inside the coffin.

Before he could contemplate further, his eyes flicked to the corner of the tomb, where a yellowed piece of parchment lay half-hidden beneath the robes. It looked old, fragile, as though it would disintegrate with the slightest touch. Carefully, Bhoumik retrieved the paper, unfolding it to reveal what seemed to be a letter—written in an elegant but hurried script. His dark eyes scanned the words, and as he read, the cryptic contents of the letter unraveled before him:

"To the one who has reached this tomb,

If you are reading this, then you have braved the dangers of Green Hell Paradise and found the inheritance I left behind. However, I must warn you—what you seek is not truly mine. The techniques you now possess, the scrolls you have taken, they are not of my creation.

These martial techniques, known as the Divine Vortex Palm, were bestowed upon me by a cultivator far more powerful than I ever was. I, Shen Mu, was once a cultivator feared across nations, capable of leveling cities with a mere flick of my wrist, but even I pale in comparison to the being who gave me these scrolls.

The jade token you found beside my sword—it is not just a relic. It is a teleportation jade. And I did not craft it. It was given to me by that same powerful cultivator. The jade token can transport you to a place I never had the chance to fully explore—a place known as the Void Forest.

The Void Forest is not bound by normal rules of cultivation. No matter your current level, whether low or high, this place treats all who enter with equal ruthlessness. You may be strong, but strength alone will not protect you there. The Void Forest is where I learned the Divine Vortex techniques, and if you dare to use the token, it will take you to the heart of that dangerous realm.

But know this: you must prove yourself worthy. The Void Forest will test you in ways you cannot imagine. Should you fail, you will be trapped in an endless cycle of reincarnation—death after death, with no hope of escape.

This is the fate I narrowly avoided. I was given the task to pass on the jade token to someone else—a cultivator stronger, more worthy than myself. But before I could fulfill that mission, I was defeated by an opponent more powerful than I had ever encountered. My injuries were grave, and so, I left the jade token in this tomb, hoping that one day someone would come who could complete the task I could not.

If you choose to use the jade token, you will enter the Void Forest and face its trials. But be warned—once you step into that place, there is no turning back. You either emerge victorious or perish forever.

My legacy means nothing in comparison to what awaits you there.

This is your choice. Proceed if you dare."

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Bhoumik stood in silence as he finished reading the letter, his grip tightening slightly around the edges of the parchment. The Void Forest... the very name sent a shiver down his spine, and yet, his heart beat with a strange anticipation. A place that treats all cultivators equally, no matter their strength or power? A place where even someone as powerful as Shen Mu had barely escaped?

Bhoumik's cold eyes flickered to the jade pendant again, now glowing faintly in his hand. The thought of endless reincarnation, of facing trials that could break even the strongest cultivators, would have terrified most. But not Bhoumik.

He had no fear of death. He had faced cruelty and coldness his entire life, and he had learned long ago that fear would only get in the way. Power—true power—was what mattered. And this Void Forest, this mysterious place, was offering him the chance to gain exactly that.

He folded the letter carefully and tucked it into his space ring along with the jade token. This was no ordinary inheritance, no ordinary treasure. It was a challenge, one that Bhoumik now felt compelled to face.

A sudden burst of energy snapped Bhoumik from his thoughts. He turned, his eyes narrowing as he watched Lin Ling rise into the air, her body surrounded by the swirling light of the inheritance orb. Her aura surged, growing stronger by the second as the power of Shen Mu flowed into her.

She floated above the ground, her eyes closed, her expression serene yet focused as the inheritance enveloped her. The light around her intensified, and the room seemed to hum with the weight of the power she was absorbing.

Bhoumik watched her silently, his face expressionless. He had already gained what he came for—the Divine Vortex Finger scroll was now in his possession, completing the powerful technique. And though Lin Ling was growing stronger by the second, her cultivation climbing as the inheritance flowed through her, Bhoumik felt no envy, no desire for the power she was taking.

He had no interest in Shen Mu's legacy. His focus was already shifting toward the future—toward the Void Forest.

Lin Ling's body slowly descended back to the ground, the light around her fading as she opened her eyes. Her breathing was steady, but there was a newfound intensity in her gaze. She had absorbed a tremendous amount of power, and her cultivation had risen to the Spirit Realm, 8th Stage.

Bhoumik and Lin Ling exchanged a glance, but neither spoke. There was an unspoken understanding between them—each had taken what they came for. Now, the question was whether their paths would diverge or cross again.

Without a word, Bhoumik turned from the tomb, his mind already set on his next steps. He had gained the scrolls and learned about the Void Forest. Now, there was only one thing left to do: prepare.

The moment the last vestiges of power from the inheritance orb faded, the air shifted. Dust rained down from the stone ceiling, and the ground beneath their feet quaked violently. Bhoumik exchanged a quick glance with Lin Ling, his expression unchanged, but urgency flickered in her eyes.

"It seems the tomb is destroying itself," she said, her voice taut with tension. "We need to leave—now!"

Without waiting for a reply, she surged forward, her heart pounding in rhythm with the tremors that shook the very foundation of the ancient ruins. Bhoumik nodded in agreement, his icy demeanor betraying no sign of fear, yet his mind raced. He had reached this tomb seeking power, not destruction.

They sprinted through the core area, navigating crumbling passages and debris that fell from above, echoes of their footsteps resonating like a heartbeat in the chaos. Bhoumik led the way, his instincts honed from years of survival guiding him through the maze of stone.

Suddenly, a heavy block of stone fell from the ceiling, crashing down where Lin Ling had just been. She barely dodged it, stumbling as she regained her footing. "Bhoumik! Watch where you're going!"

"Focus on getting out!" he snapped, the chill in his voice cutting through the panic. Their frantic escape continued, every muscle straining as they weaved through collapsing corridors, the tomb's ancient secrets crumbling around them.

As they neared the main exit, a final tremor shook the hall, sending another wave of dust and stone cascading toward them. Bhoumik gritted his teeth, his determination unyielding. They couldn't falter now.

"Keep moving!" he called out, urgency igniting his typically placid demeanor.

With one last burst of speed, they dashed through the crumbling entrance. They burst into the cool, fresh air of Green Hell Paradise, gasping for breath as they reached the ground outside. The cacophony of the collapsing tomb faded behind them, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the distant sounds of the wild.

Bhoumik leaned against a tree, catching his breath. "Thank you for… helping me in there," he said, though his voice remained cold, his emotions hidden behind a frosty exterior.

Lin Ling shook her head, brushing off his gratitude. "Don't say that. You helped me too. We were in this together," she replied, her tone softer yet firm. She turned to him, her eyes reflecting concern. "You didn't have to push yourself so hard."

Before either could say more, Bhoumik suddenly collapsed to the ground. Lin Ling's heart raced as she rushed to his side, panicking. "Bhoumik! What's wrong?" She knelt beside him, fear creeping into her voice.