Into the Wild

The forest was thick with towering trees, their gnarled roots twisting through the earth like the fingers of some ancient, slumbering giant. Dense foliage blocked much of the sun, casting long shadows across the forest floor, which was littered with fallen leaves, twigs, and the occasional strange, colorful plant. Li Tian's footsteps were light and deliberate, careful not to make unnecessary noise. The wild was alive with activity, birds sang from the canopy, and small creatures scurried between bushes, but Li Tian knew that far more dangerous things lurked beneath the surface.

The wilderness outside the village was notorious for spirit beasts, creatures born from the convergence of natural energies, many of which were stronger than ordinary animals and incredibly hostile to humans. Some spirit beasts were born from pure spiritual energy, while others were mutated versions of mundane creatures, strengthened over centuries. Li Tian had read about them in his past life but had never directly dealt with them. This time, he couldn't afford to be unprepared.

The first few hours of his journey passed without incident. Li Tian had chosen his path carefully, avoiding the more obvious trails and sticking to the hidden paths he had spotted while scouting the forest's outskirts. He wasn't here to hunt spirit beasts or fight rogue cultivators, he was here to gather herbs. But he knew that at any moment, the wilderness could turn deadly.

As he moved deeper into the forest, he began to notice the telltale signs of spiritual energy in the environment. The plants here were more vibrant, their colors richer, and the air had a faint, tingling quality that told him he was entering a region touched by spiritual forces. This was where he would find what he needed.

Li Tian's eyes scanned the underbrush, searching for familiar herbs. In his past life, as an alchemist, he had spent years studying plants and their properties. Even though his body was different now, his mind still retained that wealth of knowledge. The forest floor was littered with various plants, but most of them were useless for alchemy. He needed specific herbs, ones that contained spiritual energy, to begin concocting the simplest pills.

He spotted a cluster of small, bright blue flowers nestled between two large rocks. Azure Spirit Petals, he recognized immediately. Their rich blue hue and the faint spiritual aura surrounding them marked them as a low-grade alchemical ingredient, perfect for refining basic Body Refining Pills.

Kneeling down, Li Tian carefully harvested the flowers, ensuring not to damage their roots. As he worked, he felt the ember of the Primordial Flame stir within him. It was faint, but the presence of spiritual energy seemed to awaken it slightly. The ember was still weak, but it was growing more responsive as he continued to nurture it.

As he stood up, placing the Azure Spirit Petals into a small pouch, his mind wandered to the next step. Gathering herbs was only the first part. To create pills, he needed a proper alchemy furnace. The village didn't have anything close to what he required, and crafting one from scratch was a long process. But perhaps, with the right materials, he could fashion a crude version.

He sighed, pushing those thoughts aside for now. First, he needed to gather enough herbs. He had a long way to go before he could think about alchemy.

Hours passed as Li Tian moved through the forest, gathering various herbs and keeping a cautious eye on his surroundings. He had found several useful plants: Vermillion Grass, a herb used to boost spiritual energy recovery, and Iron Root, a tough, fibrous plant that could be used in pills to strengthen the body. But despite his success, he hadn't encountered any of the rarer ingredients he needed.

It was as he ventured further into a dense part of the forest that he felt the air shift.

Li Tian froze, his senses sharpening. The animals around him had gone silent. The usual rustling of leaves and chirping of birds had ceased, leaving an eerie stillness in its wake. His hand instinctively moved to his waist, where he carried a simple dagger, one of the few weapons he had.

A soft rustling came from the bushes ahead, and Li Tian's eyes narrowed. He had no intention of fighting anything here, but if a spirit beast had taken an interest in him, he had no choice but to defend himself.

The rustling grew louder, and a low growl filled the air. From the underbrush, a large, sleek shape emerged, a spirit beast, its body covered in dark fur, its eyes glowing with an unnatural, blue light. It was a Shadowfang Wolf, a mid-grade spirit beast known for its speed and stealth. In his current state, it would be a difficult opponent.

The wolf bared its fangs, growling low as it stalked toward him. Li Tian quickly assessed his options. Fighting it head-on would be reckless, he hadn't refined his body enough to match the beast's strength, and his control over the Primordial Ember was still too weak. But he couldn't afford to run either. The Shadowfang Wolf was faster, and it would catch him easily if he tried to flee.

Li Tian took a deep breath, focusing his mind. He had to think strategically. His goal wasn't to kill the wolf, it was to survive. His eyes flicked around the area, searching for something he could use to his advantage.

The wolf lunged, its powerful legs propelling it forward with incredible speed. Li Tian dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding its snapping jaws. He felt the rush of air as the wolf passed him, its claws tearing into the ground where he had been standing.

Without hesitating, Li Tian reached into his pouch and pulled out a handful of dried Vermillion Grass. It wasn't much, but Vermillion Grass had mild numbing properties when burned. He quickly lit it with a spark from the ember within him, throwing the smoldering grass at the wolf's face.

The wolf recoiled, growling as the smoke filled its nostrils. It wasn't enough to harm it, but the distraction gave Li Tian a brief window of opportunity. He dashed toward a nearby tree, his mind racing. If he could get the high ground, he might have a better chance of evading the wolf's attacks.

The wolf, recovering from the smoke, snarled and charged again. This time, Li Tian was ready. He leaped onto the tree, using the rough bark to pull himself up to the first sturdy branch. The wolf's claws raked against the trunk, but it couldn't reach him.

From his vantage point, Li Tian could see the wolf circling below, its glowing eyes fixed on him. It wouldn't leave easily. He needed to drive it away. But how?

He focused inward, searching for the ember of the Primordial Flame. It was faint, but it responded to his will. He had to be careful using too much power would drain him, and in his current state, he couldn't afford that. But if he could just ignite a small spark…

His hand glowed faintly as he gathered the ember's energy, forming a tiny, flickering flame. It wasn't much, but it was enough to startle the beast. With a swift motion, Li Tian hurled the flame toward the wolf. The flame burst in front of the creature's face, sending sparks and embers flying.

The wolf yelped, backing away from the sudden burst of fire. It growled once more, but the fire had done its job. Spirit beasts, while strong, were still animals at their core, and they feared fire. The Shadowfang Wolf, realizing the fight wasn't worth it, snarled one last time before retreating into the forest.

Li Tian exhaled slowly, letting the tension drain from his body. His limbs ached from the exertion, and his control over the flame had been shaky at best, but he had survived. More importantly, he had learned something valuable, his control over the Primordial Ember was improving, slowly but surely.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Li Tian found a small clearing to rest. He set up a simple camp, using dried leaves and twigs to create a small fire. The warmth was comforting, and the flickering flames danced in his eyes as he reflected on the day's events.

He had gathered several useful herbs, avoided a deadly encounter with a spirit beast, and had begun to understand the limits of his power. But there was still a long way to go. His body was still weak, and his control over the Primordial Ember was fragile at best. If he wanted to survive in this world, he would need to push himself further.

The forest around him was quiet again, the dangers of the day fading into the background. But Li Tian knew that this was just the beginning. Tomorrow, he would venture deeper into the wilderness, searching for the rare herbs and materials he needed to truly begin his journey as an alchemist.

For now, though, he allowed himself a moment of peace. The fire crackled softly, and Li Tian closed his eyes, letting the warmth of the flames lull him into a light sleep.

His path was set. The road ahead was dangerous, but Li Tian had never been one to shy away from danger. He would grow stronger, one step at a time, until no force in the world could stand in his way.

And it all began with the flicker of a single ember.