Chen Qing slowly walked along the mountain path, moonlight filtering through the gaps in the branches and leaves, outlining mottled silver lines on the ground.
His footsteps were extremely light, as if fearing to disturb the night's tranquility, yet he couldn't help but explore, hoping to discover more hidden things deep within Red Maple Mountain.
Upon reaching a steep slope, Chen Qing suddenly caught a faint, unusual sound.
Chen Qing immediately became alert.
Below the steep slope was a patch of grass bathed in moonlight, with a few unknown medicinal herbs swaying gently in the breeze.
But in the shadows of the herb patch... it seemed like there was nothing...
Although Chen Qing had anticipated this, he still felt a little annoyed.
He quickly activated his Blood Qi Whirlwind Blade Gu, making the blood-red Qi Blades circle in front of him, then carefully pushed aside the grass to search.
Under the moonlight, Chen Qing unknowingly found himself in an untouched stream valley of Red Maple Mountain.
On both sides of the stream valley, red maples stood tall, reflecting in the clear stream water like a dreamlike painting.
Chen Qing was drawn by the tranquility of this stream valley and temporarily relaxed.
He quietly gazed at the gurgling water in the stream valley, listening to the rustling of the maple leaves, and the restlessness in his heart disappeared, becoming increasingly calm.
"It's getting late, I should head back..."
When Chen Qing returned to the cave, the eastern sky was already faintly showing the pale light of dawn.
Although he hadn't slept all night, he felt no weariness.
He sat down cross-legged and began to flush his apertures.
In this serene atmosphere, Chen Qing knew that he was getting closer and closer to a Breakthrough.
"It should be in the next few days, at most two or three days, and I can advance to First Rank High Tier!" Chen Qing muttered to himself, unable to hide his excitement.
With anticipation for the Breakthrough, Chen Qing rested briefly before immersing himself in Cultivation again.
He sat cross-legged, mobilized the true Qi within his body, and began to flush his apertures as usual.
The difference was that today, as the true Qi circulated, he clearly felt the obstruction of the aperture walls weakening.
Each flush allowed the capacity of his apertures to expand a little more.
Chen Qing understood in his heart that this was a sign of an imminent Breakthrough.
He dared not show the slightest slack, focusing even more on controlling his true Qi, continuously nourishing and refining the aperture walls.
Time slowly passed, and Chen Qing was immersed in Cultivation, as if everything in the outside world had nothing to do with him.
It wasn't until a strong tremor came from within his apertures that Chen Qing's heart tightened, knowing the critical moment had arrived.
He mobilized all his strength, gathering his true Qi into a torrent, and rushed towards the final obstruction of the aperture walls.
"Boom—"
It was as if an invisible shackle had been broken.
Chen Qing felt a sudden emptiness within his body, and then a stronger, dark green true Qi was generated at the bottom of his apertures; he had successfully broken through to First Rank High Tier!
His outer appearance transformed from a shimmering water membrane to a thick, layered stone membrane with shifting light spots.
Chen Qing slowly opened his eyes, which were filled with surprise and exhilaration.
He could clearly feel that after the Breakthrough, the intensity of his true Qi had undergone a qualitative leap.
The Blood Crystal Storage Gu and Blood Qi Whirlwind Blade Gu swam joyfully in the primordial sea within his apertures.
"Finally, I've broken through!" Chen Qing stood up, stretched his body, and felt the surging power within him, a brilliant smile on his face.
After a brief adjustment, Chen Qing decided to explore outside again.
With his increased strength, he had more confidence to uncover the mysteries of Red Maple Mountain.
Stepping out of the cave, the sun was bright, and Red Maple Mountain appeared exceptionally vibrant under its rays.
He walked on, occasionally stopping to observe the surrounding environment, searching for potential Opportunities.
Upon reaching the same valley as last time, Chen Qing slowed his pace.
Last time here, he had encountered the Hundred Beasts King.
Returning to the familiar place now, he couldn't help but feel a bit more vigilant.
The vegetation in the valley seemed even more lush than before, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the branches and leaves, forming patches of light and shadow.
Chen Qing walked along the familiar path, his ears occasionally catching the sounds around him: the rustling of wind, the chirping of birds, and the buzzing of insects intertwined, forming a unique symphony of the mountain forest.
Not long after, Chen Qing discovered something unusual.
In the grass ahead, something seemed to be wiggling slightly.
He approached stealthily and, upon closer inspection, saw several small beasts, entirely yellowish-brown with scales, resembling rural earth dogs, playing and frolicking.
Chen Qing's heart stirred, but the small beasts suddenly turned around, baring their teeth at him and emitting fierce growls.
"There are a few small... I don't know what they are, and their parents or a beast pack might be nearby," Chen Qing mused to himself.
He didn't act rashly but slowly retreated a few steps, summoning his Blood Qi Whirlwind Blade Gu.
As true Qi was injected, blood-red Qi Blades condensed in front of him.
Chen Qing took a defensive stance, observing the reactions of the small beasts.
Chen Qing adopted a defensive posture, his gaze fixed on the small beasts before him.
Although these little guys weren't top-tier in individual combat, if he truly provoked them and drew a beast pack's encirclement, with his current First Rank High Tier strength, he would likely be torn to shreds.
The small beasts bared their teeth, continuously emitting low "woof woof" growls, staring at Chen Qing, but never daring to truly pounce.
Chen Qing knew in his heart that they were testing his limits; if he showed the slightest flaw, these small beasts would undoubtedly attack without hesitation.
After a stalemate, Chen Qing slowly moved his feet, trying to retreat towards the edge of the valley.
He didn't want to get too entangled with these small beasts; if he really drew out a beast pack, it would be big trouble.
But as soon as he moved, the small beasts went crazy, pouncing at him fiercely, their sharp claws glinting coldly, heading straight for his vital points.
Chen Qing's eyes narrowed, and his Blood Qi Whirlwind Blade Gu instantly erupted.
The blood-red Qi Blade, like a bolt of lightning, swept towards the small beasts with a "swish."
Several small beasts that couldn't dodge in time were grazed by the Qi Blade, yelping in pain.
Under the amplification of First Rank High Tier dark green true Qi, one of its front paws was directly severed, and blood splattered out.
Helpless, Chen Qing could only dodge with agile footwork while continuously driving his Blood Qi Whirlwind Blade Gu to counterattack.
For a time, blood-red Qi Blades crisscrossed the valley, and the roars of the small beasts and the "swoosh swoosh" of the Qi Blades cutting through the air intertwined, creating chaos.
Just as Chen Qing was about to be unable to hold on, a dull roar suddenly came from deep within the valley.
This roar was like a thunderclap, making the valley tremble slightly.
Chen Qing and the small beasts instantly froze.
The small beasts seemed to have heard some command and stopped their attacks, running towards the depths of the valley.
Chen Qing looked in the direction the small beasts had left, still shaken, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
The roar just now had an extremely powerful aura; it was definitely a higher-level Beast King.
He dared not linger any longer and, seizing the Opportunity, quickly fled towards the cave.
Along the way, Chen Qing's mind kept replaying that roar, secretly guessing what level that Beast King was.
Could it be a Thousand Beasts King, or even higher?
Red Maple Mountain seemed peaceful, but he hadn't expected so many dangers to be hidden within it.
Upon returning to the cave, Chen Qing collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.
After a good while, he slowly stood up.
Chen Qing knew that his Cultivation on Red Maple Mountain had just begun, and there would be more difficulties and obstacles awaiting him in the future.
But after today's events, he not only did not shrink back but became even more determined to continue on the Gu Dao.
He wanted to become stronger, even stronger!
So, Chen Qing sat down cross-legged again and began a new round of Cultivation.
Inside the cave, true Qi energy flushed his aperture walls, slowly increasing his strength, and his figure, under the night sky of the Gu World, appeared increasingly resilient and resolute, stepping closer, one step at a time, towards that distant, dreamlike Peak...
Meanwhile, at the foot of the mountain, Red Maple Village.
The old village chief stood under the large maple tree at the village entrance, his brows furrowed, his cloudy eyes filled with worry.
Several young men from the village stood dejectedly to one side, still bearing some scrapes.
"Are you really sure there's something unusual in that valley?" the old village chief's voice trembled as he tightly clutched his walking stick.
"Village Chief, a few of us originally wanted to go into the mountains to gather some medicinal herbs.
When we passed that valley, we suddenly heard a thunderous beast roar.
That sound was even fiercer than the Hundred Beasts King in heat in previous years!" a young man said, still shaken.
"And, at the edge of the valley, we saw bloodstains and traces of a fight, Village Chief... could it be a beast pack...?"
The veins on the old village chief's hand, clutching the walking stick, bulged, and his cloudy eyes were filled with worry, his voice trembling slightly: "That valley... there was something strange about it many years ago, and now it's causing such a commotion.
Our Red Maple Village... I'm afraid we're in for trouble."
The young men exchanged glances, and one of them, emboldened, said: "Village Chief, how about... we find some strong young men to go check near the valley?
If it really is a beast pack acting up, we can prepare early."
The old village chief slowly shook his head, sighing: "With just our village's farmers, going there would be pointless sacrifice.
The dangers in that valley are far beyond what you can imagine.
Back then... alas, back then, Chen Qing's parents went into the mountain and never returned.
Who knows if they perished in there."
Mentioning Chen Qing's parents, the old village chief was full of regret.
In his heart, both were good children, but alas...
"But if we don't do anything, and if the beast pack really charges out, our Red Maple Village has hundreds of people..." The young man stomped his foot in agitation.
The villagers had lived here for generations; if they were targeted by a beast pack, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The old village chief remained silent for a long time, the wrinkles on his face seeming to deepen a bit.
He gazed in the direction of Red Maple Mountain in the distance, his voice hoarse: "Don't be so impulsive for now.
Let's wait and see.
Although Red Maple Mountain is dangerous, we haven't seen a large-scale beast pack charge out in so many years.
Perhaps the commotion in that valley is just an isolated incident."
The young men listened, and although still full of anxiety, they could only suppress their impulsiveness and nodded.
The villagers of Red Maple Village began to spontaneously organize, setting up simple defenses around the village, felling thick trees, and moving large stones, preparing to deal with a possible beast pack.
But everyone felt uncertain; after all, most villagers were ordinary people, and facing a ferocious beast pack, this small amount of preparation was truly a drop in the bucket.
Time passed minute by minute, the sun gradually set in the west, and the mountain wind carried the scent of the forest, slowly blowing through Red Maple Village.
The villagers' hearts were in their throats, and from time to time, someone would gaze in the direction of Red Maple Mountain.
Meanwhile, in the cave deep within Red Maple Mountain, Chen Qing was immersed in Cultivation.
He continuously nourished his apertures, which became increasingly stable under the nourishment of true Qi.
Chen Qing was fully absorbed in Cultivation, completely unaware of the outside world, and even less aware that the village was in a state of tension due to the beast pack commotion he had caused in the valley.
As night deepened, Red Maple Village's defenses were barely set up, and the villagers gathered in the central clearing of the village.
The old village chief stood on a stone platform, calming everyone's emotions.
The long night slowly passed in everyone's trepidation.
When the pale light of dawn appeared in the sky, Red Maple Mountain was still quiet, and the beast pack had not charged out as everyone had feared.
The villagers gradually relaxed and began to put away their defensive tools.