A Haven in the Wild

Xiao Chen emerged from the depths of the coconut grove and gazed out at the boundless ocean. He imagined that colossus of a beast wreaking havoc in the sea — truly, a peerless monster.

After a night of rest, his body had recovered considerably. As long as he avoided strenuous movement, he could manage without issue. Standing on the beach, facing the rising sun, he began to gather the essence of heaven and earth, practicing the mysterious diagram from the ancient stele. He stood as motionless as a pine.

Soft morning sunlight spilled over Xiao Chen. His breathing was long and steady; faint, barely visible rays of light seeped through his skin and flowed gladly through his body.

Xiao Chen had considerable talent in the way of cultivation. Since childhood he had practiced the enigmatic Qi-Refining Diagram, and the gates of a grand, sacred hall were already beginning to swing slowly open for him.

As the sun climbed, specks of dawn light scattered.

Xiao Chen timed his breaths, guiding the golden sunrays into his body with each inhalation, letting them penetrate flesh and blood, enter his organs and bones, so that golden light surged through every inch of him. Then, with each exhalation, the impure energies within his organs, bones, and flesh were expelled through his skin.

His flesh and blood were continuously purified and refined by the most pristine energy. Day by day, year by year, his constitution transformed.

At its core, cultivation was the relentless breaking of the body's shackles, a constant process of transformation and elevation. Xiao Chen firmly believed that one day he too would be like those figures who had shaken the ages—able to shatter the boundary between life and death and step into the legendary realm of deathless immortality.

When the morning tide receded, the beach was left covered with shells, shrimp, crabs, sea urchins, and fish flopping about—a bounty that made for a splendid breakfast. Flames crackled at the edge of the coconut grove; above them sat a washbasin-sized shell filled with coconut milk that had already been brought to a boil. The aroma of seafood drifted through the air.

After enjoying a hearty breakfast, Xiao Chen decided to scout the surrounding terrain and find a temporary shelter.

Beyond the coconut grove, the forest thickened. The vegetation was lush and teeming with life: towering trees, white wood incense, yellow桐, olives, palms, rubber trees—ancient trees that blotted out the sky itself.

This was a haven for seabirds. When Xiao Chen entered this area, countless birds burst from the trees in alarm. Thousands upon thousands of seabirds wheeled and cried overhead, and a rain of feathers drifted down.

The ground was thick with guano. Nests covered the branches and the earth; eggs lay everywhere. Many fledglings cried for food as countless adult seabirds circled and shrieked.

It was a long time before the forest settled back into calm after he passed through.

Another three or four li deeper, and Xiao Chen entered the primeval forest. Ancient trees with roots intertwined, century-old vines coiled around them—here, savage beasts roamed freely.

"Ooo—roar!"

A fierce saber-toothed tiger charged with bared fangs. Xiao Chen spun, swung his leg, and swept the beast to the ground.

But at that moment, another beast cry rang out nearby. A five-meter-tall twin-headed rampage ape came crashing forward, its towering demonic body covered in pitch-black fur, its two hideous heads dreadfully imposing.

Xiao Chen had no desire to provoke such bizarre creatures. He quickly turned and fled into the forest, leaving the saber-toothed tiger to face the ape.

"Ooo—roar!"

The tiger's roar died abruptly. Xiao Chen glanced back and caught a bloody sight: the twin-headed rampage ape had torn the saber-toothed tiger apart. Its towering body, covered in black fur, was splattered with blood.

Xiao Chen sped away. He grew much more cautious, avoiding the various strange savage beasts, unwilling to confront them directly.

He had not gone far before he saw many mythical ferocious beasts, and even more blood-soaked scenes. He watched a winged divine leopard tear apart two giant elephants; a one-horned giant serpent swallowed three tigers whole...

Walking through the endless primeval forest, Xiao Chen frequently spotted bones—from tigers, lions, elephants, and many unidentified colossal skeletons. Shattered remains seven or eight meters long, even ten meters, lay half-hidden among the trees and grass, a ghastly sight.

"Roooar!"

A sudden, tremendous roar erupted from deep in the mountain range. The sound was deafening, piercing metal and splitting stone, soaring into the clouds! Thousands of beasts cried out in terror, and chaos erupted in the depths.

Even Xiao Chen felt his blood and qi churn, his body trembling. His eardrums nearly burst.

Was this not the very sound of a dragon's roar from legend?!

This cry was no weaker than that of the ancient eight-armed malignant dragon! It was hard to imagine what kind of beast could produce such a sound.

Xiao Chen's heart shuddered with awe. On the very outskirts of the island, he had already encountered two great ferocious beasts. This sea-bound island was truly mysterious. With his injuries not yet healed, he dared not venture further. He turned and began to retrace his steps.

In the end, Xiao Chen found a place suitable for healing on the outer edge of the island. It was only two or three li from the beach, close to the eight-armed malignant dragon's territory, which kept ordinary beasts from approaching.

A clear spring, like a belt of green jade, gurgled through the woods, gathering into a small lake as bright and clear as a sapphire. Tall, dense trees encircled the lake, blocking the fierce sun and casting a broad patch of shade.

Vines draped around the lake in tangled layers. Countless unknown flowers bloomed in wild profusion—purple, red, every color imaginable—filling the air with their fragrance. The melodious calls of birds completed the scene. It was an excellent haven.

Moreover, nearby grew many fruit trees: not only tall coconut palms, but also shorter pineapple, lemon, and lychee trees, their branches heavy with ripe fruit. Sweet aromas drifted through the forest, impossibly enticing.

Xiao Chen discovered a bamboo grove not far away. Despite his injuries, he carefully channeled his energy, using a stone axe to fell row after row of green bamboo and haul them back. Then he found some tough vines.

By the sapphire lake, he built a bamboo hut, and inside it a bamboo bed. The green dwelling was filled with the fresh scent of grass—pleasing and comfortable.

Unpredictable as the sea weather was, by afternoon the cloudless sky had darkened. Masses of black clouds rolled in.

"Boom—rumble!"

Black clouds churned. Lightning and thunder crashed over the island, and a torrential rain began to fall. Xiao Chen was glad he had built the bamboo hut in time. Watching the rain screen outside the window, his thoughts wandered.

Since entering the World of Immortality, he had been thinking of those figures who had shattered the void and left their names eternal in the mortal world. Would he ever meet them?

Dugu Qiubai, with a single sword in hand, looking down upon the world, sweeping across the six directions, finding no worthy opponent...

Li Xunhuan, his little Li flying dagger never missing, his blade shattering the void...

Shi Feixuan, autumn water for spirit, jade for bones, a peerless celestial maiden...

Wan Wan, gathering the spiritual wisdom of heaven and earth, a sprite as lively and elusive...

Pang Ban, the demon lord of the ages, planting the demon seed in the Dao heart, his might echoing through the millennia...

Lang Fanyun, extreme in emotion, extreme in the sword, wielding the sword because of love, and entering the Dao through the sword...

Those names that had shaken the ages surfaced one by one in Xiao Chen's mind. Since those people had already become eternal in the heavens and earth, he believed that if fate allowed, he might truly meet them one day. This was no empty dream—not a fantasy born of flowers in a mirror or the moon's reflection in water.