Chen Huang stepped back into the heart of the forest. Towering trees rose high above him, their dense canopies weaving a blanket of shade that filtered sunlight into golden specks dancing across the ground. The air here was thick with moisture, carrying the scent of sap and moss.
With the newly attained foundation of Seven-Star Dou Qi, his steps now felt light; he moved not merely with muscle, but with a newly awakened sensitivity. His senses spread outward like a delicate net, ready to catch every vibration and danger that might emerge from behind the dense undergrowth.
In the oppressive yet tranquil silence, Yue Chan's voice—soft as silk brushing against the mind—broke the stillness.
"Huang, straight ahead. Quite far away, it seems someone is being attacked by low-tier beasts."
In an instant, Chen Huang's calm sharpened into focus. His eyes narrowed as Dou Qi surged through his body.
"Really?!" he asked, though his energy had already answered before doubt could form.
Without wasting even a second, he compressed his essential energy. All the Dou Qi within his body was channeled with perfect precision into the muscles of his legs and the soles of his feet. He took a single step—and the Dou Qi exploded.
"Explosive Step!" he shouted.
This was no mere sprint, but a chain of energy-releasing leaps. Each time his foot touched the ground, a controlled burst of Dou Qi detonated beneath him, propelling his body forward several times faster than natural speed. His steps struck the earth, exploded, launched him into the air, landed, and exploded again—an efficient sequence that converted raw energy into both vertical and horizontal momentum.
He leapt high—extremely high—until his body nearly pierced through the canopy. His agile hands grasped a thick tree branch. With a powerful pull of his arms, he swung forward with tremendous momentum, then released himself, soaring even higher to reach the highest vantage point.
From that height, Chen Huang's gaze finally pierced through the dense leaves. Below, he saw a figure surrounded, besieged by a pack of low-tier beasts—hungry, savage creatures closing in.
Just as one of the beasts, its fangs bared and saliva dripping, was about to deliver the final strike to the trapped figure, Chen Huang acted.
He descended from the sky like an arrow loosed from the bow of fate. All the remaining energy from his leap gathered into his right leg. With a swift rotation of his hips and perfect placement of his center of gravity, he kicked.
The kick slammed into the beast's snout with terrifying, concentrated force. A dull crack echoed as its nasal bones shattered. Pain flashed instantly in its eyes, and its body was sent flying, crashing violently into a tree. A gruesome wound split open across its face.
The remaining beasts halted their assault at once. Their bloodshot eyes, once filled with frenzy, now turned entirely toward Chen Huang. They snarled, releasing threatening roars as their bodies lowered, preparing to pounce.
Chen Huang landed lightly, his feet touching the ground without a sound. He turned his head back toward the person he was protecting.
"Are you alright?"
The figure was a woman wrapped in a long black robe, giving her a closed-off, mysterious air. Her jet-black hair was neatly tied behind her neck, revealing the graceful curve of her slender neckline. Several simple silver bracelets encircled her wrists.
She slowly lifted her head, her voice slightly hoarse as the fear faded.
"I—I'm fine," she replied.
Chen Huang turned forward again, facing the four remaining beasts. His expression returned to calm focus.
"Wait here. I'll deal with them."
Without waiting for a response, Chen Huang dashed forward. This time, he did not use Explosive Step. He relied purely on speed and efficient control of his Dou Qi.
He leapt to the left and threw a quick punch—jab! The Dou Qi-infused fist struck the side of the first beast's head, knocking it unconscious instantly. His body spun lightly in midair. As he landed, he followed up with a crushing elbow strike that shattered the ribs of the second beast.
Two remained.
Chen Huang swung his left leg upward in a spinning kick. Fully charged with Dou Qi, the strike sliced through the air and smashed into the third beast's neck, sending it flying to its death. Without pause, he shifted his weight and delivered a precise side kick to the jaw of the final beast.
All of them collapsed.
Once it was over, he returned to the woman, who was seated and leaning against a tree. He crouched down, one knee touching the ground, placing himself at eye level to ensure she was truly unharmed—a gesture both polite and considerate.
Relieved and feeling safe, the woman slowly raised her hand and removed the veil from her face. The forest light seemed to linger on her milk-white skin, starkly contrasting with the shadows of her black robe. Her revealed face was strikingly beautiful, with soft features and large, expressive eyes.
Though hidden beneath her robe, her body still traced gentle, elegant lines. While she lacked the ethereal perfection of Yue Chan, she possessed a captivating charm of her own.
Chen Huang simply helped her to her feet.
After some time passed and words were exchanged, he learned her name was Xin Li. She had become separated from her companions while traveling through the wilderness.
Once she recovered from the shock, Xin Li began explaining her situation, her gestures growing animated as she spoke.
"I truly didn't expect there to be so many groups of low-tier beasts here," she said, genuine surprise shining in her eyes.
Chen Huang nodded.
"I understand. For now, I'll help you get out of this forest. As for finding your companions, I'm not sure I can help with that—you'll likely need to handle it yourself later."
He scratched the back of his head.
Though he felt he could locate Xin Li's companions with Yue Chan's help, his instincts urged him to avoid unnecessary complications—for now, at least.
As Chen Huang spoke, his eyes inadvertently caught a small detail on Xin Li's chest—a symbol embroidered with silver thread.
"That… what is it?" he asked, lifting his right arm slightly as he pointed to the emblem.
Xin Li's eyes lit up instantly. She stood straight, her chest subtly lifting, as if the symbol were a crown.
"This? This is the emblem of our sect—the Sky Cloud Sect, a place where geniuses compete against one another! It's an incredible sect led by the Sect Master, who has already reached the Dou Ling Realm!"
She spoke with unbridled enthusiasm, her hands moving animatedly, a stark contrast to the frightened woman from moments ago.
Realizing she had gone too far, Xin Li noticed the slight confusion on Chen Huang's face. Her cheeks flushed, a rosy hue spreading from her neck to her face.
"S—Sorry, I talked too much."
Chen Huang chuckled softly.
"Ahaha, it's fine. It does sound impressive…"
Xin Li fell silent for a moment, her gaze turning thoughtful. She then stepped a little closer, entering Chen Huang's personal space, her intent shifting.
"Chen Huang… do you already belong to a sect?" she asked.
Chen Huang took a step back, returning to a relaxed stance.
"Not yet. I don't think I'm good enough to join one."
Xin Li shook her head quickly.
"Then why not join the Sky Cloud Sect? All the resources you'll ever need are there, and you'll have the chance to fight against other geniuses!"
She laid out her arguments with conviction shining in her eyes.
"Maybe… I'll think about it later. For now, becoming stronger is my top priority," Chen Huang said, spreading his hands to show his preference for independent cultivation.
As they continued walking, passing through a narrow gap between two ancient banyan trees, Xin Li suddenly stopped. Her movement was graceful, her robe swaying gently as she turned to face Chen Huang.
"Chen Huang, may I divine your future?"
Chen Huang frowned, surprise clearly written on his face.
"Huh? That's possible?" He hadn't expected to hear such a thing from a cultivator.
Xin Li smiled mysteriously, her slender fingers touching the silver bracelet on her wrist.
"Of course. I'm Xin Li, a diviner. My predictions have a 90% chance of coming true."
Chen Huang pondered for a moment. The number was striking—certainty was rare in the cultivation world, where variables were endless. A prophecy with such accuracy was akin to receiving a near-perfect map to future success. That assurance dispelled his hesitation.
"…Alright. Let's try it," Chen Huang nodded.