Orphan’s Hidden Fire

Chapter 8: Into the Deep Forest

One month passed.

Shen Hao’s hands had healed, but thick scar tissue covered both palms. The lines that once marked his hands were gone. He had reached the peak of the third layer of Gathering Qi. Xun Yu had climbed to the sixth layer.

They stood at the edge of town.

“I’m going to Dai Shan Forest,” Shen Hao said. “I need stronger fights and better resources before the competition.”

Xun Yu looked up at him. “I’ll wait for you at the competition. Master Lin Yue will take me.”

“Get the jade slip from the Ancient Zither Abode before then,” he reminded her.

She nodded. Shen Hao ruffled her hair once, then turned and ran west.

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Three days of hard running brought him to the edge of Dai Shan Forest. The spiritual energy in the air grew thicker with every step. Tier-1 beasts moved among the trees.

In a clearing he found a group of people checking their weapons and packs. A big man with an 8th-layer Qi Condensation aura walked toward him.

“I’m Ma Jiande. This is my hunting team. Who are you?”

“Shen Hao. I came to train and get stronger.”

Ma Jiande’s serious face broke into a wide grin. He slapped Shen Hao on the shoulder. “I like kids with guts! Call me Brother Jiande. We’re going after Blood Essence Fruits. There’s a divine tree deeper in the forest. Want to join? You’ll have to sign a paper saying we’re not responsible if you die.”

“I’ll join. How do we split the rewards?”

“By merit. The one who contributes most gets the biggest share. Simple.”

Shen Hao nodded. “When do we leave?”

“Soon. We’ll face Tier-1 lord beasts and some Tier-2s on the way. The tree’s guardian is a Tier-3 beast — equal to a True Foundation cultivator. We have a way to slip past it, but if it wakes up, we’re all dead.”

The team introduced themselves. Most were friendly. It felt different from the rich kids who used to kick him in the alleys.

They set off with a scout leading the way.

The first fight came quickly — two strong ogres. The half-step Qi Condensation members and Shen Hao split into two groups.

One group worked together with clean teamwork: heavy hits to the head, kicks to knock the ogre down, then a sword through the eyes.

Shen Hao’s group faced the second ogre. It swung wildly after seeing its partner fall. One teammate used wind punches from a distance. Another attacked the legs. Shen Hao leapt high, coated his palm in Poison Qi, and struck the ogre’s head again and again, jumping away each time.

Minutes later the beast coughed blood and collapsed.

A teammate named Cai Bo grinned. “Not bad, Brother Shen. You’re fast.”

“What was that wind punch?” Shen Hao asked.

“Family technique. Furious Fists of Wind.”

They exchanged a few pointers while the others collected cores and skins.

Over the next days they fought more Tier-1 beasts — red salamanders, demon spiders, blade wasps, blood wolves, poison flies. Shen Hao asked to take many of them alone to sharpen his skills. The team agreed.

His speed and repeated Poison Qi strikes worked on almost everything. When poison wasn’t enough, he used pure body strength. His flesh was still as hard as a middle-grade Soul-tier weapon. Tier-1 and even some Tier-2 beasts broke under his fists.

After several days they had nearly eighty Tier-1 cores.

The forest grew darker and thicker. Spiritual mist rose from the ground, strong enough to cause illusions. Ma Jiande and two others used special talismans to clear their minds.

Suddenly twenty Tier-2 Naga beasts surrounded them.

Snake bodies from the waist down, human-like arms, scaled skin, and cold slit eyes. They hissed and shook their tails in excitement.

The team formed a circle. Ma Jiande and the stronger cultivators took the outer ring. Shen Hao, Cai Bo, and the others stayed inside to support.

The Nagas attacked together.

The outer fighters each pulled two beasts away. Ma Jiande’s machete flashed as he cut and blocked. Some Nagas still slipped toward the inner group.

Shen Hao knew his poison might not be strong enough here. He relied on speed and raw power instead.

“Support me from behind!” he shouted to Cai Bo and the others.

“That’s crazy! You’ll die against Tier-2s!”

Shen Hao only smiled. The first Naga lunged. His right fist moved like lightning. The beast flew backward and smashed into a tree.

Cai Bo and the others stared, then started attacking from range as Shen Hao had asked. Shen Hao stayed light on his feet — no stiff stance, just quick movement. Drop kicks, straight punches, uppercuts. Each hit cracked scales and broke bones.

In a short time every Naga not already fighting Ma Jiande’s group lay on the ground, unable to move. Cai Bo’s team finished them with clean cuts to the throat.

Then they turned to help the outer fighters. Shen Hao went first to the ones struggling against two beasts. As he lightened their load, the stronger cultivators switched from defense to killing blows.

Soon the last Naga fell.

Ma Jiande and a few others had cuts and bruises. Shen Hao’s group didn’t have a single scratch. The team agreed on the spot that Shen Hao would get the largest share of the Tier-2 cores.

They were still breathing hard and smiling when the mist parted.

A much larger Naga stepped out.

It was twice the size of the others. Its scales were blood-red. It looked at the pile of dead Nagas and let out a long, hate-filled scream that shook the trees.

The lord of the pack had arrived.