C24 Forest Trial

The next morning, Aotian rose early as was his custom, practiced his spear techniques, and winced at the pain that coursed through his body. He sighed, gathered his gear, and readied himself for another foray into the forest.

"Kid, remember what I told you yesterday: stay safe and don't go picking fights with pack animals. Better to avoid them altogether, or else there'll be no one to claim your body if you end up dead," Matt advised as he noticed Aotian preparing to venture into the woods.

"Understood, and thanks for your concern, Master," Aotian replied.

His master's words might have been blunt, but Aotian understood the care behind them. He felt a wave of gratitude for his master's concern.

With caution, Aotian made his way deeper into the forest, eyes alert and senses sharp, ever vigilant for the threat of demonic beasts.

About half an hour in, a message from his master stopped him in his tracks: "Don't go any deeper!" Taking heed, Aotian chose to continue his journey along the forest's edge.

He proceeded, alternating between walking and pausing, yet no demonic beasts crossed his path.

"Splitting Earth Spear!" In a swift descent, Aotian's spear plunged into a Spotted Leopard, eliciting a mournful cry as the beast fell lifeless to the ground.

Exhaling deeply, Aotian swiftly stowed the leopard's body into his storage ring and left the scene posthaste. Finding a safe spot, he sat down to catch his breath.

Today marked Aotian's twenty-seventh day in the Devil Beast Forest. In that time, he'd survived thirty-seven battles, some so perilous they nearly claimed his life, while others required but a single, decisive move. The trials had been relentless, but they honed his skills and his experiences had grown immensely. The Aotian of today was a far cry from the novice who first stepped into the forest. The last couple of days had seen him winning battles with ease, expending little energy.

Upon discovering a river, Aotian took the opportunity to wash up before retrieving the leopard he had slain. He cleaned the carcass in the water, skinned it, and then set about roasting it over a fire he'd kindled. As the meat turned a golden brown, he seasoned it with spices he'd brought along. The aroma of cooking meat filled the air. Watching the juices sizzle and inhaling the savory scent, Aotian found himself salivating in anticipation.

"Hey, kid, your grilling skills are really on the upswing! Even I'm tempted to dig in and savor it! Heh, what a shame I can't indulge!" Matt quipped, enticed by the meat's tantalizing aroma.

"Ha, all thanks to your guidance, master. If I were left to my own devices, I'd probably end up charring it like I did a few days back! But don't you worry, once I'm strong enough, I'll find a way to get you in shape! Then you'll be able to enjoy all the tasty food you want!" Aotian reassured himself, reflecting on his master's words. He chuckled at the memory of his initial attempt at barbecuing, recalling how he had burned the meat to a crisp before daring to taste it. The bitterness had nearly made him gag. Thankfully, his master had patiently shown him the ropes of grilling, and after several days of practice, Aotian had gotten the hang of it. The meat from these demon beasts, toughened by constant battle, was exceptionally chewy and flavorful. Relishing the robust taste, Aotian stretched out on the ground, soaking up the sun's warmth.

Post-lunch, Aotian sprang to his feet, ready to stow the leftover food in his space for later and set out for his afternoon training. But as he turned around, he was met with a startling sight. A white creature, resembling a small tiger-like cat, was voraciously devouring the remnants of his roast, seemingly in bliss. The sight made Aotian gasp in surprise.

"I've let my guard down too much. If that had been a demon beast instead of this little critter, I'd be in serious trouble!" The thought sent a shiver down Aotian's spine, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

"Scared now, are you? Let's hope you won't be so negligent in the future!" Matt observed, noting Aotian's reaction.

"I'm sorry, master. I won't let my guard down again," Aotian promised, wiping the sweat from his brow and taking a deep breath.

"Always remember, danger could be lurking around any corner, so stay vigilant at all times. Let your guard down for even a moment, and you might not even realize how you meet your end!"

"Understood, Master, your advice is well-taken."

Aotian took his master's words to heart. As he approached the little creature, he noticed it was still greedily devouring the meat he hadn't finished, oblivious to his presence. With an affectionate shake of his head, Aotian found the creature endearing and decided not to disturb it. He collected the uncooked meat nearby, stored it in his ring, and continued on his way.

Not far off, Aotian encountered the same black snake he had seen on his first venture into the Devil Beast Forest. Bracing himself, he advanced on the snake, spear at the ready. With a resounding crash, he struck the snake's head with all his might. Before the snake could react, Aotian was in the air, delivering another powerful blow. The black snake, gravely wounded, let out a mournful cry and lunged at Aotian with its jaws wide open. After a brief exchange of about a dozen moves, Aotian exploited an opening, driving his spear into the snake's head with the Earth-Splitting Spear Technique, ending its life. As he put away his weapon and exhaled deeply, ready to move on, Matt's voice echoed in his mind.

"Aotian, hold on. Do you realize the value of this snake? Quickly extract its gall and skin it—do it now!"

"Whoa, Master, seriously? It's already dead, and you still want to strip it down? That's brutal!"

Aotian couldn't help but express his astonishment at his master's instructions.

"Listen, kid, what are you thinking? Are you trying to get yourself killed? Do you really think I'm that vile? The snake's gall will benefit you if you eat it in a secluded, safe spot. And its skin? You've felt its quality—it makes for excellent armor. Remove it, and I'll craft you a piece of armor to use!"

"Ah! Got it! Hehe! My apologies, I didn't catch on! Master, please be generous and forgive my ignorance!"

Upon understanding his master's intent, Aotian was filled with embarrassment.

"Snort! Kid, get moving. Do you want to wait around for other demonic beasts to come after you?"

Prompted by his master's words, Aotian quickly made his way to the snake and drew his weapon, Thundercry. It took a herculean effort, but he finally managed to skin the snake! He swiftly extracted the snake's gall and left the danger zone.

Finding a safe spot, Aotian examined the snake gall he had just removed. The fist-sized, dark black organ made him wonder how he was supposed to eat it. How could he possibly swallow something so large in one go?

"Kid, enough with the dramatics. Eat it now before it loses its freshness!"

With his eyes shut tight, Aotian shoved the snake gall into his mouth. Its size caused it to burst almost immediately, releasing a bitter bile that nearly made him gag. But with a determined clench of his teeth, Aotian forced the gall down into his stomach.

"Alright, kid, time to focus on your training. Use the elements you've absorbed recently to temper your body!"

Matt watched as Aotian downed the snake gall and swiftly instructed him.

At his master's command, Aotian sat down and began the tempering process.

Initially, the process felt no different than usual, but soon, Aotian felt an intense heat coursing through him, violently shaking his body and nearly making him pass out. He steadied his mind, recognizing this as the power of the snake gall. He began to carefully channel it with his energy, allowing it to permeate his flesh and aid in the tempering process.

After an hour of intense cultivation, Aotian had fully assimilated the energy within him and felt a significant enhancement in his physical state.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Aotian opened his eyes. Noticing that his wounds had mostly healed, he marveled at the remarkable potency of the snake gall.

"Kid, you've finished the refinement! Feel any different?"

Matt watched as Aotian rose to his feet and inquired.

"Yeah, definitely! My body didn't seem to benefit much from the previous tempering, but this cultivation session feels like a huge improvement," Aotian responded after a brief pause.

"You know, these snakes aren't commonly found, except in the Devil Beast Forest. They have incredibly tough defenses, making them difficult to hunt. Their bile is particularly beneficial for the cultivation technique we're practicing, especially for those between the second and fourth stages. It can significantly enhance our accelerated and depreciated cultivation," Matt explained, responding to Aotian's comment.

"Then why didn't you let me take the snake's gall last time?" Aotian asked, puzzled.

"Kid, don't get greedy. You were nearly a goner last time and still thinking about grabbing that stuff?" Matt replied with a tinge of frustration.

"Heh," Aotian laughed sheepishly.

"Who's there?!" Suddenly, Aotian heard the snap of a tree branch behind him and swiftly turned, ready to face whatever was coming.