Washed over by spatial turbulent storms, Zhang Fan instantly fell into a coma. He didn't know how much time had passed. When he woke up, he only felt excruciating pain all over his body. A slight movement would tug at his meridians, making them feel as if they were burning with intense fire, causing him to groan involuntarily.
"I've really messed up this time! I wonder if Luo Shui and the others have reached Nan Gu Star yet..."
Upon waking, Zhang Fan's memory was still somewhat hazy. He didn't even know how long he had been unconscious. Gradually, the scene of his previous battle with Black Flame King flashed through his mind, reminding him of Qin Luo Shui and the others.
"My internal mana is completely gone, and my meridians are damaged, but it's good enough to have kept my life."
Zhang Fan first checked his own condition. After understanding his predicament, he struggled to support himself and sat cross-legged on the ground.
He was enveloped by a dense forest. Not far away, a rather handsome young man stood there. He was clad in a white robe, wore a jade crown, and held a green sword in his arms, leaning casually against a towering ancient tree.
Seeing Zhang Fan wake up, a hint of surprise appeared on his handsome face. He said, "Your life is truly resilient. To have sustained such severe injuries and still pulled through."
Zhang Fan ignored him and closed his eyes to recuperate.
"Hmph, no matter what, this young master has guarded you for a few days. If it weren't for me, you would have long been devoured by the beasts of Star Lake Forest. You don't even offer a word of thanks. Ungrateful wretch."
Seeing that Zhang Fan ignored him after waking up and started cultivating on his own, the young man holding the green sword began to complain.
He held his breath and concentrated. As the Ten Absolutes Heavenly God Record cultivation technique circulated, the Gluttonous Beast Scroll within his body was illuminated. The dense spiritual energy in the forest began to gather towards Zhang Fan and was then absorbed by him.
The Gluttonous Beast was naturally adept at devouring, and its effectiveness in absorbing spiritual energy was even more pronounced. In just a few breaths, a small vortex of spiritual energy formed around him, pouring ceaselessly into Zhang Fan's body.
As the spiritual energy poured in, his damaged meridians gradually began to heal, and the two dim golden lights within his body also started to recover.
As time went by, a look of astonishment gradually appeared on the jade-crowned youth's face.
In three days, the spiritual energy within a radius of tens of kilometers was almost depleted by Zhang Fan, but his body seemed like a bottomless pit, never to be satisfied.
"I didn't expect this kid to have some real skill. Just a Golden Core stage cultivator, yet capable of absorbing such immense spiritual energy." The jade-crowned youth murmured.
"Roar..."
At this moment, low beast roars came from the depths of the dense forest. The jade-crowned youth's expression shifted, and he looked at Zhang Fan. "You only cared about your own cultivation, and now you've alerted these beasts. Let's see how you handle this."
Zhang Fan slowly opened his eyes, let out a long sigh, and then slowly stood up. His gaze fell on the jade-crowned youth, and he said, "Isn't there you?"
The jade-crowned youth was slightly stunned, then uttered three words.
"Shameless!"
It was the first time he had encountered such a brazen individual.
As sounds of wind breaking through the dense forest arose, black panthers, each over two zhang tall, leaped out from the darkness. Their strong limbs landed on the surrounding giant ancient trees, their bodies sinking slightly. Their dark eyes fixed on the two below, as if ready to launch a fatal attack at any moment.
"It's Shadow Leopards. These brutes are truly bold!"
The jade-crowned youth glanced at Zhang Fan, surprised to see that he showed no signs of nervousness.
Shadow Leopards were not particularly powerful demonic beasts in Star Lake Forest. An adult Shadow Leopard's strength was comparable to that of an ordinary second-tier Golden Core cultivator, but they were definitely the nightmare of all Golden Core cultivators.
This was because Shadow Leopards not only possessed incredible speed, comparable to experts who had passed the first Nascent Soul tribulation, but they also moved in large numbers. Every hunt involved dozens of Shadow Leopards attacking simultaneously. Even some slightly weaker Nascent Soul stage experts would prioritize fleeing upon encountering a pack of Shadow Leopards.
In this dangerous Star Lake Forest, no one would easily engage in battle with demonic beasts without great certainty, as it would not only alert other powerful beasts but also attract other cultivators who had entered Star Lake Forest.
"Kid, there are twenty-five Shadow Leopards here in total. I'll take the brunt of it and deal with thirteen, leaving the rest to you." The jade-crowned youth began to assign tasks.
"Mere Shadow Leopards, why bother with so much trouble? Let's have you deal with them all at once." Zhang Fan said.
"What 'you'? I have already cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage. You should call me 'Senior'." The jade-crowned youth glared at Zhang Fan and said.
"Stop dawdling and finish them quickly. I still have a few questions to ask you."
"If you really can't do it, then step aside. I'll handle it myself."
Zhang Fan waved his hand indifferently.
"How dare these mere Shadow Leopards look down on me!"
The jade-crowned youth was enraged by Zhang Fan's attitude. He suddenly drew the green sword he was holding, and a dazzling green light flashed!
Boom!
A sword energy, tens of zhang long, shot out. The ancient trees in front of the youth were all cut down. At the same time, the Shadow Leopards lurking in that area, before they could even attack, were sliced in half by the green sword energy, their blood splattering everywhere.
"Roar!"
The other lurking Shadow Leopards all let out low roars tinged with fear, then turned into shadows and fled towards the depths of Star Lake Forest.
Although Shadow Leopards were demonic beasts, they had reached the Golden Core stage, and their intelligence was no less than that of ordinary humans. While their primal instincts would drive them to kill, they would also fear when facing an expert who could easily end their lives.
With just one sword strike, several Shadow Leopards were killed, and the rest fled in disarray. The jade-crowned youth sheathed his sword and turned his gaze to Zhang Fan, a hint of pride flashing in his bright eyes, before feigning profundity and saying, "I haven't even used my full strength yet, and they're already scared off."
Zhang Fan ignored the jade-crowned youth's boasting and asked, "Where is this place?"
This question surprised the jade-crowned youth. "Aren't you here for the opportunities in Star Lake?"
"Star Lake?"
Zhang Fan shook his head. "I accidentally fell into a spatial rift, and when I woke up, I was already here."
"You, a mere Golden Core stage cultivator, falling into a spatial rift and still surviving? It's a miracle." The jade-crowned youth exclaimed. Even he wouldn't know if he would survive if he fell into a spatial rift.
"Your ability to reach here means you are fated with Star Lake Forest. Why don't you follow me? After I obtain the opportunities in Star Lake, I can leave you some benefits." The jade-crowned youth said confidently.
Zhang Fan shook his head again. "I'm not interested in these things. I just want to know which star domain and which planet I am currently on."
Having fallen into a spatial rift, no one knew where they might end up. Zhang Fan was worried that if he landed outside the Wu Shan Star Domain, it would be troublesome.
"This should be Da Yan Star in the Wu Shan Star Domain, and Star Lake Forest is the largest and most dangerous forest on Da Yan Star."
"However, recently, many cultivators from Da Yan Star have come to Star Lake Forest seeking opportunities." The jade-crowned youth said.
"Wu Shan Star Domain, Da Yan Star." Hearing this, Zhang Fan felt slightly relieved.
As long as he was within the Wu Shan Star Domain, finding Qin Luo Shui and Lin Hao Tian would be much easier.
"Since that's the case, I have important matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now." Knowing his location, Zhang Fan decided to leave Star Lake Forest first.
"Wait, aren't you at all tempted by the opportunities in Star Lake?" The jade-crowned youth quickly called out when he saw Zhang Fan leaving so readily.
"What are the opportunities you speak of?" Zhang Fan asked curiously. This youth, at such a young age, had managed to cultivate to the Nascent Soul stage, implying an extraordinary background. What kind of opportunity made him so念念不忘 (unforgettable)?
"That... I'm not entirely sure myself. It's just that recently, there have been rumors circulating on Da Yan Star that great opportunities are about to emerge in Star Lake Forest." The jade-crowned youth said somewhat awkwardly.
...