A Battle of Giants
After three days of exploring the vast forest within the small dimensional world, Huang Di began to feel more confident. He occasionally encountered Rank 1 and Rank 2 beasts, but none posed any real threat. Rank 1 beasts were roughly equivalent in strength to cultivators in the Lower Foundation Rank (levels 1 to 5), while Rank 2 beasts matched those in the Greater Foundation Rank (levels 6 to 9). Rank 3 beasts, comparable to cultivators of the Lower Profound Rank (levels 1 to 4), would already be a challenge. He preferred not to imagine facing a Rank 4 beast, which equated to those of the Greater Profound Rank (levels 5 to 7).
While resting atop a tree and enjoying some fruits he had found, Huang Di noticed a distant commotion several kilometers away. It was as if two mountains were colliding, the trees trembling violently even at such a distance. Intrigued, he quickly packed his belongings into the dimensional pouch that the Emerald Elder had gifted him just days earlier for his birthday on February 7th.
As he drew closer, he saw countless beasts fleeing in the opposite direction: giant insect-like creatures, gray wolves, massive spiders, and more. The sight triggered his caution but also awakened his curiosity. Something was clearly causing panic, and he needed to know what.
Soon, he realized that even Rank 3 and Rank 4 beasts were stampeding past him without even acknowledging his presence. What could be terrifying them so thoroughly? he wondered. Despite the potential danger, the lure of discovery compelled him onward.
Seeking a safer vantage point, Huang Di climbed to the treetop. From there, he finally saw the source of the chaos. Two Rank 5 beasts, equivalent to experts in the Earth Rank (levels 1 to 5), were locked in a brutal clash atop a low hill roughly three kilometers away.
The first was a Colossal Fangtooth Gorilla, standing over thirty meters tall. The second was a Venom-Fanged Saber Tiger, half the gorilla’s height but stretching nearly forty meters in length. Both creatures had blood-red eyes and were utterly intent on killing one another.
At the feet of the two titans lay the corpses of a smaller gorilla, about ten meters tall, and a tiger half that size. It was evident that this was the cause of the conflict. Though these beasts lacked human speech (a trait reserved for Rank 7 and above), their instincts clearly blamed the other for their offspring’s death.
The battle raged on, each strike shaking the ground and filling the air with thunderous roars and snarls.
For reasons he could not explain, Huang Di felt compelled to move closer. Leaping gracefully from branch to branch with his perfected “light steps,” he advanced until he was about five hundred meters from the scene.
Suddenly, a deafening crash made him freeze. He turned just in time to see the two titans tumble from the hill, their massive bodies lying still among the shattered forest below.
He scanned the area carefully. No other presence stirred within at least ten kilometers. The opportunity was too great to ignore.
Approaching with utmost caution, he prodded the beasts with his foot to confirm their deaths. Neither moved. Satisfied, he unsheathed a blade the very first gift he had ever received from the Emerald Elder and began harvesting the most valuable parts: eyes, hearts, fangs, teeth, hides, and even bones.
The dagger, forged from the carapace of a Rank 6 beast known as the Black Scorpion, sliced cleanly through the tough flesh of the Rank 5 creatures. The ease with which it cut astonished Huang Di. He had never known the blade’s true origin, nor that it was a relic from a deadly duel the Emerald Elder had fought decades ago.
When his dimensional pouch could hold no more, Huang Di muttered a complaint about the lack of space. He then carved off several large cuts of meat from the fallen beasts to carry with him, knowing well how valuable these resources would prove on his journey ahead.
Shadows in the Forest
The morning after the ferocious battle between the Rank 5 beasts, Huang Di found refuge near a breathtaking lake fed by a towering waterfall. The crystalline waters mirrored the azure sky above, and the peaceful atmosphere stood in stark contrast to the violence he had recently witnessed. He seized the opportunity to bathe, washing away the sweat and grime accumulated during his journey.
As he rested by the lakeside, Huang Di reflected on the stroke of luck that had led him to the fallen beasts.
“That battle between those two beasts was intense,” he thought. “But it was an opportunity I couldn’t afford to miss.”
He knew the resources he had gathered would be invaluable in the days to come, especially the hearts, renowned for their revitalizing properties.
Dozens of kilometers away, however, the mood was quite different.
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Standing before the carcasses of the two slain Rank 5 beasts, a group of eight local cultivators had gathered, their expressions painted with fury and frustration. At their head stood a commanding man known as Lord Cairus, a level 3 expert of the Earth Rank. His eyes swept over his subordinates with piercing intensity.
“What happened here?” he demanded, his voice firm and authoritative. “You were supposed to be watching the corpses. How did someone get in and steal the hearts after all the effort we put into pitting those beasts against each other?”
The young native who had been assigned to keep watch lowered his head in shame.
“Lord Cairus, we arrived about an hour after the beasts died. When we realized the forest had fallen silent, it was already too late. All we found were bones and scraps of meat. The hearts the mission’s objective were gone, as if they’d never been there.”
Lord Cairus narrowed his eyes, thoughts racing.
“At first, we assumed they’d been devoured by other beasts,” the young man continued. “But when we looked closer, we saw clean incisions. Only a sharp blade could’ve made those cuts. I’ve never heard of anyone harvesting hearts that quickly and leaving no trail.”
Lord Cairus gave a grim nod.
“And the rain erased most of the tracks,” he muttered. “Even the hounds are struggling to follow any scent. But we can’t afford to fail. Those hearts are vital to saving the young master’s life.”
He paused, fixing his men with a hardened stare.
“We’ll split into pairs and search the four corners of this forest. The culprit is still out there. Whoever finds and retrieves the hearts will be rewarded with a full year of paid leave. But mark my words if we fail, don’t even think about returning to Boom House. The only thing waiting for us will be the roasting pit.”
The cultivators, until then downcast and silent, perked up at the mention of such a reward.
“Yes, sir!” they chorused, their voices newly charged with purpose.
Meanwhile, unaware of the search now underway, Huang Di finished his bath and began dressing. He took out the second birthday gift he had received from the Emerald Elder: a Rank 5 concealment formation. This artifact could hide him from all Earth Rank experts and Rank 5 beasts or below.
He positioned the formation near his makeshift camp, where he planned to roast the remaining meat from the Rank 5 beasts he had harvested. He knew that beast meat held potent effects boosting vitality, strength, and agility for cultivators. Some rare species were even said to enhance intelligence and wisdom, and when prepared by renowned spiritual chefs, the dishes could grant buffs even more extraordinary.
The Awakening of the Warrior
That same afternoon, after devouring the succulent meat of the Rank 5 beasts, Huang Di felt a surge of energy coursing through his body. He had eaten too quickly, and now his stomach was heavy, packed with energy-rich nutrients. He knew he needed to meditate to help his body digest and absorb the energy, otherwise, he could face dangerous consequences, such as an internal energy explosion.
Taking a deep breath, he sat in the lotus position, feeling the cool grass beneath his legs. He closed his eyes and began reciting the Sutra of the King, an ancient technique taught to him by the Emerald Supreme Elder. This technique, discovered within ancient ruins, was considered a King Rank ability, capable of strengthening the body in unimaginable ways. If one reached the stage of Perfect Mastery, it could nullify all physical attacks from cultivators at the King Rank or below.
The Emerald Elder had always regretted being unable to train the technique himself, as doing so would have required him to restart his cultivation from scratch, something he was unwilling to do, especially after reaching the Earth Rank and attaining his peak. But for Huang Di, who had been a mere mortal only three years prior, the technique was the key to his growth. Through it, his body had become more robust, gaining defined muscles without sacrificing the agility that had always been his trademark. He had refined his speed, becoming faster than ever before.
As he meditated, Huang Di felt the energy from the beast meat begin to circulate within his body. It flowed through his veins, tendons, muscles, and bones, fortifying every fiber of his being. He visualized the energy moving through his meridian channels, accumulating within his dantian the energy core located in his abdomen. The sensation was one of rising heat, as though he was being filled with renewed vital force.
Suddenly, he felt a rupture within, like a barrier shattering. He had reached the 2nd level of the Profound Rank, increasing his raw strength to twelve tons. This placed him above average for his current stage, but he knew the road ahead remained long. With the King technique at Minor Mastery, he could absorb 25% of the damage dealt by a Terra Rank cultivator and boost his own strength by the same percentage, raising it to fifteen tons, equivalent to a Level 2 Earth Rank expert.
When he had lived in the orphanage, Huang Di had discovered a mysterious artifact embedded within his body, something he hadn’t even known was there. That very artifact was responsible for his abnormal power growth, doubling his strength with every step he took along the cultivation path, compared to other cultivators. Each time he broke through a level, his strength increased at twice the normal rate. What exactly are you? he often wondered, feeling the strange connection to the artifact, though its true nature remained a mystery. As he advanced through the ranks, he began to realize he was progressing faster than others, something that both intrigued and unsettled him.
Huang Di opened his eyes, feeling renewed and stronger than ever. He knew he was close to achieving Major Mastery of the King technique, which would allow him to reflect and absorb up to 50% of the damage from a Terra Rank specialist. But he also knew he had been stuck at this stage of comprehension for over a year. The Emerald Elder had always praised his talent, saying he learned three times faster than the average disciple. Even so, Huang Di was determined to surpass even his own limits.
As he reflected on his progress, he thought about what still lay ahead. He had learned Muay Thai, an ancient martial art known in the old language as the style of warrior monks. This style was taught by one of the principal powers of the Azure Waters Continent, where monks had refined it to the level of an Emperor Rank technique. Huang Di recalled his master’s words: Muay Thai is a unique style, one that uses the body itself as a weapon. It is particularly effective in beating arrogance out of spoiled young masters.
With a determined smile, Huang Di rose to his feet, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him. He knew the world was vast and filled with danger, but also brimming with opportunity. And he was determined to seize every last one.
