The Blood Wolf's lifeless body slumped beside him, its crimson fur glistening wet under the forest light.
Chu Feng sat trembling, the scent of iron thick in the air. His heart pounded so loud it drowned the world.
He stared at his hands—still shaking, still warm with the echo of sword energy.
"I… killed it?" he whispered.
The realization struck like thunder. This wasn't a dream. He had faced death—and survived.
The energy sword had vanished, leaving no trace. Yet his rune–sword soul still pulsed faintly behind him, its balance of black and white flickering like breathing light.
Slowly, he stood. "I can fight," he murmured. "I can really fight."
But the forest had other plans.
A chorus of low growls rumbled from the shadows.
Chu Feng turned, his blood running cold.
Five more Tier 1 Blood Wolves emerged, drawn by the scent of their fallen kin. Their eyes burned like coals, their breath fogging in the cool air.
"Not good…"
He leapt back, tracing runes in the air with trembling fingers. Spiritual light spun between his palms.
"Bind Formation—activate!"
The glowing sigil flared across the ground, but the wolves were too fast. The first shattered it with a single pounce. The second lunged for his throat.
Chu Feng twisted aside, narrowly avoiding the bite. "Damn it! My calculations are still off!"
He sprinted through the trees, breath ragged, the wolves in pursuit. Each heartbeat pounded like a drum of death.
Think, Chu Feng. Think!
He reached into his pouch—only a single rune stone left. He slammed it against a trunk.
"Flash Rune!"
A burst of light blinded the pack for a moment. He used the chance to dart toward a narrow cave hidden beneath a cliff.
If he could just—
The ground gave way.
He tumbled through darkness, striking cold stone as dust filled the air. Behind him, the cave mouth sealed with a heavy rumble.
Silence.
The Hidden Cavern
Chu Feng coughed, his body aching from the fall. "Perfect… escaped wolves just to bury myself alive."
He summoned a small illumination rune, its faint glow spilling across the cavern walls. Strange symbols covered the stone—ancient, looping, and alive with faded light.
"What is this place?"
He walked deeper. The air grew cooler, humming with spiritual density far stronger than outside. At the far end, a small pool of crystal water reflected dancing lights like stars. Beside it grew a tree heavy with luminous red fruit.
And at the pool's edge—books. Dozens of them, stacked neatly, untouched by dust or decay.
Chu Feng approached reverently, reaching for the top volume. When he opened it, an unfamiliar script covered the pages. "These characters… I can't read them."
Something metallic slipped free from between the pages and clinked onto the floor—a ring.
He froze, eyes widening.
"A storage ring?"
He had seen the clan elders wear them—symbols of wealth and power beyond mortal reach.
Biting his finger, he let a drop of blood fall onto it. The ring drank it instantly.
When his soul sense entered, his breath caught.
Inside were spirit stones, elixirs, weapons, even a low-grade artifact sword. Wealth beyond anything he had ever imagined.
He laughed softly, the sound half disbelief, half joy. "Heaven finally remembers me!"
The Teleportation Array
Curiosity soon overtook greed.
Among the books, he found one filled with diagrams—runes forming a complex circular pattern identical to the carvings etched across the cave floor. At the center glowed several shallow sockets.
"A formation… transportation type," he murmured, excitement sparking. "If it still works…"
He took spirit stones from the ring and placed them carefully into each socket, matching the ancient diagram's sequence. The final stone clicked into place—and the runes erupted in blinding light.
He staggered back, shielding his eyes. The pool trembled, the air warping like heated glass. He hesitated only a moment before grinning wildly.
"Well… what's life without a little risk?"
He tossed one of the glowing fruits into the formation. It vanished in a pulse of light, reappearing on the far side of the room. His pulse quickened.
"It works!"
He stepped into the circle.
The light swallowed him whole.
The Central Plains
When his vision cleared, he stood in a sunlit forest.
The air here felt different—richer, sharper, filled with spiritual energy so dense it hummed in his lungs.
"This aura… ten times stronger than home," he whispered. "Did I cross realms?"
He walked until he reached a dirt path leading to a small village nestled between mountains. Smoke curled gently from chimneys; the distant laughter of children reached his ears.
An old woman sat at the entrance, weaving straw. She looked up, surprised to see him.
"My, you're not from around here, are you, child?"
Chu Feng bowed respectfully. "No, Grandma. My family was attacked by Blood Wolves in the Beast Range. I got separated… I don't know if they survived."
The woman's expression softened. "You poor thing. Heaven must favor you to have survived such beasts. Come—stay with me until we hear word."
Her name was Old Lin, and she lived alone.
That night, she fed him warm porridge and gave him her late grandson's clothes. "You can call me Granny Lin," she said kindly.
"Thank you, Granny Lin," he replied, bowing deeply.
She smiled. "Good boy. What's your name?"
"Chu Feng."
Her brows rose slightly. "There's no family named Chu in the Central Plains."
He froze. "Central Plains?"
She nodded. "Aye. You crossed the Beast Range itself, child. Even Soul Sovereigns struggle to do that."
Shock rippled through him. Hundreds of miles… even Grand Elders couldn't have crossed that alive.
Granny Lin misread his silence and patted his hand. "Don't fret. Heaven brought you here for a reason."
That night, lying under a strange roof, Chu Feng stared at the ceiling.
His thoughts whispered like the wind: Only strength can take me home.
He rose quietly, drew out the sword from the ring, and began to practice beneath the pale moonlight.
One Year Later
A year passed in the quiet rhythm of village life. Chu Feng helped Granny Lin by day and trained in the woods by night. His mastery of runes and sword intent deepened beyond his years.
He discovered the fruit from the hidden cave could refine essence and strengthen the soul. Granny Lin, to whom he secretly gave some, began to look healthier, younger, her eyes clearer. She never questioned it—only smiled knowingly.
One morning, she said, "Child, the Sword Sect is recruiting new disciples in six months. Our village has a quota. You should try."
Her voice softened. "If you succeed, you'll have the chance to see the world beyond these mountains."
Chu Feng bowed deeply. "Granny… you've given me a home. I won't bring you shame."
That night, beneath a thousand stars, he whispered a vow to himself
End of Chapter 4