The forest grew unnaturally silent as Jiang Chen approached the edge of the Abyssal Tiger's territory. Even the wind seemed to falter, the oppressive atmosphere weighing on everything in the vicinity. Here, the wilderness was darker and heavier, every shadow twisting unnaturally as though alive. The trees, their bark blackened and cracked, leaned inward as if bowing to the true apex predator of this region: the Abyssal Tiger.
Jiang Chen's body tensed as he crouched low, scanning his surroundings. His sharp amber eyes glimmered with clarity, each shift in light and sound processed with inhuman precision. He was currently in the Middle Stage of the Body Tempering Realm, the first stage in the cultivation path. While still early in his cultivation journey, the chaotic energy within him—born from the Primordial Chaos Seed—pushed him far beyond ordinary cultivators at the same stage. Each movement carried subtle force, his strikes imbued with an instinctual understanding of the Law of Force, an ability that marked him as no ordinary cultivator.
The Abyssal Tiger, however, was no mere prey. It, too, resided in the Body Tempering Realm, but it was at the Peak Stage, its every movement brimming with raw physical power and mastery over its innate shadow energy. A Tier 1 Spirit Beast, the tiger's cultivation and bloodline elevated it to the apex of this forest's hierarchy. For most cultivators in the Body Tempering Realm, facing such a beast would be suicide.
But Jiang Chen wasn't most cultivators.
The journey of a cultivator in the mortal world was divided into six great realms, each representing a step toward transcending the limits of humanity. Each of these realms was further subdivided into Early, Middle, Late, and Peak Stages, with each minor stage marking a significant increase in power.
1. Body Tempering Realm: The starting point of all cultivation. At this stage, the body is refined and strengthened to handle the strain of higher levels. Each breakthrough enhances a cultivator's physical prowess—strength, speed, endurance, and resilience. • Early Stage: The body is barely beginning to adapt to spiritual energy. • Middle Stage: Muscles, bones, and skin undergo deeper refinement, granting significant physical power. • Late Stage: The cultivator's body becomes resistant to minor spiritual attacks and is capable of feats beyond ordinary mortals. • Peak Stage: The body is tempered to near perfection, capable of withstanding immense force and unleashing devastating attacks.
2. Qi Condensation Realm: At this stage, a cultivator begins to absorb and refine spiritual energy from the world into Qi, forming their dantian as a reservoir of power. Techniques and spiritual arts become accessible at this stage.
3. Foundation Establishment Realm: A cultivator solidifies their connection to the spiritual energy of the world, creating stable meridians and a powerful spiritual foundation. This is the realm where true combat prowess begins to emerge.
4. Core Formation Realm: The dantian is condensed into a spiritual core, a powerful reservoir of energy that grants cultivators the ability to unleash devastating techniques.
5. Golden Core Realm: The spiritual core evolves into a golden core, marking a qualitative leap in a cultivator's strength. Golden Core cultivators are capable of influencing the environment around them, bending natural laws with their Qi.
6. Nascent Soul Realm: The pinnacle of mortal cultivation, where the cultivator's core evolves into a Nascent Soul, a spiritual manifestation of their power and will.
As to the stages beyond, Jiang Chen had no idea of their existence at the moment or which magnificent great sects, empires, and lands had people of this level.
While Jiang Chen currently resided in the Middle Stage of the Body Tempering Realm, his chaotic energy and comprehension of the Law of Force granted him strength and insight far beyond his peers in the same stage.
The Abyssal Tiger's presence was unmistakable. Its shadow energy warped the forest, making the air feel thicker, heavier. Jiang Chen crouched near a fallen tree, his breath steady as his sharp eyes scanned the area. He could feel the faint tremors in the earth, the subtle movements of a creature far larger than anything else nearby.
He gripped his bone spear, its familiar weight grounding him. Though crude, the spear was more than capable of piercing through flesh and bone, especially when wielded by someone who had grasped the fundamentals of Force Intent. Jiang Chen whispered to himself, his voice steady, "The apex predator of this forest, but even predators fall to chaos."
Suddenly, the tiger struck.
A blur of black shot out from the shadows, its golden eyes glowing with predatory malice. Jiang Chen's instincts roared, his body moving before his mind fully registered the attack. The tiger's claws sliced through the air, their edges glowing faintly with shadow energy. Jiang Chen twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the strike, and retaliated with a thrust of his spear.
The tiger vanished before the spear could connect, its body dissolving into darkness and reforming several meters away. Its growl was low and guttural, reverberating through the trees. This was no ordinary beast—it was intelligent, aware, and fully capable of adapting to its prey.
Jiang Chen smirked, his chaotic energy flaring faintly around him. "Let's see how long you can play this game."
The Abyssal Tiger moved with blinding speed, its shadow energy creating afterimages as it darted between the trees. It attacked from multiple angles, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying precision. Jiang Chen met each strike head-on, his spear moving in a blur as it intercepted the beast's attacks.
Every clash sent shockwaves rippling through the forest. Jiang Chen's strikes were no longer just physical—each thrust of his spear carried the weight of Force Intent, rippling through the air and disrupting the tiger's shadow energy. The chaotic energy within him surged with each movement, amplifying his strikes and allowing him to react faster than ever before.
The tiger lunged again, aiming for his throat, but Jiang Chen sidestepped at the last moment. He pivoted, his spear driving toward the beast's flank with incredible precision. The weapon struck true, piercing through the tiger's fur and drawing blood. The beast howled in pain, shadows writhing around it as it retreated.
But Jiang Chen wasn't finished. He pressed the attack, his spear carving through the air with relentless force. The tiger snarled, its golden eyes flashing with rage as it retaliated, its claws glowing with concentrated shadow energy. The two clashed again and again, their battle shaking the forest as predator and prey fought for dominance.
Jiang Chen could feel the strain in his muscles, the chaotic energy within him demanding more as his body reached its limits. The Abyssal Tiger, too, was faltering, its once-flawless movements growing sluggish. Both combatants knew the end was near.
The tiger roared, its body dissolving into shadows once more as it prepared for one final ambush. Jiang Chen stood still, his eyes closed as he extended his senses. Through the chaotic resonance of his energy, he could feel the faint ripples of the tiger's movements, the subtle distortions in the air that betrayed its position.
The beast reappeared behind him, its claws poised to strike—but Jiang Chen was faster.
He turned, his spear thrusting forward with all his might. The weapon glowed faintly, the force of the strike rippling through the air like a wave. It pierced the tiger's chest, driving through muscle and bone to strike its core.
The Abyssal Tiger let out one final, earth-shaking roar before collapsing, its golden eyes dimming as life left its body.
Jiang Chen knelt beside the massive corpse, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. Blood dripped from a gash on his arm, but he barely noticed. Instead, his focus was on the tiger's spirit core, a black-and-gold orb that pulsed faintly with shadow energy.
He sat cross-legged, holding the core in his hands. Closing his eyes, he guided the chaotic energy within him to absorb its power. The process was as painful as ever, the wild energy clashing with his own and forcing his body to adapt. But Jiang Chen didn't flinch. Pain was the forge, and he welcomed it.
When the process was complete, he stood, his body feeling stronger, denser. His chaotic energy had grown more refined, his understanding of Force Intent had deepened, and a dark purple energy present in the surroundings became more vivid. The Abyssal Tiger had been a worthy opponent, but now its strength was his.
As Jiang Chen looked down at the tiger's corpse, a faint smile tugged at his lips. The wilderness had been his home, but it was no longer enough. The stories of sects, empires, and geniuses beyond the forest lingered in his mind.
"This was just the beginning," he said softly, gripping his spear. "The world is vast, and I'm ready to claim my place in it."
With his first real test behind him, Jiang Chen turned toward the horizon. The chaos within him burned brighter than ever, and his path stretched endlessly ahead.