The Kick That Shattered A Forest!
Name: Gabriel
Cultivation Level: 7th Layer of Qi Condensation
Power Boost: 18,201/1,000
"It's really too easy! I wonder just how much stronger I'll become after using all 18,000 Power Boosts," Gabriel thought to himself, a smirk tugging at his lips.
After delivering his speech at the Martial Arts Hall, he bid his farewells and left, making his way toward the western gate of Sky City.
Sky City was a colossal, spiraling metropolis, stretching across the heavens like a divine creation. At its very edges stood towering walls, built to protect against potential dangers lurking beyond.
Of course, the walls weren't the city's only defense.
Sky City was safeguarded by a complex network of protective measures:
Three Grand Defensive Formations:
Air Defense Formation – Shielding against airborne threats.
Underground Formation – Detecting and neutralizing subterranean intrusions.
Defensive Wall Formation – Strengthening the city's outer barriers.
Four Major Protective Stations:
These were located at the east, west, north, and south gates, each manned at all times by a Core Formation cultivator.
Twelve Minor Protective Stations:
Scattered across sensitive locations, each station housed at least twenty Foundation Establishment cultivators. In times of crisis, even Core Formation cultivators would step in to reinforce them.
Though Sky City faced no immediate threat from organized forces, the world outside was still crawling with beasts and monsters. Without these defenses, even a city as mighty as this could fall into chaos.
...
For ordinary people, leaving the city was nearly impossible without a special permit. In practice, only large trade caravans, accompanied by at least one Foundation Establishment cultivator, dared to venture beyond the walls.
But Gabriel…?
He wasn't an ordinary person.
Hanging from his belt was a silver badge, the emblem of the Sky City Sect of Immortality.
With this badge, he could come and go as he pleased.
No questions asked.
...
The road ahead was well-paved, stretching endlessly into the distance. On both sides, eerie, twisted trees swayed in the wind, their dark branches reaching toward the sky like clawed fingers.
Gabriel walked forward, his sharp gaze scanning the path.
"According to the map, the strongest beasts around here should only be at the peak of Qi Condensation," he thought.
These roads connected distant cities and were generally safe—at least, as long as one stayed on the paved path. Straying too far could mean encountering Foundation Establishment-level beasts, and in the worst-case scenario, even Core Formation monsters. But those were rare.
One might think that trade and transportation would be easy in a world with spatial storage equipment. After all, if a merchant wanted to transport goods, they could simply store everything in a spatial bag and move swiftly without the need for caravans.
But reality wasn't that simple.
Not everything could be stored in spatial items.
Living creatures would die the moment they entered.
Many kinds of food would rot instantly.
Certain elixirs and pills would lose their potency.
Because of these limitations, transporting goods the old-fashioned way—using trade caravans pulled by magical beasts—was still the most reliable method.
Additionally, for ordinary goods meant for mortals, it was far cheaper to move them via carts and wagons rather than renting a massive spatial storage item, which cost an exorbitant amount of money.
Every disciple of the Sky City Sect of Immortality was provided with a small spatial bag, but these were only on loan. If a disciple quit the sect or was expelled, they had to return the bag. The same applied if they failed to break through to Foundation Establishment before turning 25.
This was because spatial storage items were incredibly rare and expensive to craft. Their creation required materials from spatial beasts, creatures that were notoriously difficult to hunt.
Gabriel let out a sigh.
"I should have rented a magic horse," he thought bitterly, shaking his head.
But it was too late for regrets now.
With a resigned expression, he continued walking down the road.
...
After two hours of walking, Gabriel finally arrived at his destination.
"Dark Dragon National Forest! Exactly where I wanted to be!" he thought, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
The Dark Dragon National Forest was one of the most well-known training grounds for cultivators—an untamed wilderness where warriors honed their skills through real combat.
The Sky City and Immortal cultivation Sect divided the Dark Dragon National Forest into different zones based on cultivation level:
Qi Condensation Section
Early Foundation Section
Mid Foundation Section
Late Foundation Section
Peak Foundation Section
Core Formation Section
However, entry wasn't free—cultivators had to pay a fee in spirit stones to gain access.
Gabriel walked up to the entrance of the Qi Condensation Section, pulled out 75 spirit stones, and dropped them into the collection box.
A mechanical voice echoed from the formation:
"Qi Condensation Section – Entry Authorized! Formation opening!"
The once-invisible barrier shimmered before disappearing, allowing passage inside.
Gabriel smirked.
"Here we go!"
With a confident stride, he stepped into the portal that led to the Qi Condensation semi-plane.
...
The Dark Dragon National Forest was not a safe place.
Though it was an organized training ground, there were no overseers watching from the shadows, no sect elders waiting to rescue cultivators at the last moment.
You make a mistake, You die.
That was the simple, brutal reality.
Gabriel had no intention of being reckless. Instead of venturing into the Foundation Establishment Section, he chose to start in the Qi Condensation Section first, to get a better feel for his true strength.
He had barely taken a few steps into the dense foliage when—
ROAR!
A massive four-meter-long tiger emerged from the underbrush, its golden eyes locked onto him. Its muscles rippled beneath its sleek fur, and rows of razor-sharp fangs gleamed as it bared its teeth.
Gabriel's eyes lit up.
"Perfect."
In one swift motion, he drew his blade, its polished edge gleaming under the filtered light of the forest canopy.
Before engaging, Gabriel reminded himself of the four ironclad rules of the training ground:
No hunting specific beasts or monsters on purpose.
All loot belongs to the city. If a cultivator wanted to keep what they obtained, they had to buy it back at a set price.
Time limit: One hour. No one was allowed to stay inside beyond that.
No external interference. Using items, techniques, or tricks to attract beasts unnaturally was strictly forbidden.
The Dark Dragon National Forest was home to countless beasts and monsters, each varying in strength and abilities.
In this world, there was a clear distinction between the two:
Beasts were ordinary animals with no ability to harness Qi. They relied solely on their raw physical power to fight.
Monsters, on the other hand, were creatures that could store and manipulate natural energy, making them significantly more dangerous.
Then, there were Monster Beasts—terrifying creatures that combined the best of both worlds: an overwhelmingly strong body and the ability to use Qi-based techniques.
These were the nightmare-class creatures that even seasoned cultivators dreaded facing.
Gabriel chuckled.
"I didn't expect to run into a monster beast the moment I stepped in."
At first, he had assumed the four-meter-long tiger was just an ordinary beast, but after sensing the heavy aura of an 8th-layer Qi Condensation cultivator, he realized the truth.
It was a monster beast.
The tiger roared, but it did not attack.
Despite its menacing growl, its instincts screamed danger. Every fiber of its being told it that Gabriel was not an opponent to be trifled with.
And yet… its pride as a tiger would not allow it to turn tail and flee.
This was typical.
Most creatures who approached the peak of Qi Condensation gained a certain level of intelligence and memory retention.
Those who broke through Foundation Establishment could think like a five or six-year-old child.
Monsters and beasts in Foundation Establishment possessed human-like intelligence.
As for Nascent Soul monsters? They could even transform into human form!
Gabriel smirked as he observed the tiger.
"What's the matter? Are you scared?"
He taunted the creature, watching as it continued growling like an oversized housecat—too afraid to attack yet too proud to retreat.
Gabriel took a single step forward—
And in that instant, the tiger snapped.
With a furious roar, the tiger lunged forward, sinking its razor-sharp fangs into Gabriel's left leg.
It expected its teeth to tear through flesh—to shred muscle and rip bone apart—
But reality was cruel.
Its fangs did nothing.
No—less than nothing.
Not only did its bite fail to pierce Gabriel's skin, but the sheer force of the impact shattered several of its own teeth.
The only thing left behind on Gabriel's leg were a few faint white marks—remnants of the tiger's failed attack.
Gabriel laughed, his voice filled with amusement.
"Hahaha! My body alone rivals that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator! How could a mere Qi Condensation monster beast ever hope to harm me?"
The tiger froze, fear creeping into its golden eyes.
But before it could react—
Gabriel lashed out with a kick.
His left leg, still inside the tiger's mouth, jerked upward with tremendous force.
CRACK!
The sickening sound of shattered bone echoed through the forest as the tiger's jaw broke on impact.
BOOM!
The massive creature was launched into the air like a cannonball, its body slamming into a tree—
CRACK! The tree snapped in half.
The tiger kept going.
CRACK! Another tree shattered.
Then another.
And another.
Like a chain reaction, tree after tree collapsed, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
By the time the tiger finally came to a stop, it had smashed through over twenty trees and landed nearly a hundred meters away.
What was left of the once-majestic predator lay crumpled and broken, unmoving.
Gabriel lowered his leg, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips.
...
The once-proud tiger lay in a mangled heap, its head unrecognizable.
Blood pooled around its deformed skull, its fangs shattered, and its golden eyes glazed over in death.
What was left of it barely resembled a tiger at all.
Gabriel tilted his head, his mind racing.
"Did I underestimate myself? Could my strength actually be beyond the 1st Layer of Foundation Establishment?"
Before, he had merely guessed his level of power. But after this one-sided massacre, he wasn't so sure anymore.
He continued walking in the qi condensation section for a few minutes, but—
Nothing dared to approach him.
Not a single beast or monster attacked.
It was clear—the creatures in this area could sense the overwhelming difference in power and had already deemed him untouchable.
Gabriel smirked.
"I think it's safe to say that there's no beast or monster in this entire division that can even survive a casual kick from me."
With that realization, he stopped wandering.
There was no point in bullying ants that could be crushed with a flick of his finger.
Instead, he made a decision.
"Let's find a place to stay and use my 18 Power Boosts first. Better to be safe than reckless."
Gabriel was always cautious. No matter how strong he was, he wouldn't take unnecessary risks. Before stepping into the Early Foundation Establishment Section, he wanted to ensure he had the strength to handle it.
...
The Dark Dragon National Forest had several rental rooms.
Of course, the prices were astronomically high, so very few actually used them.
Gabriel, however, didn't hesitate.
After paying 20 spirit stones for a single-day stay, he entered the secure cultivation room and sat down cross-legged.
Taking a deep breath, he focused.
"System! Boost me eighteen times at once!"
Ding! Task established!
18,000 Power Boost Points deducted!
Boosting in progress!
A warm energy erupted from his chest, rapidly spreading throughout his entire body.
His bones vibrated, his muscles tightened, and his Qi surged like a raging storm.
Then—
Pure euphoria.
"Oh my… I never get tired of this!"
A wave of intoxicating pleasure overwhelmed him, making his eyes roll back as his body drowned in ecstasy.
It was so intense that he was completely defenseless.
Had anyone attacked him during this moment—
He wouldn't have been able to fight back at all.
Luckily, nothing dangerous happened.
...
After over an hour, Gabriel slowly opened his glowing eyes, feeling his body tremble with new power.
He clenched his fists.
His muscles radiated an unparalleled force.
Even his skin felt indestructible, as if it had been refined by the heavens themselves.
A smirk crept onto his lips.
"Now… I should be able to fight against Early foundation establishment beasts with ease."
Wasting no time, Gabriel paid 500 spirit stones to gain access to the Early Foundation Establishment Section of the forest.
Early Foundation Establishment Section – Access Granted!
Formation Opens!
The barrier shimmered, then vanished.
Taking a step forward, excitement burned in his eyes.
Finally—some real challenges!