Xuan adjusted the lantern strapped to his side, its soft glow flickering in contrast to the deep, unnatural darkness of the Ebonshade Thicket. It had been an hour since he ventured into the forest, and at first, it seemed unremarkable—just another forest, albeit darker and denser than most. But as he pressed further in, he noticed an unsettling quiet.
The rustle of leaves and distant chirps he expected were absent. Instead, the silence pressed down on him, broken only by the faint crunch of his footsteps on the leaf-strewn ground. He gripped the lantern tightly, his eyes scanning the shadowed expanse for any sign of movement.
The quiet wasn't absolute, though. After some time, his gaze landed on a pair of glowing yellow eyes reflecting the light of his lantern. A wolf stood some distance away, its form partially obscured by the underbrush. Xuan's heart jumped, but he forced himself to stay calm.
The wolf didn't move at first, only staring at him intently, as if trying to gauge the threat he posed. Perhaps it recognized the Venomthread Sect insignia on his robes, or maybe it simply wasn't hungry. After a tense moment, the wolf lowered its head slightly and began to back away.
Relief washed over Xuan, as he started walking again, his steps careful and deliberate.
But then...
*Growl*
Xuan froze at the low, menacing sound behind him. His heart leaped as he turned, too late to stop the blur of fur and fangs hurtling toward him. The wolf leaped through the air, teeth bared.
Instinct kicked in, and Xuan threw himself to the side, narrowly dodging the attack. He hit the ground hard, his hand instinctively going to the dagger strapped to his belt. Pulling it free, he scrambled to his feet, keeping his eyes locked on the predator in front of him.
The wolf snarled, its yellow eyes gleaming in the light of the lantern that now lay on the ground, as it started to circle Xuan.
Xuan tightened his grip on the dagger but hesitated. Up close, the blade suddenly seemed too small, too inadequate. Could he get close enough to deliver a fatal strike without being torn apart?
His gaze darted around, searching for anything to even the odds. That's when he saw it: a stone, roughly the size of his palm, lying just a few steps behind him.
Keeping his focus on the wolf, Xuan began to back away slowly, inching toward the stone. The wolf mirrored his movements, its hackles raised as it gauged his every step.
The moment his heel touched the stone, Xuan dropped the dagger and crouched low, snatching it up in one swift motion. The wolf lunged immediately, hurtling toward him with terrifying speed.
Time slowed as Xuan reared back, clutching the stone in his hand. The wolf was nearly on him, its jaws open wide. With every ounce of strength he could muster, Xuan hurled the stone directly at its head.
*Crack*
The impact was brutal. The wolf's momentum was cut short midair as the stone collided with its skull, throwing it backward with a sickening thud.
Blood trickled from the wound, staining its fur a dark crimson. It whimpered weakly, staggering as it tried to regain its footing, but ultimately collapsed.
Xuan didn't waste the opportunity. Adrenaline surging, he grabbed his dagger and rushed forward, delivering a swift and decisive strike to the wolf's throat.
---
It was only after the danger had passed that Xuan began to process what had just happened.
During his first fight with Li Feng, he'd been surprised by their strength disparity. And later, in the sect's library, he had read about the physical capabilities of various animals, comparing them to his own.
An average wolf could exert impressive force—its bite alone could crush bones with over 1,200 pounds of pressure. Its physical strength was formidable enough to overpower most humans. But Xuan wasn't like most humans. Through careful testing—lifting stones, testing his limits—he'd later discovered that his strength was far greater than he'd realized. His physical power rivaled that of a bear, an animal capable of exerting over 1,500 pounds of force. This was one of his assurances for tackling this forest on his own.
It was something innate, something beyond normal. Back at home everyone had strength like this, so he hadn't noticed. But since he was stranded here, he had realized that maybe him and his family were far from normal.
As he wiped the blood off his dagger and steadied his breathing, Xuan couldn't help but become downtrode, thinking about his stranded situation. But he quickly caught himself.
The Ebonshade Thicket was no joke. He couldn't afford to be distracted.
---
Xuan resumed his search, now on edge. Every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves made him flinch, and his eyes darted constantly, scanning for movement.
About two hours later, he found what he was looking for. The faint indentations of massive pawprints trailed through the damp earth, accompanied by claw marks on nearby trees. A chill ran down his spine as he crouched to examine them. The tracks were fresh, leading deeper into the forest.
He followed the trail until finally, he spotted it—a cave nestled into the base of a small rocky hill, its entrance partially obscured by thick ivy and hanging moss. The area around the cave was marked with signs of its occupant: massive pawprints embedded in the soil, claw marks gouged into the stone, and a distinct musky scent that lingered in the air.
His eyes drifted to a patch of frost-covered ground just outside the entrance. Tufts of white fur were scattered there, interspersed with clawed-out chunks of earth. A chill ran down his spine as his gaze followed the movement within the shadows of the cave.
Soon a hulking figure lumbered into view, its fur a ghostly white with streaks of darker grey, like slashes across freshly fallen snow. The beast's sheer size was intimidating, its shoulder height towering over even the tallest of men. Its broad snout exhaled plumes of frosty air, and its sharp claws glinted in the dim light filtering through the forest canopy.
This was no ordinary bear—it was an Icefang Bear, one of the strongest animals around. Known for its association with Frostdew Essence, the bear's white-streaked fur was a telltale sign of prolonged exposure to the essence's aura. Over time, it had absorbed traces of the Frostdew Essence, causing its fur to gradually turn white.
Thankfully, this one wasn't fully transformed yet. The streaks of dark grey still visible across its coat were proof that it hadn't yet crossed the threshold into becoming a demonic beast.
Once an Icefang Bear's fur became spotless white, it evolved into a demonic beast and those were outside of Xuan's reach for now. A demonic beast required cultivators capable of using martial arts to take it down.
Even so, the bear before him was a terrifying opponent, far stronger than the wolf he'd fought earlier. Xuan clenched his jaw as he lowered the dimly glowing lantern to the ground. Then his fingers tightened around the hilt of his dagger as he sized up the beast.
But he hesitated.
The wolf had been a struggle, exposing the glaring gap in his combat experience. Even if his raw strength was comparable to the bear's, brute force alone wouldn't guarantee victory. He wasn't just weaker in technique—he was acutely aware that the Icefang Bear, with its primal instincts and experience, was a far superior fighter.
Xuan's grip on the dagger loosened slightly as he considered his options. He had another card to play—a final ace the bear didn't know about. But even with that, his confidence wavered. The bear was formidable, and the risk of failure loomed large in his mind.
After a long moment, Xuan exhaled deeply, sheathing the dagger with a quiet hiss. He picked up the lantern and cast one last glance toward the cave, mentally marking its location.
---
Over the next few days, Xuan immersed himself in preparation.
He returned to the Ebonshade Thicket each day, cautiously navigating its outer regions in search of animals to practice against. Wild boars, predatory cats, and even large snakes became his unintended sparring partners. Though none of them matched the Icefang Bear in raw power, their unpredictability and ferocity forced Xuan to sharpen his instincts.
Each encounter pushed him further, testing his stamina, reflexes, and adaptability. At first, he stumbled, sustaining bruises and cuts from poorly timed reactions. But he learned quickly. By the third day, his movements had grown more fluid, his strikes more precise. The dagger he had chosen proved invaluable, its sharp edge slicing through tough hides with ease. The salve, too, became a constant companion, patching up his wounds after every skirmish.
Every evening, he returned to the sect to rest and reflect on his progress, slowly but surely getting more confident in his cabability to fight.
Lin Ran had noticed the marks of his battles too, but didn't ask any questions. She just wanted one thing, and for that she had to cultivate.
Slowly time passed and by the time the fifth day arrived, Xuan felt a newfound confidence. His body, felt like it moved with purpose. His mind, once clouded by doubt, was now focused. Each fight had honed his awareness and discipline, preparing him for the confrontation that awaited.
Now, he stood once more before the cave.