The first light of dawn had barely appeared when the village began to stir.
Morning mist floated above the farmland, and the distant mountains were painted in pale gold by the rising sun.
Today was the day of departure.
Chen Yu stood near the village entrance with a travel pack slung across his back.
He looked both excited and nervous.
For someone who had spent his entire life within this small village, even the forest road ahead felt like stepping into a completely new world.
Zhao Ren was already waiting beside two horses.
He checked the straps and supplies calmly.
Lin Tian walked toward them slowly.
His movements were relaxed, as if he were simply taking a morning stroll.
Chen Yu waved immediately.
"Senior! Over here!"
Lin Tian nodded slightly.
"Are you ready?" Zhao Ren asked.
Chen Yu grinned.
"I've been ready since yesterday."
Zhao Ren handed him the reins of one horse.
"Then try not to fall off."
Chen Yu laughed awkwardly.
"I've ridden before… just not very far."
The villagers had gathered again to say farewell.
Old Master Zhang stood near the front of the group.
"Travel safely," he said warmly.
Chen Yu bowed slightly.
"I will!"
Then he glanced at Lin Tian.
"Senior, when I come back someday, I'll be a real cultivator."
Old Master Zhang chuckled.
"Just don't forget where you came from."
Chen Yu nodded seriously.
"I won't."
After a few final goodbyes, the three travelers began moving down the dirt road.
The village slowly disappeared behind them.
For a while, none of them spoke.
Chen Yu kept looking around with curiosity.
The fields stretched far into the distance.
Farmhouses became smaller and smaller.
Eventually, even the village rooftops vanished from sight.
Chen Yu let out a long breath.
"So this is it."
Zhao Ren glanced at him.
"Your first journey?"
Chen Yu nodded.
"Yeah."
Zhao Ren smiled slightly.
"You'll remember it forever."
They rode for several hours before reaching the forest road.
Tall trees formed a dense canopy overhead.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves in narrow beams.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
The peaceful farmland had been replaced by something quieter.
Something wilder.
Lin Tian observed the surroundings carefully.
This forest contained slightly stronger concentrations of spiritual energy.
That meant plants, animals, and insects here had greater potential to evolve.
"This environment is more suitable for cultivation," Lin Tian thought.
Zhao Ren suddenly slowed his horse.
"Stay alert," he said.
Chen Yu stiffened.
"Why?"
"Because this is where travelers usually encounter trouble."
Chen Yu swallowed.
"Bandits?"
"Sometimes."
Zhao Ren pointed toward a broken wagon near the roadside.
Other travelers had clearly passed through here before.
Not all of them had been lucky.
Chen Yu tightened his grip on the reins.
Lin Tian remained calm.
But his senses were already extending outward.
Even without actively trying, his perception could detect energy fluctuations across a large area.
At the moment—
He sensed several animals nearby.
Normal forest creatures.
Nothing dangerous.
Yet.
The road continued deeper into the forest.
After another hour, Zhao Ren stopped again.
This time his expression was more serious.
"Did you hear that?"
Chen Yu listened carefully.
At first, he heard nothing.
Then—
Rustling in the bushes.
Something large was moving through the undergrowth.
Chen Yu whispered nervously.
"Is that…?"
Zhao Ren slowly placed a hand on his sword.
"Yes."
The bushes suddenly shook.
A massive wolf-like creature stepped onto the road.
It was larger than a normal wolf.
Its fur was dark gray.
And faint traces of spiritual energy flowed around its body.
Chen Yu's eyes widened.
"A spirit beast!"
The creature growled softly.
Its yellow eyes locked onto the travelers.
Zhao Ren dismounted immediately.
"Stay behind me," he said.
Chen Yu quickly slid off his horse as well.
His heart pounded.
This was the first time he had ever seen a spirit beast.
Zhao Ren drew his sword.
The blade glowed faintly as spiritual energy flowed through it.
"This is a low-level spirit wolf," he explained quickly.
"Dangerous, but manageable."
Chen Yu gripped his wooden staff.
"Should I help?"
Zhao Ren glanced at him.
"Only if you want to die."
Chen Yu stepped back immediately.
Lin Tian still stood beside the road calmly.
He observed the creature with interest.
Compared to the spirit wolf—
The energy structure inside Zhao Ren's body was actually more chaotic.
But the wolf relied purely on instinct.
Its energy flow was simple.
Efficient.
Natural.
"Interesting," Lin Tian thought.
Many natural organisms used energy far more efficiently than trained cultivators.
The spirit wolf suddenly lunged.
Its claws slashed through the air.
Zhao Ren moved quickly.
His sword flashed.
CLANG.
The blade collided with the wolf's claws.
Chen Yu stared in amazement.
The speed of the exchange was far beyond what he could follow clearly.
Zhao Ren stepped sideways and struck again.
This time his sword cut across the wolf's shoulder.
The beast howled and jumped backward.
But it did not flee.
Instead, its eyes became even more aggressive.
"Spirit beasts rarely retreat once they start fighting," Zhao Ren said.
Chen Yu gulped.
"That's not comforting."
The wolf attacked again.
Faster this time.
Zhao Ren blocked the strike but was forced back several steps.
The beast's strength was impressive.
Chen Yu looked toward Lin Tian.
"Senior… should we help?"
Lin Tian watched the battle carefully.
Then he said calmly,
"Yes."
Chen Yu blinked.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Chen Yu suddenly panicked.
"But I'm barely a cultivator!"
Lin Tian pointed toward the wolf.
"This is your first lesson outside the village."
Chen Yu's heart raced.
"You want me to fight that thing?!"
Lin Tian nodded.
"You will not grow stronger without real experience."
Chen Yu looked terrified.
But Zhao Ren shouted from the battlefield.
"Kid! If you're going to help, do it now!"
The wolf lunged again.
Chen Yu clenched his teeth.
Then he raised his wooden staff.
"Alright… here goes nothing!"
He rushed forward.
The spirit wolf turned toward him instantly.
Its yellow eyes flashed with hunger.
Chen Yu's legs almost froze.
But he remembered Lin Tian's training.
Breathing.
Balance.
Structure.
He stepped forward—
And swung the staff with all his strength.
The fight for his first real battle had begun.