I am the Dao Ancestor

Ling Hao's footsteps fell silently on the cold, moss-covered earth as he crept deeper into the Crimson Wood Forest. The air was thick, heavy with an eerie sense of foreboding, a feeling that scraped at his nerves. In the shadows of the towering crimson trees, even the slightest sound felt magnified, an odd rustling of leaves, the snap of twigs beneath his feet—a far cry from the peaceful, meditative environment of Peach Blossom Peak.

His hand gripped the hilt of his sword. The blade hummed faintly, responsive to his Qi, as if it, too, could feel the charge in the air, brimming with the danger that waited ahead. Ling Hao didn't expect a quick, easy fight. No, this would be a true test—a fight for survival, his first real demon-slaying mission. It had come far too soon for his liking, but that was his reality now.

The trees grew dense around him, the ominous shadows seeming to close in. The red leaves that coated the ground crunched underfoot, but even their normal crisp sounds felt like a message in the otherwise oppressive silence.

Ling Hao's eyes darted to the sides as he listened intently. He had already detected the presence of the Demon Claw Boar moments ago, and it was getting closer.

The beast's roar had echoed through the forest from a distance, but now he could feel its power radiating closer—fiery, unrelenting.

Gritting his teeth, Ling Hao focused on regulating his breathing, calming the excitement building in his chest. He knew he was no stranger to danger, and though the odds were steep, he had confidence in his progress since entering the Azure Sky Sect. His physical strength had skyrocketed with his advancement to the Foundation Establishment Realm. He now had mastery over his body's physical power, and his sword technique was a work in progress, though not without promise.

His legs tensed, and he moved quickly, making his way through the forest with swift and silent steps. He had learned the essentials of stealth and the concept of blending into his surroundings, and right now, he had to rely on those skills to stay out of sight.

The Demon Claw Boar was a hulking creature—a brute. It was far more than just an oversized wild boar. Its body was a mass of muscle, with fur as dark as the night, except for the wicked, crimson claws that jutted from its massive legs. Each step the beast made shook the ground beneath Ling Hao's feet, the air becoming charged with a sense of wild unpredictability, primal and potent.

Ling Hao swallowed hard, adjusting his grip on the sword. "Be calm. Trust in yourself, trust in your training," he murmured under his breath. Despite his inner resolve, the certainty of what was ahead still buzzed at the back of his mind. But fear would be his downfall.

Ahead of him, he finally saw it—a flash of motion. The Demon Claw Boar came into view through the foliage, a massive form that moved with surprising speed for something so cumbersome. The creature was almost twice the size of a normal boar, with muscles bulging under its dark fur. Its eyes gleamed with an unnerving intelligence, and there was no mistake—it had already sensed Ling Hao's presence.

The boar's claws scraped against the stone as it snorted loudly, sending clouds of dirt into the air as its tusks gleamed under the moonlight. Its presence dominated the clearing as it snorted a challenge into the night. Its roar shook the very ground, but Ling Hao's mind was clear as day.

He wasn't just a mere disciple anymore. This mission was his test.

With his Qi flowing steadily through his body, Ling Hao didn't hesitate for a moment. "Now!" he called within his heart, pushing all doubt aside. He gathered the might in his legs, launching himself forward, springing from the earth with incredible speed toward the beast.

The moment the boar's gaze settled on him, its eyes widened and it grunted—a rumbling sound that nearly sent the trees shaking. Without warning, the Demon Claw Boar swung one of its thick forelimbs, a clawed swipe meant to cleave through flesh.

Ling Hao sidestepped, letting the weapon whoosh dangerously close. His movements were a blur as he twisted around, narrowly escaping the boar's vicious attack. He used the momentum to dive into the air, his sword raised above his head.

The Demon Claw Boar didn't give him a moment's respite. It turned its hulking body with a low growl, swinging its claws again, this time with a deafening force that tore through the air toward Ling Hao. Its speed was incredible, more so than he had expected from such a massive creature, and that made his instincts race with danger.

He needed to be faster. Focused.

Ling Hao gathered his Qi once more, directing it into his sword. As the clawed strike came towards him, he arched his body backward with unimaginable grace. The boar's claws barely grazed his robes, but its momentum forced him to retreat, just enough to keep his feet from being grounded.

As the boar's form reared back in preparation to charge again, Ling Hao's eyes hardened. He could sense the flow of his Qi—stronger, yet steady—through his body. His movement was a blur as he struck forward, each step purposeful and filled with speed.

In a fluid motion, he landed a decisive blow, sending his sword into the beast's exposed side. The Demon Claw Boar let out a horrifying, guttural roar, but it didn't fall immediately. Blood spilled, dark and thick, over its wounds, and a deep crack in its iron-like hide remained. Ling Hao, disoriented by the force of his strike but knowing he couldn't stop now, darted back.

The boar was enraged—furious. It charged again, its form almost a blur as its crimson claws raked through the earth and trees alike. Ling Hao's sword remained tight in his grip, the fierce will to win surging through his veins. His form dodged between trees, using them as cover and sidestepping the boar's attacking claws.

The thing that made it so dangerous wasn't just its physical might. It was its monstrous endurance. No matter how many times he struck it, the boar wouldn't back down. There was a moment when Ling Hao almost miscalculated—when he wasn't fast enough to avoid the monster's vicious tusks aiming straight for him. But, the spirit of survival broke through, and he summoned the last ounce of his physical strength.

The sword flickered in the air like a streak of light, rising like a phoenix.

With a sound of cracking bones and shrieking fury, Ling Hao twisted in the air, pivoting just enough to drive the sword deep into the boar's skull. Victory was sealed.

The demon fell. The once-terrorizing creature collapsed with a tremendous crash into the forest ground, the colossal impact resounding through the woods as its final breath escaped in a long, rattling wheeze.

Ling Hao lowered his blade and breathed deeply, panting from exhaustion. His body was strained from the fight—tired, yet it didn't shake. With sheer willpower, he refused to let himself falter now, no matter how taxed his body was.

He'd done it.

"Not bad." Ling Hao's voice barely reached his ears through the adrenaline, but his heart was still in his chest, thudding hard.

He stood tall over the fallen Demon Claw Boar, chest swelling with pride. The Qi flowing through his body now surged more powerfully than before, yet it didn't overwhelm him. He felt a new strength surging within, empowering him with each breath.

Ling Hao returned to the body of the Demon Claw Boar, plucking out a single massive claw as proof of his conquest. He wouldn't return empty-handed.

He took a deep breath, letting it settle in—his first blood had been spilled and the mission was done. It was a reminder that each trial he faced only made him stronger. Not just as a disciple—but as the force he was destined to become.

In that moment, the weight of what he had accomplished didn't matter. He could still feel the fire within his heart, burning ever brighter, urging him forward. The road ahead was still long, but Ling Hao would walk it proudly. He had set foot on the path of greatness. And nothing—no force in this world—could stop him now.

He turned on his heel and set his eyes on the distant horizon.