The rain had slowed.
Not stopped.
But softer now.
Like the forest itself was calming after the chaos.
Li Tian stood outside the small wooden hut, his sword resting loosely in his hand.
The bodies of the two hunters lay still at his feet.
Blood slowly mixed into the wet soil.
But this time—
He didn't feel shaken.
Didn't feel like collapsing.
His breathing remained steady.
His grip remained firm.
This…
Was new.
Behind him, the woman stepped out of the hut.
Her eyes moved from the bodies to Li Tian.
"You adapted faster than I expected," she said quietly.
Li Tian didn't turn.
His gaze remained on the dark forest ahead.
"They won't stop," he said.
"Not until I'm dead."
The woman nodded slightly.
"Or captured."
Li Tian's jaw tightened.
Captured…
That word alone carried a weight worse than death.
He had already seen what awaited him if he was taken alive.
"No," he said firmly.
"That won't happen again."
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Meaningful.
The woman studied him for a moment before speaking again.
"You're not from this forest."
"Nor are you a hunter."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"And you're definitely not normal."
Li Tian let out a faint breath.
"No."
A pause.
"None of that matters right now."
He finally turned toward her.
His eyes calm.
Focused.
"What matters is this—"
"They're coming."
Almost as if summoned by his words—
Distant voices echoed again.
Faint.
But clear.
"They're close!"
"Check every direction!"
"Don't let him escape again!"
The woman clicked her tongue softly.
"Persistent."
Li Tian looked around.
Quickly.
Calmly.
His mind no longer clouded by panic.
Thinking.
Analyzing.
Adapting.
The system flickered.
[New directive available]
[Choose Path: Survival / Growth]
Li Tian froze for a brief moment.
Choose… path?
So this was it.
A decision point.
If he chose survival—
He would keep running.
Keep hiding.
Barely staying alive.
If he chose growth—
He would have to face danger.
Take risks.
Grow stronger.
Faster.
At a higher cost.
His fingers tightened slightly.
Running…
Was safe.
Relatively.
But—
Not forever.
Zhao Yun would not stop.
The hunters would not stop.
The system would not allow him to remain weak.
Then—
There was only one answer.
"…Growth."
The system pulsed.
[Path selected: Growth]
[New requirement: Hunt to evolve]
[Warning: Failure will result in death]
Li Tian's eyes darkened slightly.
Of course…
There was always a price.
The woman watched him carefully.
"You just made a decision," she said.
Not a question.
A statement.
Li Tian nodded.
"Yes."
"What kind?"
"The kind where I stop running."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Then you'll die faster."
"Maybe."
Li Tian's lips curved faintly.
"But I'll die moving forward."
The woman stayed silent for a moment.
Then—
She sighed softly.
"…You're troublesome."
Li Tian almost smiled.
"I've been told that before."
The voices grew louder.
Closer.
No more time.
Li Tian looked at her.
"You should leave."
She raised an eyebrow.
"And you?"
"I'll stay."
Her expression changed slightly.
"You plan to fight all of them?"
"No."
A pause.
"Just enough."
The woman stared at him.
Trying to understand.
Then—
She nodded once.
"Fine."
She stepped back slightly.
"But if you die—"
"I won't," Li Tian interrupted calmly.
Not arrogance.
Not overconfidence.
Just… certainty.
Or maybe stubbornness.
The first group of hunters emerged through the trees.
Four of them.
Armed.
Alert.
They spotted him instantly.
"There!"
"No escape this time!"
They spread out.
Surrounding him.
Careful.
No reckless moves.
Li Tian took a slow breath.
His body relaxed slightly.
Not tense.
Not panicked.
Ready.
The system pulsed faintly.
[Growth Path active]
[Target acquired]
[Absorb to strengthen]
The hunters moved.
Simultaneously.
One from the front.
Two from the sides.
One holding back.
Li Tian watched.
Calm.
Focused.
The first strike came.
Fast.
Direct.
He stepped slightly to the side.
Just enough.
The blade passed.
He grabbed the attacker's arm—
Controlled.
Precise.
No wasted movement.
Then—
Absorption.
[Controlled Absorption]
The flow was smooth.
Clean.
No explosion.
No chaos.
The hunter's strength dropped.
Li Tian moved instantly.
Sword forward.
THUD.
One down.
The others reacted.
Faster now.
More aggressive.
Li Tian didn't retreat.
He stepped forward again.
Inside their formation.
Breaking it.
One of them swung wildly.
Li Tian ducked.
Too close.
He slammed his elbow into the man's ribs.
CRACK.
The hunter staggered.
Li Tian followed immediately.
No pause.
No hesitation.
Strike.
THUD.
Another down.
The remaining two froze for a moment.
Shock.
Fear.
"He's changed…"
One whispered.
Li Tian stood there.
Breathing steady.
Eyes calm.
"No…"
He said quietly.
"I'm just getting started."
They attacked together.
Desperate.
Li Tian moved.
Fluid.
Not perfect.
But controlled.
Each step calculated.
Each strike deliberate.
No wasted energy.
No reckless moves.
Within moments—
It was over.
Silence returned to the forest.
Four bodies.
Still.
Cold.
Li Tian stood alone.
His chest rising slowly.
Not collapsing.
Not shaking.
Just… standing.
The system pulsed again.
[Growth Path Progress: Initiated]
[Strength increased: Minor]
[Control stability improved]
A faint smile appeared.
Small.
But real.
This was different.
This was growth.
Behind him, the woman watched silently.
"You've crossed a line," she said.
Li Tian nodded.
"Yes."
"And you won't be able to go back."
He looked at his hands.
Then at the forest.
Then into the distance.
Where Zhao Yun waited.
"No," he said softly.
"I don't plan to."
The rain stopped.
Completely.
For the first time—
The sky above the forest was silent.
But the storm—
Was far from over.
🔥 The Dragon's Ancestral Legacy 🔥