I made my way through the woods. After being here for a while, this place was very familiar to me. It wouldn’t be an understatement to call it my backyard.

I looked at the white tiger cub in my arms. He had fallen asleep at some point of time. What was I going to do with this little troublemaker? I sighed. I needed to teach him to be more cautious. He had become powerful but there would be many situations where an individual strength would not solve the problem. It was time for some education.

I thought back to the two encounters I had with other humans. It was weird, to say the least. I felt somehow disconnected from them. It was the same as I saw the beasts!

I had the feeling that I would have no problem killing them if I wanted. That thought frightened me. I was changing. No. I had changed. Something told me that I was not purely human now. It might be one of the side effects of the traits.

Another thought occurred to me. I recalled how I lived in my previous life. Alienated. Alone. Disconnected from the society. Maybe, the effects had carried over.

Or maybe, it was both. I wasn’t able to say for sure.

When I first woke up in the forest, I wanted to find other humans. The primary reason had been for the Cultivation Method. The secondary reason had been to find solidary among the fellow humans. I was no longer weak and sick, I would fit right into the society. That’s what I thought. But now, it all seemed troublesome.

I had seen the eyes of the young masters and young mistresses I ran into. They were like nothing I expected. They were arrogant but none of them were reckless. It was like they were looking at something bigger. Even as they were looking at me in fear, I noticed strange flickers in their eyes that were silent placing value tags on me.

I wanted nothing to do with those subtleties.

I would have to make some trips to the human cities. Spices. Salt. Oil. Cooking methods. Pots and pans. Ways to start fire. Clothes. And other conveniences. They were things I would only find if I stepped into human territories.

As for those Core Formation Stage Cultivators, apart from their comprehension, their stats were even weaker than some of the Foundational Stage beasts I ran across. Taking them out with [Kaleidoscope Eye] and [Qi Arrow] was as simple as taking a candy from a kid.

I opened my status window.

GENERAL

Name

Su Ren

Age

10 years old

Cultivation Method

Heart’s Yearning

Realm

Qi Gathering 6

(675/700 Essence)

Lifeforce

2990/2990 (Regeneration: 10% per second)

Qi

2990/2990 (Regeneration: 10% per second)

ATTRIBUTES

Strength

299

Physique

299

Movement

299

Control

299

Soul

299

Comprehension

299

Charm

46

Fate

33

INNATE TRAITS

Innards of a God

Kaleidoscope Eye

Photosynthesis

Eternal Stratum (Incomplete)

############

Bond:

Byakko (White Tiger)

QI SKILL LIST

Slot

Skill Name

Rating

Level

1.

Qi Arrow

Unranked

3/10

2.

Earth Steps

Epic

3/10

I frowned. Apart from charm and fate, which observed minor rises, other stat points were stationary. In spite of eating all sorts of high quality meat, gathering a huge amount of Essence through killing beasts and cultivating, there was no progress.

The presence of a berserk energy awoke me from my senses.

I activated [Kaleidoscope Eye: Mode Silver] and observed the surrounding around me. I found a cluster of flame in the shape of a butterfly about ten centimeters raging some few kilometers ahead. The first thought that appeared in my head was the Heavenly Flames from Battle Through The Heaven.

I wiped the drool that was threatening to spill out of my mouth.

What a great thing!

I recalled how envious I had felt towards that guy who could start a fire. I had even felt a sense of ingratiation towards that fellow. I was thinking of finding him after finding some great meat. Naturally, with some presents. But now it seemed like there was no need for it. I was going to get my own flame.

I laughed. I was going to devour that flame!

I impatiently ran there. It didn’t take me several minutes to reach that place. Those several minutes felt like an eternity. Relativity, I know. Thank you, Einstein!

The butterfly flame was raging in a berserk state. Everything within fifty-meter radius of it was charred black. As I neared it, a strong heat wave assaulted me. It was at least hundred degrees Celsius. If it weren’t for the strong resistance provided my strong physique stats, my flesh would be roasted without even being able to make it within hundred meters of the flame.

What a high temperature!

I activated [Kaleidoscope Eye: Mode Yellow] and froze the butterfly flame. I felt really thankful that I had this trait. It was one of the biggest fortunes I ran into. It was really versatile.

The temperature immediately turned cool. Much better.

I approached the still flame. Opening my mouth, I gobbled up the butterfly in one gulp.

A searing pain from my stomach made me collapse to the floor. A similar scene appeared in my head. It was the first time I ate the Clear Spirit Fruit. [Innards of a God] enabled me to eat anything but it did nothing about the pain. How could I forget it? Why didn’t I learn my lesson the first time around.

The berserk energy spread all over my body. The cells in my body were broken apart and new cells were generated. The pain finally subsided after about two hours. It was hell! I tell you. I never wanted to go through this experience ever again. But I had a premonition that it wouldn’t be the last time.

Ding!

You have consumed Heavenly Butterfly Flame.

Congratulations!

You have acquired the trait [Heavenly Butterfly Flame].

Ding!

Congratulations!

You have broken through the second shackles of a mortal.

[Eternal Stratum] will be upgraded.

Please wait…

Ding!

Upgrade Completed!

Your Lifeforce Regeneration and Qi Regeneration will be set to 20% per second

Not bad. I earned some great rewards. At the same time, I solved the problem that had been haunting me for a while.

I scanned my status.

GENERAL

Name

Su Ren

Age

10 years old

Cultivation Method

Heart’s Yearning

Realm

Qi Gathering 6

(687/700 Essence)

Lifeforce

4310/4310 (Regeneration: 20% per second)

Qi

4250/4250 (Regeneration: 20% per second)

ATTRIBUTES

Strength

403

Physique

431

Movement

401

Control

401

Soul

425

Comprehension

412

Charm

53

Fate

35

INNATE TRAITS

Innards of a God

Kaleidoscope Eye

Photosynthesis

Eternal Stratum (Incomplete)

############

Heavenly Butterfly Flame

Bond:

Byakko (White Tiger)

QI SKILL LIST

Slot

Skill Name

Rating

Level

1.

Qi Arrow

Unranked

3/10

2.

Earth Steps

Epic

3/10

I nodded in satisfaction. All the stat points I accumulated made my stats grow at a rapid pace. I would need a bit of time to get adjusted to my new stats. But it shouldn’t be a problem.

I checked the details of [Eternal Stratum (Incomplete)] and [Heavenly Butterfly Flame].

ETERNAL STRATUM (INCOMPLETE)

Adjusts your Lifeforce and Qi Regeneration to 20% per second.

(Note: The trait is incomplete.)

Still incomplete but double effective.

HEAVENLY BUTTERFLY FLAME

Summons Essence Flame.

(Note: The flame is sentient. You can transfer it.)

Finally I can say goodbye to raw food. Oh! I should treat Byakko to some roasted meat, too. He never had the opportunity of eating anything cooked. At the same time, I should teach him things about humans.

“Young mistress.”

Mu Lanran looked around but found no one. She wasn’t surprised. “Uncle Bai, tell me what you found about the boy.”

“That boy is a freak!” came the prompt reply. The owner of the voice didn’t make his presence out but remained hidden.

Mu Lanran was surprised. Uncle Bai was her grandfather’s right hand man. He never placed any young generation in his eyes. Although he doted on her, she knew he never took her seriously. At his stage, it was nothing surprising. The young generation may have potential. But in the end, that was it. What use those potential be if one were unable to face the tribulations in the Cultivation World? Uncle Bai was someone who had reached his strength overcoming many tribulations. To hear him label a boy who looked to be around ten or so years old as a ‘freak’... It was quite a shocking. She thought the boy was monstrous but that was judging from her level.

But when she heard the details, she could only open and close her mouth like a goldfish.

Devour a berserk Essence Flame? It was an impossible feat. Even if it were someone who had that legendary Cultivation Realm, it would be impossible to devour an Essence Flame. It was an action courting death. The best they could do was to force the Essence Flame to a bond. Yet the boy had done it. Just what kind of freak of nature was he?

“Thank you for your work, Uncle Bai,” Mu Lanran said, finally. She became even more resolute to draw the boy to Mu Clan. Her Mu Clan was in need of a sharp weapon like that. She would do it at all cost.

“Mistress,” one of the Core Formation servants interrupted her thoughts. “Master has sent an urgent jade message.”

“What does it say?” she asked.

“Get out of the forest as quickly as possible. It’s dangerous,” the servant replied.

Mu Lanran looked around. The young masters and young mistresses of the other clans of Red Dawn City were restlessly looking at each other. They must also have received similar messages. She was easily able to guess.

She looked towards the six servants the wild boy had injured. They would be burdens in their escapade from the forest. Rather than that, there was a better use for them. He said to them, “You know what to do, right?”

“Yes, mistress!” they replied, with darkened expression.

“Don’t worry, I will take care of your families. They will never go hungry and unclothed as long as the Mu Clan exists.” Mu Lanran promised them.

Their expressions brightened up. “Thank you, young mistress!”

Mu Lanran nodded. “Let’s set out!” she told her other servants. Although her other servants were not as strong as the six she was leaving behind, they would suffice to leave the forest safely. Moreover, there was Uncle Bai protecting her in the shadows. There would be no problem to her safety. That didn’t mean she could be complacent.

The other young masters and young mistresses congregated towards her. Due to her strength and background, she was naturally picked as the leader of the young generation. She welcomed them cordially to her group. There was strength in numbers. They had also made the same decision as her. They had decided to leave their injured servants to stall for time so that they could make it to safety.

Their life was precious. Even the lives of hundreds of servants would be unable to make up for one of theirs. It was a sentiment shared by everyone. It was the type of society they lived in. Powers and backgrounds decided everything.

Yu Chen’er was the most aggrieved. She had to leave behind the majority of her servants. Mu Lanran felt great happiness at her misfortune but she didn’t let it show on her face. As a daughter of the City Lord and Mu Clan, she had to be at her best behavior all the time.

Just what kind of calamity did we provoke? The City Lord, Mu Yan cursed under his breathe.

He had led a team of eight Nascent Soul Stage cultivators. Including him, there had been nine Nascent Soul Stage cultivators. Apart from that, there had been more than hundred Core Formation Stage cultivators. It was a formidable lineup.

They had searched everywhere for the aura of the two Nascent Soul Stage beasts. As they did, they had strayed deeper into the forest. Their forefathers had warned them against going to the core region of the forest but they, in their rush of adrenaline had done it. They had been confident about themselves. They thought their lineup would be able to sweep away everything. How wrong they had been!

“How dare you disturb my rest?” a mighty roar resounded as soon as they reached the core region of the forest. An energy attack followed the roar.

Two Nascent Soul Stage cultivators and more the half of the Core Formation Stage cultivators had died in that single attack. Many others had been injured. They had promptly retreated. The enemy was too strong. They encountered many beasts that blocked their path. In spite of their heavy injuries they could only battle. The only saving grace in the whole situation was: that frightening beast had not attacked again. Otherwise, most of them would have died.

They had quickly send messages to their descendants. Even if they had to waste a precious jade, there was no other option. They could only grit their teeth and do it. Even if that powerful presence at the inner forest did nothing, the other magical beasts were in frenzy. It wouldn’t be difficult to crush those inexperienced kids easily.

What the hell is happening? I looked around. The beasts were on a huge stampede, the likes of one I had never seen before. Not that I had seen any. I never realized that there were this many beasts in this forest.

I looked deeper into the forest. There was a powerful presence I was unable to see through.

But I could see something else.

I grinned. There was an opportunity waiting for me.