The air grew colder as the line of servants, including Jiang Chen, shuffled towards the mouth of the Whispering Ravine. Dusk had fully settled, painting the sky in bruised purples and grays. The path was narrow, winding between jagged rock formations that seemed to lean in, ready to swallow them whole. Whispers of wind through the crags gave the ravine its eerie name.
[Environmental analysis: Whispering Ravine. High probability of low-tier predatory beasts and desperate rogue cultivators. Ambient Spirit Qi is sparse, making cultivation difficult for prolonged periods without external aid.] The System's voice was unusually grave. [Host, your Body Tempering Stage 4 gives you a slight edge over uncultivated humans, but it is insufficient against any actual threat. Recommend extreme caution.]
"No kidding," Jiang Chen muttered under his breath. He could feel the tension radiating from the other servants, a collective tremor of fear. Their footsteps dragged, and their eyes darted nervously into the deepening shadows. They were sheep, being led to the slaughter.
The overseers, armed with simple steel swords, seemed to care little for the servants' fear. They barked orders, pushing them deeper into the ravine. "Fan out! Search for anything! Herbs, broken crates, signs of the bandits! And stay together, you fools!"
Jiang Chen decided to break away. Staying with the terrified group meant becoming an easier target. He used his slightly enhanced Agility and Basic Stealth Technique, moving quietly to the side. He feigned stumbling, then slipped behind a cluster of dark, thorny bushes. The overseers, busy trying to herd the main group, didn't even notice.
He moved silently, his senses sharpened. Every rustle of leaves, every distant hoot of an owl, made him pause. The darkness was thicker here, almost alive. He focused on his hearing, trying to pick up anything beyond the wind's eerie whispers.
[Host, a faint metallic scent detected approximately 30 meters forward, slightly to your left. Consistent with rusted iron or dried blood. Proceed with caution.]
Dried blood. Jiang Chen's stomach twisted. He crept forward, using the rocky terrain and sparse vegetation for cover. He was a shadow among shadows. After a few tense minutes, he saw it.
A small clearing, bathed in the sickly glow of a decaying corpse. It was the junior disciple the overseers had mentioned. His robes were torn, stained dark with blood, and his body was twisted at an unnatural angle. His cultivation sword lay broken beside him. Around him were scattered remnants of wooden crates and a few wilted, trampled herbs.
Jiang Chen approached carefully, his heart pounding. The air here was heavy with the stench of death and a faint, lingering scent of unrefined Spirit Qi – the mark of cultivators, likely the bandits. He kneeled beside the body, checking for any life, though he knew it was futile. The disciple's eyes were wide, staring blankly at the darkening sky.
[Tragedy. However, opportunities often arise from misfortune. Mission update: Collect all viable medicinal herbs within the immediate vicinity. Secondary objective: Search the fallen disciple for useful items. Time efficiency is crucial.]
Jiang Chen suppressed a shudder. This felt wrong, rummaging through a dead man's belongings. But this was the cultivation world, a brutal place where sentiment was a luxury he couldn't afford. Survival first.
He quickly gathered the few usable herbs scattered around, stuffing them into a small pouch. Then, reluctantly, he searched the fallen disciple. He found a small, worn leather pouch tucked into the inner lining of his robes. Inside were a few low-grade Spirit Stones – a common currency in this world, used by cultivators to aid in training or trade – and a small, intricately carved wooden token.
[Item acquired: 3 Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Item acquired: Azure Thunder Sect Identity Token (Junior Disciple Rank). System Note: This token could prove useful for gaining limited access within the sect, or as proof of a 'retrieved' item.]
Suddenly, a loud snarl echoed from deeper within the ravine, followed by a crashing sound. It was distinct, powerful, not human.
[Warning! High-tier beast detected: Ravine Wolf, Body Tempering Stage 8. Current trajectory: heading towards your position. Host's combat capability: 0.05% chance of survival in direct engagement. Recommend immediate, silent evasion. Utilize Basic Stealth Technique and seek optimal cover.]
A Ravine Wolf at Body Tempering Stage 8? That was almost the peak of the Body Tempering realm! Jiang Chen was at Stage 4 – a mosquito against a beast. This was the kind of creature that could rip cultivators to shreds.
He didn't hesitate. He grabbed the Spirit Stones and the token, shoved them into his own small, hidden pocket, and with newfound urgency, activated his Basic Stealth Technique. He moved away from the clearing, becoming a whisper himself, merging with the shadows. He heard the beast's heavy breathing, its guttural growls, growing closer.
He found a narrow crevice between two large boulders, barely wide enough for his body. He squeezed in, pulling himself deep into the darkness, holding his breath. He pressed himself against the cold rock, listening.
The snarls grew louder, closer. He heard heavy paws thudding against the ground, the rustle of leaves, then a wet ripping sound. The wolf had found the disciple's body. A chilling whimper escaped the beast, a sound of hunger and triumph.
Jiang Chen remained absolutely still, every muscle tense. He could almost feel the beast's presence just outside his hiding spot, its hot breath, its predatory eyes scanning the area. The stench of blood and raw meat intensified. This was a nightmare. He closed his eyes, forcing his breathing to remain slow and even. He had to be completely silent.
Minutes stretched into an eternity. He heard the tearing sounds, the gnawing. Then, slowly, the sounds began to recede. The wolf was moving away, taking its meal deeper into the ravine.
Jiang Chen waited, counted to a hundred, then to two hundred, before cautiously easing himself out of the crevice. The clearing was empty. The remains of the disciple were gone. The beast had taken its prey.
He felt a cold dread, but also a surge of relief. He had survived. He had faced true danger and escaped. He had gathered items, earned points, and learned a vital lesson: this world was far more brutal than he could have ever imagined. He had to get stronger. Faster.
He quickly made his way back towards the sect gates, moving even more carefully now. The dark ravine seemed to watch him, its whispers now a stark reminder of the predators that lurked within.