In Grey’s mind, he saw the particles of Spirit energy slowly coming together and fusing. These particles were very small and hard to notice. And the fusion between these particles did not bring about a great change, but with each spirit energy particle that fused together and was absorbed by him, Grey felt his power slowly rise.
It was indiscernible and hardly anything special, but Grey felt that this small fusion that was happening silently within him, would continue until the change in his cultivation base could be felt.
This semi-conscious state lasted for several hours into the night. Soon, the night passed and Grey awoke. His eyes were bright and filled with a subtle radiance that could not be detected elsewhere. Waves of gentle energy speed out from him.
His cultivation at the Second Level of the Qi Accumulation realm was at it’s peak, and Grey could feel himself getting closing to the Third level.
As Grey let out a small sigh, he stood up and arranged his clothes and the small things that he had. A small pouch for keeping items lay by his side, and with a quick gesture, that small pouch was on Grey.
With a sway, Grey stood up and left the small cabin that had been his residence for the last two days.
As his feet touched the forest floor, Grey shivered when the cold wind seeped into his body through the floor. The red clouds casted a red glow over the world and dyed everywhere crimson.
Grey did not waste time and started moving. His body swayed like the wind and he disappeared in a flash. The power of the Second Level of Qi Accumulation ran through his veins and gave him energy that could not be described.
And like a shadow, Grey’s figure glided through the dense forest and crooked paths. As he ran, Grey noticed that some trails and paths looked familiar. In fact, he didn’t even need to move his body. It was as if he knew the direction he was going to. It was almost like an instinct.
However, Grey realized that this feeling of familiarity came from his memories. In truth, the previous Grey had run through this same forest with these same trails. He had learned how to avoid some certain areas and where not to go.
For instance, Grey avoided a seemingly clear patch of land, and instead threaded on the rough and dense undergrowth. Although he was very far off, Grey knew that if he passed that area, danger would fall upon him and he might not be able to survive.
’Even though the Grey in my memories was not too strong, he really knew his way around this dense forest. He must have explored the area for some time.’ Grey said inwardly. ’Its unfortunate, however, that he never made it outside the zone.’
With a small gesture, a small rock flew out of Grey’s hand and landed on some eerie looking vines. Those vines were red in color and emitted a stench of blood. There were nested in between some trees that had very large branches. Those branches were very long and the leaves on then were very wide that they blocked light from reaching the floor.
The red vines all wrapped around the trees in the area where there was no sunlight at all.
The moment the small rock closed in, the vines that were as thick as a man’s hand, suddenly moved and struck the rock in midair.
With a loud bang, the rock was blasted into smithereens that rained down all over. Grey’s expression paled when he saw this.
The speed at which the vine moved was so fast that his eyes could not even follow. He only saw a red blur, and in an instant, the rock was pulverized.
Grey avoided that area with caution on his face. His intuition told him to avoid that area with lack of light. That if he went there, he might not even know how he died.
As Grey circled around the area with the vines, the cold sweat that had drenched his back slowly stopped. And the tension in his chest also disappeared.
"This... the corroded zone is truly not a place where many can survive. Each area has its own rules, and there are dangers in each area. Just the corrosive substance alone is enough to test many. If we’re adding the bizzare creatures and abominations that roam the zone, then the chances of surviving... is very low." Grey mumbled quietly.
His expression remained the same, but the vigilance and cautiousness in his eyes did not reduce one bit. In fact, it even increased.
Slowly, time trickled by until the sun that was hidden by the clouds went down. The red sky gained a bloody hue as crimson painter each and every corner of the zone.
When the moon appeared, Grey realized that he had been going in circles and that he had not reached the edge of the corrodes zone at all.
The hard to navigate trails and paths were very misleading that Grey did not know whether he was heading deeper into the corrosive zone, or whether he was going further.
In exhaustion, Grey decided to rest by the side of another abandoned building. This building was very small and looked like it might have been a shed before. But after months of unpredictable climate and corrosion, it’s structual integrity had fell and it was reduced to nothing but broken blocks and other scraps.
But Grey didn’t have time to be picky, with caution, he entered the small shed and closed the door. But as he turned around to inspect it’s interior, his pupils suddenly contracted and Grey quickly retreated.
**☺️😉**