Horizon Strider

Early morning, Mount Dayan was silent as a Hunter Squad advanced deeper into the mountains.

Wild pheasants and rabbits occasionally darted out from the thorny forests along the outskirts. Because of Wolf King's Rampage some days ago, many deep-mountain beasts had fled about like mad, and the animals on the outskirts had increased considerably as a result.

Thanks to that, today's haul was quite substantial as well.

"Stay sharp!" Teng Qingshan said in a low voice. This area was already a dangerous region deep in the mountains. Wreckage and bloodstains lay everywhere. A few days ago, Teng Village had encountered Wolf King's Rampage here and lost the lives of five good men.

Around noon.

Deep within Mount Dayan, a group of hunters from Teng Village were roasting a Mane Wolf near a water source.

The Nine Cauldrons World had relatively abundant Spiritual Qi. Not only did extraordinary creatures like Demon Beasts exist here, but even ordinary ferocious beasts were much larger than their counterparts on Blue Star.

Take this Mane Wolf, for instance. In Blue Star's wilderness, one would at most stand seventy or eighty centimeters tall and weigh fifty or sixty jin. Yet this Mane Wolf stood over a meter tall and weighed more than a hundred jin.

Teng Qingshan narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the surroundings, guarding against any danger that might appear. Wilderness survival was something every assassin had to learn. In his previous life, Teng Qingshan had been a top assassin on another Blue Star, with wilderness survival skills fully maxed out.

Even though everyone was resting, Teng Qingshan didn't dare let his guard down. Experience could deceive people. Wolf King's Rampage, which had suddenly surrounded them that day, was the best example. If Teng Qingshan hadn't turned the tide, Teng Village's Hunter Squad might have perished in these mountains.

"Qingshan, what are you thinking about?"

Teng Qinghu, who wore a simple and honest expression, came over to Teng Qingshan and handed him a roasted wolf leg.

Teng Qingshan accepted the wolf leg, which was nearly half his height, and took a huge bite. Chewing, he said, "I'm thinking about where we can hunt large prey. It'd be great if we could find wild boars.

Wild boars are large and their meat is good. One wild boar weighs several hundred jin. With two or three of them, the village's meat supply would be settled for several days. But Wolf King's Rampage has already disrupted the ecosystem around Mount Dayan's outskirts. Those large prey animals will probably be hard to find."

Teng Qingshan's concerns weren't without reason. Wolf King's Rampage involved hundreds of wild wolves moving together. Forget ordinary beasts—even typical Demon Beasts could only keep their distance when they encountered them.

Mountain beasts were far better than humans at seeking advantages and avoiding danger. Most large predators that remained in their original habitats had probably already died. Those still alive likely wouldn't stay on their old territory either.

Therefore, trying to find herds of beasts according to old experience would be extremely difficult.

"Hey, Qingshan, I understand what you're saying, but what exactly is an ecosystem?"

Gu Sheng scratched his head and asked with a foolish grin. Although Gu Sheng, who came from Blue Star, certainly knew such things, the honest mountain villager Teng Qinghu didn't!

If he was putting on an act, he had to carry it through. He was Teng Qinghu now and had to fit Teng Qinghu's persona. Otherwise, if he aroused Teng Qingshan's suspicions, then... After all, this man had been a top assassin on another Blue Star. Observation skills and the like were basic fundamentals for him.

"An ecosystem? It's..."

Teng Qingshan froze for a moment, then explained with a smile. He realized he had gotten confused too. How could his cousin in this world know about something like that? Maybe he was overthinking it.

Gu Sheng suddenly lowered his voice again. "Um, Qingshan, I want to tell you something!"

Teng Qingshan responded, "Go ahead, Cousin."

Gu Sheng glanced at the Teng clansmen chatting and laughing around them, then lowered his voice. "I want to leave the Hunter Squad alone and look for beasts!"

"Are you crazy?!"

Teng Qingshan's expression immediately turned cold. "Do I need to tell an old hunter like you how dangerous Mount Dayan is? Last time, there were thirty-two of us. What about now?"

"Qingshan, listen to me. I'm not acting on impulse."

As Gu Sheng spoke, he grabbed Teng Qingshan's forearm with his right hand. Inner Force surged out like a tidal wave, but Teng Qingshan's forearm trembled once and easily dispersed the Inner Force Gu Sheng had sent over.

"This is... Inner Force!"

Surprise and shock appeared on Teng Qingshan's face. No one knew better than him how difficult it was to cultivate Inner Force through Internal Fist. It wasn't impossibly difficult, but one at least had to gain entry into Internal Fist.

And gaining entry into Internal Fist was no easy task. Even Teng Qingshan himself had spent over a month back then before he... But Teng Qinghu? He had studied Internal Fist under Teng Qingshan for less than ten days!

Teng Qinghu said in a low voice, "When I practice this Tiger Form Fist, I feel especially smooth and comfortable. After combining it with the breathing-control method you taught me, I felt this force appear inside my body.

And after coming to Mount Dayan, I found that I had a feeling, as if something was telling me to go alone. It would help me practice martial arts. So, Qingshan, just let me go!"

"Is that so?"

Teng Qingshan began to wonder. Cousin is exceptionally gifted. When he was nine, he could carry a three-hundred-jin stone lock. In ancient times, he'd have been a great general with the talent of Li Yuanba. It makes sense that he'd enter Internal Fist so quickly.

As for that feeling he mentioned, could it be the sudden intuition people often spoke of in his past life? If so, this might be a fortunate opportunity for him... But the mountains are so dangerous. Letting him go alone still doesn't sit right with me!

"Cousin, come with me for a moment!"

After thinking for a while, Teng Qingshan led Teng Qinghu to a secluded corner. "I can let you go, but first, learn another footwork technique I'm going to teach you. Also, you must reach Tian Cang Slope and meet up with us by dusk at the latest."

"Qingshan, I'll listen to you."

Teng Qinghu patted his chest as he responded. Inside, he was already overjoyed. Wasn't this what they called a heavenly start? As someone close to the protagonist Teng Qingshan, Teng Qinghu found it far too easy to complete side quests.

"Listen carefully..."

Teng Qingshan assumed a stance. As he slowly moved his feet, he explained the key principles of the technique.

"Ding!"

A notification sounded.

"Obtained martial art: Horizon Strider. After learning it, personal Conquest Progress will increase by 0.01%."

Horizon Strider

Type: Movement Technique

Quality: B-rank technique (four stars)

Notice: This skill has not been authenticated. It may only be used in this world and cannot be brought back to Lord God Space.

Authentication required: 1,000 points and one Bronze Medal

"Ding-ling!"

Another notification sounded. "System notification: Host has used 10 Luck Points and successfully gained entry into the movement technique Horizon Strider."

Gu Sheng felt countless hazy figures flash through his mind. As he carefully observed their footwork, Gu Sheng quickly mastered the Horizon Strider movement technique. This gave Teng Qingshan, standing beside him, quite a fright. He hadn't expected his cousin to be such a martial arts prodigy.

However, he didn't pay too much attention to it. Movement techniques differed from mental cultivation methods and training methods. As long as one grasped the trick, they could quickly learn to use them. That was why Teng Qingshan had decided to teach him on the spot.