The Heavenly Beast Forest was vast and sprawling, filled with towering ancient trees, each having lived for tens of thousands of years, their trunks impossibly thick.
By all logic, such ancient trees should have long since gained sentience. Yet, much like the Burial Grounds and the Divine Medicine Mountain Range, no matter how long these trees grew, they rarely awakened to intelligence. Even those few ancient trees that exhibited power remained dull-witted, as if lacking a true soul.
This was a strange phenomenon—this region seemed to suppress the spiritual awakening of its inhabitants.
**Rustle!**
At that moment, a verdant vine lashed out like a massive serpent, coiling toward Shi Hao with such force that the ground beneath it shattered.
The vine was enormous, as thick as a house, and at a glance, it resembled a sinuous dragon—lush green yet gnarled with age. With a thunderous crash, it obliterated the spot where Shi Hao had stood.
He dodged just in time, darting away at incredible speed. From a distance, he watched as the vine recoiled and settled back into stillness, coiling around a distant peak.
*”A Jade Flood Dragon Vine—a powerful species. Even a vine as thick as an arm can awaken ancestral imprints and cultivate. Yet, even this one is dull-witted.”* Shi Hao was astonished. This was supposed to be a divine vine!
**ROAR!**
A tiger’s roar shook the mountains. A colossal black tiger, as tall as a mountain, emerged with terrifying presence. Its four paws struck the earth, shattering the ground and toppling ancient trees.
A barren patch of land marked its usual territory—evidence of its frequent passage.
Thankfully, the Heavenly Beast Forest was vast. Any ordinary mountain range would have been unable to contain such a massive creature, whose mere movements could devastate entire landscapes.
Shi Hao tensed. This was undoubtedly a Heavenly Beast—a colossal ancient creature that had lived for eons, its strength at the pinnacle of the Dunyi Realm!
True Heavenly Beasts were ancient monsters that had survived for countless years, their power surpassing the Dunyi Realm, with some even reaching the Supreme level.
Otherwise, how could they dare bear the name *Heavenly Beast*?
This black tiger’s eyes burned crimson, filled with killing intent and the weight of endless years. It had lived far too long.
Shi Hao had already hidden himself, his presence as still as deadwood. He sighed inwardly—*What terrible luck. Barely entering the forest, and I’ve already encountered a Heavenly Beast.*
Yet, he also noticed something odd. The black tiger’s state was unnatural. Though its eyes were fierce and blood-red, they lacked true awareness, appearing almost vacant.
**ROAR!**
Another beast’s cry echoed in the distance—a challenge, a provocation.
The mountains trembled under the force of that sound.
The black tiger’s crimson eyes flared brighter. It raised its head and roared in response before transforming into a black lightning bolt, shattering a mountain ridge as it leaped into the sky, charging toward the source of the challenge.
*”Just as I thought. Whether it’s the Heavenly Beast Forest or the Divine Medicine Mountain Range, the intelligent creatures here seem to have their minds clouded. Otherwise, it might have detected me.”* Shi Hao exhaled in relief.
He had chosen the Heavenly Beast Forest knowing full well the risks—it was a place where survival was a miracle, given the overwhelming number of powerful creatures.
But there had been no other choice. The foreign cultivators had cut off all other escape routes, leaving this deadly forest as his only option.
At least, he could take solace in one thing—these Heavenly Beasts were mentally impaired, their senses dulled.
Shi Hao grew even more cautious. If this was just the beginning, how many greater horrors awaited deeper inside?
After moving far from the black tiger’s territory, he noticed an eerie silence in the forest—as if it lacked the usual presence of intelligent creatures, devoid of vitality.
*”What do these massive beasts even eat?”* he wondered.
Perhaps, at their level, they subsisted solely on the essence of heaven and earth. But did they not have descendants?
**SHING!**
Suddenly, Shi Hao’s hair stood on end. He barely managed to dodge a killing intent that sent chills down his spine.
**CLANG!**
Sparks flew as Shi Hao was sent flying, blood spraying from his mouth. The impact had nearly killed him.
Had he not been wearing the Thunder Emperor’s Armor, that strike would have pierced him clean through. The force was overwhelming, impossible to resist.
Even with the armor, his body cracked under the impact, flesh torn, bones fracturing.
This was terrifying. His physique was among the sturdiest of his generation, yet even with divine armor, he had been grievously wounded!
Rolling to a stop, Shi Hao swiftly drew the Great Luo Sword, ready to defend himself.
A purple rat, no larger than a palm, glared at him with beady, malicious eyes.
*”Damn it!”* Shi Hao’s heart sank. This rat had intelligence—not necessarily brilliant, but far more aware than the other creatures here.
A rat… at the Dunyi Realm!
*”A Heavenly Rat!”*
Recalling an ancient bone scripture’s records, Shi Hao recognized it—a rare species capable of stealing the fortunes of heaven and earth, growing to terrifying heights. They were known as Heavenly Rats, for at their peak, they rivaled true Heavenly Beasts.
Their only weakness was their slow reproduction. Otherwise, they would have been an unstoppable force.
*”You filthy rat, you ambushed me!”* Shi Hao spat.
He couldn’t help but laugh at himself. Even in danger, calling it a *filthy rat* felt oddly satisfying.
The rat bared its razor-sharp teeth, enraged.
*”Rarely do I regain clarity, but today, fortune smiles upon me. Perhaps I can use your body to escape this damned prison!”* the rat hissed.
Shi Hao found the situation absurd. His past opponents had all been majestic and imposing. Now, he was being threatened by a sneaky rat.
But the rat’s words also intrigued him. Did the Heavenly Beast Forest suppress their intelligence? Did they occasionally regain awareness?
*”What’s the secret of this place? Can you and the other Heavenly Beasts recover?”* Shi Hao asked, stepping back cautiously.
*”I’ll tell you, since you’ll need to know—to better preserve my new vessel.”* The rat’s eyes gleamed with greed as it eyed Shi Hao’s body.
*”Spit it out, rodent!”* Shi Hao snapped.
The rat’s whiskers twitched in fury. Despite its size, it was a Dunyi Realm expert—being mocked by a human brat was intolerable!
*”This forest is a prison. Stay too long, and you’ll be trapped forever. Your own flesh will become the cage for your soul.”*
The revelation was staggering. The Heavenly Beast Forest was a prison—and one’s own body could turn into a cage?
No wonder the rat coveted his body. After endless years, this was its fleeting chance at escape.
*”Dream on, you damned rat!”* Shi Hao roared, slashing with his sword in a blinding arc before bolting.
Fighting a Dunyi Realm beast was suicide—especially a crafty, ancient rat.
Thus began a humiliating chase. Never in his life had Shi Hao been pursued by a rat.
*”You cowardly vermin! Go pick a fight with the big guys if you’re so tough!”* he cursed as he fled.
He needed to leave this place fast—before his own mind was dulled, trapping him forever.
The rat’s eyes gleamed coldly. With a swipe of its claw, the attack expanded to the size of a small mountain, obliterating the terrain.
But then—**SQUEAK!**
The rat suddenly panicked, realizing it had overstepped.
A withered branch shot from the depths of the forest, wreathed in Dao aura and swirling with law fragments. The sight was horrifying.
**THUD!**
Despite its speed, the rat couldn’t escape. The branch impaled it mid-air, blood gushing as it shrieked in agony.
A Heavenly Beast—pinned like an insect. Shi Hao was stunned.
*”Did you hear that? Something’s happening!”*
Voices echoed from afar. Dozens of figures descended like lightning, landing in the forest.
*”Shi Hao! You actually dared enter the Heavenly Beast Forest? There’s no escape now!”* someone laughed.
They carried banners—foreign symbols. The worst-case scenario had unfolded.
Yet, Shi Hao didn’t flee. He frowned, silent.
*”Hah! And a dead rat? Don’t tell me you were fighting a rat, Shi Hao. How pathetic.”* A young man sneered.
*”Silence!”* an old woman barked, sensing something amiss. This place felt wrong—unnaturally so.
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