Ascension of the Forsaken

Chapter 6: Jin Mu

Kael strode ahead, his gait relaxed almost lackadaisical though his purple eyes remained sharp. His Qi was humming in perfect sync with the world around him. The lingering traces of his battle against the Serpent's Fang disciples had already faded from his mind—none of them had been worthy of his full attention.

He had gained nothing from them. No challenge. No struggle. No true test of his abilities.

.He could feel it, the restless energy burning in his veins. His power was growing, but it wasn't enough. Not yet. The beasts had been weak. The cultivators had been weaker.

His growing hunger for battle was hardly being sated

Trailing behind him was Jin Mu who followed with cautious steps. He stared at Kael ahead curiosity and a little bit of apprehension in his eyes. He had questions but was hesitant in asking especially since Kaels demeanor did not seem like the friendly type.

Kael noticing this sighed, If you have something to say shoot. Stop acting like a pussy

Jin Mu grit his teeth.

Moments passed in silence; the tension thick between them.

"…You're not from any sect, are you?" Jin Mu finally asked.

Kael smirked. "What made you come to that conclusion?"

Well for one you are not in any sect robes and your attire looks quite erm... foreign. Secondly someone of your strength would be well known if you were part of a sect as which sect doesn't like bragging about its Geniuses

That's a good take and smart too. you are right im not part of any sect or force. Currently im an independent cultivator.

Jin Mu nodded in acknowledgement though the awe and curiosity in his eyes grew fiercer. I hope its no trouble but what is your current cultivation.

Kael didn't answer immediately. He could already sense Jin Mu's thoughts—the young cultivator had fought against those disciples and lost. Yet, he had just watched Kael effortlessly destroy enemies of the same level.

The implication was clear.

 I don't know

What do yo mean? I dont understand, how can a person not know their own cultivation

Believe it or not, I dont know and thats the truth. Besides thats one of the reasons i saved you. I have a severe lack of information and you are going to help me fill it

Could it be that you only just started cultivating?

Kael shrugged his shoulders who knows

Jin Mu exhaled sharply. " but your technique. Your power. The way you handled those serpent fang disciples, your demeanor as well. They show experience. So how.....""

"I've only just begun cultivating," Kael finally said, his voice laced with amusement.

Jin Mu stopped walking.

"…You're lying."

Kael turned, his gaze steady. "And why would I lie?" Believe it or not you are not remotely close to a level where I would have to lie. Anyway, believe what you will, it matters not.

Jin Mu's mouth went dry. He felt the power radiating from Kael, the terrifying confidence in his voice. If he had only just begun cultivating, then what did that make the rest of them? Insects?

Kael's smirk widened. "If my current feats and actions are enough to break your mind, you're better off returning to your sect right this moment."

Jin Mu snapped out of his daze, shaking his head quickly. "No. I—" He hesitated. "I owe you my life. I won't run."

'You can go truly, I would neither stop you nor hold it against you"

No, I may be many things but one thing I'm not is ungrateful, I always repay my debts

Kael studied him for a moment before turning away. Just then

A howl pierced the forest, sharp and haunting, carrying with it an unmistakable warning of danger. Kael’s ears caught the sound instantly, his body snapping to attention as he turned sharply in its direction. Without a word, he shot off, his movements fluid and effortless, leaving Jin Mu struggling to keep up.

Jin Mu, still recovering from his earlier ordeal, gritted his teeth as he pushed himself forward, desperate to match Kael’s pace. But no matter how hard he tried, the distance between them only grew. After a few grueling minutes, Kael suddenly came to a halt, his body unnervingly still.

A wild grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. "They’re here," he thought, his excitement palpable.

Emerging from the dense foliage were wolf-like creatures, their forms eerily similar to those he had encountered earlier, but there was something different about these beasts. They were larger, their muscles rippling under obsidian-black fur, and their glowing eyes gleamed with an unsettling intelligence—a cunning that promised a far deadlier challenge.

Kael’s sharp gaze swept over their positions, his mind instantly assessing the situation. He wasted no time. He had come here seeking a true battle, and these creatures would serve as a temporary reprieve for his growing hunger for combat.

He launched himself forward.

His first strike was devastating—a single punch, carrying the force of an armored vehicle at full speed, smashed into the skull of one beast. The creature’s head exploded in a gory mess, its body crumpling to the ground. Blood sprayed across the forest floor, but Kael was already moving.

Without missing a beat, he crouched low, his movements impossibly swift. His sweeping kick carved through the pack, sending multiple beasts hurtling into the air. Before they could even begin to fall, Kael leapt after them, his fists blurring as they unleashed a relentless barrage of punches.

Each strike was a masterpiece of precision and speed, delivering crushing blows to over ten beasts in the blink of an eye. The creatures' bodies were sent flying in every direction like ragdolls, their forms collapsing lifelessly as they hit the ground.

Kael twisted his torso just in time to avoid the claws of another beast, missing him by mere inches. The air itself seemed to tremble from the closeness of the attack, but Kael’s grin only widened. He pivoted, slamming his elbow into the creature's midsection with bone-shattering force. The beast’s body crumpled inward, its ribs collapsing like a crushed tin can before it shot backward, crashing through several trees.

The fight was chaos—raw, exhilarating chaos—and Kael was utterly immersed in it. Every movement, every strike, was a symphony of violence performed with effortless mastery. His amusement was unmistakable, the feral grin never leaving his face as he danced through the pack, dominating the battlefield with an ease that bordered on arrogance.

Jin Mu watched from the sidelines, his body frozen in place. His mouth hung open, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief. What Kael was doing defied all logic, all reason. It wasn’t just his strength—it was his sheer control, his unmatched speed, the way he flowed through the battlefield like a predator playing with its prey.

Jin Mu had seen strong cultivators before. He had witnessed battles that left him in awe. But this—this was something else entirely.

Kael didn’t just fight. He reveled in it.

For Jin Mu, this was a terrifying reminder of the gap that separated them. And yet, somewhere deep within him, awe flickered—a tiny ember of hope, of inspiration. If such power was possible, then perhaps…

But his thoughts were interrupted as Kael delivered one final, explosive blow. The last remaining beast, its body mangled beyond recognition, collapsed with a heavy thud.

Kael exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing as the wild energy around him subsided. He turned to glance at Jin Mu, a smirk playing on his lips as if daring him to say something.

Jin Mu swallowed hard, struggling to find his voice. What could he possibly say in the face of such overwhelming strength?

Kael chuckled, the sound low and dangerous. “Well,” he said, brushing the blood off his hands. “That was fun.”