The sun shone through the canopies of the giant trees, creating beams of light that danced on the forest floor as Li Yunhao and Zhao Leng carefully moved through the unfamiliar terrain.
"The air here is different, don't you think?" Zhao Leng broke the silence, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes for a moment. "It feels purer... no, it's not just that. It's almost like I can feel every molecule entering my lungs."
Li Yunhao mimicked him, breathing deeply and agreeing with Zhao Leng. The air was so pure that each time it entered his nostrils, even unconsciously, he could feel it vividly. Not only that, but when he focused, he could also feel the air entering the pores of his skin. "It's like the air is more... alive. It feels like we're breathing energy, not just oxygen. I've read some cultivation webnovels, and if it's like there, this must be what's called spiritual energy."
"Interesting," Zhao Leng commented, looking around with curiosity. "I have to say, though I'm apprehensive about all of this, I can't help but feel somewhat excited about the prospect of immortal cultivation. Well, not as much as Wang Lei, of course..."
"Wang Lei..." Thinking of the classmate who was the first to awaken, Li Yunhao couldn't help but smile at the memory of how he had acted when choosing his legacy. At the same time, he thought of his good friend Zhang Kai and the other classmates who were now scattered all around the world, perhaps even beyond it.
"I wonder how many others like Zhao Leng and I fell into this world. Are we the only two?"
It was highly possible. If more people had fallen into this world, they would have appeared along with him and Zhao Leng. Although it wasn't impossible they were in some other part of this world, the chances they were in another "heaven" were higher.
They continued walking, their steps echoing lightly on the damp, leaf-covered earth. Zhao Leng suddenly stopped and crouched to pick a plant with long, pointed leaves that seemed to glow under the sunlight. He examined it carefully before placing it into a small sack he had made from a piece of cloth from his tunic.
"Why are you picking that?" Li Yunhao asked, curious.
"Part of my legacy mentions various recipes for medicines and poisons," Zhao Leng replied, standing up. "Apparently, Zhi Lang was a master at using herbs and other ingredients to create cures and... well, the opposite of that. Collecting ingredients whenever possible is essential. We never know when it might be useful."
Remembering some knowledge about herbs and plants in his mind, Li Yunhao thought for a moment before crouching down to pick a similar herb, inspecting it carefully. "Now that you mention it, I remember Yu Hu Tao left something similar in my legacy. Like you said, these plants and herbs could come in handy at the right moment."
Zhao Leng gave a slight smile, pleased with Li Yunhao's initiative. "Good. Then we should start collecting whatever we can. Besides preparing for emergencies, it could also be a good way to learn more about this world."
The two continued walking, collecting leaves, flowers, and even small pieces of tree bark whenever they saw something promising. Zhao Leng eagerly explained the properties of the plants he recognized, while Li Yunhao listened and compared them to the knowledge implanted by Yu Hu Tao.
After some time, Zhao Leng suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed on a monumental tree ahead of them. The trunk was so wide it seemed impossible to embrace, and the branches stretched in all directions like a giant web, casting a massive shadow over the ground.
"That tree is huge!" Zhao Leng exclaimed, his voice full of awe. "If I can climb it, maybe I can see the surroundings and figure out where we are."
Li Yunhao looked up at the top of the tree, which seemed almost to touch the sky. "Are you sure? It looks a little risky."
"I feel lighter since I arrived here," Zhao Leng replied, already sizing up the lower branches. "I think I can do it without any problems. Wait here, I'll climb."
Before Li Yunhao could protest, Zhao Leng was already scaling the trunk with surprising agility. Each movement seemed fluid and natural, as if his body was adapting quickly to the effort. In a few minutes, he reached one of the higher branches and sat, looking around.
"Looks like he's really eager to test his new physique," Li Yunhao thought. While he too wanted to begin cultivation and experience what his physique could do, unlike Zhao Leng's physique, his own didn't grant significant physical improvements at the initial stage. For now, without having started cultivation, his Immaculate Body of the Serene Lotus only turned him into a walking fragrance, and nothing more.
"Wow," Zhao Leng murmured at that moment, his voice full of astonishment. "I can see a village in the distance! It looks small, but there are several buildings... we should head over there. It might be our chance to find more answers about this place."
Li Yunhao frowned, cautious. "Are you sure it's safe? What if they're hostile?"
"We don't have many options," Zhao Leng replied, descending carefully. "If we keep wandering aimlessly, it could get dark, and we might end up in a worse situation."
"Well, you're right."
When Zhao Leng reached the ground, they exchanged glances and agreed to head toward the village. With Zhao Leng leading the way, they began to move more quickly, crossing through the forest as the sun continued to rise in the sky.
Li Yunhao and Zhao Leng continued walking through the forest, the image of the village in the distance lingering in their minds. The silence was broken when Li Yunhao, looking thoughtful, interrupted the natural flow of their walk.
"Wait a second." He stopped walking and looked at his clothes, still predominantly white and immaculate, with only a few subtle dust stains. He raised his head, his eyes shining with a hint of unease. He remembered that it was common in stories for villagers or people in remote places to be shocked by strangers wearing very luxurious clothes. Moreover, their clothes were a little too clean; it might raise suspicions about how they were so spotless in such an expansive forest without carrying any extra clothes with them.
"Is something wrong?" Zhao Leng asked, stopping beside him.
"Yes." Li Yunhao sighed and pointed at their tunics. "Don't you think we're... too eye-catching? If we show up in the village wearing these almost immaculate clothes, even after walking through the forest, people will suspect us. We don't know how these people react to strangers."
Zhao Leng stared at him for a moment, surprised by his attention to detail. "Hmm, you're right. But... did you really think about this? I didn't imagine you'd be so meticulous."
"When you're in a new world, caution is key," Li Yunhao replied, crouching down. He grabbed a handful of dirt and rubbed it lightly on strategic parts of his tunic – sleeves, hems, and even a bit on his knees. Then, he repeated the process with Zhao Leng's clothes, who watched the scene with a mixture of disbelief and amusement.
Soon after, he decided to hide the ring on his finger as well, tucking it into his tunic. The details of the ring and its material seemed a bit too luxurious — it could unexpectedly stir the greed of the villagers, which could be very disadvantageous for them.
"This is strangely surreal and comical," Zhao Leng shook his head while helping to spread some dust on his own face.
"Indeed, it's a bit strange that dirtying our clothes is part of our survival plan in this world," Li Yunhao responded with an ironic smile. "Either way, this makes it easier for people to accept our presence."
With their clothes now reasonably dirty and worn, Li Yunhao and Zhao Leng headed toward the village. As they reached the first houses, they noticed that they had caught the attention of a small crowd of villagers. There was curiosity in the eyes of the townspeople, but also a clear caution.
The silence was broken by murmurs among the villagers.
"Who are they? Outsiders in clothes like that don't appear around here," murmured a woman, holding the hand of a small child.
"We better be careful," replied an older man, frowning. "Remember what happened in the village to the north. They upset a traveler with distinct clothes, and everyone was burned along with their houses."
"Is that true?" asked another voice, whispering.
"Who knows? But it's better not to risk it..."
Li Yunhao felt the piercing stares and realized that the initial plan to seem less conspicuous hadn't been enough. He tried to stay calm, but it was clear that the tension in the air was growing.
The atmosphere was tense. The villagers exchanged glances, unsure how to proceed, until a burly man with graying hair stepped forward. He had an authoritative presence, likely the village leader, and his expression was firm, though there was a shadow of concern in his eyes.
"Who are you? And why have you come to our village?" asked the man, his voice resonating with a mix of respect and caution.