C12 I'll Definitely Wash away My Previous Humiliation

Ning Gao, donning his servant's attire, pushed open the door and made his way outside, head bowed low. His face was smeared with dirt, a necessary disguise since practically everyone in the Ning family would recognize him. A direct and brazen escape would have surely ended with him being promptly recaptured.

Having grown up within the Ning household, Ning Gao had committed to memory every major and minor pathway due to his status as the eldest son. Hunched over, he stealthily navigated a serpentine path etched in his memory, leading him to the rear mountains of the Ning estate.

As he scaled the mountain and watched the Ning residence fade from view, a tumult of emotions churned within him, akin to a spice jar upended in disarray. He exhaled a heavy sigh. The place that had nurtured him for over a decade was now a place he had to leave in such a manner. Yet, he vowed that one day he would return to reclaim his rightful place at the helm of the Ning family in Vuiburgh.

Arlingwaki Hill

This vast mountain range, stretching for tens of thousands of miles beyond Vuiburgh, was predominantly ancient forest, teeming with spirit animals. The Mist Forest, which they had previously ventured into, was merely the outermost fringe of Arlingwaki Hill.

For the prominent families of Vuiburgh, including the Ning and Lee families, their mightiest members were only at the level of a Master. However, within the expanse of Arlingwaki Hill, spirit animals of the Master level were far from rare.

Rumor had it that deep within Arlingwaki Hill, there existed Titan-level spirit animals, beings so powerful that a single emergence from the mountains could obliterate all the warriors of Vuiburgh with a mere stomp.

Ning Gao knew it wouldn't be long before the news of his escape from the Ning family spread throughout Vuiburgh. Given the Ning family's vindictiveness, they would surely dispatch pursuers to capture him, and if caught, his fate would likely be sealed with his immediate execution.

In his current predicament, the only sliver of hope for survival lay within the daunting depths of Arlingwaki Hill. At present, Ning Gao's prowess was that of an upper Three-star Apprentice, a level of strength that offered no guarantees of safety even in the Misty Forest, let alone Arlingwaki Hill. But with no other options, he was compelled to venture forth.

Retreat meant certain death, but to advance...

There was still a glimmer of hope for survival.

Ning Gao clenched his fists, silently resolving to himself.

Having refined the pure blood of the ancient Vicious Beast Gluttony, with such a stroke of luck, given time, I will surely soar like a dragon in the vastness of Arlingwaki Hill!

Arlingwaki Hill teemed with spirit animals, and for Ning Gao, the more formidable the spirit animal, the more life essence he could absorb after slaying it, accelerating the enhancement of his own power.

It wasn't until dusk that Ji Yuan finally reached the outer edges of Arlingwaki Hill. By then, the Ning Family had likely realized his escape.

Sitting beneath a tree, savoring wild fruits he had gathered, Ning Gao pondered his next steps.

He had to admit, he was grateful for the time spent poring over his family's records. In this primeval forest, he could at least identify which fruits and vegetables were safe to eat. Until he found suitable prey, this knowledge would suffice to stave off hunger.

His ears perked up as he faintly heard the friction of leaves in the breeze.

The blood of Gluttony had not only bolstered his physical strength but had also significantly enhanced all of Ning Gao's abilities.

In the cloak of night, his eyesight and hearing were exceptionally keen, far surpassing that of an average person.

A droplet fell on his head. Observing the sky, it was clear it shouldn't be raining.

It was too early for morning dew, so it could only be...

Instinctively, Ning Gao rolled away just as a large cat with brown stripes materialized where he had been moments before.

Seeing the deep claw marks etched into the tree trunk, Ning Gao's heart raced. Had he reacted even a second later, he would have ended up in the belly of the mountain cat, long before the Ning Family's arrival.