Chen Xuwu and Lin Qianyu darted through the forest, their speed accelerated by the Qi flowing through their bodies.
The rumbling and screams from Green Leaf Village grew clearer, piercing Chen Xuwu's ears. Every step felt heavy, filled with a bad premonition.
The evil Qi he sensed grew thicker, cold and suffocating.
SFX: (Sound of rapid footsteps, thump-thump-thump, accompanied by panicked screams from a distance, AAAAHHH! and beast roars, ROOOAAARRR!)
They finally arrived at the forest edge, and the sight before them made Chen Xuwu gasp. Green Leaf Village, once peaceful, was now a battlefield.
Houses were destroyed, fields flattened, and smoke billowed from the ruins. Some villagers lay helpless, while others ran in panic, chased by rampaging Spiritual Stone Apes and Shadow Wolves.
The beasts' eyes glowed red, filled with madness.
This... this is worse than I imagined. They're truly destroying everything.
Chen Xuwu's heart sank at the sight of the suffering and fear on the villagers' faces.
"Quick, Chen Xuwu! We must help them!" Lin Qianyu cried out, her sword already drawn, green Qi radiating around her.
She darted forward, swinging her sword to parry the attack of a Shadow Wolf pouncing on an old woman.
SFX: (Sound of sword swishing, swish!, followed by the Shadow Wolf's yelp of pain, yelp!)
Chen Xuwu didn't wait. He saw a giant Spiritual Stone Ape about to strike a house where several children were hiding.
I won't let it!
He darted, activating 'Aura of Body Harmony' and 'Aura of Nature Purification' simultaneously, channeling a large amount of pure Qi.
"Get back!" he shouted at the children, extending both hands towards the Stone Ape.
A soft green light emanated strongly from Chen Xuwu's body, enveloping the Stone Ape. The Stone Ape's roar turned into a groan of pain as the evil Qi covering it hissed and evaporated.
Its red eyes flickered, trying to resist, but Chen Xuwu's purification power was too pure and strong.
SFX: (Green light radiating, shhhwwwoosh, sound of evil Qi evaporating, ssssshhh, and the Stone Ape's groan turning into a whimper, whimper)
The Stone Ape stopped in mid-rampage, its body trembling. Slowly, its red eyes returned to their natural brown color, and its roar subsided into a confused snort.
It fell to its knees, looking at Chen Xuwu with eyes that now radiated pain and confusion.
Chen Xuwu approached the Stone Ape, extended a hand, and touched its forehead. He channeled his 'Touch of Life', restoring its depleted Qi and calming its spirit.
The Stone Ape sighed in relief, rubbed its head against Chen Xuwu's leg like a docile pet, then turned and ran back into the forest, no longer rampaging, but with calm steps.
[Bonus Mission: Pacify the Contaminated Spiritual Stone Ape. +700 Exp.]
[System: Congratulations! Your Cultivation Level has reached Initial Foundation Stage Level 2 (Basic).]
[Skill 'Nature Resonance' leveled up to Lv.2.]
[Additional Reward: Stone Spirit Fruit (1 piece).]
Initial Foundation Stage Level 2! And 'Nature Resonance' also leveled up! This is amazing!
Chen Xuwu took the Stone Spirit Fruit that appeared in his hand. The fruit looked like a small crystal stone radiating energy. This must be useful.
Lin Qianyu's Perspective
Lin Qianyu was busy fending off the attacks of the two remaining Shadow Wolves.
Her sword flashed rapidly, green Qi radiating from her body, forming a thin shield that withstood poisonous claws and fangs.
Damn it! They're too agile and aggressive! This evil Qi makes them much stronger than usual!
Sweat beaded on her temples. She was at Initial Foundation Stage Level 5, but these two possessed Shadow Wolves were equivalent to low-level spiritual beasts at the peak of the Foundation Stage.
SFX: (Sound of sword clashing with claws, CLANG!, angry wolf howl, GRRRR!, and Lin Qianyu's ragged breath, huff-huff)
One Wolf darted from the left, the other from the right, trying to surround her.
Lin Qianyu swung her sword in a circular motion, creating a vortex of green Qi that pushed both of them back for a moment.
I can't keep this up. My Qi is starting to deplete. She glanced towards Chen Xuwu, who had just finished calming the giant Stone Ape.
He actually did it! Even a rampaging Spiritual Stone Ape! His power... this is strange!
As she was pushed back, one of the Shadow Wolves pounced on her, its fangs aimed at her neck. Lin Qianyu raised her sword to parry, but she knew it wouldn't be enough. Damn it! Is this the end?
Suddenly, a green shadow darted past her.
"Lin Qianyu! Let me help!" Chen Xuwu shouted, his voice firm and authoritative.
Lin Qianyu saw Chen Xuwu extend his hand towards the attacking Shadow Wolf.
The soft green light emanating from Chen Xuwu's body enveloped the Wolf. Instantly, the Wolf howled in pain, its evil Qi draining away like mist blown by the wind.
Its eyes returned to normal, and it whimpered in fear before fleeing, followed by the second Wolf which also sensed Chen Xuwu's calming aura and turned to escape.
SFX: (Soft green light enveloping the Shadow Wolf, shhhwwwoosh, followed by the hiss of evaporating evil Qi, ssssshhh, and the Wolf's fearful yelp, yelp!)
Lin Qianyu stared at Chen Xuwu, panting, her heart pounding. "You... you're truly amazing, Chen Xuwu! I've never seen a nature cultivator like you! You saved me!" Admiration, respect, and something else—a flash of deep emotion she could no longer hide—clearly shone in her eyes.
He... he's truly a hero. My hero. I feel so safe when he's near me. What... what is this feeling?
Chen Xuwu merely smiled awkwardly. He looked around the destroyed village. Many villagers lay injured, groaning in pain.
"We must help the injured," Chen Xuwu said, kneeling beside an old man whose arm was bleeding badly. He placed his hand on the man's wound, activating 'Touch of Life'.
SFX: (Soft hum of healing, hummmm, followed by the sound of skin mending, ziiip!)
The old man's wound slowly closed, the blood stopped flowing, and his skin returned to normal, as if it had never been injured.
The man stared at Chen Xuwu in awe, his eyes welling up with tears.
"Thank you... thank you, Young Man!" he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "You have saved me! You are an angel sent from Heaven!"
Chen Xuwu continued to move, healing the injured villagers one by one, from minor scratches to light fractures. Lin Qianyu helped him, gathering those who needed help, and observing with unending admiration.
After all the injured were tended to, Chen Xuwu turned to the destroyed herbal fields. He knelt amidst the devastation, closed his eyes, and fully activated 'Nature Resonance'.
He imagined pure Qi flowing from his Dantian, spreading into the ground, reviving every plant, every blade of grass, every crushed bud.
SFX: (Sound of the ground gently trembling, rumble-rumble, followed by the sound of rapidly growing shoots, pop-pop-pop, filling the fields, and the intense scent of herbs spreading)
Under the astonished gaze of Lin Qianyu and the gathered villagers, the destroyed herbal plants began to grow back rapidly, their leaves expanding, and flowers blooming with vibrant colors. In a few minutes, the fields were as fertile as before, even more lush and green, as if they had never been touched by destruction.
The villagers cheered, tears of relief and happiness streaming down their faces. "A miracle!" "He is a gift from nature!" "A true guardian!"
Lin Qianyu gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You... you can even restore a field this large in an instant! This... this is incredible power! I never imagined something like this was possible!"
She looked at Chen Xuwu with eyes now filled with almost worshipful admiration, deep respect, and something else—a flash of emotion she could no longer hide, a feeling that grew stronger every time she saw Chen Xuwu act.
He... he's truly a hero. My hero. I want to always be by his side.
Chen Xuwu rose, feeling slightly tired but satisfied. Not bad. At least this field wasn't destroyed in vain. And I can feel that the evil Qi has been completely cleansed from this area. No trace left.
As he scanned the area he had restored, he felt a faint whisper from nature. Not a whisper of suffering anymore, but a strange whisper, as if a trace had been left behind. He tried to focus his 'Empathic Leaf Knot' deeper, and he sensed disorganized remnants of evil Qi, but there was a very subtle pattern behind it, like a thin thread connecting all these incidents—the spiritual spring, the Stone Apes, the Shadow Wolves.
This evil Qi... feels very similar to what I felt at the spiritual spring. And the way these beasts rampaged... it wasn't a natural rampage.
Someone is controlling them. Someone very cunning.
A cold premonition crept up Chen Xuwu's spine. This isn't just a random incident. This is part of a larger plan, a game he had just entered, and the mastermind is someone with a very cunning mind.
They returned to the sect, Lin Qianyu continuously praising Chen Xuwu's abilities, while Chen Xuwu pondered the pattern of evil Qi he had sensed.
Chen Xuwu knew that every step he took in this world was moving him further away from his dark past. However, he also felt a growing burden of responsibility.
That evil person. This must be their doing. They're watching me. I need to be stronger, not just in cultivation, but also in understanding the intrigues of this world. I need to be able to see through their deceptions.
The sun began to set, painting the sky with orange and purple. The Green Sky Sect looked peaceful amidst the twilight. Chen Xuwu gazed at the sky, feeling the wind caress his face.
He was a Guardian of Nature. And he was ready to face any threat that came, even if it was an enemy playing from the shadows and relying on extraordinary cunning.