Silence reigned.
In the distance, the endless sea stretched to the horizon, its shimmering waves warily Fondling the gray sky.
"Is that… really the sea?"
"Am I on an island?"
The cave sat atop a rugged mountain. Ji Guoyuan, clad in tattered linen shorts and a crude sleeveless animal-hide jacket, stood in the open space before the cave's entrance, eyes scanning the vast expanse.
The climate here was strange. Last night, a biting wind had swept through the cave, yet by morning, the air had turned pleasantly warm. The immediate shift left Ji Guoyuan slightly unsettled.
"First… I need to get a sense of this place."
After drawing in a few deep breaths of crisp air, he stepped back into the cave, only to emerge moments later, long sword in hand. He cast a careful glance around and began his descent down the narrow path leading from the cave.
Signs of housing marked the entrance, evidence that someone had once lived here.
Soon, Tsugikoku Yoriichi vanished into the dense forest.
This was a primeval forest, ancient trees towering like sentinels. Branches twist overhead, their lush foliage forming emerald clouds that obscured the blue sky. The sea breeze rustled through the leaves, a sound like a dragon's low sigh.
Along the way, Tsugikoku Yoriichi encountered countless strange plants, each more bizarre than the last. He often paused, not merely out of Wonder, but searching for edible fruit.
The memory of yesterday's cave rations Loitered bitterly. That paste-like substance had been barely Bearable if he could avoid it, he would. Yet no fruit-bearing trees appeared along the trail.
Suddenly—
"ROAR!!!"
A Thunderous roar erupted from the forest. A gust of fetid air slammed into Ji Guoyuan, and Reflexively, he leaped back. The moment his feet left the ground, a massive claw slammed down, cracking the earth like shattered glass.
"What the hell?!"
His eyes widened. A colossal tiger, nearly ten meters long, emerged from the foliage. Its size alone was terrifying, but its fangs—each nearly half a meter—dazzled Ji Guoyuan's senses.
Fear Tingled his spine, yet his hand moved almost on its own. The long sword was drawn, and his gaze hardened.
"Roar!"
The tiger lunged again, claws slashing fiercely. A thick, fishy gust of air hit Ji Guoyuan, forcing him to stagger. How many creatures had perished to those deadly claws?
At that moment, his mind sharpened. His breathing slowed, senses tuned. In his vision, the tiger's movements seemed to crawl, the world around him transforming into something… translucent.
A transparent world.
By focusing, he could filter out distractions, seeing the enemy's body in vivid detail. Blood coursed through the lungs, muscles contracted with precision, even Dou Qi could be controlled—or ignored. The tiger's movements appeared painfully slow, each heartbeat and contraction revealed.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni awoke to a terrifying, innate gift. Every organ of the tiger was visible, Rhythmic with life. Its Energy reminded him of the Lower Moon demon he had once slain—ominous, relentless, alive.
"I can see it! Everything, just like before!"
"Breathing of the Sun—One Form—Round Dance!"
Confidence Rushed. With three swift slashes, the tiger's claws missed him, cutting the air harmlessly. In the next heartbeat, blood spurted from the tiger's massive form.
"Plop!"
The Enormous beast collapsed, the ground beneath soaked in dark red. Its front paws had been severed cleanly at the roots, a long gash marred its head. Death had come swiftly.
As Ji Guoyuan prepared to sheath his sword, a sudden noise above caught his attention.
"Whoa!"
A strange bird tore through the canopy, descending rapidly. Its claws snatched the tiger corpse, wings spreading wide as it soared away. The shadow of its flight eclipsed the sun.
"What kind of world is this?"
The bird's wingspan must have been nearly twenty meters. Its heart energy rivaled even Exceeded the tiger's, perhaps reaching mid-lower-mid-moon levels. Yet strength alone wasn't the measure.
These creatures only deepened Yoriichi's curiosity. What kind of world birthed beings like these?
His body felt lighter, more powerful. Swinging the sword, dodging the tiger's strike—everything was smoother, Reflexive. This body Exceeded his previous one.
Perhaps… he thought, could this be a world of immortals?
Yoriichi approached the severed tiger legs—three to four meters long each, Incredibly heavy.
"It should be edible."
"At least I won't have to try that paste again."
"If this is a world of immortality, this would count as a spiritual beast. So big… maybe eating it would really strengthen me."
He prepared to carve some meat, then paused, a wild thought striking him. He wrapped his hands around one leg and lifted.
It rose effortlessly.
"What kind of power is this?!"
Confused but undeterred, Ji Guoyuan marveled at his strength. Time travel, divine favor he had witnessed far stranger things. Perhaps he was indeed a child of fortune, blessed in ways the world had yet to reveal.
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(End of Chapter )