Chapter 23: The First Battle Begins!

Jiang Feng darted through the forest, his hands and body finally working in perfect harmony after a period of adjustment. This newfound coordination propelled him forward at an even greater speed as he fled for his life. Now, with his body moving almost instinctively, Jiang Feng could spare some attention to study the surrounding terrain, searching for a spot where he could trap the elusive Niaohong, kill it, and extract its Nether Crystal. Such a crystal could either accelerate his cultivation or serve as a powerful consumable, instantly replenishing his nether energy.

The Niaohong, though only recently elevated to a tier-two nether beast, was already able to conjure wind blades, slicing through branches and trunks alike, relentlessly pursuing him at a terrifying speed. In theory, Jiang Feng should have held a considerable advantage weaving through the forest’s tangled embrace. Yet, reality proved otherwise: on paper, there was a gulf between his current abilities and those of the Niaohong. Jiang Feng, however, was no ordinary novice; since undergoing that mysterious baptism, he could already match a beginner Nether Adept.

Nether beasts were born with formidable bodies, and upon reaching the second tier, they could channel elemental powers using the Nether Crystal within them. This gave the Niaohong an overwhelming edge.

Jiang Feng analyzed their respective strengths and weaknesses in his mind, swiftly arriving at a conclusion: “The gap is too wide. Only cunning will save me; brute force is not an option.”

He heightened his senses, scanning every detail of the terrain, running countless tactical scenarios in his mind, weighing the probability of success for each escape route.

Suddenly—a sharp whistle split the air behind him. Jiang Feng’s body tensed, instinctively dropping as a deadly wind blade sliced past, so close it ruffled his hair.

A chill ran down his spine at the close call.

Shaken but undeterred, Jiang Feng altered his course and sprinted away, finally glimpsing what had nearly felled him—a wind blade, lethal as any assassin’s dagger.

Had he not dodged, he would have been done for.

It dawned on him that this newly ascended nether beast, which at first could only manipulate wind energy across its body, had now mastered the art of launching attacks from a distance!

The situation had evolved from dangerous to perilous—if before he was scaling a shaky ladder to a rooftop, now he was cleaning glass on a high-rise. Jiang Feng, already cautious in picking his escape routes, now had to employ Shadowstep Phantom, his evasive footwork, to avoid being locked onto and struck by a wind blade.

He was, for all intents and purposes, in mortal danger. His only hope lay in running for his life.

Yet even as he fled, Jiang Feng never ceased to survey the landscape. At intervals, he would sharply change direction or leap suddenly upward, both to throw off pursuit and to seek advantageous terrain.

This time, as he vaulted to the treetops again, he was rewarded: in that single breath, he determined the general direction he needed, making swift corrections as he darted higher.

But within that fleeting instant, the Niaohong was upon him again, unleashing a vicious pincer attack—two wind blades slashing in from either side.

Yet Jiang Feng, having solidified his strategy, began to lead his pursuer into the next phase of the chase. Upon reaching the treetops, he realized that, after such a long pursuit, he had reached the forest’s edge, where a field of towering, jagged stone pillars awaited.

Strange rocks rose skyward, twisted and imposing.

He mused that such a place would surely befit a “brother” Niaohong’s end.

A crooked smile played across Jiang Feng’s lips, as though victory was already within his grasp.

Man and beast raced along the forest’s edge, leaving devastation in their wake—cleanly severed trunks and branches marked their passing, and every wind blade that missed gouged deep pits into the earth, lending the scene an air of utter chaos.

Again, two wind blades whistled through the air.

With his back turned, Jiang Feng evaded them effortlessly—after all, there was a pattern to these attacks. Once mastered, he could dodge them almost blindfolded.

By now, his stamina was nearly depleted. Soon, both he and the Niaohong had left the forest behind, entering the stone forest.

Only when he stepped within did Jiang Feng realize the place was a natural formation—like a labyrinth, its very presence was disorienting.

Without his guidance, the Niaohong was soon hopelessly lost. Jiang Feng reappeared at just the right moment, luring the agitated beast into a fresh round of pursuit. In the course of threading through a rocky cavern, the Niaohong found itself trapped—the encircling stone, unlike the trees it had sliced before, offered no escape. Its massive body became its own undoing, and in the end, it suffocated in its stone prison.

What a tragic end! Jiang Feng never imagined his first battle would be so fraught and its outcome so bizarre. When all was done, he could only sigh at the strange twists of fate.

He soon returned to the forest, continuing his trial. For now, he rested atop a small hill, gazing out at the distant road ahead.

Far off, undulating mountains stretched to the horizon, grand and awe-inspiring. Trees blanketed the slopes in verdant green. Not long ago, he had passed a curious tree whose roots formed a natural bench—a testament to the wonders and oddities of the world.

After such a long, exhausting chase, Jiang Feng was parched and famished; the beautiful scenery did nothing to quench his thirst. He set off in search of water.

Within half an hour, he found a crystal-clear spring.

Nearby, a remarkable tree grew.

It stood just over half a meter high, but its fruit gleamed with an alluring fragrance, hinting at the plant’s extraordinary nature.

The trees around the spring were all unique, some shaped like dancing spirits, others like a veiled songstress shyly holding a lute. These peculiar forms fascinated him, but what he needed most were the fruits. Each sapling bore only a single fruit at its tip; circling the spring, five such young trees grew, and only five glossy, ruby-red fruits remained.

Jiang Feng first knelt by the pool to drink.

When he reached the water’s edge, he scooped up handfuls and splashed his face, then drank deeply, relishing the sweet, cold taste.

He hadn’t paused to rest or even sip water during his ordeal, all for the sake of survival. Of course, he had reaped his own share of benefits as well.

Slaking his thirst, Jiang Feng plucked one of the sparkling fruits, turning it over in his hand. The fragrance was so enticing he could barely resist the urge to devour it.

Would there be consequences? He didn’t care.

Without hesitation, he ate it.

The fruit melted in his mouth, its sweet nectar flooding his tongue, the aroma swirling around him until he nearly lost himself in delight.

Truly a marvel among fruits—possessed of miraculous power.

As he finished, a gentle warmth spread through his body, subtly enhancing his constitution.

Having eaten the red fruit, Jiang Feng studied the plant more closely. The sapling, waist-high, had sparse leaves, yet bore marks of age and the traces of time.

He sensed that all the fruits growing around the spring possessed wondrous properties—perhaps even the power to bring the dead back to life.

A treasure, without doubt!

Sure enough, the nether energy within him surged, refining and purifying itself, triggering a profound transformation he could scarcely describe. The effect was mysterious and wonderful, as though this pure energy were unlocking potential within his mind—perhaps even benefiting those afflicted by brain or heart maladies. But such questions, Jiang Feng thought, were best left to future generations to study.

His strength restored, Jiang Feng set out once more to explore these new lands.