A Powerful Presence in the Forest

A soft breeze whispered through the ancient forest, rustling the leaves as the purple-haired boy stood near the river, gazing at the surroundings. The peaceful scenery had been his refuge for the past month, but now that he was fully recovered, he had no reason to stay here any longer.

His golden eyes flickered with determination as he stepped forward.

Purple-haired boy (thinking): "Time to explore this place properly. I need to find out where I am."

The forest stretched endlessly in every direction, the massive trees towering like ancient sentinels. As he walked through the dense foliage, his sharp senses remained alert for any movement. He had no idea what kind of creatures lived in this place.

For hours, he traveled deeper, pushing past thick vines and stepping over uneven terrain. The forest grew darker as he advanced, the trees blocking out most of the sunlight. The air felt heavier, carrying an eerie silence.

Then—

His footsteps came to a halt.

A few meters ahead, hidden between two enormous boulders, was the entrance to a cave. The entrance was massive, nearly twenty feet tall, its interior shrouded in darkness. A faint, ancient energy pulsed from within.

Purple-haired boy (thinking): "A cave? Something feels… different about this place."

His instincts told him there was something inside. Without hesitation, he stepped forward. As he entered the cave, the temperature dropped sharply, and a faint, musty scent filled the air. The sound of dripping water echoed through the cavern.

The deeper he went, the more he felt an unusual energy lingering in the air. It wasn't oppressive, but it carried a sense of **age—**as if this place had been untouched for a long time.

Then he saw it.

At the end of the winding passage, a massive stone door stood tall, covered in intricate carvings. Strange runes glowed faintly across its surface, forming a protective formation. The stone radiated a powerful energy, 

preventing anyone from entering.

The purple-haired boy narrowed his eyes.

Purple-haired boy (thinking): "A formation… Someone sealed this place?"

He stepped closer, examining the runes. The formation was complex, but it wasn't unbreakable.

He reached out, tracing his fingers along the carvings, feeling the energy pulsing beneath them. Whoever had placed this seal was skilled, but… they had made a mistake.

A faint smirk appeared on his lips.

Purple-haired boy (muttering): "This isn't a perfect formation… There's a weak point."

He closed his eyes briefly, sensing the flow of energy through the formation. After a few moments, he lifted his right hand, channeling his power.

Purple-haired boy: "Sky-Breaking Palm!"

A golden glow gathered around his palm before he struck the formation's weak point. A loud crack echoed through the cave as the runes flickered violently. The stone door trembled, the formation destabilizing.

Purple-haired boy: "One more hit."

He gathered energy again, this time focusing his power into his fingertips.

Purple-haired boy: "Void Piercing Finger!"

A sharp burst of energy shot forward, strikinng the weakened formation. With a final shuddering groan, the stone door's protection shattered, the runes fading into nothingness.

The cave rumbled, dust falling from above as the heavy stone door slowly creaked open. A gust of ancient air rushed out, carrying the scent of age-old stone and something… metallic.

The purple-haired boy took a step inside.

The chamber beyond the door was vast, its walls lined with old, rusted weapons and broken artifacts. At the center of the room, resting on a raised stone pedestal, was an ornate box.

A faint glow surrounded it, indicating it held something inside.

Purple-haired boy (thinking): "This must be it. Whatever was sealed behind this door… is inside this box."

He approached cautiously, his fingers brushing against the smooth, ancient stone of the pedestal. He lifted the lid.

Inside lay a small, golden orb. It pulsed faintly, radiating a mysterious but weak energy.

He frowned.

Purple-haired boy (thinking): "A treasure… but why does it feel so weak? Could it be damaged?"

To him, the orb seemed valuable. He had no idea that in reality, it was nothing special—just a low-tier artifact long forgotten by history.

Still, he carefully picked it up, storing it in his ring.

As he turned to leave, his senses suddenly tingled.

Something wasn't right.

The moment he had taken the orb, the cave shuddered violently. The stone walls trembled, and an ominous rumbling sound echoed through the chamber.

His golden eyes narrowed.

Purple-haired boy (thinking): "…Did I just trigger something?"

The sound grew louder.

Then, from deep within the darkness—

Something moved.

The purple-haired boy held the golden orb in his palm, his sharp eyes scanning its surface. There was nothing extraordinary about it—at least, nothing he could sense immediately.

The purple-haired boy said, "It seems there is nothing special in it."

Still, he wasn't reckless enough to dismiss it outright. He stored the orb in his spatial ring, then turned his gaze back to the dimly lit cave.

The unsettling energy he had sensed earlier had started to fade, replaced by an eerie silence. Whatever had been stirring in the darkness just moments ago… was now completely still.

The purple-haired boy (thinking): "Strange… The disturbance disappeared. Did I imagine it?"

Though he remained cautious, nothing else happened. After waiting for a while, he finally turned away and started walking toward the cave's entrance.

As he stepped back into the sunlit forest, the cool air brushed against his face. The towering trees stretched endlessly, their ancient trunks shrouded in mist. The sky was barely visible through the thick canopy, casting shadows across the dense foliage.

The purple-haired boy (thinking): "This forest is huge… How do I get out of here?"

For the next few hours, he wandered through the endless green expanse, his sharp eyes scanning for any landmarks. The silence of the forest felt unnatural—almost as if something was watching him.

Then—

His steps halted.

A sudden wave of pressure crashed down on him.

His heart pounded. His breath grew heavy.

This aura… It was different. It wasn't like the Void Tribulation realm power he had sensed before. No—this was something far greater. Something terrifying.

A Life and Death Level aura.

The purple-haired boy (thinking): "…Impossible. Someone that strong is here?!"

His instincts screamed at him to leave. He took a slow step backward, trying to suppress his own energy. If he could just retreat before the owner of this aura noticed him—

But it was too late.

A voice, deep and filled with power, echoed through the air.

??? "Leaving so soon?"

The pressure on his body doubled, nearly forcing him to his knees.

From the shadows of the ancient trees, a figure stepped forward.

A young man, about 23 years old, emerged. He was tall and strikingly handsome, his long red hair flowing like fire behind him. His eyes burned a deep crimson, and his sharp, elf-like ears twitched slightly as he observed the purple-haired boy.

A smirk played on his lips.

??? "I didn't expect to find someone like you here."

The purple-haired boy's muscles tensed. His fingers twitched near his spatial ring, ready to summon his weapon at any moment.

The purple-haired boy (thinking): "His aura is terrifying… If I fight him, I won't stand a chance."

The red-haired man took a step closer, his gaze unreadable.

The purple-haired boy stood still, feeling the overwhelming aura pressing down on him. His instincts screamed at him to leave, but he knew it was too late. The one emitting such an aura had already noticed him.

From the dense trees ahead, a figure emerged. It was a young man, around twenty-three years old, with striking red hair and sharp, red eyes. His pointed ears hinted at a non-human lineage, and his very presence radiated power.

The pressure intensified for a moment before slowly receding. The red-haired youth studied the purple-haired boy carefully.

Red-haired youth: "You don't seem like a threat… But what are you doing here?"

The purple-haired boy met his gaze calmly, knowing that showing fear would only make him seem suspicious.

The purple-haired boy: "I was exploring this place and got lost. I had no idea someone lived here."

The red-haired youth observed him for a moment longer before sighing and shaking his head.

Red-haired youth: "Not many come here. You're lucky I found you first. Others in my tribe wouldn't be so kind."

The purple-haired boy remained silent, sensing that the young man had no intention of attacking him. Instead, the red-haired youth reached into his robe and pulled out an old parchment.

Red-haired youth: "Take this. It's a map of this region. Follow the path carefully, and you'll find a way out in three days. Be careful. Flying is dangerous here—many creatures hunt from the skies."

The purple-haired boy took the map, scanning it briefly before looking up.

The purple-haired boy: "Thank you."

The red-haired youth didn't respond. With a nod, he turned and disappeared into the thick forest, vanishing as if he had never been there.

The purple-haired boy exhaled in relief. That encounter could have ended very differently. Folding the map carefully, he started his journey out of the forest, navigating through the dense foliage.

It took him three full days of careful travel. The forest was vast, and he encountered several dangerous beasts along the way, but none strong enough to pose a real threat to him. Finally, he saw the edge of the forest in the distance.

Beyond the trees, a small town came into view. It was nothing grand—just a simple settlement with wooden houses and a few people walking through the streets. Compared to the powerful beings he had encountered, this town felt almost peaceful.

As he stepped into the town, he glanced back at the forest, remembering the red-haired youth and the map that had led him here.

The purple-haired boy (thinking): "A fire elf… Interesting. I didn't think they still existed in this world."

The purple-haired boy entered the small town, his gaze sweeping over the quiet streets. The atmosphere was peaceful, a stark contrast to the dangerous forest he had just escaped. Unlike the powerful figures he had encountered before, the people here seemed ordinary.

As he walked through the town, he spotted a small restaurant on the side of the street. The place wasn't crowded, just a few locals sitting around and chatting casually. Deciding to take a short break, he stepped inside and found an empty table near the window.

A waitress approached him with a polite smile.

Waitress: "What would you like to order?"

The purple-haired boy: "Just some tea."

The waitress nodded and left. The boy leaned back in his chair, letting himself relax for the first time in a while. He glanced around. The restaurant was simple but well-maintained. The scent of fresh food lingered in the air, mixing with the faint aroma of tea.

Soon, the waitress returned with a steaming cup of tea, placing it in front of him. He took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through his body. It was a simple pleasure, but after everything he had been through, it felt strangely comforting.

As he drank, his thoughts drifted.

The purple-haired boy (thinking): "This town is peaceful… Maybe I should ask someone about the places around here. I need to figure out where I am and what's nearby."

He glanced at the other customers, searching for someone who looked knowledgeable. He needed information—about this town, the surrounding regions, and any potential dangers. After finishing his tea, he would start asking questions.

The purple-haired boy raised his hand slightly, signaling a nearby waiter. The waiter, a young man with a friendly face, hurried over to his table.

Waiter: "How can I help you, sir?"

The boy placed his empty teacup down and glanced at the waiter.

The purple-haired boy: "I'm not from around here. Can you tell me about this town and the places nearby?"

The waiter seemed pleased to be asked and nodded eagerly.

Waiter: "Of course! This town is called Greenstone Town. It's a small place, not many powerful cultivators come here. Most people here are merchants, hunters, and travelers

passing through. To the north, there's the Jade River, which leads to a larger city called Cloudveil City. If you're looking for trade, that's the best place to go. To the west, there's a series of hills known as the Cursed Wind Hills, but they're dangerous—strange things happen there, and people say the winds there can whisper to you."

The boy listened carefully, noting each detail.

The purple-haired boy: "And Black Sand Mountain? Have you heard anything about it?"

The waiter hesitated for a moment before answering.

Waiter: "Black Sand Mountain… I've heard rumors. They say a powerful treasure appeared there recently, attracting many strong cultivators. But I wouldn't recommend going there. The ones who went in… not many have come back."

The boy tapped his fingers against the table, deep in thought. Black Sand Mountain was dangerous, but it was also filled with opportunities. He needed to get stronger, and treasures were the best way to do that.

The purple-haired boy: "One more thing. Are there any sects or major powers around this region?"

The waiter scratched his head before responding.

Waiter: "Well, the biggest force near here is the Azure Sky Sect. They control Cloudveil City and a few surrounding towns. They're not the strongest sect out there, but they're powerful in this region. Besides them, there are smaller clans and rogue cultivators, but they don't cause much trouble unless someone provokes them."

The boy nodded. He now had a clearer idea of where he was and what lay ahead.

The purple-haired boy: "Thanks. That was helpful."

He tossed a silver coin onto the table as a tip, and the waiter's face lit up.

Waiter: "Thank you, sir! If you need anything else, just ask!"

The boy leaned back in his chair, pondering his next move. Should he head toward Cloudveil City and gather more information, or should he go straight to Black Sand Mountain? Either way, his journey was far from over.