Just like that, two months was just a breeze for Neru. He had never encountered the gigantic turtle again but he managed to have a close encounter with a spider monkey in the QI Refining realm and it was not what he expected it to be.
The spider monkey was one of the rulers in the forbidden forest and it didn't even bother to acknowledge his presence. Neru felt quite insulted but also thankful for his dear life.
Of course, the creature has the capital to be arrogant because it was the top predator infinitely close to the giant turtle in terms of threat. It has the characteristics of both monkey and spider amplified by a hundred times.
First of all, the spider monkey can sling from tree to tree like Spiderman, and their web is a hundred times more durable. The web could even become soft and hard depending on the will of the spider monkey. Second, it has the agility and dexterity of both spider and monkey making it a perfect combatant that likes to engage in high-speed fight. Third, it possesses super strength. Fourth, terrifying danger senses and instinct. Many of its foes were counter-killed trying to sneak attack it. Lastly, its mastery of Qi wasn't worse than that of humans.
The only weakness that Neru could think of was its arrogance. Yes, it has a superiority complex that it doesn't even bother to pay attention to the weak. It considers anyone weaker than it by a large margin like ants and even disdains from eating them.
Well, maybe it was also its big ego that made it seek stronger beasts and grow strong as time went by achieving the top position it has on the food chain in the forbidden forest.
During those two months, Neru tried to sense the Qi. He could sense Qi in the surroundings but he couldn't absorb them due to the absence of Dantian on his body which was very unfortunate.
Now, he managed to explore almost 500 kilometers of the forbidden forest in those two months while fighting different types of wild beasts. For the record, he had killed at least 182 wild beasts since the start of his journey.
He was always training even when fighting. His battle experience taught him how to position himself correctly, control the rhythm of the fight, and read his opponents. He now perfectly understood how beasts fought and his understanding of their fighting style and behavior was so deep that he can be considered to be their nemesis.
Most of the time, he could one-shot his enemies by hitting their endpoint. One hit one kill no matter how tough the body of the opponent is.
The only troublesome opponents that he hates are those speed types like the spider-monkey. After all, what's the use of one hit if you can't even hit your opponent?
He prefers to fight enemies with huge HP, strong regeneration, and terrifying defense than speedsters.
'It's time to end this...' Neru ducked to avoid the scythe-like arms of the mantis in front of him. The sharp tip was only one meter away from his cheeks yet it still inflicted a small cut. But Neru remained focused and swiftly closed the distance between his arm holding a dagger to the tiny little hole on the green mantis' forehead that only he could see.
One hit one kill!
As the dagger was about to make contact. The mantis took a step back and effortlessly parried the dagger with another available scythe-like arm.
As he failed, Neru immediately jumped back to avoid the high-speed counterattack of the mantis, cutting some strands of his hair in the process.
'This mantis is really hard to deal with. Its abnormal attack speed always manages to keep me at bay and prevents me from dealing a decisive blow. The offense is the best defense they say... It really has some merit to it.'
Neru and the Mantis looked warily at each other seemingly acknowledging each other's strength. Then, the Mantis gave Neru a slight nod before it bolted away with sudden acceleration. However, Neru didn't give chase.
"High-speed types are really such a pain in the ass to fight..." Neru chuckled lightly not showing any signs of frustration. 'Well, it's time to find the way out of this forest. I've been here for two months with no human encounter. I miss socializing in society and I feel that I'll become crazy if this continues.'
...
Ten years went by...
Neru climbed on the highest tree in the forbidden forest. Almost 461 meters high. Then, he jumped...
BOOM!
Neru landed on the ground with his back first. However, he didn't feel anything. No bones broken or even a scratch. Neru looked at the canopy in a daze. 'This doesn't work anymore.'
On his body, there's no clothes anymore but just makeshiff leaves stitched together to cover his lower and upper body. Actually, even if his walks buck-naked there would be no problem because there's no fucking human around him and he was sick of it! Now, he feels that his humanity was fading and his behavior had become more of a beast than anything.
Ten years in solitary without anything to do but fight wild beasts nearly made him forget his goal of finding a way out from the forest.
Neru hasn't encountered human beings in those TEN YEARS... The interaction he had was from wild beasts. And always purely fighting them at that. There's no week that he hasn't fought in ten years.
However, the benefits were apparent. His combat experience and battle instinct when it comes to fighting beasts evolved to the top tier. However, he also fully adapted to their way of fighting. Wild and brutal.
He learned a lot of skills such as reducing his presence to almost zero. He learned it by observing how most top predators hide themselves from an ambush for years. His tree climbing was also now comparable to Tarzan or even better.
As for his survival experience in the wilderness? He could identify what's not edible and not edible fruit with just a feel on his hands.
Unfortunately, his physique had reached its limit in his sixth year in the forest. No matter how many wild beasts he eats. His body stopped growing stronger.
Why? Nothing can hurt him in this forest anymore except for Qi Refining realm beasts like the giant turtle and spider monkey! Moreoverz the energy provided by wild beasts was now far from sufficient. He needs higher quality meat from giant turtle or spider monley.
Initially, his growth accelerated through suicidal methods. Jumping from the top of the trees to the ground like a darned madman. He bled, his bones were shredded, and his muscles got torn one after another. He ate beasts for recovery and got stronger. Pain after pain. Interacting with death almost daily. Repeat... A method that was too brutal for anyone to even think of.
'I'm now 28 yrs old. Fuck...'