The Astounding Discovery

As the lifeless form of Su Yen lay on the forest floor, an eerie stillness hung in the air.

The world around him seemed to hold its breath, caught in a moment of suspended animation.

But then, against all odds, a subtle movement broke through the silence—a twitch, almost imperceptible, like a fleeting tremor coursing through his lifeless body.

A shiver seemed to ripple through the very fabric of existence as Su Yen's fingers twitched ever so slightly.

A testament to the flicker of vitality that lingered within him.

The forest itself seemed to react, leaves rustling in hushed anticipation as if whispering secrets to the wind.

Then, as if guided by an otherworldly force, Su Yen's body shifted.

His fingers curled and uncurled, a ghostly dance of resurrection that defied the boundaries between life and death.

The deep cut on his neck, which had once spilled his lifeblood onto the ground, began to exhibit a strange phenomenon.

The edges of the wound seemed to shimmer with an ethereal light as if knitting themselves together with an ancient, mystical thread.

A soft, almost melodic hum resonated through the air, carrying with it a sense of profound transformation.

The wound's edges drew closer and closer, the severed skin and sinew reforming as if by the hand of a master sculptor.

With each passing moment, the gash on Su Yen's neck diminished, until only a faint scar remained—a testament to the remarkable healing that had taken place.

And then, with a movement as graceful as a phoenix rising from its ashes, Su Yen's eyes fluttered open.

Those once vacant orbs now radiated with a renewed vigor, a profound awareness that seemed to pierce through the veil of reality itself.

He slowly pushed himself up from the ground, his movements deliberate yet imbued with otherworldly grace.

Standing amidst the ancient trees, Su Yen found himself lost in a daze—a surreal interlude between the realms of life and death.

Huh!

Su Yen let out a strong exhale and recovered from the state of near-death, memories of the preceding events flashing through his mind.

[Ding!]

[Your understanding of Life and Death has deepened.]

Su Yen's recovery from the brink of death took only a couple of seconds, so the Shadowstripe Tiger had yet to return to its home.

Turning its massive body, the Shadowstripe Tiger saw the previously lifeless human now looking at it with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

Even though it was a beast, it possessed a trace of spirituality and could comprehend what had just transpired.

As a result, a look of shock was etched onto the beast's face.

Growl!

All the hair on the Shadowstripe Tiger stood on end, its gaze fixed on the human as if beholding a forbidden presence.

"You've had your time. Now, it's mine," Su Yen muttered and stretched his body, his bones cracking.

Growl!

Seeing its authority being challenged, the Shadowstripe Tiger launched a swift claw attack.

Whoosh!

This time around, Su Yen wasn't absentminded. He moved.

"Seven Starlight Blossom Slash," Su Yen's sword moved in an arc.

A cascade of starlight burst forth from his sword, carrying tremendous momentum.

The air twisted and vibrated as if the vacuum itself sought to tear apart.

This was the power of an Earth-grade technique.

Watching the incoming powerful starlight slash, a sense of dread washed over the Shadowstripe Tiger.

Although its power exceeded that of the Body Building realm.

It was in the early Qi Refinement stage 1, yet it proved insufficient to withstand the deadly sword technique.

The Shadowstripe Tiger twisted in an attempt to dodge the attack head-on.

However, it underestimated the sheer force of the starlight slash.

Before it could completely evade the strike, the slash connected.

Bang!

Growl!

The tiger cried out in pain, its yellow and black eyes blazing with fury.

A shallow cut appeared on its body, yet the tiger remained undeterred and fixed its gaze on Su Yen.

Sighed!

"I guess the Body Building realm was not meant to wield earth-grade skills," Su Yen shook his head, realizing he couldn't unleash even a fraction of the technique's power.

Nevertheless, he remained undaunted by this realization, knowing he had ample time to grow stronger.

Growl!

The Shadowstripe Tiger lunged at Su Yen once again, this time with greater speed and deadliness.

Swoosh!

Su Yen employed one of his unranked movement skills to evade the tiger's attack.

"Seven Starlight Blossom Slash."

But this time, he unleashed not just one but two consecutive attacks, layering their impact.

Whoosh!

The tiger managed to dodge the initial starlight attack, but it fell victim to the second, which struck its lower foreleg.

Growl!

It cried out in agony and collapsed to the ground, pain etched across its visage.

Though it attempted to rise and renew its assault, the momentary delay altered the course of the battle.

Bang! Bang!

Two starlight slashes struck the beast's thick hide, propelling it toward a distant ancient tree.

Growl!

Blood spurted from its mouth as two deep gashes marred its chest.

Realizing that the odds were now against it, the tiger tried to flee deeper into the forest. Yet, it underestimated Su Yen's resolve.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The forest erupted in a burst of color as three powerful strikes found their mark, striking the tiger's back.

Howl!

The Shadowstripe Tiger emitted one final, mournful cry before collapsing to the ground.

It cast a final, unwilling glance at Su Yen before its eyes closed, never to open again.

"Huh!" Su Yen released a deep exhale, a broad smile spreading across his face.

[Your experience in Seven Starlight Blossom Slash has increased.]

'Huh! So I can gain experience by using the skill continuously,' he thought, a knowing smile gracing his lips.

"Good. Good," he muttered, satisfaction evident in his voice.

Since he no longer needed to concern himself with safety, he launched an all-out offensive.

Nonetheless, the power of the Seven Starlight Blossom Slash proved insurmountable for the tiger, preventing it from closing the distance.

As for Su Yen, a tranquil expression adorned his face. He touched his neck and felt it restored to its usual state, devoid of any scars or traces of the prior injury.

'I truly cherish this ability...' he mused, gazing ahead.

Now, he focused on the aspect that had initially captivated his attention—a cluster of ruined buildings shrouded in vines, amidst the expanse of the gigantic forest.

But what truly capture his gaze was a glowing nameplate suspended by a sturdy vine.

"Celestial Astral Pavilion."