Thin threads of emerald light coursed through Xiao Chen's body with each breath, flowing in a joyful rhythm that brimmed with boundless vitality. It was as if an endless supply of life force had been poured into his flesh, organs, and bones.
As time passed, the vegetative essence from all directions began to converge slowly toward him. The green life energy around Xiao Chen had become so dense it was visible to the naked eye—a swirling mist of verdant luminescence that wrapped around him.
Xiao Chen sat within a faint halo of green light. He could feel his viscera, his blood vessels, filling with vibrant energy. This lush woodland was rich in the essence of grass and trees, seemingly inexhaustible.
He could distinctly sense the tiny emerald rays dancing joyfully within him, flowing like a stream that washed through him again and again. Not only did his body feel alive, but his spirit too experienced a sense of clarity and refreshment.
Xiao Chen had lost all track of time. He had become wholly immersed in nature, his body and mind seemingly merging into one with this flourishing forest. He felt he could almost hear the whispers of the trees, flowers, and grasses, could almost sense the pulse of the woods—he had become one of them.
A gentle breeze stirred, carrying the fragrance of various plants and blossoms through the grove. Xiao Chen entered a state of complete absorption, where self and world became indistinguishable.
The little unicorn sacred beast crept over quietly. It was especially drawn to this dense, numinous atmosphere. Its translucent jade horn shimmered as it shared in the gathered vegetative essence.
Xiao Chen had grown accustomed to the divine bearing of this young celestial horse. He did not wish to disturb it and was happy to let it join him. Especially after the little sacred beast had saved his life, the thought of taming it had faded from his heart. To coexist like this was already a good thing.
The sun slowly drifted westward until the sky was strewn with the colors of dusk. Xiao Chen withdrew from his profound state. The wood essence of the forest had done his body immense good. The green life energy had nourished his injuries like sacred dew, allowing him to recover with unusual smoothness.
The young celestial horse did not leave immediately. Instead, it leaped onto an ancient tree and watched Xiao Chen with its large, black, sparkling eyes.
Xiao Chen smiled faintly, sensing that the little sacred beast's wariness toward him had lessened. He washed some fruit he had gathered in a clear spring and tossed it up toward the tree.
The young celestial horse was poised to flee, but when it saw a slice of pineapple flying up, it checked itself and leaped to catch it in its mouth. However, like a picky child, it took only a tiny bite before flinging the rest away.
Xiao Chen continued tossing fruit, but each time the little unicorn only tasted a morsel, showing little interest in the fresh produce. Finally, when it saw Xiao Chen preparing to roast meat, it dashed away in a flash.
Firelight flickered among the trees. The wild game had been roasted until it was golden and glistening, its tempting aroma winding through the forest.
Suddenly, a chorus of calls arose, growing louder as they approached from afar. In the dense thickets below the small peak, a dozen agile beastly figures were leaping through the treetops as if riding clouds and mist. With the lightest touch on a branch, they would spring eight or nine meters—swift and nimble to an extreme degree.
In just a few moments, the dozen figures charged into this area. Their destination was not the small peak but a chaotic stone forest two or three hundred meters away. When they halted among the rocks, their robust and powerful silhouettes looked especially imposing in the sunset.
They were a dozen giant apes, each about three meters tall, covered from head to toe in black fur. Their appearance was terrifying. Clearly, these were unnatural breeds—ordinary apes were never so tall and strong. Without doubt, the stone forest was their dwelling place.
Among them was one especially unusual specimen. It stood a full four meters tall, far more powerful than the others. Its fur was blood-red, shimmering with an eerie light in the sunset, and it actually had four arms, radiating immense strength. Its eyes emitted beams like cold lightning; even from two or three hundred meters away, Xiao Chen could feel the chill of those cold rays.
A sharp ape cry rang out from the stone forest. The group of apes had spotted Xiao Chen on the peak. The blood-red four-armed ape led the charge, with a dozen agile figures following close behind.
Xiao Chen frowned. He was still severely injured, and the giant apes rushing toward him were clearly extraordinary. Confronting them would not be wise.
Fleeing was out of the question—he could never outrun these apes that leaped eight or nine meters in a single bound. He remained calm and continued to roast a few kilograms of venison as the aroma began to spread.
The dozen three-to-four-meter-tall giant apes quickly appeared on the small peak, standing like a row of towering stone tablets that blocked the last rays of the setting sun, casting long, fearsome shadows.
The blood-furred ape was evidently their leader. It stood at the front, uttering low growls, its eyes filled with a terrifying cold light as if it might pounce at any moment and tear Xiao Chen apart. But it did not act immediately. Instead, its nose twitched repeatedly, drawn by the scent of the roasting meat.
Then, in a flash, it stepped forward to Xiao Chen, snatched the few kilograms of roasted meat with lightning speed, cautiously took a small bite, tore off a chunk, and wolfed it down. It tossed the rest to the apes behind.
Low growls echoed through the woods as the apes fought over the golden-brown meat. Each only got a mouthful, but within moments, not a scrap remained.
Xiao Chen watched calmly. Unhurriedly, he sliced off a large piece of raw meat and began roasting again. When the savory scent once more drifted out, all the apes growled low, their eyes fixed intently on that golden, glistening venison.
This time, Xiao Chen cut two jin of cooked meat for himself with a bamboo knife, then tossed the remaining ten-odd jin to the four-armed giant ape. Another round of deep roars ensued as the apes gorged themselves.
When they finished, their hostility toward Xiao Chen seemed to have vanished. Their eyes now held only hopeful glimmers, as if they wanted more.
Xiao Chen smiled faintly and calmly roasted all the remaining raw meat, giving it all to the apes.
That the crisis had been resolved so easily seemed almost unbelievable.
The giant apes departed reluctantly, bearing no trace of enmity toward Xiao Chen. Before leaving, the four-armed blood-red ape stood before him, thumping its chest vigorously, as if trying to communicate something.
That night, Xiao Chen cultivated under the moon. Silver moonlight poured down, and he sank into a peaceful, profound state. Across the way, in the stone forest, the dozen giant apes also stood facing the moon.
Xiao Chen sensed something and opened his eyes to look across. He could not suppress a flicker of astonishment—the dozen giant apes were actually inhaling and exhaling moonlight!
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