The last vestiges of pain receded, leaving John weak but whole. He pushed himself up, the forest floor slick with his own blood. He surveyed the battlefield, a grim scavenger amongst the dead. He stripped the fallen cultivators of anything of value – pouches containing spirit stones, weapons crafted from strange metals, scrolls filled with cryptic symbols. He found a rough map etched on a piece of tanned hide, a crude guide to the surrounding area. He tucked it away, a flicker of hope igniting within him.He retreated deeper into the forest, his stomach growling with hunger. He spent days learning to survive, clumsily setting snares for rabbits, foraging for edible plants. Each day was a brutal lesson in this new reality. One afternoon, while tracking a particularly large hare, he stumbled upon an enormous tree, its thick roots twisting and intertwining to form a natural cave entrance. Seeking shelter from the encroaching twilight, he cautiously entered.The air inside was stale and still, thick with the scent of dust and decay. A faint light filtered through the entrance, revealing a chilling sight: a skeleton, clad in tattered black robes, slumped against the far wall. Two books lay beside it, their covers worn smooth by time. He approached hesitantly, a strange mix of fear and fascination gripping him. He picked up the books, their pages brittle and yellowed.The first book detailed a martial art called "Shadow God." He traced the intricate diagrams with his finger, deciphering the archaic script. The technique allowed the user to merge with shadows, to vanish from one and reappear in another, seemingly anywhere in the world. But there was a crucial limitation: the user could only travel to places they had already been or to nearby locations. It wasn't true teleportation, but a form of advanced shadow manipulation. The second book described a weaving technique, a method of transforming one's inner energy, Qi, into threads of incredible strength and sharpness. The pages illustrated how to condense and manipulate Qi, turning it into weapons, shields, or even restraints. John felt a thrill course through him. These were not mere exercises; these were tools of power, tools of revenge."With this…" he whispered, his voice hoarse from disuse, "I can make them pay." A slow smile spread across his face, a chilling promise etched in its lines.For the next five years, the forest became his sanctuary and his prison. He practiced relentlessly, pushing his body and mind to their limits. He learned to control his Qi, to weave it into shimmering threads of energy, to slip into the shadows and vanish without a trace. He felt his power growing, his body hardening, his senses sharpening. He reached the middle level of Qi Forging, feeling the subtle shift in his being, a newfound vitality that hinted at an extended lifespan. But he knew it wasn't enough. Not yet