The first few days inside the Forbidden Forest were nothing short of torture.
Every breath Emil took while cultivating felt like fire coursing through his veins. The Sun God Breathing Technique demanded complete focus, reshaping his weak body from the inside out.
Pain became his closest companion.
But so did determination.
Each time exhaustion threatened to overwhelm him, he gritted his teeth and continued.
The three Beginner Energy Pills helped restore his strength, but Emil quickly realized they were only temporary support.
His true source of power came from the sun itself.
With every cycle of the breathing technique, strands of warm solar energy flowed through his meridians, slowly repairing years of weakness. His muscles grew stronger, his breathing steadier, and the frailty that had haunted him since birth gradually began to fade.
His body was changing.
So was the way he experienced the world.
---
Blindness had forced Emil to rely on his other senses since childhood.
Now, those senses sharpened beyond anything he had imagined.
The gentle current of the river became his guide, always flowing along his left whenever he ventured into the forest.
The scent of damp earth told him when rain had recently fallen.
The rustling of leaves revealed the direction of the wind.
Even the songs of insects formed an invisible map within his mind.
Without realizing it, he had memorized the area surrounding his camp.
He learned which bushes bore edible berries.
Which roots could be eaten.
Which patches of grass hid dangerous holes.
Day by day...
The Forbidden Forest became less of an execution ground and more of a home.
---
The simple iron sword never left his side.
Its balance was average.
Its edge was dull compared to legendary weapons.
Yet whenever his fingers wrapped around its hilt, Emil felt a little safer.
He practiced every day.
One swing.
Then another.
Again.
Again.
Again.
His movements were stiff and awkward.
Several times he nearly lost his footing.
Sometimes he struck tree trunks instead of empty air.
Other times he completely missed his target.
Still...
He refused to stop.
The memories inherited from the Sun God Fragment guided his posture, corrected his breathing, and subtly adjusted every movement.
With every repetition...
His swordsmanship improved.
---
As his cultivation deepened, another remarkable change occurred.
While meditating beneath the forest canopy, Emil noticed something strange.
He could feel the warmth of sunlight.
Not simply upon his skin...
But everywhere around him.
Countless tiny threads of golden energy drifted through the air like invisible rivers.
Although his eyes remained blind, his awareness expanded beyond ordinary perception.
He could vaguely sense living things.
Warmth.
Movement.
Life.
It wasn't sight.
Not yet.
But it was enough to make him smile.
"So this..."
"...is cultivation."
---
Nearly two weeks passed.
While practicing beside the river one afternoon, Emil suddenly felt the spiritual energy inside his body surge violently.
His meridians trembled.
Golden light gathered around him before flowing inward.
His breathing instinctively changed.
The circulation of solar energy became smoother.
More powerful.
Then—
Ding!
Several notifications appeared within his consciousness.
---
Sun God Breathing Technique has advanced to Level 2.
Sun Sword Technique unlocked — Level 1.
Sun First learned — Level 1.
Sun Step learned — Level 1.
---
A broad smile spread across Emil's face.
"I finally broke through..."
Excitement filled his chest.
Without wasting another second, he stood.
"If these are techniques..."
"I should try them."
He focused on the energy flowing through his body.
According to the memories within his mind, Sun Step concentrated solar energy into the legs, dramatically increasing speed and agility.
Taking a slow breath, Emil circulated the energy downward.
Golden warmth rushed into his feet.
Then—
Whoosh!
His body shot forward like an arrow.
The sudden acceleration startled him.
He instinctively adjusted his footing and came to a stop several meters away.
"...Incredible."
A laugh escaped his lips.
For the first time in his life...
He had moved faster than he ever thought possible.
He tried again.
And again.
Each attempt became smoother.
His footsteps grew lighter.
More controlled.
Soon, weaving between trees felt almost effortless.
---
After resting briefly, Emil gripped his sword.
The memories of Sun First surfaced naturally.
It was the opening strike of the Sun Sword Technique.
Simple.
Direct.
Yet devastating.
He inhaled deeply.
Golden spiritual energy gathered around the blade.
A faint glow illuminated the ordinary iron sword.
The warmth spread into his arms.
His muscles tightened.
With a determined shout, Emil slashed forward.
Whoosh!
A sharp gust of wind burst from the blade, scattering fallen leaves across the forest floor.
The strike was far from powerful.
But it was enough.
Enough to prove the technique was real.
Enough to prove he had truly become a cultivator.
---
Days blended into weeks.
Morning cultivation.
Sword practice.
Searching for food.
Meditation.
Then repeating everything again.
The routine was harsh.
Lonely.
Relentless.
But Emil welcomed it.
Each sunrise made him stronger.
Each sunset brought him one step closer to surviving this unforgiving world.
The helpless boy who had been thrown into the Forbidden Forest was slowly disappearing.
In his place...
A cultivator was being born.
---
One evening, Emil sat cross-legged beside the river, quietly circulating the Sun God Breathing Technique.
The forest was unusually silent.
Too silent.
His nose twitched.
A strange scent drifted through the air.
Musky.
Wild.
Predatory.
His eyes remained closed.
Slowly...
His hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword.
The scent grew stronger.
Branches cracked somewhere ahead.
A low growl rolled through the trees.
Deep.
Heavy.
Hungry.
Every instinct screamed at him.
Danger.
Emil rose to his feet.
His breathing slowed.
The golden energy within his body began circulating on its own.
"Who's there?"
His voice remained calm despite the pounding of his heart.
No answer came.
Only another growl.
Closer this time.
Leaves rustled.
Heavy footsteps approached.
Then...
Two burning crimson eyes appeared within the darkness.
They stared directly at him.
A massive shape emerged from between the ancient trees.
Its broad shoulders towered over the surrounding bushes.
Long claws scraped against the earth.
Warm breath escaped its jaws in slow, hungry bursts.
It was unlike any animal Emil had ever imagined.
This...
Was a spirit beast.
And it had already chosen him as its prey.
Emil tightened his grip on his sword.
The first true trial of the Forbidden Forest had finally arrived.