Chapter 18: Toxic Forest

[Unknown Place]

In a forest where the trees were up to 100 meters high, anyone could feel small. However, size should be the least of their worries in this place. The forest itself is a threat because of the toxic gas that circulates throughout the forest.

This gas is a threat, but someone with high cultivation can resist it. The real problem is the demon beasts and plants. This toxic gas throughout the forest has caused trees and demon beasts to adapt to their unique environment.

Thus, only the strong who have adapted to this environment remain alive. So any creature has its forms of defense.

Sometimes even the smallest and cutest is the most dangerous.

Adaptation is the only way to survive in this place, and the same applies to humans.

In the age of darkness, it scattered many groups of humans among various places in small groups. The same was for this place.

As soon as the humans arrived at this place, the forest 'trapped' them. As they were running away from the demon beast outside, going back was not an option. The demon beasts outside couldn't enter because of the environment.

And this environment was also dangerous for humans, who were constantly dying and must find some way to survive.

In this era, those that knew alchemy gained prominence and became more necessary by making antidotes for poisons of the beasts and plants.

Therefore, this changed the social hierarchy of humans. Before, strength was the most important, but over time, knowledge shifts into the most powerful position.

In the past, four alchemists were exceptionally talented, and both had different thoughts about their care for the people, which turned into a conflict. Thus, forcing the dissolution of the population into small villages.

Currently, there are four villages in the forest: Gu village, Zhen village, Daolao Gui Village, and Fuchong village.

At that moment, a child around nine years old walks through the forest. He looks as if taking a walk in the park. It was a routine for him, and any danger that was there, he already knew how to avoid.

He walks around, looking from side to side. So he spots a plant far from where he was. With a confident look, he says, "Father... I'll save her!"

It would not be easy. After all, beasts also usually eat plants with high medicinal properties. And several beasts regularly circle this one.

Realizing that the plant was at the right age for his potion, he does not hesitate and begins his plans.

He had already prepared himself for this. If he used two potions, he might get there unnoticed.

One is a potion that conceals his scent, and the other is the potion that made him look almost invisible for a short time. Both are relatively limited, as someone with high cultivation could notice, but enough for these demon beasts.

On his way, he should watch out for trees, beware of the mushrooms, and finally try to avoid as much as possible the demon beast inside the water.

From this point, he needs to be stealthy. Walking in the direction of the plant, he glances from one side to another.

To his surprise, the demonic beasts that should be in the trees hiding were not there, so also were the demon beasts that should be behind the giant mushrooms.

At this moment, he was frightened.

Maybe someone can think, isn't that better? After all, there are fewer demon beasts, but it's not like that.

In the Toxic Forest, poison is the biggest weapon. Because this usually limits fights to surprise attacks, so if they are not there, it is because they have already attacked.

In addition, if there is any beast strong enough to kill all the others, it might even be stronger than the beast inside the lake. It was possible that the demon beast would detect his camouflage.

He knew that shouldn't continue, but he insisted because it was the chance he had to save his sister. For her sake, he continued.

Right now, he was five steps away from the plant.

Four steps. The kid's heart at the moment was almost coming out of his mouth.

"Thump thump!"

Three steps.

"Thump thump thump!"

Two steps.

"Thump thump thump thump!"

One step.

Once again, he looks around and realizes everything is still calm. He almost sighs in relief but resists the temptation to avoid making noise, as his heart does enough.

He was ready to take the last step.

"Splash"

Then something comes out of the lake.

It wasn't a demon beast; it was actually a human.

The human was a teenager with his body covered in blood. He seems around fourteen years old, and he has a muscular body.

Then the teenager looks at the child.

It seemed that the teenager had found the child that was assumed to be invisible.

The child went in a little afraid, but at the moment he realized something, the person looked weak. His breathing was shaky, and he seemed awake on instinct.

Then he remembered what his father had told him in the past, "Son... keep this in mind... if you fail to help someone, don't blame yourself... but always do your best to live without regret."

The person seemed to have been poisoned.

He couldn't let the other person die there. If he did make this, he would regret it.

So he removed the plant and went towards the lake.

Seeing the teenager's condition up close, he couldn't understand.

"How is he still alive?" He almost shouted this in surprise.

Then he tried to pull him out of the lake, but the teenager threw him against a tree.

"Argh!" shouted the kid with pain in his back.

The child was upset, but he knew that the other must be feeling more pain than he was now.

"If you can hear me... I may look small, but I will become the best alchemist in the world!" said the child. His voice was full of sincerity and a little childish. Then he continued, "So please trust on me... I promise to help you!"

This time, the teenager allowed himself to be touched. But he lost his awareness instantly after.

"Looks like I'll have to carry him home on my back..."

After this, the child rushed to his house to save the person he had found.