After successfully escaping the eel's attack by swiftly getting out of the water, Max found himself panting, realizing he had exerted every ounce of energy to elude the eel's clutches.
However, his respite was short-lived, as a growl reached Max's ears, prompting him to turn and discover a three-horned alligator closing in on him. Without hesitation, Max leaped to his feet and dashed in a random direction,
muttering, "For God's sake, not again."
Fortunately, Max quickly evaded the three-horned alligator and breathed a sigh of relief when he could no longer spot the creature. As he scanned his surroundings, uncertain of where to go next, Max began walking in the same direction he had fled.
Proceeding cautiously, Max observed his surroundings attentively, determined not to attract any more trouble. Unfortunately, luck was not in his favor, as he suddenly froze in place upon spotting a tiger through the bushes.
This tiger differed from the ordinary ones Max had encountered, displaying flame-like stripes instead of the usual lined patterns.
Max recalled a previous incident in Blue Bean County of the Water Barge Kingdom, where a tiger with similar characteristics had terrorized a village. The Royal City had deployed a state lord from Madren State to resolve the issue. Max remembered the villagers describing the tiger as a "fire stripe tiger," and seeing this creature now, he made the connection.
Wishing to avoid further complications, Max began to retreat slowly. However, trouble seemed destined to find him, as, in his attempt to back away quietly, he inadvertently stepped on a dried tree branch. The snapping sound drew the attention of the fire stripe tiger, causing it to growl menacingly while locking eyes with Max.
"Shit," Max cursed inwardly.
Realizing that if he didn't start running immediately, he would be in grave danger, Max wasted no time and swiftly turned, sprinting away.
The fire stripe tiger, sensing movement, leaped into the bushes. However, upon finding nothing, it scanned the area before spotting Max in the distance. It regained its focus and began a relentless pursuit, closing the gap with each passing moment.
Aware that he couldn't outrun the tiger in a straight line, especially with an alligator in that direction, Max made a quick decision. He veered left and maintained a high pace, attempting to throw off his pursuer.
Glancing over his shoulder, Max saw the tiger gaining ground, undeterred by his change in direction. In a desperate move, Max zigzagged between the trees, but the agile tiger continued the chase unfazed.
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With limited options, Max kept zigzagging, hoping to evade the relentless predator. However, his efforts seemed in vain as the tiger closed in.
In his frantic attempt to escape, Max accidentally placed his foot on a concealed hole, causing him to stumble and fall. To his surprise, the hole was not a pit but an entrance to a cave.
Max slid into the cave, only to be greeted by the sight of a massive snake skeleton. The snake's width matched Max's own, but its length exceeded 15 meters, coiled in the typical fashion.
Anxiously scanning the cave, Max cautiously explored, wary of any additional threats. Given the confined space, running further would be challenging.
Fortunately, the cave proved to be small, containing only the snake's remains and nothing more.
Outside the hole, the fire stripe tiger, upon witnessing Max's disappearance, appeared momentarily stunned. Then, as if realizing something, it cast a fearful glance at the hole before hastily retreating.
Inside the hole, Max, exhausted from his life-threatening ordeal, finally allowed himself a sigh of relief. However, it was only a temporary respite, and he wearily lay back on the cave floor, fully aware that the danger might not be over.
After some time, Max cautiously stood up to peer outside, checking if the fire stripe tiger was still in the vicinity. Initially, he attempted to observe from the safety of the hole, but unable to spot the tiger, he reluctantly decided to venture out, mindful of the potential dangers.
With no better option, Max began crawling out of the hole. Wary of the uncertain outside circumstances, he cautiously exposed only his head to assess the situation. Finding no immediate threat, he slowly emerged, surprised to discover the absence of the fire stripe tiger.
Confused at the unexpected turn of events, Max deduced that there seemed to be no other dangerous beasts in the vicinity, as if they were avoiding the area. The massive snake skeleton within the hole likely played a role in keeping the predators at bay.
Feeling a sense of relief, Max concluded that he had found a relatively safe haven. Without second thoughts, he slid back into the hole, sat down with his back against the wall, and began contemplating his situation.
Addressing the snake skeleton out of sheer boredom, Max spoke his concerns aloud, finding solace in the company of the skeletal serpent.
"You know, I want to find humans, but I fear human hearts the most. After all, it was my own race who sought to harm me even when they knew I was innocent," Max confided.
Deciding to shift his focus from the past, Max sighed and said, "Let's leave the past behind and figure out how to escape this predicament."
Expressing his priorities, Max continued, "My first goal is to leave this forest, but without strength, it's nothing more than a distant dream. The problem lies in where to acquire that strength, especially since I lack spiritual roots."
Max elaborated on the common knowledge that cultivating the heaven and earth spirit required spiritual roots to sense the spirit between heaven and earth. He acknowledged that there are two kinds of people in this world: cultivators, who possess spiritual roots, and mortals, like himself, who do not. Max recalled his unsuccessful attempt to join a sect, discovering his lack of spiritual roots, and reflected on how this led him to find contentment working at the stables.
"Cultivation is off the table for me, considering I lack spiritual roots and a proper cultivation technique. Unfortunately, I possess neither," Max expressed his concerns.
Recalling a conversation with Old Man Ben, Max remembered, "Oh yes, I recall Old Man Ben mentioning that mortals can cultivate up to Body Tempering Level 9. Since tempering the body doesn't require spiritual essence, mortals have the opportunity to enhance their physical abilities."
Realizing the potential benefits, Max exclaimed, "If I can reach Body Tempering Level 9, my chances of escaping this forest will significantly improve."
However, Max's enthusiasm waned as he admitted, "But I lack the basics of body tempering. I should have inquired about it from Old Man Ben."
Acknowledging the lack of alternatives, Max declared, "Now, there's no other way; I have to figure it out on my own."
Making a firm decision, Max asserted, "Alright, it's settled. Starting tomorrow, I'll begin training to temper my body and eventually find my way out of this forest."