3. The Beastless Forest

Uran encountered a crossroad.

But it wasn't the usual crossroad; this was a primeval forest untouched by humans, where no human-made paths existed. Before him, only two forest trails beckoned, their danger level unknown.

"Hmm… left or right?" Uran frowned. Although there were no soul beasts around at the moment, time was of the essence. It was currently noon, which was a relatively safe period.

Once night fell, carnivorous soul beasts of every kind would embark on their hunt. Fending them off in his current situation might prove to be difficult. Yet, going to the wrong direction and inadvertently stumbling into a soul beast's lair was an equally dangerous move.

"Left."

After a brief moment of hesitation, Uran chose to change his route slightly and proceed to the left.

Navigating through the muck-laden ground, surrounded by vine roots, fallen leaves, and slippery stones, Uran's progress was lethargic. The sun's intensity grew with each passing moment. Were it not for the densely interwoven foliage, his fair skin might have already begun to burn.

The unpleasant odor in the air had become somewhat bearable. Uran never would have imagined that the Star Dou Great Forest would include wetlands and swamps in its topography. He had presumed the forest to be nothing but trees and woodlands. Perhaps this was a result of his quest for clean water sources.

And even if such sources existed, they would likely be frequented by numerous spirit beasts. By tonight at the latest, surviving in the wilderness would be an entirely different ordeal.

Water, food, shelter—Uran had yet to secure any of these survival necessities. Although he wasn't overly concerned about food and water, as his Space Soul Guidance Device contained enough sustenance for at least ten days, a suitable place to rest still eluded him.

His foremost fear was succumbing to slumber, only to awaken within the belly of some spirit beast the next day.

"Isn't the Star Dou Forest known as a paradise for soul beasts? How come I haven't spotted any for over two hours?"

After a while, Uran found a relatively clean stone with a slightly level surface. Climbing atop it, he sat down, his persistent suspicion over the sudden disappearance of soul beasts nagging at him.

This abnormality was unquestionably strange. Compared to the forest, soul beasts' density should be far greater. Even accounting for his slow pace, he couldn't believe a soul-beast-less forest was the norm. Something was amiss.

"Or could this be the territory of high-level soul beasts?" When he thought about it, Uran could only draw this conclusion. It was the only explanation that fit his current observations.

But even this possibility wasn't too likely. High-level soul beasts required substantial sustenance. His inability to encounter even a low-level herbivorous soul beast hinted at something odd. Was it conceivable that these high-level soul beasts were sustaining themselves on thin air?

"What's gone wrong? Forget it, don't think too much about it. Eat something quickly and press on." Over two hours had elapsed in this locale, and Uran hadn't eaten a thing. In his current state, he should consume food and water whenever he could no longer hold out. Yet, it seemed he had overestimated his endurance.

For sustenance, he had a simple flatbread comprised of dried meat, nuts, flour, eggs, and seasonal vegetables. It was sizeable, measuring around 60 cm in diameter, thin on both sides but 2 to 3 cm thick in the middle. His foresight had led him to prepare it in his home kitchen.

The taste was delightful, albeit requiring careful chewing. His young age made swift consumption a risky proposition—hasty eating could lead to accidental tooth loss. His appetite was modest. Conservatively speaking, this flatbread alone would likely last him two to three days.

After consuming his meal for a quarter of an hour, Uran released a satisfied belch. Next, he took a few sips of water. With his rest interval over, he was ready to continue his journey. At present, this wasn't the most suitable place for night rest. The ground was all sludgy water. Sleeping in a tree seemed the only viable option.

Resuming his preparations, Uran stood up, descended from the boulder, and resumed his course. He cleared away obstructive vegetation, wielded a sharp machete to part thorns, brushed away spider webs that had ensnared him, and scraped off the slippery moss. In this uninhabited jungle, Uran was attempting to carve out a path for himself.

The dense jungle canopy before him suddenly grew less dense, gradually revealing the azure sky. The sound of a flowing river grew more distinct, and soon after, a small river came into view.

Both banks of the river were cloaked in lush, unfamiliar plants. The water wasn't bad, but its quality was marred by turbidity. Dark green floating algae drifted atop the water's surface, moving along with its current. The river's depth was uncertain, concealed by the floating vegetation. The river was relatively wide, and Uran lacked the necessary tools to cross it easily.

A glance from the boy revealed that the river was impassable. Trees didn't grow on either side, rendering him unable to construct a makeshift bridge from decaying trunks. And the danger of the river was unknown.

Uran dared not tread into the river casually. The abundant floating algae was a telltale sign of water eutrophication—a situation where algal blooms deprive water of oxygen. Any fish within this river likely couldn't survive.

Without artificial purification means, Uran couldn't safely drink this water. The water's impurities and murkiness made it impossible. He lacked the means to filter the water, and the filtering methods he was familiar with weren't foolproof. This river was his only water source so far. He might have to swallow his apprehension and drink it, regardless of its quality.

"What to do…"

Uran pondered the turbid river before him. He surveyed his surroundings and found nothing suitable for use. The land across the river was too thickly overgrown. Should he risk crossing, or should he turn back?

After deliberation, Uran decided he couldn't turn back. That would only squander the time he had already invested in search of a path. He would continue along the river's edge. This area housed soul beasts in the ten to one hundred-year range.

His physical strength and spirit abilities should suffice to confront most dangers. Additionally, being close to the water source meant encountering soul beasts and utilizing their lairs to spare him the effort of crafting a shelter and establishing a secure zone.

With his path confirmed, Uran moved forward. He didn't walk directly beside the river but maintained a small distance to ensure a measure of safety.

The trees around him seemed to lean towards the water. Their trunks and roots were coated in slippery moss, presenting a hazard for even a nimble youth. Climbing their slick, tall, and swollen roots risked a fall, especially with his burdened package.

Uran treaded cautiously alongside the river.

The river flowed gently, its surface adorned with duckweed and floating algae. The banks on either side were lush with dense vegetation.

About two hours of walking, the sky was getting darker.

The surface of the river gradually widened, the water quality gradually became clear, and the ground began to have a bit of hardness. Not only was the river widened, but the trees on both sides became sparse. The dense vegetation was replaced by weeds and bushes, the tall woods receded, direct sunlight came in, and the hot and humid air was blown away by cool gusts.

Uran glanced back at the path he'd cleared, a snarl of tangled tree roots and vines. He then gazed ahead at the inviting forest lake, taking a deep breath of relief. His intuition had proven correct. If a water source was alive, it must have a source of its own. By locating the source, he'd find clean water. He had grown weary of traversing mud at every step.

"At last, I'm out of there. It's strange, though—why are there no flying insects in this wetland rainforest? And why is this place, this water source, devoid of soul beasts?"

Around the forest lake, distinct tracks of beasts were evident. Yet, what unnerved Uran was the conspicuous absence of life. It didn't resemble a soul beast haven; rather, it felt like a lifeless abyss.

"Where am I?"