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Chapter Three: A New Dawn, A New Life
Wei Feng stood in the clearing of the forest, his breath rising in visible puffs against the crisp morning air. The first rays of sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting a soft glow over the landscape. Everything around him was bathed in an ethereal light, the world seeming to hum with a strange energy. He couldn't help but smile, his heart swelling with excitement. This was a new beginning—a fresh start in a world unlike any he had known before. The forest, though dense and enigmatic, felt like a haven, a place where he could truly begin to carve his path.
For the first time since awakening in this strange land, Wei Feng felt truly alive. Every fiber of his being thrummed with the pulse of energy that surrounded him. His Mortal Gu had awakened fully within him, a living force that now seemed to flow in perfect harmony with his own essence. The warmth it provided was both soothing and invigorating. It was as if he had been granted a second chance at life—an opportunity to grow stronger, to explore, and to embrace the wonders of the Gu-dominated world.
The past few days, or what he assumed were days, had been a whirlwind of discovery. He had ventured deeper into the forest, encountering strange creatures and plants that seemed to possess an otherworldly beauty. Some of them radiated energy, while others seemed to have a life of their own, moving as if they had a will beyond that of mere plants and animals. Wei Feng was fascinated by it all. Every new discovery filled him with a sense of awe, a wonder that seemed boundless. He felt like a child experiencing the world for the first time—everything was fresh, new, and full of potential.
But it was not just the external world that intrigued him. His own body had begun to change, slowly but surely. The Mortal Gu had integrated itself into his very being, its power flowing through his veins like molten gold. It was a connection that he could feel with every breath, with every heartbeat. It was as if the Gu were an extension of himself, a bond that made him feel stronger, faster, more attuned to the world around him. Every day, it seemed, his connection with the Gu deepened, and with it, his power grew. He could already sense that his strength was far greater than it had been when he first awoke in this world. He was no longer just a man; he was something more, something greater.
Yet, despite the power flowing through him, Wei Feng remained humble and full of wonder. He wasn't consumed by the need to dominate or conquer; rather, he simply wanted to understand, to explore, to experience everything this world had to offer. The journey itself was the reward, and every step forward was a victory. He could already imagine the countless possibilities that lay ahead—new realms to explore, new Gu to discover, new techniques to learn. The thought of it filled him with boundless joy, and he couldn't suppress the grin that spread across his face as he thought about the future.
It wasn't long before Wei Feng encountered his first real challenge. While exploring the deeper reaches of the forest, he stumbled upon a group of creatures—large, hulking beasts that resembled a strange cross between a boar and a bear. They were fiercely territorial and immediately charged at him upon spotting his presence. Wei Feng, however, was unafraid. He was strong now, stronger than he had ever been before. His Mortal Gu surged within him, and without thinking, he unleashed a burst of energy, sending the beasts flying in all directions. The satisfaction he felt from the effortless victory was immense, but it was not the victory itself that brought him joy. It was the thrill of the challenge, the joy of overcoming the unknown, of proving to himself that he could handle whatever this world threw at him.
"Is this what it's like?" he muttered to himself, his voice filled with awe. "Is this what being strong feels like?" He couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled up from his chest, a pure, unrestrained laugh that echoed through the forest. To him, it was a perfect moment—everything was just as it should be. He was alive, he was strong, and he was free. There was nothing in the world that could stop him now.
For the next several days, Wei Feng continued to explore, slowly growing accustomed to the rhythms of the Gu-dominated world. He began to refine his use of the Mortal Gu, experimenting with different ways to tap into its power. He discovered that the energy of the Gu could be channeled in a variety of ways, each more complex than the last. The possibilities seemed endless, and with every discovery, his excitement grew. Every day was a new adventure, a new opportunity to learn, to grow, and to become something greater.
But as the days passed, Wei Feng began to notice something strange. His once innocent excitement started to fade into something darker, something more urgent. The more he explored, the more he encountered, the more he began to realize that the world he now inhabited was not as perfect as it seemed. Beneath the surface of beauty and wonder, there was a danger lurking, an underlying darkness that threatened to consume everything in its path. The beasts he had once so easily defeated were only the beginning. There were things in this world far more dangerous than he had ever imagined, and they would not hesitate to destroy him if he was not careful.
Still, Wei Feng pushed forward, driven by the same optimism that had fueled him from the beginning. He was determined to conquer every challenge, to face every danger with a smile on his face. After all, he was strong now, and nothing could stop him. The thought of failure, of weakness, was foreign to him. He had no room for doubts, no time for fear. He would rise above it all. He was invincible.
But as the days turned into weeks, Wei Feng's perception of the world began to change. The challenges grew more difficult, the enemies more ruthless. His once boundless energy began to wane, replaced by a slow, creeping exhaustion that he couldn't shake. The Gu that had once been a source of comfort now felt like a weight on his chest, its hunger insatiable, its demands unrelenting. The more he fed it, the more it craved. And as it grew stronger, so too did the world around him grow more hostile. Every victory, every conquest, was followed by a greater challenge, a greater threat.
It wasn't long before Wei Feng began to wonder: Was this world truly worth conquering? Was this what he had fought for? His optimism began to dim, replaced by a growing sense of disillusionment. The joy he had once felt was slowly being replaced by an overwhelming sense of exhaustion, a fatigue that seemed to seep into his very soul. It was as if the world itself was wearing him down, piece by piece, until there was nothing left but the drive to survive. And survive he would, no matter the cost.
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