The wilderness stretched endlessly behind Jiang Chen as he stood atop a rocky hill, gazing toward the hazy outline of civilization in the distance. The forest that had been his home for so long was now a shadow of what lay ahead. Stories from dying travelers had painted a picture of bustling cities, sprawling sects, and towering palaces—places where cultivation thrived, and the powerful ruled. Jiang Chen clenched his bone spear, the chaotic energy inside him pulsing faintly.
"This world beyond the wilderness… let's see what it's worth," he murmured.
With the Abyssal Tiger's spirit core absorbed and his understanding of the Law of Force sharpening, Jiang Chen felt ready. He was still at the Middle Stage of the Body Tempering Realm, but the chaotic energy within him, combined with his mastery of Force Intent, made him far more dangerous than anyone would expect. Yet, he knew the world of men was far more complex than the primal savagery of the wilderness. There, strength alone might not be enough.
Jiang Chen descended from the hills as the forest began to thin. By midday, the wilderness gave way to a dusty dirt road that wound through rolling fields. The air was warmer, carrying the faint scent of crops and livestock. Jiang Chen walked with steady purpose, his bare feet treading the road with practiced silence.
He hadn't traveled long before he encountered his first humans.
A caravan of wagons trundled down the road ahead, surrounded by a group of armed guards. The merchants wore simple robes, their faces lined with weariness and apprehension. The guards, in contrast, were burly men clad in mismatched armor, their swords and spears rusted but functional. As the caravan approached, the guards tensed, their hands drifting to their weapons as they spotted Jiang Chen.
It wasn't surprising. With his wild hair, leather armor, and beast-bone spear, Jiang Chen looked more like a savage than a fellow traveler. His sharp amber eyes only added to the intensity of his presence.
"Who goes there?" one of the guards barked, stepping forward with his sword drawn. The man was in the Early Stage of the Body Tempering Realm, his aura faint but noticeable to Jiang Chen's heightened senses.
"I'm no bandit," Jiang Chen replied calmly, resting his spear across his shoulders. "Just a traveler."
The guard's eyes narrowed. "A traveler, huh? Then why are you dressed like a beast-hunter? And what's with that spear? Looks like it came out of some monster's gut."
Jiang Chen's lips curved into a faint smile. "It did."
The guards exchanged uneasy glances. One of them, a grizzled man in the Middle Stage of the Body Tempering Realm, stepped forward. His presence was heavier than the others, his expression cautious but firm.
"Listen here, boy. This is a dangerous road," the man said. "If you're not here to rob us, keep moving. But if you make trouble, we won't hold back."
Jiang Chen tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You misunderstand me. I have no interest in your goods. But I'd warn you to stay sharp. If this road is dangerous, I doubt I'm the worst thing you'll run into."
The grizzled guard frowned but nodded slowly. "Fair enough. You can walk ahead, but don't cause trouble."
Jiang Chen gave a slight nod and moved to walk past them. As he did, his sharp senses picked up on something faint—a ripple in the distance, a trace of killing intent. He paused mid-step, his hand tightening on his spear.
"What is it?" the grizzled guard asked, noticing his sudden stillness.
Jiang Chen didn't reply immediately. He turned his gaze toward the horizon, where the road curved around a small wooded grove. The faint ripple of killing intent grew stronger, more distinct.
"We're being watched," Jiang Chen said finally. "There are bandits up ahead."
The caravan moved cautiously as the road led them into the grove. The trees here were tall and gnarled, their branches casting long shadows over the dirt path. Jiang Chen walked ahead of the group, his spear ready. His chaotic resonance allowed him to sense the subtle shifts in the air, the hidden movements in the trees.
Then it happened.
A sharp whistle cut through the air, followed by the twang of bowstrings. Arrows rained down from the trees, targeting the caravan. The guards shouted, raising their shields, while the merchants cowered behind the wagons.
Jiang Chen moved instantly, his body reacting faster than thought. He deflected two arrows with his spear, the force of his strikes sending the projectiles spinning harmlessly into the dirt.
From the shadows, a group of bandits emerged, their faces masked with crude cloth. There were ten of them, their weapons a mix of swords, axes, and bows. Their leader, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward with a wicked grin. His aura was unmistakable—Late Stage of the Body Tempering Realm.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" the bandit leader sneered. "A caravan full of gold and a stray mutt with a fancy spear. Hand over your goods, and we might let you live."
The grizzled guard stepped forward, his sword raised. "You'll get nothing from us, scum!"
The bandit leader laughed. "Wrong answer."
At his signal, the bandits charged.
Jiang Chen stepped forward, his chaotic energy flaring faintly. The first bandit lunged at him, swinging a rusted axe. Jiang Chen sidestepped effortlessly, his spear striking like lightning. The bone weapon pierced the man's chest, dropping him instantly.
Another bandit came at him with a sword, but Jiang Chen was faster. His spear moved with precision, deflecting the blade and slamming into the man's temple with a dull crack. The bandit crumpled to the ground.
The battle was chaos, but Jiang Chen thrived in it. His strikes were fluid, each one carrying the weight of Force Intent. The ground seemed to ripple under his blows, every thrust and sweep of his spear creating shockwaves that sent bandits reeling.
The guards fought valiantly but struggled against the numbers. Two of them were already down, blood pooling beneath them. The grizzled guard shouted orders, his sword clashing with the bandit leader's blade in a fierce duel.
Jiang Chen turned his gaze toward the leader. Their eyes met, and the bandit's grin faltered. He could sense the danger radiating from Jiang Chen, the oppressive aura of chaos that seemed to distort the air around him.
"You," the bandit leader growled, pointing his sword at Jiang Chen. "Who the hell are you?"
Jiang Chen didn't answer. He strode forward, his spear glinting faintly in the dappled light. The bandit leader roared and charged, his sword swinging with brute force.
Their clash was brief but decisive.
The leader's blade struck with ferocious power, but Jiang Chen's spear met it head-on, shattering the weapon with a single, force-infused strike. Before the man could react, Jiang Chen's spear pierced his chest, the chaotic energy rippling through the bandit's body and tearing apart his insides.
The leader fell, blood pooling around him, and the remaining bandits scattered, their courage shattered.
The caravan guards looked at Jiang Chen with a mix of awe and fear. The grizzled guard stepped forward, his expression grim but respectful.
"You saved us," he said, his voice rough. "We owe you our lives."
Jiang Chen shook his head. "I didn't do it for you. I did it because they were in my way."
The guard frowned but didn't press further. Jiang Chen turned and began walking down the road, his spear resting across his shoulders. Behind him, the merchants and guards stared after him, whispers of the savage warrior who had saved them spreading among the group.
As Jiang Chen disappeared into the distance, one thought lingered in his mind: This was just a taste of the world beyond the wilderness. The true challenges were yet to come.
The path ahead was long, but Jiang Chen's resolve burned brighter than ever. Chaos was his to wield, and the world would soon feel its weight.