Chapter 16: Main Text: The Assassin Arrives, Blood Fills the Tower

Main Text: The Assassin Comes, Blood Fills the Tower

Ancient trees thrust into the sky like mist‑shrouded cloud peaks, their stout branches resembling a horde of demons tearing the heavens; the dense forest runs deep, vines coil around ancient trunks, forming a hanging curtain of foliage; black‑green old leaves spread without edge, dark clouds loom heavy above, cold winds rise, scraping the trunks with a creaking sound, the whole forest exudes a dark, oppressive, terrifyingly cold aura; a white‑forehead, hanging‑eye "big insect" spits the remnants of its prey's soul, a foul, fishy wind darts in and out among its teeth, a pair of blood‑red beast eyes seem to flash with jungle law of the strong eating the weak, and in a blink it vanishes into the wild woods, never to be seen again.

The giant insect had just left when a series of hissing snake sounds came from behind the woods; a triangular‑headed snake lunged, and an unsuspecting little white mouse was swallowed into its belly. The triangular iron‑headed snake, about to retreat to its den, was suddenly seized by a long‑biding Bo Tian Cang Yun Eagle, which twisted its claws lightly, and the once‑proud triangular iron‑headed snake was cut down… Such stories repeat countless times each day; killing and being killed, eating and being eaten, the line between life and death is hardly distinct.

This is the infamous, death‑cursed Vengeful Death Forest, a place where countless spirits are buried. It ranks among the world's top ten death zones in the post‑Huanjing era crustal‑movement period, roughly ten‑thousand kilometers from the Starflower Community. Every year, countless world‑class adventure enthusiasts gather in groups to "court death". Indeed, they truly go to die. Since the inland plate of Asia inexplicably bulged upward in 2039, within just a few weeks a vast, primeval jungle sprang to dominate the land of Huaxia. Uncountable extinct species—such as the Ancient Coiled Dragon Crocodile, the Three‑headed Evil Fire Bird, and myriad bizarre new species never before seen by Earthlings—have drawn endless hordes of biologists. Coupled with the strange, eerie new landforms, geographers worldwide have flocked here in a frenzy.

By 2050, roughly tens of millions of people had entered the forest. Their identities, reputations, statuses, fortunes… varied widely. Yet after entering they shared one common fate: none ever returned. In the past twenty years, not a single survivor, without exception. The whole world's machinery went into a frantic rescue operation, but every rescuer vanished like stones dropped into the sea, with no further word. Countless panic, rumors, and pressure from victims' and rescuers' families forced the rescue missions to be halted prematurely.

After that, enthusiasm for exploring the Vengeful Death Forest waned. The state even erected towering iron‑mesh and bronze walls around its perimeter to keep the unwary from entering and losing their lives. When science cannot explain something, religious figures often offer relatively plausible conjectures with their distinct mindset. Christianity once declared: God, to better eradicate humanity's innate original sin, commanded the Twelve Days to unleash great divine power to bring down this forest, punishing unrepentant evil demons. Anyone who believes in God and enters the forest will receive divine protection and is guaranteed to emerge safely.

China's native Taoism and Buddhism, of course, did not remain silent. They also issued statements. For a time it seemed a hundred sects were clamoring, and various academic and occult ideas flourished. The Earth seemed to enter a dazzling new era. If Huanjing ushered humanity into a golden age of technology and material splendor, then the successive "uncovering" of the world's top ten death zones reignited humanity's boundless passion for occult study.

After countless bizarre incidents, some boldly speculated: occult study might be a forward‑looking science, delivered to humanity by future people through a time‑travel‑like method. Hence it appears so inexplicable yet hard to refute. Once proposed, the hypothesis gained support from major religious figures and even from forward‑thinking young scientists. Thus, a grand occult reform began its magnificent opening in 2040. One after another, martial‑cultivation and meditation schools of occult sprang up like bamboo after rain. Extraordinary mystics, beyond ordinary imagination, quietly reshaped the world's fortunes. A brand‑new, endlessly splendid era seemed to be slowly approaching humanity.

By 2051, the major occult schools had become refined. Previously, Lou Yue Ru and Li Xingyang, being conservative, had not sent Li Feifan to these schools for systematic training, so his muscles and bones remained undeveloped. After months of "Li Yijie's devilish hell drills," his frail body gradually grew robust. A pair of tender, water‑splashed big eyes now also carried a hint of a warrior's sharpness.

Lou Yue Ru pondered for a long time and decided to send Xiao Fan to an occult school. On one hand it would strengthen his body; on the other it would prepare him for the increasingly "theologized" chaotic world. Moreover, she found that Xiao Fan actually liked this; rather than making him a quiet academic prodigy, it was better to give him dual training of body and will, so he could become a towering good man. Indeed, hardship is the best foundation for wisdom's advancement. Lou Yue Ru herself felt that after this trial her mind broadened, her perspective changed greatly, and the decision was expected.

The June sun already heralded the enrollment enthusiasm of the great occult schools. To date, roughly ten thousand occult schools exist worldwide, most far from cities, hidden in famous mountains and rivers: they train alongside the sun and moon, competing with myriad beasts, finding daily cultivation immensely pleasant. Legend says some of their enlightened masters can go a thousand days without food yet remain vigorous. Rumor has it these schools now master the immortal technique "Swallow Qi to Live, Refine Qi to Exist." Joining them frees one from worldly food and clothing burdens, allowing carefree bliss beyond the mortal world. Some schools also claim they have uncovered the secret of eternal youth, promising perpetual youth to members.

In short, schools recruit new students, each displaying their prowess. Among them, China's three great heavenly courts—Damo Courtyard, Lao Jun Palace, Wuji Hall—along with India's Rulai Hall, Egypt's Pharaoh Tower, and the Eden that spans Europe and North America, constitute the six top powers. These six, like the Huanjing Six Overlords, capture over eighty percent of the world's elite trainees; the remaining one or two percent are either leftovers from these six or naturally untalented misfits. Of course, it's not absolute—some schools occasionally snag a hidden talent, gaining sudden fame.

However, there is another excellent way to bring glory to one's academy. Every year's end, occult schools worldwide may join the "Occult Exchange Competition" organized by the Huanjing Six Overlords. If you have skill, any participant can join without quota limits. Moreover, shining at the competition might attract a peerless master who could take you as a closed‑door disciple. Train another ten or twenty years, and you might, upon emerging, dazzle the whole world. Just thinking of it makes countless passionate youths' hearts race!

Li Feifan had once been noticed by a shabby old man. The old man claimed they were fated and asked if he would accompany him to learn his unparalleled skills. But that was twelve years ago; Li Feifan was still very young and didn't know what a "world‑beyond master" was, so he paid no heed. Now, looking back, he thinks that had he not been so young and foolish, he might have become world‑renowned today.

Just as he was thinking that, a green apple hurled down and snapped him back from reverie to reality. Immediately followed the familiar scolding: "Your skin's getting itchier, huh? All morning you've given me three blanks. You might as well rename yourself Li Yidai; then anyone hearing your name will know you're a fool. Now focus, truly feel the presence of yuan qi. I've never seen such a clumsy qi‑cultivator. It's been a full six‑seven months and you still have no qi sensation. You say you can only solve problems; what else can you do? You're both stupid and lazy yet still want to be a pork‑leg‑eating worm."

Li Feifan was also puzzled; he had earnestly summoned yuan qi yet felt nothing. This huge gap made him uneasy; after all, he had once been regarded as the "pride of heaven." Now he was embarrassingly clumsy. Anyone in his place would claim they weren't disappointed, which is a lie. Yet Li Feifan refused to give up, repeating a failed attempt again and again—if one thousand times failed, he tried the thousand‑first time again!

Perhaps his perseverance moved the wandering yuan qi, and finally on a rainy morning he sensed a hint of qi. He recalled bean‑sized raindrops hammering his body like a chain. Yet Li Yijie insisted he meditate in the highest, most open spot. Li Yijie told him: "The harsher the weather, the more these tiny yuan qi want to slip into the body for shelter; if fortunate, they'll cling to you for a lifetime, protecting you as they are protected. They'll become your most loyal companions! Thus, meditating in such weather makes it easier to feel qi, stepping through the gate of qi cultivation and opening an extraordinary life."

After Li Feifan began his meditation, he indeed sensed a subtle difference in the world. About half an hour later, near his lower‑dantian, it felt as if thousands of tiny ants were gently biting, a tingling, itchy pain mixed with pleasure. Li Feifan knew he must steady his mind, lest he scare the little yuan qi away and waste his effort. He should simply act as if nothing happened, continue circulating qi through his lower garment technique, quietly guiding them along specific meridians and acupoints. After roughly another hour, the tingling spread throughout his body; he could only grit his teeth and endure, daring not to move for fear the tiny yuan qi would become restless and leave. After about two and a half more hours, the sensation lightened. Li Feifan felt as if fine streams of yuan qi flowed gently over his skin, exceedingly comfortable. It was an unprecedented sense of fullness and satisfaction, as if his whole body brimmed with an indescribable joy, making him eager to try it again and let out a roar.

Li Feifan planted both hands on the ground and rose, his water‑splashed big eyes already eager to test. He then took a small bow‑step back, thrust his right hand forward into the air while bellowing "Ha!" A tiny fist wind rippled outward like a wave, a thrilling surge of power flooding his heart. Li Feifan shouted excitedly, "Well done, Li Feifan, you haven't disappointed me; you remain outstanding as always, love you! Keep it up, you'll become an invincible ruler of the star‑sea! Come on, I believe in you, I'll wait for you to marry me!"

Just as Li Feifan was about to go on endlessly, Li Yijie, hovering in mid‑air, noticed that in a nearby thicket a pair of snake‑sharp eyes had already locked onto Li Feifan. From his focused, patient expression, the newcomer seemed decidedly hostile. Li Feifan was in danger…