Gu Xing stood at the edge of the forest, her eyes glowing faintly with a soft silver radiance.
To everyone else, the forest looked like a vast ocean of green, silent and ancient, its towering trees rising into the sky like pillars holding up the heavens.
But to her—
It was alive in ways words could never describe.
Her breathing slowed unconsciously.
"It's… beautiful," she whispered.
Gu Mian turned slightly. "What do you see?"
Gu Xing hesitated, searching for the right words.
"The spiritual Qi… and magic. They're everywhere. Not just everywhere—they're dense. So dense they've formed fog. Real fog. Clouds of energy."
Everyone froze.
Clouds.
Not strands.
Not threads.
Clouds.
She pointed toward the forest. "They're colorful too. Gold, green, blue, red… layers and layers of them. The deeper inside, the thicker they become."
Gu Bai narrowed his eyes. "That means cultivation here will be much faster."
Gu Ruisheng crossed his arms, his sharp gaze fixed on the forest.
"It also means stronger enemies."
No one disagreed.
Because in the apocalypse, opportunity and danger were twins.
They never arrived alone.
Behind them, the last remnants of snow melted under the growing warmth of the sun.
The New Year had passed quietly but warmly, filled with laughter, food, and the rare peace they had built with their own hands.
Now, three weeks into January, winter was losing its grip.
Every day, the temperature rose.
Snow turned to slush.
Slush turned to water.
Water disappeared into the earth.
And from the forest—
Life returned.
Low roars echoed faintly from within.
Deep.
Ancient.
Hungry.
The beasts were waking up.
But the Gu family was no longer the same as before.
They had all broken through.
Every single member had reached Level 6 in both spiritual Qi and mental power.
Their auras were restrained, calm, and vast.
Gu Ruisheng had reached Level 7.
And Gu Mian—
Level 8.
Even standing still, she radiated a quiet pressure that made the air around her feel heavier.
Not oppressive.
But absolute.
She was becoming something beyond human.
Gu Yunchen looked at his family.
His children.
His people.
"Are we ready?"
No one answered.
They didn't need to.
They stepped forward together.
And entered the forest.
Immediately—
The atmosphere changed.
The air became cooler.
Cleaner.
Heavier.
Every breath they took filled their lungs with spiritual Qi.
It was so dense it almost felt liquid.
Qi Chu's eyes widened.
"I can feel it… it's entering my body on its own…"
Gu Bai nodded. "Passive absorption."
Gu Ruisheng's voice was calm. "Stay alert."
Because forests like this—
Never welcomed outsiders peacefully.
They had barely walked ten meters—
When the ground exploded.
CRACK!
A thick root shot out of the soil like a spear, aiming directly at Gu Taner.
"Watch out!" Gu Yan shouted.
BOOM!
Lightning exploded from his hand, striking the root and blasting it apart.
But before the fragments hit the ground—
Two more roots burst out.
Then four.
Then ten.
Then dozens.
The forest floor came alive.
Roots lashed out from every direction like snakes.
Gu Yunchen's voice was steady.
"Defensive formation!"
Immediately—
WHOOSH!
A wall of fire erupted around the group.
CRACK!
Lightning layered over it.
The fire burned.
The lightning stunned.
The roots recoiled violently, retreating from the barrier.
But they didn't stop watching.
Waiting.
Testing.
Like predators.
Gu Ruisheng's eyes narrowed.
"They're intelligent."
Gu Bai nodded.
"They're probing our strength."
Gu Mian raised her hand calmly.
"Keep moving."
The wall of fire and lightning advanced with them, forcing the forest itself to retreat.
For the first time—
Humanity was invading nature.
And winning.
Not everything in the forest was hostile.
Luo Yuhua and Gu Ruan walked quietly at the center, their hands brushing against leaves and bark.
Their eyes glowed soft green.
They were listening.
Communicating.
Moments later, Luo Yuhua spoke.
"This one says its fruit is edible."
Gu Ruan pointed to another.
"This root too. It can be used as medicine."
Gu Mian walked over and touched the plants.
They vanished instantly.
Transferred into her space.
Safe.
Preserved.
Alive.
Gu Bai chuckled. "You're robbing the forest."
Gu Mian smiled slightly.
"I'm preserving resources."
The trees rustled softly.
Not in anger.
But acceptance.
Because they understood.
This human—
Was different.
Days turned into weeks.
Weeks into months.
They fought constantly.
Mutated beasts.
Hostile plants.
Zombified creatures.
Each battle strengthened them.
Refined them.
Perfected them.
Until—
They found it.
A corrupted zone.
The air there was foul.
Black.
Rotten.
The trees were twisted, their bark blackened, their leaves gray and dead.
Zombie forest.
Gu Ruisheng's voice was cold.
"Purge it."
For five days—
They burned.
Cut.
Destroyed.
Uprooted.
Every infected tree.
Every corrupted root.
They left nothing behind.
When it was over—
The land was dead.
Silent.
Empty.
Gu Mian stepped forward.
She raised her hand.
And released her spring water.
Clear, glowing liquid poured onto the soil like rain.
The earth absorbed it eagerly.
The corruption faded.
The poison vanished.
Life returned.
Gu Ruan and the other plant users stepped forward.
They spoke softly.
Inviting new life.
The surrounding forest responded.
Roots spread.
Green returned.
The land healed.
Qi Chu stared in awe.
"We're… restoring the forest…"
Gu Yunchen nodded quietly.
"Yes."
Not conquerors.
Not destroyers.
But rulers.
Two months later—
They reached the center.
And stopped.
Because before them—
Was a bamboo forest.
Endless bamboo stalks stretched toward the sky.
Tall.
Elegant.
Ancient.
This was the heart of the forest.
The purest place.
The most dangerous place.
And the home of its true rulers.
Pandas.
Everyone moved cautiously.
Even Gu Ruisheng remained alert.
Because pandas—
Were no longer harmless creatures.
Not here.
Not anymore.
THUD.
The ground shook.
Everyone froze.
THUD.
THUD.
Each step was heavy.
Massive.
Ancient.
Gu Ruisheng reacted instantly.
"Space cloak."
The entire team vanished.
Hidden completely.
Invisible.
Silent.
Moments later—
It appeared.
A red panda.
Six meters tall.
Its fur was deep crimson, glowing faintly under the filtered sunlight.
Its body was powerful, yet elegant.
Behind it—
Three smaller ones.
Two meters tall each.
Its children.
They walked peacefully.
Calmly.
Alive.
Not zombified.
Not corrupted.
Just evolved.
Beautiful.
Majestic.
And unbearably cute.
Qi Chu covered his mouth.
"So… big…"
Gu Mian's eyes softened.
"It's not hostile."
The massive panda paused.
Its ears twitched.
It sniffed the air.
Everyone held their breath.
But the space cloak was perfect.
It sensed nothing.
After a moment—
It continued walking.
Its children followed closely behind.
Playful.
Safe.
Alive.
The ground trembled until they disappeared into the bamboo forest.
Only then did everyone breathe again.
Gu Bai whispered,
"This forest… belongs to them."
Gu Ruisheng nodded.
"And we are guests."
For the first time since entering the apocalypse—
They had reached a place untouched by death.
Untouched by corruption.
Untouched by human greed.
A true sanctuary.
And soon—
Their home.