Chapter 28: Wealth of the Forest

Chapter 28: Wealth of the Forest

The forest is deep and dark. Even in the pre-dawn light it remains treacherously absent brightness. For a cultivator, this is a small inconvenience. Beyond the sight one has with their optical receptors, they can also sense their surroundings with their spirit, not to mention sense killing intent, or the presence of another creature that cultivates Qi.

For me, light or dark makes no difference. I perceive the world in the same detail in total darkness and in absolute brightness, the only difference it makes is the light I measure.

This is an old, old, old forest. I am aware of its ancientness as if it was one, combined organism. But even in the minute detail, where I observe the trees with its ancient bark, I can sense that some of them have lived multiples of hundreds of years.

The story Lan Xiaohui told me how this forest became the Forbidden Ancestral Hunting Ground I can now detect that its origins are true. With my enhanced consciousness, I can penetrate beneath the bark of the trees, and detect a wood that is much stronger and more vital than the trunk that came after it. Even the roots are deeper and more profound nearer the surface. It is something that I make known to Lan Xiaohui, and every now and again, she stops to collect the wood within the trunk, or dig up some of the roots.

Were this forest not such a desolate, brutal place, cultivators wouldve likely come here often to collect valuable materials for the various refining processes involved in the construction of heavenly treasures, formations and medicine.

Certainly, some are foolish enough to try and this might be the simplest explanation behind the Golden Core cultivator Wukong brought to me over a month ago.This chapter made its debut appearance via N0v3lB1n.

On our way we come across many medicinal fields with wild growth that even Lan Xiaohui notices. She has a deep knowledge of medicinal plants, not only because of her interest, but also because of her expensive, royal cultivation until recently.

This is Midnight Ice Lotus, she says, pointing at the cluster of flowers that grows nearby. When refined into a paste, it can nurture a Yin constitution, or be used in other medicine.

She waits, as if to see if I would bring up an objection, and then proceeds to stuff it into my internal storage.

Why would I object? Lan Xiaohui has discarded the conveniences of her Humanity in this place she is as much a demonic beast as all the other creatures, or, at the very least, she must become one. To survive here and achieve her goal, she must use everything the forest provides.

We come across more strange and powerful growth.

Blood Ginseng, Spirit Mushroom, Nine-Turn Grass, Stargazer Jade Lily, and more. All of various, but advanced grades. These herbs and plants have spent a hundred years here at least, basking in the sun and moon, absorbing Qi and growing.

Not all of them were fortunate to be left alone, as in many other places we have found low-grade ones that have once upon a time been eaten or trampled.

Lan Xiaohui turns to face the approaching wolf, and she stands tall and proud. There is not a hint of fear on her features, nor hesitation. In the wolfs eyes, she too must seem like something that has a [Tyranny] ability. Her imposing form is threatening and domineering, especially when she turns her body, and tucks me behind her back, my body pointed upward and fully concealed from the wolfs vision.

I will give you this one chance to leave with your life. Continue to intrude on me again, and I will slaughter you. Again, there is no hint of fear in her tone and no hesitation. She stands, truly, like a sword brandished and eager to be used, while her words search for a peaceful resolution.

The wolfs claws extend from its paws, gleaming silver white in the sun, as if made of metal, and carve into the ground. Its jaw opens wide, revealing multiple rows of metal teeth, all sharpened like stakes. Eight dots of black, like pupils, swim in its amber eyes, focused murderously on Lan Xiaohui.

Happily, I become aware of something new and reassuring. With my sea of consciousness, I can detect the wolfs primary motives, and, more than that, calculate its surface thoughts. Though this creature is only defending its territory, and is hungry, it also fears Lan Xiaohui.

Its course of action is rather predictable: Strike fast. Aim for the neck. It is risky. A moment of hesitation or inaccuracy, and it would be the one to die.

The wolf roars, loud enough to cause the leaves on the nearby trees to fall off. Even Lan Xiaohui has to narrow her eyes slightly, as the loudness threatens to deafen her. In this brief moment of distraction, the wolf charges forward and leaps from nine steps away, its arc more than enough to propel it the rest of the distance towards Lan Xiaohui.

Naturally, I do not plan to let my wielder die here. It is enough for her to gain valuable experience, and maybe some severe injuries.

The moment the wolf jumps, I bring my sentience down upon it in the reverse process of what I discovered before, about not allowing my [Tyranny] to seep through my consciousness and I clearly see the wolfs eyes widen, and a change in bestial expression that signifies it had an affect.

But it appears to be for nothing, because even so, Lan Xiaohui calmly steps to the side, and unravels like a blossoming flower she turns her body to the side, and slashes me upwards through the air, leaving a bright red tracery of Qi in the wake of my tip. I carve through the wolfs neck cleanly, decapitating it as easily as if I was cutting paper.

[ Life consumed: +184 BP ]

This time, I sense my aperture open and devour the wolfs corpse, which shrivels away into black smoke and sinks into my black jade. Lan Xiaohui does not even seem surprised.

Of course, I told her I was a demon sword.

It is a shame, she says, exhaling coldly. There is no pride in her achievement, and no conceit. As if this was the natural outcome. We could have used its parts. Demonic beasts have a lot of resources useful to us cultivators.