Slightly tired, with his shoulder and nose throbbing, and his stomach growling in protest, Long Chen got to work.
Using the sharp horn, he prepared the rabbit meat as best as he could. Making fire was the next challenge. Digging into his memories of survival shows, he gathered dry straw and began the tedious process of spinning a stick against a piece of wood.
His hands, soft and unaccustomed to manual labor, quickly became sore and blistered, but hunger was a powerful motivator. After what felt like an eternity, a small ember finally came to life, and he carefully blew it into a flame.
He skewered pieces of meat on a branch and roasted them over the fire. The smell was intense—wild. The first bite was a revelation. Despite the lack of seasoning, the meat was incredibly tender and juicy, with a rich flavor that surpassed any meat he had ever tasted.
More than that, with each piece he swallowed, he felt a wave of warmth spreading from his stomach. His fatigue began to fade, and the pain from his injuries seemed to dull. It was a comforting, vital energy. Exhausted from the fight and the effort, he ignored the strange phenomenon and, with a full belly and warm body, fell into a deep sleep on the cave floor.
The next morning, Long Chen woke up feeling incredibly comfortable.
He sat up, expecting the stabbing pain in his nose and shoulder—but there was none. He touched his face and shoulder; the skin was smooth, with no cuts or swelling.
Only a slight tenderness remained. It was as if days of recovery had passed in a single night. As he stood and stretched, he noticed a new lightness in his limbs. His breathing was easier, deeper, and his mind, once clouded by fatigue, was crystal clear.
"Is this... the effect of accelerated time flow, or the meat from that thing?" he wondered aloud.
Curious about his newfound vitality, Long Chen sat cross-legged, adopting the meditation posture he had learned at the Sacred Orchid Institute.
It was the most basic cultivation technique, the [Soul Nurturing Technique], common among commoners. That's when he remembered the small crystalline stone. He pulled it out of his makeshift pocket. It glowed with a soft red light in his palm.
"What do I do with this? Can I take it and sell it for some money? Maybe I should ask Nie Li if he knows what this is?"
No. That would be too risky. I'll figure it out on my own, slowly.
He momentarily forgot his original purpose of cultivating and refocused on his meditation. He closed his eyes and began to circulate spiritual energy through his body, following the technique's path.
The instant the first thread of his Soul Force began to move, the demon core in his hand heated up intensely. Before he could react, the stone crumbled into a shimmering powder, which was then sucked directly into his palm, turning into a stream of pure energy that flooded his meridians.
Long Chen didn't even realize when he entered a deep and involuntary meditative state. He felt the vibrant, wild energy of the rabbit's core merge with his own Soul Force. The foreign energy acted as a catalyst, forcing his energy to circulate at a dizzying speed, cleansing impurities and strengthening the walls of his Soul Realm.
He remained in that state for over an hour, still and unmoving.
When he finally opened his eyes, he felt completely renewed. The demon core had indeed vanished from his hand, but his Soul Force was noticeably stronger and denser. If he could see it, he would realize his Soul Force had risen from 25 points to 50 in just one hour.
"This isn't something to sell!" he exclaimed, a smile of pure joy on his face. "That rabbit is a treasure! It's like a walking cultivation pill! This... this is so damn awesome!" he muttered, excited.
Reinvigorated and armed with this new knowledge, he picked up his trusty branch, which he now nicknamed the "Glory Stick," and set off into the forest again.
The rustic wood felt lighter than yesterday and more like a natural extension of his arm.
With one last glance at the safety of the cave, he stepped into the daylight, his eyes scanning the forest with newfound confidence—but with caution. His strength and agility had improved, but he was far from being a master.
Just like yesterday, he wanted to test how much he had improved.
He soon found the Demon Rabbits. But this time, it wasn't just one—but three at once! They were all hidden behind a bush, peacefully gnawing on the roots of a tree. Their snow-white fur contrasted vividly with the forest green.
"So this is where you are! Well, sorry, but I'm going to have to use you as pills." he thought.
Long Chen first analyzed the terrain, noting the trees and rocks that could serve as cover. The memory of the rabbits' speed and aggression was fresh in his mind, but now he had a better grasp of their attack patterns. He was also stronger.
"Now let yourselves be killed by me willingly!" With a battle cry, he burst from his hiding spot. Surprise was his first ally. He targeted the nearest rabbit, swinging the Glory Stick in a precise downward arc. The rabbit, caught off guard, squealed as the stick struck its skull with a dull thud. It fell, dead.
"One down." Now it was two against one.
The other two reacted instantly, their red eyes fixed on him. They didn't flee; instead, they charged like two white arrows.
The faster one tried to surprise him with a frontal lunge. Long Chen dove to the side, rolling on the ground, barely dodging the sharp horn. "Shit! This damn thing is a bit faster than the others," he cursed, feeling the scrape of rocks on his back.
But he had no time to recover as the other one attacked too, aiming straight for his face. Long Chen stumbled backward, the impact of the kick grazing his chin. "Son of a bitch!" he growled, tasting the metallic tang of blood on his lips.
Still on the ground, he used his momentum to spin and strike the rabbit's hind legs with the stick. The creature lost balance, falling awkwardly. Before it could recover, Long Chen quickly stood and crushed its head with a ruthless blow.
The last rabbit, the most aggressive, hesitated for a moment, eyeing its fallen companions. But fury soon overcame fear. It charged with a shrill cry, horn pointed like a spear.
Long Chen faced it head-on. He blocked a side attack with his stick, feeling the impact vibrate through his arms. The rabbit tried to bite, but he pulled his arm back just in time. In a quick motion, he spun on his foot and struck the side of the rabbit's head with the thickest part of the Glory Stick.
The sound was muffled, but the effect was immediate. The rabbit staggered, its red eyes losing their shine. Long Chen didn't hesitate. He delivered one final, clean blow.
Panting, Long Chen looked at the three lifeless bodies on the forest floor. His body ached, covered in superficial scratches, a deeper cut pulsed on his arm, and dust clung to his sweaty skin. But there was a wild grin on his face.
He had fought head-on, taken their hits, and won—not against one, but all three. Well, not counting the one that was caught by surprise.
With a satisfied nod, he began to search the bodies, his fingers finding the small warm stones beneath their skulls. Three new Demon Cores gleamed in his hand, each one representing a hard-earned victory and a step forward in his journey.
The Glory Stick, now stained with the rabbits' dark blood, looked like a trophy in his hands.
The mysterious forest didn't seem so intimidating anymore. At least this area would now serve as his training ground.
Continuing on his way, he encountered more Demon Rabbits—but killed them all. He was still slower, but he could better predict the creature's movements. With a mix of effort, clumsy dodges, and a fair bit of luck, he managed to take down a fourth rabbit, then a fifth, and a sixth.
This time, he didn't bother carrying the carcasses; he skillfully extracted only the sharp horns and the precious demon cores, wrapping them all in a makeshift cloth bag using his clothes.
"There sure are a lot of these Demon Rabbits around here."
Noticing that the rabbits seemed concentrated in that area, Long Chen deduced he was nearing their main territory—possibly a nest.
The surrounding vegetation was also becoming denser and more humid, a clear sign that there was water nearby.
He decided to investigate. Wounded, dirty with dirt and dried blood, but with eyes shining with determination, he followed the downward slope. After several minutes of walking, the gentle sound of running water reached his ears. He pushed through one last cluster of bushes and saw it: a serene clearing with a small lake of crystal-clear waters.
Exhausted, he hurried toward the shore, eager to drink and wash his wounds. But just as he crouched down and was about to touch the surface of the water, a chill ran down his spine. A primal instinct screamed DANGER in his mind.
He froze, slowly lifting his head. Across the lake, the bushes shook violently.
Pa! A burst of grass shot into the air, even making the lake water ripple.
Immediately, a large shadow emerged from behind the dense trees and began to move forward slowly, its footsteps heavy.
Although Long Chen had mentally prepared himself to encounter something like this at any moment, the sudden appearance in his line of sight still startled him.
It was a giant boar; its body was over two meters long and nearly a meter tall. Despite its massive size, it looked exceptionally strong and vigorous. The muscles rippling across its entire body radiated an overwhelming sense of power!
The beast had noticed him. Its yellow eyes locked onto him, sizing him up.
Long Chen was frozen in place. His only thought was, "Damn it! A Demonic Boar." He tightened his grip on the Glory Staff. He had nowhere to run—well, maybe he did, but could he make it?
This time, it wasn't just a matter of strength disparity. Their sizes were like a mountain versus a stone. A single mistake, and he'd be crushed without mercy.