8 Chapter 8: Forest of Trials

Chapter 8: Forest of Trials

Jiang Lei packed a small bag with essential supplies, including food, water, and a map of the Mistwood Forest.

"I hope this monster won't be too strong." Jiang Lei muttered to himself as he looked at the map. He had never faced any strong or dangerous creature before, and he felt both nervous and excited.

The Mistwood Forest was about a hundred miles away from his current location. To a mortal, that would be a long and arduous journey, but to a cultivator, it was nothing. In the Celestial World, where Jiang Lei had arrived, the world was beyond imagination, with it being ten thousand times—or even a hundred thousand times—larger than the Earth. Cultivators use their inner energy to travel across great distances in a blink of an eye.

Jiang Lei, with his current cultivation and if he used the Ember Steps to the extreme, can reach his destination in half a day's time.

Jiang Lei focused his inner energy to use his Ember Steps. As he dashed forward with incredible speed, he became a blur of red and azure. The wind roared in his ears, and the scenery around him became a streak of colors.

Some of the cultivators in the way saw the flash of light and were stunned.

"Did you see that? What was that?"

"It looked like a person, but he was so fast!"

"It must be an immortal cultivatior, let's not interfere on their buisness, we have ours to do."

Jiang Lei passed by many mortal stage 1 or 2 cultivators on the way, but they could only see a flash of light before Jiang Lei disappeared from their sight, but this also sparked the conversation among them.

Jiang Lei was not used to this level of speed, and he felt a slight dizziness. He had to constantly adjust his balance and direction, avoiding any obstacles on his path.

He knew that he had to conserve his energy for the upcoming battle, so he did not push himself too hard.

After running for half a day, he finally saw the Mistwood Forest looming ahead. He slowed down his pace, and his body became visible again.

Jiang Lei stopped at the edge of the forest, vast expanses of green, towering trees like some giant creatures was the first thing that came into his sight.

He took a deep breath, air was filled with the fragrance of nature, and the sound of the dangerous beasts could be heard.

Jiang Lei felt a surge of spiritual energy in the forest, much stronger than the outside. It was a place where many monster beasts and rare herbs could be found.

But the more beautiful a thing is, the more dangerous it is, he sensed a hint of danger from this beautiful forest.

He checked his bag and his sword, making sure that he had everything he needed and then finally took a step into the forest.

As Jiang Lei took his first step, he felt the sudden change in the atmosphere. The air became thicker and heavier, and the light became dimmer.

The trees and plants seemed to be alive, swaying and whispering in the wind. The sounds of the animals became louder and more aggressive, as if they were warning him to stay away.

Jiang Lei was on guard, as he cautiously walked deeper into the forest. His senses were on high alert as he passed through the trees, his eyes scanning his surroundings for any signs of movement.

As he ventured deeper into the forest, Jiang Lei's mind raced with thoughts of the plans to face the monster. He knows very well that the monster beast he is searching for is not an ordinary creature.

It's strength was presumed to be at the first level of Qi Condensation, making it a very difficult opponent for him. Yet, he couldn't shake off the feeling that this mission was a golden opportunity for him to grow stronger.

Jiang Lei moved through the forest, his senses sharp and his body tense. Suddenly, a faint rustling sound reached his ears, and he froze in place. He strained to listen, his heart racing.

"Owoooo..."

A menacing growl shattered the silence of the environment, Jiang Lei's heart raced as he turned to face the source of the sound.

What appeared before his eyes is a creature that sent shivers down his spine—a ferocious wolf-like, Its obsidian fur seemed to absorb the light, and its eyes gleamed with a malevolent hunger.

He gripped his newly acquired sword, preparing himself for this battle.

Jiang Lei's heart was beating rapidly, this was the first time, he is going to face such a formidable opponent in his life, he was very scared but eager to try.

At the same time a panel appeard in his eyes

Race : Dire Shadow Wolf

Strength: Eleventh Level of Mortal Realm

Talent: None

Skills: Razor-Sharp Fangs, Shadow Pounce, Dark Howl

The wolf's cultivation was very strong, at the Eleventh Layer of the Mortal Realm. It lunged at Jiang Lei with incredible speed, fangs bared, ready to tear him apart.

"Flame Burst Technique!"

Jiang Lei shouted and used his Flame Burst Technique, encasing his fists in fiery energy. He deftly dodged the wolf's attack, and at the same time, he countered with a swift kick, aiming for the wolf's head.

"Swish"

The wolf dodged his kick, but not without getting singed by the flames. It snarled in pain and anger, and leaped at Jiang Lei again, its claws swiping at him with deadly precision.

"Swish"

Jiang Lei wasted no time. He drew his spirit sword and activated the Flame Burst Technique, flames dancing along the blade. With a swift movement, he lunged at the beast, his sword slashing through the air with a blaze of fire. The wolf learning from its mistake was faster, though, and parried his sword with its claws, creating sparks in the air.

"Ember Steps"

Jiang Lei realized that he couldn't match the wolf's agility, so he unleashed his Ember Steps, creating afterimages that confused the wolf's senses, and circled around it. He landed a powerful blow on the wolf's flank, making it yelp in pain.

The impact sent the wolf crashing into one of the nearby tree, but it quickly regained its footing.

"Good, good, this technique is amazing!" Jiang Lei exclaimed, as he made a distance from Wolf.

The wolf roared in pain and anger, shaking its head. It glared at Jiang Lei, who was also surprised by his own strength.

"aauu"

The wolf's snarl grew more menacing as its eyes glowed with a deep, eerie light. It knew it was in danger, and had to fight for its life. It launched itself at Jiang Lei once more, its claws raking through the air.

Jiang Lei didn't flinch, he met the challenge head-on, weaving between the attacks with a mix of speed and precision. Flames erupted from his sword, colliding with the wolf's shadowy form in explosive bursts. As the battle raged on, the forest seemed to tremble with the ferocity of their clash.

Jiang Lei with his each slash and kick, he harnessed the power of his Fire Burst Technique, igniting the wolf's fur and searing its flesh. The dire wolf's movements grew sluggish, and its growls turned into pained howls.

They faught like this for an hour but Jiang lei was clearly suppressing the wolf.

Finally, with a final, decisive blow, Jiang Lei struck the wolf's chest, sending it crashing to the ground.

"Argh!"

The wolf let out a final, agonized howl, as it fell to the ground. Its fur was charred, and its flesh was torn. Its eyes dimmed as its life force faded away.

"huh"

Gasping for breath, Jiang Lei looked down at the defeated beast. Although, he was injured and tired after the long battle, his happiness could not be hidden and a half smile spread across his lips.

When Jiang lei was trying to regulating his energy, he sensed a sudden surge of killing intent behind him.

He barely had time to react, as a dark shadow flashed across his vision. His hair stood on end, and he instinctively activated his Ember Steps to its limit and leaped to the side.

"Boom"

Jiang Lei turned around, and his eyes widened in shock. The place where he had been standing moments ago was now a big hole, large enough to fit three men like him inside it.

Jiang Lei's body trembled as he realised that he had just narrowly escaped the death. His heart pounded as he faced the formidable opponent before him: a massive serpent with scales that shimmered like emeralds.

It was at least ten meters long, and as thick as a tree trunk. Its head was adorned with two curved horns, its eyes gleamed with a cunning intelligence. It had the cultivation of twelfth layer of the Mortal Realm.

"Swish"

The serpent lunged at him with lightning speed, its fangs dripping with venom. Jiang Lei, though, was ready this time,he activated his Flame Burst Technique, forming a shield of fire around him. The serpent's fangs met the fiery barrier, and its venomous bite was easily repelled.

Jiang Lei swiftly retaliated with a punch, his fists igniting with flames as he pummeled serpent's head.

However, the serpent was not so easily defeated. Its scales were tough and resilient, and when Jiang Lei's fist hit its scales, it deflected most of Jiang Lei's strength and it only retreated few steps back.

Hiss!

Serpent cried in rage and pain, with a sudden strike of its tail, it caught Jiang Lei off guard, sending him sprawling to the ground. Pain seared through his side where the serpent's tail had struck him, and he gritted his teeth.

"Damn! Is this really a meat or a... metal!!" Jiang Lei rolled to his feet as he groaned, clutching his ribs. His movements a bit more cautious now.

Jiang Lei knew he needed a strategy. He couldn't rely solely on brute force against an opponent of this caliber. His mind raced, searching for a way to exploit the serpent's weaknesses.

Jiang Lei and the serpent clashed for several rounds, but neither could gain the upper hand. The serpent's scales were tough as steel, and its fangs were dripping with venom. Jiang Lei's sword could barely scratch its surface, and his flames seemed to have no effect.

But as he fought, he noticed something. The serpent's eyes were sensitive to his flames, and it blinked whenever he used his Fire Burst Technique. It was a small opening, but it was enough.

The serpent struck again, its jaws snapping shut just inches from Jiang Lei's leg. He moved away, his feet skimming over the forest floor as he evaded the deadly bite.

A flash of insight crossed his mind.

"Finally got your weak point." He mumbled, as he dodged the strike and then swung his sword, aiming for the serpent's eyes.

His sword almost reached the serpent in an instant but the serpent was clever, and it was always guarding its weakness, it quickly shielded its eyes with its tail, avoiding the attack.

"Damn, this monster!" Jiang Lei roared as he dodged the serpent's another attack.

Jiang Lei knew that he can't easily fool the serpent so he turned back and sprinted through the dense forest.

The serpent thought that Jiang Lei was fleeing and it chased him attacking with its tail.

Jiang Lei dodged the serpent's tail that whipped through the air behind him. He could feel the wind from its powerful strikes, and hear the thud of its massive body as it slithered after him. He knew he had no chance of outrunning it, but he just wanted the serpent to lose his guard for once.

However, the snake was relentless, and its speed and power were astonishing, making every dodge a matter of life and death.

Jiang Lei's legs ached, his breath came in ragged gasps, but he pressed on. He kept sprinting and make some weak attacks from time to time to fool the opponent.

The serpent was not fooled, however. It followed him closely, smashing the trees with its tail as if they were toothpicks. Splinters and leaves flew everywhere, creating a cloud of dust and debris. Jiang Lei barely managed to evade the serpent's blows, feeling the shockwaves rattle his bones.

Jiang Lei knew he couldn't keep this up for long. His lungs were burning, and his energy was draining. He had to fight back, or he would die.

"Take this!"

He suddenly turned around, facing the fastly reaching serpent and attacked at its head with his sword.

Although, the serpent knew that Jiang Lei could attack it back, it was still shocked with Jiang Lei's decisive and strong attack.

"Hiss"

A guttural roar resonated through the forest as the serpent writhed, its scales crackling and hissing under the onslaught of flames. Jiang Lei seized the opportunity, leaping onto the serpent's back and attacking with a strong blow to its head.

Crack!

He felt the serpent's skull crack under his fist and it waved its giant body as if it was dying.

Jiang Lei sighed that it has finally over. Just when he was happy and thought he will win.

"Boom"

The serpent's eyes glinted with malice as it prepared for a final, devastating assault. With a swift strike of its tail, it sent Jiang Lei crashing on the ground, it might have broken some of his bones.

"Oh!" Jiang Lei cried in pain clutching his stomach where the tail was hit; if not for his quick backsliding, this attack would have been enough for him to to put him in bed for a few months.

"Next time... I will never make a silly mistake like this!" He cursed, as he struggled to his feet once again. His breath came in ragged gasps as he fought to maintain his footing.

He knew that he had to end this quickly. The pain in his body was gradually blurring his field of vision, making it hard for him to see the serpent clearly. Even though the severe attack was dodged, however edge of the tail couldn't be evaded. It's enormous strength had strained his back and the sidelines of his abdomen.

With a faint crimson glow from his hand, he unsheathed his sword. Infusing it with his Qi, that caused the silver-white blade to change fiery crimson.

Jiang Lei knew that he couldn't afford to hold back any longer. Gathering all his strength, he focused it into the tip of his sword.

"Fire Burst Technique!"

Jiang lei used his present strength to his current limit, using his fire burst technique, ember steps, his intermediate fire talent and his cultivation all at once. He went all out at this time without reserving anything.

"Slash!"

The sword sliced through the air, creating an intense crackling sound.

The serpent saw the sword coming, but due to its wounded state, it couldn't dodge this time. With a loud, resounding 'crack,' the sword violently smashed into the serpent's head, piercing through its scales, flesh, and bone, before finally shooting out from a large and bloody hole.

The serpent's head flew off its body, landing on the ground with a thud. The rest of its body followed, collapsing with a thump. The fire consumed it, turning it into ashes.