A warm breeze sweeps through a ceaseless boulevard of trees and opens up into a lake. The wind gently gathers around at the middle of the lake, forming a mild vortex with glimmering ripples establishing a small whirlpool underneath. A ring composed of multiple mini-boulders spun around.

A lonely naked figure covered in hot flames hovers over the center of the lake. It is uncertain how many days he has sat there.  Suddenly surrounding wind transformed into a violent maelstrom instigating the water below rise up to great heights blocking the sun. The floor of the lake is revealed briefly before the raging waters slammed downwards, creating huge eruptions of water everywhere. The air borne rocks suddenly crumbled into nothingness. The flames ignited into an explosion and then faded.

The mysterious being in the center of all this chaos remained unmoved, not a hair was out of place during this whole disaster.

This person’s nakedness revealed his toned upper body and muscular legs. He had strong well defined features like they were molded from granite. He had the type of face that’ll stop girls in their track. Pale thin lips, a tall slender nose, cute prominent cheeks, and seamless skin complimented his perfect symmetrical face. His dark brows were sloped downwards in a serious expression but a playful smile gradually draws across his face.

 “At long last I’ve broken through.” He said with a charming voice that carried a penetrating force.

The glorious sunshine above highlighted the dimples in his cheeks and the flawless white skin that accentuated his hazel eyes that each contained a deep mesmerizing golden ocean.

As he slowly stood up in mid-air, his tall and broad shouldered figure was further revealed and his long streaks of hair hung loose on his well-developed back stopping at his tailbone.

This person was none other than Ryu, the gifted but the frail looking boy from the small Blazing Tempest town three years ago. A life-threatening and excruciating training yielded an unprecedented transformation.

A simple white robe materialized above him and fell perfectly over him.

“Thank you.” Ryu said to the magical tome that only he could see. As time progressed, Ryu had bonded with the unique item. Sometimes it would demonstrate sentimental behaviors but those moments were rare.

Ryu slowly walked towards a small hill and a small tomb made of stone in front a dark cave entrance came to view. This was the exact same place where an earth-shattering battle occurred over two years ago.

“Although you were wicked beyond redemption, I have to thank you for giving me this life-changing opportunity.” Ryu said with a small bow. Over the years, Ryu had never strayed far from this location. Although he had the protective item from the Fairy Lady, he didn’t want to step too far out of line and bother the majestic beasts that inhabits in the area.

Without another word, Ryu leapt into the air a pair of angel-like wings materialized on his back. The wings were white and looked like it belonged to a giant swan but it was actually created with a large amount of dense Qi. A gust of wind started up from nowhere and Ryu glided towards the west. He was finally heading home. By his estimate, it would take him two to three weeks to leave the forest.

The five days passed without incident and Ryu maintained his flight. However, something caught his interested. A fight between the descendants of one of the “Kings” of the forest was happening less than a mile away from him.

Ryu inherited many detailed maps from Alexis that highlights the danger zones with powerful beings, some that even Alexis would avoid. On the Heaven Continent, there are six super danger zones. The Forbidden Forest is the largest with seven “kings”, it’s one fourth of the Lin Province that he’s in and one fourth of the Toko Province. Basically it’s roughly half the size of a province!

Another danger zone is the Illusionary Southern Sea, below the Yasha province, where a legendary creature resides. It’s also where the strongest swordsman, Musashi, was rumored to have fought a godly being to a standstill. Speaking of the “strongest” swordsman, he resides in a secluded mountain range marked as the Graveyard of Swords. The only danger zone besides Shaolin and Wudang, which is situated on top of neighboring mountains in the center of the continent, without any monstrous beasts. But this was only one man! Then there’s the Endless Labyrinth in the Feng Province and the Fiend Tower. Rumor has it that both contain god-like items beyond any men’s dreams but no one has successfully made it till the end to really know.

Ryu knows three of the seven kings. The Holy Pegasus, the Tyrant Grizzly, and the Saber Wolf. The other four were not mentioned in Alexis’s notes.

A lightning Saber Wolf, stood still on top of a rock staring at a rival. Electricity can be seen in its eyes and even the inner part of mouth is bright blue from the electricity generated within his body. The rival was a fire Saber Wolf, he looks exactly like his counterpart except his fur were on fire and each breath he takes shoots out a tiny flare.

Without a warning the fight started. The fire Saber Wolf charged forward with a roar but the lightning Saber Wolf disappeared with a blue flash. His speed was much faster, it’s as if his whole body transformed into lightning. Ryu understood why they were terrifying now, their teeth were meters long and everything in their path were cleanly cut. The fire Saber Wolf was getting overwhelmed by his opponent’s superior speed, dozens of cuts were all over his body. Suddenly he roared downwards towards the earth and everything around him combusted into flames.

In order to injure his opponent, he also injured himself. Interesting. Ryu was surprised at such tactics. The lightning Saber Wolf was caught in the large flame ranged attack and was severely damaged by it while his opponent took minimal damage since it’s his element.

Sigh, there’s always someone or something stronger out there. Ryu knew that even with his progress, he can’t hold a candle to any one of these wolfs. They were also not full grown adults too Ryu reckoned. According to records, the Saber Wolf King had three elements and over a hundred meters tall. These wolfs were roughly fifty meters tall.

The fight escalated and a destructive path that spanned over ten kilometers from the original location was carved out. Ryu carefully stayed over a kilometer away to observe. If he wasn’t in the air, he wouldn’t have dared to observe. All the creatures around this area had evacuated.

However, he noticed a small monkey was injured near his current location. Seeing its agonizing state, Ryu carefully lowered himself. If the two wolves decide to change directions, Ryu would definitely be in big trouble. He can’t take a direct hit from either of them. Just when he was two hundred meters away from the monkey, lightening blasts shot a few meters away from his head with Ryu being barely able to react. Ryu grabbed the monkey with his Qi and the rock beneath it also gave it a push to launch it towards Ryu’s retreating figure.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Man that was close. I can’t even tell what level they are on!” Ryu said to himself. He looked at the monkey he rescued. With a single thought, he took out a healing potion and fed it to the monkey. The monkey was only the length of his arm and had a deep cut on his back.

The effects of the bracelet must be wearing off. The aura emitted had waned over the passage of time and is only a fraction of what it was before. The beasts could no longer sense the bracelet’s Qi clearly, especially not during a battle.

After finishing the potion, the agonizing monkey finally calmed down. His wounds have started to heal due to the potion’s effect. Before Ryu could decide his next action, his vison became a blur and air was literally squeezed out of him. A gigantic hand had caught him.

“What do you think you are doing human?” A piecing voice shot out.

Ryu is focusing all his power on getting squeezed to death and couldn’t respond. The wings he had on his back expanded into a ball to defend him and it was all he could do to maintain it.

“Mommy, this boy saved me. Don’t hurt him! It was those bullies from the wolf clan.” A little boy’s voice rang out.

Slowly the crushing pressure disappeared.

“So you are the rumored “guest” of that person.” The piecing voice had transformed to a warm and curious one.

To Ryu’s shock after releasing his defense and dropping to the ground, he saw a towering beast the size of a small mountain. It was gigantic ape but the fur was white and it was clothed. Before Ryu could ask any questions, it spoke.

“Haha kid, take these Thousand Years Peaches as a thanks for saving my kid. I’ll have to have a talk with that old geezer about his two stupid kids. Fighting over a female and intruding into our territory.” The giant ape said while grabbing something out of her sack. Three enormous peaches that’s just a little bit over his height was presented to him. There was also a scroll.

Ryu tried to refuse but she was insistent.

“Human, this is a technique exclusive to our clan and these peaches are lifesaving medicines. Only a dozen grow every thousand years. It’ll heal almost any type of poison and increase your longevity by a few hundred years. This is important for people that are reaching the end of their life and need more time to make a breakthrough to the next domain to increase their lifespan. Not that you need it… you are more amazing than the rumor says…” She mused.

After giving Ryu some safe directions, she left while scolding her kid. Ryu realized that his estimates were far off and now that his protective charm has almost worn out, he had to double his efforts.

He summoned the wings on his back but this time flames were discharged from his hands and feet, Ryu shot forth like a streak of light. He couldn’t maintain this speed indefinitely so he had to take a break every few hours. During that time he would collect some herbs that he planned to give to his grandpa and friends.

In his new found knowledge, he learnt that the poison in his grandpa was from a level 20 spider. The Fire Lotus he gave right before he left is enough to suppress its icy venom for two years.  Knowing his teacher, she’ll most likely help him out after that. If not for the spiritual pill Ryu gave her, she’ll do it because she seems to have some sort of relationship with him in the past.

Three weeks has passed just like this. The monster levels finally dropped down to between thirty and forty. Ryu can’t help but be surprised how much land Alexis’s covered while carrying him when he was unconscious.

“He was above Emperor Domain… the difference is really like night and day.” Ryu sighed to himself. Although Ryu had improved at the speed of light, it had only been three years. Alexis and even the descendants of the Kings were many leagues above him still. His leveling speed had slowed down to a fraction compared to when he started his secluded training, by his estimate it’ll be a decade or two before he reaches Emperor Domain.

If people knew this they would either be shocked or they would want to slap him. The few people that do make it to that domain are all old men, middle aged at best. If Ryu reaches Emperor Domain, he’ll be able to keep his youth since aging drastically slows down starting from that domain. Girls would die of envy.

All of a sudden Ryu noticed three small dots been chased by a cluster of dots.

Could it be? Other humans at last!

As Ryu drew closer, he could see that two young girls no older than fifteen and an old man in his fifties were in the front while the pursuing group consisted of men in all ages from twenty to fifty. The latter had at least thirty men and were all armed. They were running inside a stone quarry.

Ryu originally decided to observe first but just as he was within ear range, he heard one of the men taunting while chasing.

“Haha don’t run little beauties, if you are obedient then we might just let you live after we are done with you.” A burly men with an obscene expression shouted.

Flop, Ryu descended right between the two groups. There was less than fifty meters in between the two groups at this point.

Everyone present froze. Where did this person come from? This was everyone’s question.

Without a word, Ryu flicked his hand and the two closest pursuers slammed into a wall of rocks.

“This is…” The old man accompanying the girls muttered.

“Leave if you know what’s good for you.” Ryu spoke casually but his voice was backed by a strong Qi which made it extremely intimidating as it echoed around the quarry.