By dark-kingxu
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The forest was thick with the scent of rot and dew, but Xu Ming's senses had sharpened. The earlier battles had taught him much—not just about his enemies, but himself. His body still bore bruises from the Stage 2 beast he had slain,
Yet even now, his hunger for power remained.
Xu Ming stood before a grove, staring at a tree radiating a soft crimson glow. Its fruit—no bigger than a clenched fist—pulsed with heat, as if each beat echoed the rhythm of life itself. It was a treasure to temper the meridians and ignite Qi refinement speed—perfect for someone on the edge of mastering the second stage.
"This an emberberry tree."
"There must be a demonic beast guarding it.."
As if to confirm Xu Ming's thought
a low growl rumbled through the grove. Emerging from the thick mist was a Blackmane Ravager, a Stage Three demonic beast with jagged fangs and limbs like bent iron. Its crimson eyes locked onto Xu Ming, filled with primal instinct and territorial rage.
Xu Ming exhaled.
> "One more test, then."
The beast lunged.
Xu Ming ducked to the side, sliding beneath its first swipe. The creature's claws raked a boulder instead, leaving deep scars. He dashed forward, activating Thread Vision, and saw the flow of energy in the beast's body—like molten veins running beneath its hide.
> "There—!"
He struck at the weak point just beneath its rib, slicing in with his dagger. The blade dug halfway in before the beast roared and bucked, tossing him across the grove.
Blood sprayed from Xu Ming's mouth. He rolled, bones groaning, but forced himself up.
The Ravager charged again.
This time, he didn't retreat. He surged forward, twisting to the side at the last moment and raking his blade across its inner thigh. A tendon snapped. The beast stumbled.
Xu Ming didn't let up.
He threw himself atop the beast, jamming the dagger into the eye socket, roaring with it.
With one final shriek, the beast collapsed—shuddering, then still.
Silence. Then wind.
He stood shakily, drenched in blood and sweat.
The Emberberry still glowed.
Xu Ming plucked it, placing it carefully into his storage ring.
He leaned against a stone, breathing heavily.
> "That… was worth it."
But just as he turned to leave, something strange caught his eye—a crack in the ground, obscured by creeping vines. The Ravager's death must've disturbed the terrain.
Curious, Xu Ming knelt and brushed the moss aside.
A symbol lay carved into stone. Ancient, foreign, and pulsing faintly with residual Qi.
> "What is this place…?"
He pressed harder. The ground gave way—an old trapdoor, now half-broken. With a grind of stone and dust, the earth yawned open to reveal descending stairs, swallowed by darkness.
A ruin.
Long buried. Long forgotten.
But not empty.
Xu Ming's eyes narrowed. He felt it—energy still alive within. Something old... and powerful.
> "Looks like the forest wasn't done testing me after all."
He descended slowly, one hand on his blade, the other drawing a faint thread of Qi to light the path.
What lay beneath would not be merciful.
But mercy was for the weak.
Authors note:
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Thank you for walking this path with Xu Ming.
—dark-kingxu