Dai's eyes narrowed with curiosity as he watched Zeng undergo a powerful transformation. Although he sensed something extraordinary emanating from it, he was unsure what to make of it.
Zeng, on the other hand, floated in midair, his entire body enveloped in a strange yellowish aura. This aura felt as if a wild beast were stalking its prey. However, the axe he held showed no signs of movement; it remained eerily still.
"Tell me, Grandpa, why should I learn this?" His face bore the same blank expression as the OPM legend, digging a finger into his nose without any shame.
"This damned brat," Zeng muttered, striking the blunt side of his axe against his forehead.
He was quite fed up with Dai's drama and was furious with him from inside his mind.
Without wasting any time, he released a shockwave from his fingertips, cutting down everything in its path. The energy it contained was so immense that it sent ripples across the forest, also stirring Dai's heart.
Dai, who had initially felt disdainful, now seemed to be hooked. He watched Zeng perform every move with keen eyes, feeling a deep desire burning within him—one he couldn't even fully understand.
But he felt a burning sensation throughout his body.
"That's your heart aching to clutch this power," Zeng spoke in a voice so soothing it seemed to calm Dai's thirst for power.
"This is the side effect: once you feel this aura, there is no turning back. It awakens a person's desire to become the most powerful."
Immediately after he spoke those words, everything around them seemed to return drastically to normal. The once-roaring winds had softened into a delicate breeze.
Zeng looked at Dai, his expression filled with concern. He knew that Dai's Dao Core, located above his heart, was about to open.
"Dai, this is Spirit Essence. The one force keeping you alive. Without it in your heart, you cease to exist," Zeng remarked.
"But right now, your physical body cannot contain the spirit essence."
Dai's face reflected sorrow, yet he was determined not to give up on this new opportunity. Noticing his demeanor, Zeng reassured him that one day, he too would wield that very power at his fingertips.
"Though you could one day wield this power."
Zeng stepped closer to Dai and placed his finger on his chest.
"You must always have a will that can guide you to your destiny, Dai. Beware—this power can also corrupt you if your soul, body, or mind is impure."
As he spoke, he let out a cough, quickly covering it with the palm of his left hand. But just as he opened his eyes to look, he swiftly withdrew his hand, hiding it from Dai.
"What should I do now, Grandpa?" Dai asked curiously.
"One hundred push-ups, one hundred sit-ups, one hundred squats, and a 10-kilometer run every day for five years straight."
Dai's jaw dropped open in surprise.
"What are you waiting for?" Zeng questioned Dai.
But Dai had other plans in mind.
"Nah, I'd sleep." Dai dozed off right in front of Zeng's face.
Crickets chirped between them.
Zeng ran and kicked Dai's butt, sending him flying into the dense forest.
"This is what you deserve right now," Zeng said as Dai's scream echoed. He looked at the palm of his left hand, which was covered in blood.
Time is almost up; I must give that book to this brat.
Just then, Zeng fell down.
…
Dai rubbed the swollen part of his head while cursing Zeng. Spring began to lick Dai's cheek. Spring had been roaming in the forest since morning, but when it heard Dai's screams, it came running toward him.
"Ouch, it hurts," Dai said in agony.
It was now nighttime, and both Dai and Spring wandered deep into the forest.
Suddenly, the sound of something rustling in the bushes was heard. Spring's ears perked up, recognizing the source of the noise. It immediately sprang into action, jumping in front of Dai.
Wolves started emerging—not just one or two, but a pack of seven. Each had black fur and yellow eyes.
Dai, who was barely six years old, started sweating at the sight. Those fangs reflected back at him, indicating that one small mistake could cost him his life.
Without hesitation, Spring initiated the attack as one of the wolves charged forward. Both of them leapt simultaneously. Just as the wolf was about to strike him, Dai threw a rock that struck the wolf's face. That brief moment was all Spring needed to attack that particular wolf.
Bam.
It fell down, bleeding to death.
The others saw the scene unfold, but none made a move to attack as the two approached the fallen wolf. Upon closer inspection, it was a female wolf.
On top of that, it was pregnant, as its belly was slightly swollen compared to the rest. Overwhelmed, Dai felt terrible upon seeing this, knowing he was equally responsible for its death.
Suddenly, a powerful aura descended upon both Spring and Dai, filled with murderous intent.
From the bushes, another wolf emerged, but this one was unlike the rest. It had yellow stripes, hellish eyes, and horns ablaze with fire. It charged straight toward Dai. Dai couldn't move, paralyzed by the overwhelming pressure it released.
All hope was lost, and Dai closed his eyes.
However, the winds of spring caused Dai to open his eyes. That wolf, seemingly the leader, had mauled Spring to death. The reason the other wolves present remained silent and never dared to approach Spring and Dai was this: if any of them had killed either of the two, the leader would have eaten them out of spite.
It approached Dai, who stumbled backward and barely caught himself by touching a tree. As the Wolf Leader closed in, Dai's face turned pale with fear.
But that wolf merely locked eyes with Dai without even touching a strand of his hair, indirectly conveying that he was still a child who could be killed at any moment.
These Dark-Scar Wolves were the top-level creatures of this forest.
One by one, all the wolves disappeared into the depths of the forest.
Dai's mind was in total chaos; he kept blaming himself for not being strong enough to protect Spring as he dug the grave and placed the partially eaten corpse of Spring inside.
Remembered all those moments he had with Spring, from the time he played with it till its death.
"If I were a little stronger, I could have saved you, Spring," Dai wept as he pushed the dirt into the grave.
Just then, he remembered Zeng's words.
One hundred push-ups, one hundred sit-ups, one hundred squats, and a 10-kilometer run every day for five years straight.
With newfound determination, he took an oath in front of Spring's grave.
"At the end of these five years, I will kill the leader of that wolf who killed you, Spring.
Tears fell onto the freshly made grave.
The mark once again illuminated under the starlight, but this time it was different, as it took on a new form.
The Shape of the Sun.