Chapter 168: The Tunnel to a Forest
Shen trudged down the hidden staircase.
Every step sent fresh complaints through his starving body.
His stomach felt like an empty cavern echoing with betrayal.
Two whole days.
Not even a crumb.
If this was supposed to be divine training,
the gods clearly forgot the room service package.
Lare zipped around his shoulder like an anxious firefly.
"Shen, I'm serious!"
"Your face is starting to look like a dried-up spirit fruit itself."
"We need food before you collapse and become another dusty statue in this creepy palace!"
Shen let out a weak chuckle.
He wiped sweat from his brow.
"Relax, Lare."
"I'm a god, remember?
"Gods don't collapse."
"We just… dramatically weaken in extremely inconvenient ways."
"Yeah, well this god is about to dramatically faint into a pile of dramatic regret," Lare shot back.
He crossed his tiny arms.
"And when you do, I'm drawing a mustache on your face with cave dust."
"Fair warning."
The lower floors blurred past.
Empty storage rooms.
Silent libraries.
Dried-up gardens.
Then, on what Shen guessed was floor 16 or 17, the air shifted.
A cool, earthy breeze brushed his face.
It carried the impossible scent of living greenery.
The passageway widened into a long, narrow tunnel carved from raw stone.
Soft teal moss glowed along the walls.
It lit their path like nature's cheap lanterns.
Shen paused at the entrance.
"This tunnel definitely wasn't here last time.
"
"The cave is messing with us."
Lare floated ahead, then zipped back so fast he nearly collided with Shen's nose.
"It feels… alive."
"Like the whole place is yawning and stretching just for you."
"Creepy, right?"
"Or maybe it's just happy we're finally bringing some entertainment."
With a resigned sigh, Shen stepped inside.
The slope gently descended.
Rough rock gradually gave way to patches of rich soil.
Creeping vines looked far too healthy for an underground hell.
The distant rustle of leaves reached his ears.
It was soft and teasing.
His stomach answered with a loud, theatrical growl.
It echoed down the tunnel like a monster's roar.
Lare burst out laughing.
"See?"
"Even your belly is filing a formal complaint!"
"'Dear Shen, we demand tribute in the form of food or we will mutiny.'"
"Shut up, tiny," Shen grumbled.
A reluctant grin tugged at his lips.
"If we die down here, at least your last words will be sarcasm."
The tunnel ended abruptly at a jagged natural opening.
Beyond it lay something that made both of them freeze in stunned silence.
An enormous underground forest.
Towering trees with shimmering silver-white bark stretched upward into darkness.
Their leaves glowed with soft inner light like living stars.
Thick, twisting roots carpeted the ground.
Clusters of vibrant flowers pulsed with violet, emerald, and golden hues.
In the distance, a crystal-clear stream trickled over smooth stones
Its water faintly sparkling with latent mana.
Shen blinked hard.
"A… forest?"
"Inside a cave?"
"What kind of broken dungeon is this?"
Lare hovered forward.
His eyes sparkled with awe before narrowing in suspicion.
"This is next-level spirit realm nonsense."
"The energy here is so thick I can almost taste it."
"Those glowing berries look delicious…"
"But in light novels, glowing stuff is either ultimate power-up or 'congratulations, you're now cursed forever.'"
"Fifty-fifty odds."
Shen took a cautious step onto the soft moss.
The moment his boot touched the ground, a low, melodic hum vibrated through the air.
The trees seemed to lean slightly toward him.
Leaves rustling as if whispering secrets.
Or sizing up their next meal.
His stomach growled again.
Even louder this time.
Almost comically desperate.
Food.
Actual, real food.
Finally.
But the relief was short-lived.
A darker thought slithered in.
The voice said training continues tomorrow.
If this forest is part of the trial, then nothing here comes without a price.
He drew his sword halfway.
Pure Identity flickered faintly at his fingertips like a sleepy golden flame.
"Stay close, Lare."
"We're here for supplies…"
"But eyes open."
"This place feels like it's watching us back."
They ventured deeper.
The stream's gentle murmur mixed with the soft rustle of leaves.
Plump, luminous berries hung invitingly from low branches.
They practically begged to be picked.
Shen reached out toward the nearest cluster.
A sudden faint rustle sounded right behind him.
He spun around.
Sword half-drawn.
Nothing but swaying trees.
Lare floated up to Shen's ear and whispered dramatically.
"Okay, that was creepy."
"If a wooden doll jumps out wearing a 'Welcome to Dinner' sign, I'm blaming you for jinxing us."
Shen snorted despite the tension.
"If it does, I'll throw you at it first."
"Tiny distraction tactic."
"Hey! Rude!"
"I'm valuable emotional support, not emergency bait!"
Somewhere in the silver-lit depths of the forest, multiple small pairs of azure eyes slowly opened in the shadows.
They glowed with the same cold light as the shattered doll far above.
The cave was no longer just a prison
It was alive.
And it was smiling.