Mysterious Realm, Fantasy Forest

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, for passing the first trial on the Path of Cultivation!"

Chen Renfeng's consciousness returned, and he found himself in a void. Facing him stood a woman, no, a beautiful immortal.

"Where is this? Who are you?"

"The Immortal Realm! I am the Queen Mother of the West!"

"I'm dead, I transmigrated, System, where's my cheat?"

The immortal puffed out her chest, a Twin Fish Jade Pendant hanging from her neck. She threw her head back and laughed, "Idiot! This isn't some brainless fantasy novel, this is the real world, you're still alive!" Suddenly, her voluptuous body transformed into a leopard and lunged at Chen Renfeng.

"Ah!" Chen Renfeng was jolted awake by a sharp pain.

As his consciousness returned, he sat up abruptly, finding himself lying in grass that reached his knees.

His right palm throbbed with pain, a wound from being torn by the spatial vortex. He instinctively clenched his fist—it was empty!

The Twin Fish Jade Pendant was gone!

Chen Renfeng's heart tightened, and he immediately began frantically searching the surrounding grass. Nothing, absolutely nothing!

He suppressed the panic rising in his chest and looked around. Bai Xue and Chen Qing were nowhere to be seen. As far as his eyes could see, there was an endless expanse of unfamiliar weeds, and further in the distance, a thick, seemingly alive fog enshrouded everything.

"Bai Xue..."

"Chen Qing..."

"Where are you?"

He called out as he walked, his steps unsteady. No one answered. A sense of unease wrapped around his heart like vines.

He quickened his pace but stumbled on a slippery stone, falling face-first onto the ground.

"Ptooey!" He spat out a blade of grass, its taste bitter with a hint of fishiness. He pushed himself up, dusting the dirt off his hands.

"Hiss—!"

The wound on his right palm split open again, blood welling up and dripping onto the grass beneath him.

Something strange happened.

The moment his blood touched the ground, the surrounding fog was dispersed by an invisible force, receding like a tide and revealing the true appearance of this world.

A few hundred meters ahead lay a lake, its water an eerily vibrant sapphire blue. On the opposite bank of the lake stood a deep, mysterious forest, with towering, distorted trees. Further still, mountains were shrouded in a red haze.

This landscape was unlike any known terrain on Earth.

"Professor!" "Uncle Chen!"

Just then, Bai Xue and Chen Qing also ran out from behind them, gasping for breath.

Seeing the two young people unharmed, Chen Renfeng breathed a sigh of relief. "Are you both alright?"

"Uncle Chen, this place... it's so strange." Bai Xue looked around, clearly uneasy.

"Professor, where are we? Did we transmigrate through space?" Chen Qing's voice trembled slightly.

"I'm not sure, but it's definitely not the bottom of Fuxian Lake anymore," Chen Renfeng said gravely. "Our priority now is to find water and a safe shelter. Let's check out the lake, but be extremely careful."

He didn't mention the Queen Mother of the West from his dream, fearing they would worry.

Three reflections appeared in the clear lake. Chen Renfeng crouched down, about to drink.

"Quiet!" Bai Xue suddenly crouched down, pointing towards the opposite bank of the lake, her voice trembling, "There's a leopard!"

The three instantly held their breath and looked in the direction she pointed.

In the grass on the other side of the lake, a leopard was raising its head, its black eyes staring directly at them. Its eyes didn't look like those of a wild beast.

The standoff lasted only two seconds. The leopard swept them with a scrutinizing gaze, then turned and bolted towards the forest.

"Uncle Chen, what do we do?" Bai Xue asked warily.

"We can't stay here!" Chen Renfeng decided instantly. "Let's go to the other side, find some sturdy branches for defense, and follow the leopard's tracks. If it can survive here, it means this path is relatively safe!"

The three quickly waded through the shallow water to the opposite bank. The leopard had vanished. Chen Qing led the way, Bai Xue in the middle, and Chen Renfeng at the back, following the leopard's tracks on the ground.

Entering the forest, Chen Renfeng felt the air was very fresh. He took a deep breath, and the fatigue in his body seemed to vanish.

"Professor, I've never seen these trees before," Chen Qing asked.

Chen Renfeng also began to examine the forest.

The tree trunks were smooth and warm like jade, yet as hard as iron. The branches and leaves unfurled, emitting a faint spiritual light. Some trees bore fruit of various shapes, while others bloomed with colorful flowers.

"This place is like a fairy tale!" Bai Xue was captivated by the forest and stopped walking.

"Follow the leopard's tracks and stay alert!" Chen Renfeng urged in a low voice.

They continued onward.

A fruit fell from a tree. Chen Renfeng picked it up and, taking a risk, took a bite.

"Ptooey!" The fruit was very sour. He quickly spat it out, his tongue feeling numb. "The fruit is poisonous! Don't touch anything here!"

Suddenly, Chen Qing stopped, his voice trembling, "Pro... Professor! That leopard... it looked back just now, its face... its face looked like a woman's!"

The three looked ahead. The leopard, hidden in the dappled shadows of the trees, glanced back at them again—it was clearly still a leopard's face.

"Chen Qing, what time is it and you're still talking nonsense! What woman?" Bai Xue responded angrily, thinking Chen Qing was joking.

Chen Qing was speechless: "I… I really saw her!"

Chen Renfeng frowned, about to speak, when a sudden change occurred!

The jade-like tree trunks, luminous leaves, and even the dust motes in the air around them instantly condensed into dozens of mirror-smooth light screens! These screens were not inanimate; they came alive, beginning to project the deepest memories within their hearts!

Images of Chen Renfeng's impoverished youth, delivering food and packages, and hauling bricks at construction sites.

Chen Qing saw himself playing games at school, being notified by teachers to his parents, and being taken home.

"And, private scenes of Bai Xue and Chen Qing developing feelings for each other inside a tent after a field expedition, even including some shy moments, Bai… Da…"

"Ah!" Bai Xue shrieked, her usually cool and aloof face instantly flushing crimson, utterly ashamed.

Chen Qing's face was also red, and he angrily swung the wooden stick in his hand at a light screen. However, the stick passed through it as if it were an illusion; the screen remained motionless, still projecting the scenes that made him want to disappear.

"Hold your breath and focus! This forest can reflect the images in people's hearts and confuse their minds! Let's go!" Chen Renfeng shouted sternly.

Chen Qing and Bai Xue were somewhat dazed and did not obey his command.

Chen Renfeng realized this forest was no safe place and lingering would surely lead to disaster! He grabbed Chen Qing's arm and pulled Bai Xue's wrist, dragging them forward.

Branches scraped their clothes, their feet stumbled, and their hearts pounded. He dared not look at the mirrors again, fearing that one more glance would cause him to be consumed by the memories, emotions, and even desires they held.

Finally, as a bright light shone ahead, they rushed out of the strange forest.

Before them stood a mountain.

And at the cave entrance at the foot of the mountain, a leopard stood quietly.

This time, the three of Chen Renfeng saw it clearly—

It turned its head, and above its neck was a pale and beautiful human female face!

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, you have passed the second trial on the Path of Cultivation!" A woman's voice echoed in Chen Renfeng's ear.

"Don't run!" Chen Qing snapped out of his daze and roared, chasing after it recklessly.