16 Chapter 16: Wherever the Waves are, They are not as Good as Riding them Here

[[ T/L Notes: I'd like to address a few aspects of the novel. This is not a face slapping novel where MC slaps right and left.

Furthermore, the role of the system in this narrative is quite limited. As you progress through the story, you'll notice that the sentinel entity of the [Happy Orphan System] abandons MC early on.

I feel compelled to provide this explanation because I recently received a two-star review stating these reasons. Thus, I want to ensure clarity on this.]]

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After using the skill "Forward Steps Slash" once, Zeng Yi's mood was exceptionally comfortable and excited. This skill was really awesome, not only cool and stylish, but also very practical.

Feeling that a flame named happiness was already ignited in his heart, he couldn't contain himself, which made it difficult for him to control his emotions.

After enduring for a long time, Zeng Yi couldn't take it anymore.

Since he couldn't restrain himself, he decided not to resist and let go of his mood, releasing his emotions.

Anyway... Happiness is not a crime!

With this thought, Zeng Yi felt relieved. Yes! I am not wrong, happiness is innocent!

Then, he started using the skill "Forward Steps Slash" incessantly on the nearby flowers, plants, and trees.

Forward Steps Slash! Forward Steps Slash! Forward Steps Slash!

I'll do it, I'll keep doing it, I want to keep doing it...

In this place, only a blurry figure constantly flickered, appearing on the side of the weeds, next to the flowers, on the trees, moving so fast that the figure couldn't even be seen clearly.

Zeng Yi's face was brimming with happiness and joy. He smiled happily, like a child who just ate a lot of candy, his mouth sweetened like honey. Oh~, no, Zeng Yi is only eight years old, after all, he is still a child!

After joyfully playing for a while, Zeng Yi stopped, panting heavily, as it seemed that his spiritual power and physical energy were exhausted, leaving him gasping for breath and covered in sweat.

However, Zeng Yi didn't mind. After all, he gained happiness, and the effort was worth it. Besides, do you think Zeng Yi was just fooling around? He was just practicing a new skill. Now, he was already familiar with these operations and could skillfully use the Forward Steps Slash skill.

"Alright! I've already obtained the soul ring, so I can leave the Sunset Forest now."

Taking a short rest, Zeng Yi muttered to himself, intending to leave, as he had already achieved his purpose for coming here. Continuing to stay here wouldn't make much sense, and it was also dangerous.

He took out a rolled piece of parchment, spread it out, and looked at the abstract map drawn on it. Zeng Yi pondered for a while, feeling somewhat heavy-hearted.

Who can understand this!

The style of the sketch was just a irregular circle drawn on paper with the words "Sunset Forest" written on it. What's the use of this? I'm already inside this forest! I need to know how to get out!

In such a vast forest, not knowing the way, how can I leave? If I wander aimlessly and enter the inner part of the Sunset Forest, there will be countless thousand-year soul beasts and ten-thousand-year soul beasts like dogs! Moreover, there are even the legendary hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, which even Title Douluos must avoid their edges!

Zeng Yi scolded himself for being stupid. If he had known, he would have sold even his underwear to buy a detailed map. How could he, a person with no sense of direction, be so confident and come here? Now, he had to pay the price for his actions.

Sitting on a rock, he looked dejected, raised his head, and with blurred eyes, gazed at the rising sun in the distance.

The newborn sun, wait a minute...

Zeng Yi raised an eyebrow, realizing something.

The sun, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, which means this direction is east. I can find my way out of the forest by using directions. Haha, I'm truly a genius!

Thinking of this, Zeng Yi's spirits rose again, and a smile appeared on his face.

I entered the Sunset Forest from which direction? West, south, or north?

Zeng Yi narrowed his eyes, furrowing his brows as he began recollecting how he entered the Sunset Forest.

It was from the south!

Zeng Yi suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes.

He remembered that he came from the south and entered the Sunset Forest.

"Oh~, it's north if it's up, south if it's down, left is west, right is east!" Zeng Yi muttered to himself, gesturing a few times, confirming the direction he should go.

"Since I entered from the south, then I should leave from the north. Alright, let's go!"

There was nothing else to prepare. Zeng Yi faced the north and began to walk out of the Sunset Forest.

...

...

Five days later...

"Oh my god! What's going on? I've been walking for so long, and I still haven't come out. What should I do?" Zeng Yi felt like he was about to collapse, with both hands on his head looking up to the sky, filled with maddening helplessness.

That's right! I've been walking toward the north all along, how come after five days, I haven't gotten out? It shouldn't be like this, right? Could it be that the sun here doesn't rise from the east?

Since obtaining the soul ring, Zeng Yi had been heading north without stopping except for resting, but he still hadn't walked out of the forest.

Taking out his water flask, he took a gulp to replenish his fluids.

Wait a minute, something's wrong, right? Is my sense of direction really that bad? According to reason, I should have left the periphery of the Sunset Forest after walking for five days. Could it be that I initially went the wrong way?

Thinking of this, Zeng Yi's expression stiffened.

No way! If that's the case, then I'm currently inside the Sunset Forest?

"No, no, no, how is this possible, hehe..."

Zeng Yi now felt a little flustered. If that was the case, he could be attacked by a thousand-year or ten-thousand-year soul beast at any moment?

I haven't encountered any dangerous soul beasts in these few days!

Then he remembered that he had been hiding with the help of his camouflage cloth whenever he heard any movement, sensing danger. Not encountering dangerous soul beasts was also normal.

"Maybe... I am really inside the Sunset Forest..." Thinking of this possibility, Zeng Yi's face turned unsightly, and he became serious.

Subsequently, Zeng Yi found the tallest tree nearby, skillfully climbed up, all the way to the top, and then observed his surroundings. Looking around, all he saw was a vast expanse of green, like an ocean, with no end in sight.

Seeing this scene, Zeng Yi's expression turned gloomy.

It seems that I am trapped here. Without knowing the way out, I cannot just wander around. I, a first-ringed little soul master, do not have the strength to dominate the Sunset Forest.

Coming down from the tree, Zeng Yi found a place to sit on the ground, crossed his legs, and began to ponder the problem.

Encountering dangerous soul beasts didn't make Zeng Yi too worried. After all, even if he couldn't defeat them, he could still run. With the Wind Domain, he could sense the flow of the wind, detecting danger. Since he had reached the second stage of the Windborne Blade Technique, the range of his perception had expanded from a radius of ten meters to fifty meters. Knowing the danger, he could react faster. Moreover, with the skill "Forward Steps Slash" and the camouflage cloth, Zeng Yi had the invincible ability to escape.

He could replenish food by hunting weak soul beasts, and he had enough water for half a month. During this time, he needed to find a water source.

Living in such an environment where every day is filled with fear and caution, being alert at all times against being attacked by soul beasts, Zeng Yi concluded that it was a slow process. However, he considered it as an experience. It's just that it started out with a nightmare level of difficulty. After all, going out was just to report safety to Mara, the village chief of Lala Village. After that, he would leave. Going anywhere is the same, so he might as well ride the waves in the Sunset Forest. By cultivating in such an environment, he would become stronger.

As long as he encounters people, he would leave with them. Zeng Yi didn't believe that among all the soul masters in the Douluo Continent, no one had ventured into the Sunset Forest to hunt soul rings.

He was confident that he could leave this place, it was just a matter of sooner or later.

With this thought, Zeng Yi's mood became joyful again.

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