The following day, Max emerged from his hiding spot and began surveying his surroundings. His gaze darted around, scouring the nearby bushes, plants, and trees for any potential sustenance. Despite his hunger, he dared not venture far from the safety of the hole, recognizing it as his refuge from the dangers of the forest.

Frustrated by the lack of edible resources in the vicinity, Max realized the necessity of venturing beyond the safety of his shelter. However, mindful of the recent string of three consecutive attacks, he knew he needed a reliable means of defense before exploring further.

Initially considering fashioning a spear from a tree branch, Max reconsidered the idea after recalling his encounter with the formidable fire-striped tiger. Understanding the creature's agility hinted at a higher level of danger, likely level 2, he sought a more durable and robust weapon.

Max pondered potential materials for crafting a suitable weapon when a thought struck him. Hastening back to the hole, he descended into the cave and stood before the skeletal remains of a snake. Recalling how the tiger had recoiled from the snake, Max surmised it to be a high-level monster, and thus, its bones promised strength.

Attempting to break the bone with his bare hands proved futile, prompting Max to locate a substantial stone.

Striking the snake's bones proved challenging, and he adjusted his approach by targeting the joints. Beginning with the fangs, Max relentlessly struck them more than 20 times, depleting his energy to break just one. After a brief rest, he persevered, breaking the second fang in 12 strikes.

He then focused on breaking one of the snake's ribs, requiring more than 15 hits.

Emerging from the hole, Max scoured the surroundings for a means to tie the fang to the rib.

Eventually, he discovered sturdy vines suitable for crafting a makeshift rope.

Tying one fang to the rib and keeping the other as a makeshift dagger, Max acknowledged the crude appearance of his improvised spear but deemed it better than facing the forest's perils unarmed.

Armed with his newly crafted weapons, Max ventured into the forest, deliberately avoiding the direction where the fire-striped tiger roamed.

Opting for the opposite path, his first priority was to find food, considering he had gone few days without eating.

The last sustenance he had consumed was the strange blue grass, so when he discovered a plant resembling berries, Max hesitated. Though he detected no unpleasant odor, he decided to stow the berries in his pockets, cautious not to repeat the unsettling experience with the strange blue grass.

Undeterred, Max pressed on, recognizing the importance of gathering provisions to grow stronger. While scouring the surroundings, he left subtle markers to ensure he could trace his way back to the safety of the hole.

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Suddenly, a rustle in the bushes caught Max's attention. Cautiously approaching, he spotted some rabbits. Lifting his makeshift spear, he took aim at a rabbit, but it sensed the impending threat and darted away, leaving Max disappointed but undeterred in his search.

The sound of a flowing stream reached Max's ears, prompting him to tread carefully towards it. After a brief journey, he discovered the welcome sight of a stream. Ecstatic, Max sought a container for water and stumbled upon a dried pumpkin.

Using the fang as a makeshift tool, Max perforated the top of the pumpkin, creating closely spaced holes. After breaking off that part of the pumpkin, he cleared it of seeds and flesh, fashioning it into a makeshift utensil to store water. Max then caught some small fishes from the stream to supplement his diet.

Having satisfied his hunger and quenched his thirst, Max retraced his steps to the snake hole by following the traces he had left, acknowledging his unfamiliarity with the forest.

Upon returning, Max took a moment to relax before embarking on a new quest—learning how to train his body. Lacking guidance and knowledge of the body-tempering process, Max resolved to observe the monsters in the forest, hoping to glean insights and develop a rough understanding of the area surrounding the hole.

Emerging from his hideout, Max diligently observed the various small beasts and a handful of level 1 monsters that populated the forest.

He had established a routine for himself—first, a visit to the stream to catch fish and gather water, followed by a period of observation of the creatures surrounding him.

Lacking the means to create fire for cooking, Max resigned himself to consuming raw fish. Although not ideal, it was a compromise he accepted, given the circumstances.

After a week of keen observation, Max arrived at a conclusion.

"Beasts utilize battles, rugged living conditions, and consumption of exotic plants to advance to the level of a level 1 monster," he pondered, consolidating his insights.

Having absorbed all the information available to him, including details about the plants beasts consumed, Max initiated a new regimen the following day.

He commenced each day with push-ups and muscle exercises before engaging in battles with low-level beasts, ensuring he faced opponents that posed minimal threat.

The initial skirmish, against a rockhorn sheep, left Max battered, prompting him to retreat to his cave to tend to his injuries and consume exotic flowers he had collected. The ingestion of these flowers, however, induced groans of pain.

Despite his reluctance to endure the same experience again, Max recognized the necessity of pushing himself to become stronger. For two months, he persisted in his daily routine, gradually acclimating to the challenges.

Deciding to elevate his training, Max shifted his focus from beasts to monsters. His first opponent was an early-stage level 1 sibertooth bear.

Understanding that beasts operated on instinct and only those that awakened their spiritual wisdom, reaching a stage equivalent to body tempering cultivators, were classified as level 1 monsters, Max delved into the intricacies of monster cultivation. Unlike human cultivation realms, which consisted of nine levels, monsters had three realms—early, mid, and late stages.

The sibertooth bear Max confronted was an early-stage level 1 monster, representing his new challenge in the pursuit of strength.

Max soon arrived at the cave of the sibertooth bear. Upon his uninvited presence, the sibertooth bear immediately roared and launched an attack without hesitation, as these creatures were known for their short tempers.

The ensuing fight became intense, with bloodshed as Max suffered injuries from the bear's sharp claws, while Max, in turn, dealt physical blows to the formidable monster. Recognizing the severity of his injuries, Max hastily retreated. Despite the sibertooth bear's angry roar at Max's departure, it chose not to pursue him.

Upon reaching the safety of his cave, Max diligently tended to his wounds. Reflecting on the encounter, he mused to himself, "Fighting a monster isn't as easy as I thought."

Undeterred, Max encountered the sibertooth bear again the next day. Without exchanging words, they engaged in combat once more. Although Max managed to avoid as severe injuries as in the previous encounter, he still chose to retreat.

Undeterred by the setbacks, Max returned for a third time, then a fourth. It was only after the fourth confrontation that Max successfully defeated the sibertooth bear, prompting a surge of happiness.

In achieving this milestone, Max realized that he had ascended to the early stage of level 1 monster, or more precisely, the early stage of the level 1 Human monster realm.