In a perfect world, you start by relying on your own strength.

Thick fog billowed and rose from the mountains, and a dense, ominous aura surged into the sky, creating an oppressive atmosphere.

A deafening roar shook the surrounding area, and without warning, several towering, barren mountains collapsed. Grayish-brown dust billowed into the sky, obscuring half the horizon; the scene was breathtaking.

The earth cracked wildly along the mountain's contours, spreading out deep ravines and fissures wide and deep enough to swallow the entire mountain peak, the dark gapes stretching as far as the eye could see.

Amidst the chaos, a gigantic claw covered in blue scales slowly emerged from a crack in the ground. The claw was as thick as a mountain, its scales cold and hard. Several thick, crimson chains were tightly bound to the claw's arm, their shafts deeply embedded in its flesh, locking the behemoth in place. The chains rattled and vibrated with a constant clanging sound.

Xiao Bai suddenly stopped in his tracks, his strong limbs trembling slightly, and his clear, crystal-like eyes filled with fear.

The ancient, ferocious power emanating from the abyss was extremely intimidating. Even through the thick layers of earth, it still instilled a sense of instinctive fear in the naturally perceptive beast. It subconsciously shrank back, letting out a soft, uneasy growl from its throat.

Shi Geng raised his hand and gently stroked Xiao Bai's head, his warm breath flowing out slowly, soothing the beast's fear.

As Xiaobai gradually calmed down, he turned to look at the giant blue claw emerging from the crack, his expression becoming increasingly serious.

The giant claw's scales were ancient and thick, etched with the mottled marks of time, with crimson chains deeply embedded in its flesh, firmly binding it. Despite being sealed for so long, a vast and ancient aura continued to surge from the earth, causing even the air currents to distort slightly under the impact of this force.

It is not hard to see that what is suppressed beneath the mountains is no ordinary ferocious beast, but a terrifying creature that has survived for a long time.

There must have been a fierce battle in the past, which is why the mountain strata and the binding chains were used to imprison this powerful creature here.

Shi Geng stared intently at the deep, dark crack, and without the slightest hesitation, immediately turned and retreated.

What was revealed just now was merely a fragment of a beast's claw, yet its size already surpassed that of mountains. It's not hard to imagine how terrifyingly enormous the true form lurking beneath the rift must be. With his current strength, venturing in recklessly would undoubtedly lead to immense horror.

Fortunately, the terrifying creature was bound by its restraints. After several unsuccessful and violent struggles, its massive body slowly sank and disappeared completely into the depths of the earth. The surrounding mountains were scarred and devastated, and the lingering power of the tremor still remained in the entire world.

The man and the beast raced for over a hundred miles before Shi Geng's tense body gradually relaxed, and the pent-up frustration in his chest dissipated slightly.

The creature he had just encountered was truly terrifying. He had never approached it, but merely gazed at it from afar, yet a heavy and intimidating pressure still washed over him.

A sharp warning kept ringing in his mind, urging him to flee far away, as if getting even slightly closer would plunge him into danger.

The little white dog beneath him was panting heavily, its limbs trembling slightly, clearly also intimidated by the aura it had just exuded.

"The Great Wilderness is truly treacherous and unpredictable. We've only been away from Stone Village for a short time, and we've already encountered such a terrifying creature."

Shi Geng was still shaken, raising his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. He turned to look at the vast, misty mountains behind him, the suffocating sense of oppression still lingering in his mind, and a hint of fear was hard to hide in his eyes.

He had only traveled a few thousand miles from Stone Village, yet he had already encountered such a terrifying creature. If he continued on his journey, he would inevitably face even more unknown dangers.

This journey will be fraught with difficulties, and dangers are bound to follow.

Even though the road ahead was fraught with difficulties, Shi Geng never entertained the thought of turning back. He knew that true strength could not be cultivated in a comfortable and smooth environment, and that pride and sharpness could not be nurtured in a greenhouse.

Only by undergoing the baptism of blood and fire, and tempering one's body and mind through repeated trials of life and death, can one forge an indestructible and invincible Dao heart.

He concealed the apprehension in his eyes, his previously tense expression gradually becoming calm and resolute. Gazing at the vast, endless wilderness in the distance, his eyes showed no sign of retreat; instead, a soaring fighting spirit ignited within him, urging the unicorn beneath him to continue onward.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye. Little White's speed was extraordinary, and it could travel tens of thousands of miles in a single day. The man and the beast traveled towards the direction of sunrise, having already traversed tens of thousands of miles.

But along the way, they didn't even encounter a single human tribe, let alone leave the Great Wilderness.

This is enough to give a glimpse into how vast and expansive the Great Wilderness is.

The Great Wilderness is merely a corner of the desolate lower realm. The entire lower realm contains eight regions as vast as the desolate wilderness. Ordinary mortals could spend their entire lives trying to traverse any one of them.

As Shi Geng rode on Xiao Bai's back, he looked up at the endless, desolate wilderness and couldn't help but marvel at the vastness of the world. He also became increasingly aware of the immensity of the world he lived in and his own insignificance.

Along the way, fierce battles were inevitable. He encountered many ferocious beasts and strange creatures. Some of his opponents were easily crushed and defeated by his strength, while several powerful beasts were able to fight him to a standstill. There were also many hidden dangers, which he sensed in advance with his powerful mind and avoided at a distance.

After several battles and rampages, Shi Geng's animal skin clothes were torn to shreds by sharp claws and teeth, and his body was covered with cracks.

His animal hide was stained with mottled blood, some of it the dark red blood gushing from ferocious beasts, and others from the wounds he had sustained in battle. His hair was disheveled, and he was covered in dust, looking like a wild man, utterly wretched.

But his eyes alone had lost their initial peaceful and gentle quality. After experiencing life and death, they had become clearer and sharper, their light shining brightly, revealing an indomitable tenacity and an increasingly powerful edge, fully displaying the spirit that had endured hardships.

His cultivation level remained at 200,000 jin in the Blood Transport Realm, and his physical strength had not been able to break through again, so his realm seemed to have stagnated.

But his soul underwent numerous trials and tribulations, undergoing a transformative baptism. Previously, he had been living in Stone Village, with the powerful Willow God protecting him, ensuring a safe and worry-free environment, which inevitably made him feel a sense of reliance.

But everything changed after he ventured alone into the wilderness. With no one to help him, the road ahead was fraught with danger, and lurking threats were everywhere. From day to night, he had to be constantly vigilant about his surroundings, and when he encountered peril, there was no one he could rely on. He had to face all the predicaments alone and find his own way out.

Fighting for survival alone like this, all the reliance I once had in my heart vanished, my temperament became more calm and reserved, and my will was tempered into a more resilient and profound state through repeated desperate situations.

A fierce wind howled across the wilderness, swirling pebbles and withered branches across the ground.

Shi Geng raised his hand to stretch his muscles and bones, which crackled and popped. He looked down at his arms, which were covered with wounds, old and new scars intertwined on his skin, all marks left by days of fighting.