Ch 26: New Home

Feng Chen stood at the entrance of his cave, glaring at the system window that had appeared before him. His face contorted in disgust as he muttered sarcastically,

"Why do you even say things like that, System? Just so you know, I have zero interest in taking you as my wife."

In that instant, Feng Chen felt an ominous pressure looming behind him, like the cold breath of death itself. His mind's eye was suddenly filled with the image of an enormous glowing fist... an ethereal, divine construct that raced toward him with unimaginable speed.

He barely had time to blink before the fist collided with him, sending his soul flying out of his body. His consciousness soared uncontrollably through the nine heavens, ricocheting off celestial palaces before plummeting down into the 18 hells, where demonic beings cackled and tugged at his disembodied spirit like it was their favorite new toy.

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System Notification:-

Enjoy your spiritual vacation! Next time, I'll send you on a permanent one.

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Feng Chen's soul snapped back into his body with a bone-rattling jolt, his limbs flailing slightly as he regained control. Groaning, he lay sprawled on the cave floor, blinking groggily at the ceiling.

"I swear," he muttered weakly,

"you're going to be the death of me one day."

Grumbling, Feng Chen dragged himself up to a sitting position, rubbing the back of his head as if trying to massage away the lingering effects of the system's not-so-imaginary punch.

"I'm starting to think I need to find a way to deactivate these soul-rattling mental attacks," he muttered.

Shaking his head, he turned his gaze toward the egg nestled comfortably in its makeshift nest of leaves. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he knelt down to pick it up.

"Alright, little one," he said softly, cradling the egg in his hands,

"it's time for us to find a bigger home. We're moving on to bigger and better things."

With a quick movement, Feng Chen slipped the egg, along with its nest, into his inventory. He stood up and glanced around the cave one last time. Although this cramped shelter had served him well for the past few years, it was no longer suitable for someone with his growing ambitions. He let out a small sigh.

"This place was cozy, but it's time to upgrade."

His grin widened as he summoned Demon's Vile, the blade's dark energy crackling to life as it appeared in his hand. Infusing the sword with Yin Qi, Feng Chen raised it high and, with one swift motion, slashed through the cave's stone walls.

The once sturdy structure crumbled in an instant, the walls collapsing into neatly sliced rubble, leaving behind a leveled patch of ground where the cave once stood.

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System Notification:-

Well done. You've successfully destroyed your home. Such a commendable achievement.

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"Ha! Very funny, System," Feng Chen chuckled as he sheathed his blade.

"It's called upgrading. You should try it sometime."

The sun was already dipping low in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor. Feng Chen set off with a spring in his step, determined to find a larger, more suitable cave.

The forest around him was dense and sprawling, its towering trees reaching skyward like ancient sentinels. Their thick branches intertwined to form a natural canopy overhead, casting the forest floor in dappled shadows.

As Feng Chen made his way through the outskirts of the forest, he remained vigilant. He knew that while he was avoiding the more dangerous interior of the woods, the outskirts weren't entirely safe either. The air around him was thick with tension, and every rustle of leaves or distant roar made him reach instinctively for his sword.

After traveling for a couple of hours, he encountered his first challenge... a massive, bear-like beast with glowing red eyes and fur matted with dried blood. The creature growled deeply, baring its sharp teeth as it lumbered toward him.

"Seriously?" Feng Chen groaned, rolling his eyes as he drew Demon's Vile.

"Another one of these oversized teddy bears?"

The bear beast roared and charged forward, its claws outstretched to swipe at Feng Chen. But before it could even close the distance, Feng Chen dashed forward with lightning speed, his blade slicing through the air in a deadly arc.

The beast let out a final pitiful roar before collapsing to the ground, its massive body hitting the dirt with a dull thud.

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System Notification:-

Congratulations! You have obtained one Qi Condensation Beast Core.

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Feng Chen wiped the blood off his blade with a flick of his wrist before storing the beast core in his inventory.

"I'm starting to feel like I'm running a collection service for beast cores," he muttered.

"But hey, at least these will be useful for hatching that egg."

Hours passed as Feng Chen continued his journey, taking down any beasts that dared to cross his path. Wolves, serpents, and even more bear-like creatures... all of them fell quickly to his Heavenly Thunder Palm or the sharp edge of Demon's Vile. Despite their ferocity, the beasts were no match for his ever-growing strength, and Feng Chen made quick work of them.

The sun was nearly setting now, casting the forest in a warm golden light that made the trees glow like embers. Feng Chen felt the weight of the day's battles beginning to settle in his bones. His legs were sore, his arms heavy, and even his excitement for the journey had started to wane.

"I swear, if I don't find a place to rest soon," he grumbled,

"I might just collapse right here on the ground."

Just as Feng Chen was about to give in to his exhaustion, something unusual caught his eye. A few feet ahead, the air seemed to shimmer and ripple, almost like heat waves rising from the ground. He frowned, his curiosity piqued.

"What in the…" Feng Chen muttered, cautiously stepping closer to the strange distortion. As he reached out to touch the shimmering air, a system window appeared before him.

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System Notification:-

Congratulations! You have successfully discovered an ancient array: Veil of the Forgotten Realm...

An array designed to disguise and conceal areas from detection. This array is a relic from the War of Immortals.

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