Chapter 10: The Burning Eyes in the Forest
The wind roared in Flux's ears as he soared across the sky, standing firm atop his flying sword. Below, the land stretched like a living tapestry—rolling green hills, winding silver rivers, and clusters of shadowed forest. The last light of the sun bathed the world in a golden haze, setting treetops ablaze in fiery hues as dusk approached.
Behind him, Oaktown faded into the horizon. Ahead, the Wildwood awaited.
He inhaled deeply, catching the faint scents of moss, bark, and distant beasts. The air here was crisper, colder, and charged with wild, untamed qi. He could feel it thrumming beneath his feet.
It had only been a few days since he left, but something felt… off.
As he descended toward the edge of the dense forest near his cave, a creeping unease stirred in his gut.
No birds. No rustling in the bushes. Just silence.
He narrowed his eyes and slowed his descent, his boots touching down softly on the leaf-covered ground.
"…Too quiet."
Drawing in a breath, he expanded his spiritual sense outward like a net. It swept through the underbrush, over mossy roots and up the swaying trees.
Then—there. A flicker.
A sharp pulse of qi, like a blade grazing skin. Faint… but predatory.
Flux froze.
His cave was just ahead—its entrance nestled between two familiar boulders, half-covered in vines and shadow.
And something was watching him.
His hand instinctively went to the hilt of his flying sword.
Snap.
A twig cracked behind him.
Flux spun just in time to see a blur streaking from the underbrush—a pair of glowing red eyes locking with his.
A black-furred panther burst into the clearing, muscles rippling with power, flames dancing along its spine like a burning mane. Its aura surged with Foundation Establishment qi—wild, pulsing, hungry.
"Foundation Establishment. First level," Flux muttered, stepping backward. "But fast… and aggressive."
The beast's eyes narrowed.
With a guttural growl, it leapt.
Flux kicked off the ground and shot into the air. A breath later, the beast's claws carved through the spot where he had stood, sending rocks and soil flying in all directions.
He hovered above the treetops, expression calm but sharp.
"Looks like someone missed me."
The panther roared and sprang again, claws wreathed in fiery qi. It moved like a phantom—silent, savage, and terrifyingly quick.
"Let's see how much I've improved."
He flung his hand forward.
"Sword—go!"
His flying sword responded instantly, launching from its sheath with a crack of displaced air. It glowed with faint azure runes as it sliced through the sky toward the demon beast.
But the panther twisted midair and caught the blade on its flaming claws, deflecting it with a screech of metal and fire. Sparks flew. The beast landed in a crouch, snarling.
Flux's eyes narrowed. "Your reflexes are sharp."
The beast lunged again.
He drew a talisman from his new pouch, qi already pouring into it.
"Flameburst Seal—ignite!"
The paper flared red and erupted in a blast of fire midair. The explosion caught the panther mid-leap and sent it crashing into the ground below, smoke and flame engulfing it.
It howled in fury, rolling through the underbrush as its fur caught flame. But it wasn't down.
Flux didn't hesitate.
He dropped from the sky like a bolt of lightning, sword spinning into his hand.
"Piercing Gale!"
Wind exploded around the blade as he thrust downward, channeling qi into the attack. His sword screamed through the air and struck true—burying itself deep into the beast's chest.
The panther let out a final, choked roar.
Then it collapsed.
The flames along its spine flickered once… then faded into embers.
Flux stepped back, chest rising and falling with a steady rhythm.
He examined the corpse, wiping a smear of blood from his cheek.
"Strong. If I were still at the first level, that might've ended differently."
He crouched and harvested the materials with practiced efficiency—the core was deep red and warm, pulsing faintly with stored power. He carefully removed the claws, a patch of the flaming mane, and the sharp obsidian teeth.
"These'll fetch a good price," he murmured, slipping them into his pouch. "Especially that core…"
The shadows grew deeper as night fell. With one last glance at the beast's body, Flux turned and made his way to the cave.
---
The entrance welcomed him like an old friend—vines hanging low, the stone cool under his hand as he stepped inside.
Inside, the air was still and comforting. He dropped his pouch beside the fire pit and lit it with a flick of qi. Warmth spread instantly, casting flickering light on the cave walls.
He sat, rubbing his temple.
"Demon beasts waiting for me at the door. Lovely. I'll need to sweep the area… make sure no more surprises are lurking."
He got up and exited the cave again, scanning the surroundings. His spiritual sense reached farther this time, tracing the forest's natural qi flow and seeking disruptions.
Nothing.
Still, just to be sure, he drew a few formation stones from his pouch.
"Let's set a basic warding array. Nothing fancy—just enough to catch anyone sneaking around."
He placed the stones in a circle and fed them qi. Thin lines of silver light connected them, creating a faint dome around the entrance.
Satisfied, he returned to the cave.
He unpacked a slab of the freshly harvested meat from the panther's thigh and set it over the fire, watching the fat sizzle and the scent rise.
"Foundation Establishment beast meat. Should be good for recovery… and cultivation."
He pulled out the demon core and weighed it in his hand. The warmth tickled his palm.
"Hm. Using this now might push me forward again. Risky… but with the meat supporting me, the balance should hold."
He sat down, closed his eyes, and placed the core on his lap.
Qi gathered like a whirlpool.
The fire dimmed as Flux began to draw the energy into his dantian. Streams of scarlet power surged through his meridians—fierce, volatile. But he directed it smoothly, guiding the flow with will and focus.
The meat he'd eaten before stabilized the turbulence, providing a nourishing balance.
His qi sea swelled, refined and condensed.
One hour. Two. Then three.
Suddenly—snap!
Something shifted deep within.
His eyes opened slowly.
A faint ripple of spiritual pressure rolled outward.
"Third level of Foundation Establishment."
His voice was calm. But a small, pleased smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Smooth breakthrough. No bottleneck this time. The core really did the trick."
He stood and stretched, body warm, light, energized.
Outside, night had fully fallen. The stars above twinkled between the canopy, and the forest was once again alive with distant howls and rustling leaves.
Flux sat near the fire, blade resting across his knees.
"I should stabilize my cultivation."
He looked down at the now-dull demon core beside him.
"I won't do something like this again… it's risky. The core holds the beast's most volatile energy. Too much of it… and it's easy to lose control."
His gaze settled on the crackling fire.
"From now on, I'm not going to use a core for cultivation. I'll just eat the meat. It's safer—steady qi, slower but more stable."
He paused, voice quieter.
"The cores… I'll sell them. Get a good price, stay in control."
With that, he leaned back and let the warmth settle into his bones, the soft crackle of flames the only sound in the dark.