The dense forest loomed before Lin Ze like a living beast.
Ancient trees with gnarled trunks reached toward the sky, their canopies forming a nearly unbroken ceiling of green. Shafts of golden morning light pierced the gaps, painting shifting patterns across the mossy floor. Strange cries echoed from deep within—beasts calling to one another, warning, threatening, hunting.
And somewhere in that labyrinth of shadows and leaves, three Class-1 Beasts waited.
Lin Ze tightened the straps on his cloak and checked the simple supplies he carried: his hunting knife, a coil of sturdy rope, a pouch of dried meat, and a single blood-gourd, ready to harvest essence again.
He was ready.
The system's quest pulsed faintly in his mind:
[Quest Active: Hunt and Refine Three Class-1 Beasts]
Progress: 0/3
Reward: Advancement to Flesh Refinement Second Stage + Blood Forging Technique
Lin Ze took a steadying breath and stepped into the forest.
Every sense was sharper now. He moved with a quiet grace, every footfall measured, every breath controlled. His Predatory Instincts guided him—subtle shifts in the wind, faint tremors in the earth, the scent of fur and musk on the breeze.
After an hour of silent trekking, he found his first target.
A Stonehide Boar.
The creature was massive, easily the size of a small carriage, with thick gray hide that looked more like armor than flesh. Its tusks were long and wickedly curved, and it snorted steam from its nostrils as it rooted around a patch of ferns.
Lin Ze crouched behind a fallen log, studying it carefully.
Stonehide Boar:
Tough defense.
Slow, but powerful charges.
Weakness: Eyes, underbelly.
A plan formed swiftly in his mind.
He waited until the boar wandered closer to a rocky slope nearby. Then, with practiced precision, Lin Ze hurled a small stone into the brush behind the creature. The boar grunted in surprise and turned away from the slope to investigate.
Now!
Lin Ze dashed forward, silent as a shadow. In one fluid motion, he leapt onto the rocks above and launched himself down, aiming straight for the boar's exposed neck.
The boar sensed danger too late. It reared back, but Lin Ze's hunting knife plunged deep into the soft flesh just behind its ear.
The beast bellowed in agony, thrashing violently. Lin Ze held on grimly, twisting the blade, seeking the vital artery.
Warm blood gushed forth, coating his arms.
With a final, shuddering roar, the Stonehide Boar collapsed.
Lin Ze panted heavily, covered in gore but victorious. No hesitation. No mercy. Just swift, brutal efficiency.
The system chimed in his mind.
[Beast Slain: Stonehide Boar - Class 1]
XP Gained: +250
Essence Available for Refinement: 1 Unit
Without wasting a moment, Lin Ze prepared the blood ritual. The gourd quickly filled with the beast's life fluid, and the swirling red mist once again materialized.
The pain of refinement was just as intense as before—but this time, Lin Ze welcomed it.
Each drop of agony was another stone laid in the foundation of his ascent.
[Flesh Refinement Progress: 33%]
One down. Two to go.
◇ ◇ ◇
By midday, Lin Ze had tracked and slain a Razorclaw Lynx, a sleek predator with speed to match its name. The fight had been far more difficult—narrow dodges, precise counters, and a final desperate grapple to slit its throat.
The second refinement pushed his body even further. His muscles thickened subtly; his reflexes sharpened to an almost unnatural degree.
[Flesh Refinement Progress: 66%]
Sweat-soaked and weary, Lin Ze rested briefly atop a high ridge, overlooking the endless stretch of forest below.
The final beast would complete his advancement. He could feel it—he was on the cusp of something new. Something greater.
But fate, it seemed, had other plans.
As Lin Ze sipped water from a small stream, he heard it: a soft cry carried on the breeze.
A cry for help.
He stiffened, senses flaring.
The sound came again—faint, desperate.
Without hesitation, Lin Ze moved toward it, heart pounding. He weaved through the trees like a phantom, the forest blurring past him.
Soon, he reached a small clearing.
There, backed against a massive tree, was a girl.
She couldn't have been much older than Lin Ze himself. Dressed in tattered silks that marked her as someone from a much higher class, she clutched a broken sword in trembling hands. Her long black hair was matted with dirt and blood, and her striking amber eyes—so vivid they seemed to burn—were wide with fear.
Facing her was a Nightshade Panther.
The beast's midnight-black fur blended into the shadows. Its muscles rippled beneath its sleek form, and its green eyes glowed with predatory hunger. Saliva dripped from its fangs as it prowled closer, savoring the terror of its prey.
Lin Ze's mind raced.
Nightshade Panthers... Class-1. High agility. Poisoned claws. Extremely lethal.
A direct fight would be dangerous even for him. But if he succeeded—if he killed this beast—he'd not only complete his quest, but also perhaps gain the gratitude of someone who clearly wasn't a simple villager.
He didn't hesitate.
Moving silently, he circled behind the panther.
At the last moment, the beast's ears flicked—sensing him.
Lin Ze exploded into motion.
He hurled a stone with incredible force, striking the panther's flank. It yowled in rage and spun toward him, momentarily forgetting the girl.
"Run!" he barked at her.
But the girl, stubborn or too terrified to move, simply dropped to her knees, gasping.
Useless!
The panther lunged.
Lin Ze dodged nimbly, feeling the poisonous claws rake through the air inches from his chest. He countered with a slash of his hunting knife, scoring a shallow cut along the beast's side.
It wasn't enough.
The panther danced back, snarling, circling him warily.
Lin Ze smiled grimly. He recognized the rhythm now. It was a predator's dance—attack, retreat, test the prey's reactions.
But Lin Ze wasn't prey.
When the panther lunged again, Lin Ze feinted left, then drove his knife upward into the beast's soft underbelly.
The blade sank deep.
The panther shrieked, thrashing wildly. Claws raked across Lin Ze's shoulder, tearing cloth and skin alike. White-hot pain exploded along his nerves, but he held on grimly, twisting the blade.
With a final, pitiful whimper, the Nightshade Panther collapsed.
Lin Ze stumbled back, clutching his bleeding shoulder.
The girl was staring at him, wide-eyed.
"You..." she whispered. "You're not a normal hunter."
Lin Ze didn't respond. He was already moving to harvest the blood.
The final refinement began, the crimson mist swirling around him. The pain was almost a comfort now—a necessary trial.
[Flesh Refinement Progress: 100%]
[Advancement: Flesh Refinement - Second Stage Achieved!]
[New Ability Unlocked: Blood Forging Technique]
Allows forging of Blood Qi weapons from refined blood essence.
Enhances physical strikes with temporary blood energy infusion.
Power surged through Lin Ze, filling every cell with burning vitality.
He rose to his feet, stronger than ever.
The girl approached hesitantly, clutching her wounded arm.
"Thank you," she said softly. Her voice was cultured, melodic—a stark contrast to the rough tones of the village folk. "I... I'm Yue Qing'er."
Lin Ze nodded curtly. "Lin Ze."
For a moment, they simply regarded one another.
Then, Yue Qing'er swayed dangerously, her face pale.
Without thinking, Lin Ze caught her.
Her body was warm and soft against his own, her scent—a mix of wildflowers and blood—intoxicating.
"You're poisoned," he muttered, feeling the faint tremors in her muscles. The Nightshade Panther's claws must have grazed her earlier.
"There's... an antidote," she gasped. "In my pouch."
Lin Ze found it—a small jade vial—and carefully administered a few drops into her mouth. Yue Qing'er sighed weakly, relaxing against him.
"Rest," Lin Ze said. "You're safe now."
But inside, his mind churned.
Who was this girl?Why was someone like her alone in these dangerous woods?
And most importantly...
What did her appearance mean for the path ahead?
Because one thing was clear:
Lin Ze's quiet life was over.
The world beyond Dusk Hollow had come knocking.
And he was ready.