Shen Hao stood at the entrance of the Monster Hunter Guild… and quietly questioned every decision that had brought him to this moment.
The guild hall was enormous — a cavern of polished stone and glowing sigils — and packed tighter than a market on festival day. Beings from across the universe filled every corner. Some roared in laughter, others bargained loudly, and a few were probably plotting a world takeover in the snack line.
Shen Hao tugged his robe tighter and took a slow, calming breath.
"…This feels like a terrible idea," he whispered.
"Technically, it's a logical next step," Mo Han said calmly in his mind.
Lingfeng floated beside him, spinning lazily. "Relax. Worst case, you die horribly in front of a crowd. No pressure."
"Very comforting. Thank you both."
Steeling himself, Shen Hao walked toward the massive counter at the center of the hall — a large circular desk guarded by one very bored-looking clerk with green skin, four arms, and a face that screamed 'I'm underpaid for this nonsense.'
Without even glancing up, the clerk spoke.
"Name?"
"Uh… Shen Hao."
The clerk scribbled lazily on a glowing scroll. "Species?"
"Human."
The scratching of the pen stopped.
The clerk looked up, blinked slowly… then leaned forward just a little.
"…For real?"
Shen Hao gave a slow, awkward nod. "Yes."
The clerk tilted his head, like he was trying to figure out if Shen Hao was a prank gone wrong. He tapped a panel in front of him, scrolled for a second… and let out a low whistle.
"Huh. Says here your race actually exists." He raised a brow. "Never seen one. You're like a living myth."
"Thanks?"
The clerk smirked faintly. "And according to the records… you're a non-cultivator race with zero achievements."
Shen Hao opened his mouth to explain—
"Doesn't matter." The clerk waved a hand dismissively. "So… you're here to join?"
Shen Hao cleared his throat. "Yes. I want to join the Hunter's Palace."
The clerk gave him a long, slow blink.
"…You do realize you'll have to defeat the examiner first, right?"
"I'm aware."
The clerk stared at him for a heartbeat… then shrugged. "Your funeral. Line's over there. Go sit. Wait your turn. Hope you survive."
Shen Hao turned — and immediately felt a sharp jab of regret.
Rows upon rows of seats stretched along both sides of the massive hall. The right side? Overflowing with waiting contestants and a crowd so thick they'd probably started forming a second line by now.
The left side? Nearly full… with only a few empty spots way, way at the end.
Shen Hao let out a long, slow sigh.
"…Why? Why is it always like this?"
Lingfeng snickered. "Because you're a magnet for bad luck."
Mo Han added, deadpan, "Consider it spiritual training."
"Yeah. Training my patience before I strangle someone."
With a dramatic groan worthy of a dying actor, Shen Hao shuffled toward the farthest empty seat.
He sank into the hard bench at the very end of the left row with the enthusiasm of a man about to attend a three-hour lecture on grass-growing techniques.
All around him, contestants waited — some sharpening weapons, some meditating, some just flexing ominously for no reason.
Shen Hao leaned back, stretched his arms, and stared blankly at the polished ceiling.
"One contestant… two contestants… three… this is fun," he mumbled.
Lingfeng hummed in his mind. "You look like a man embracing his fate."
"I feel like a man slowly dying inside."
"You could meditate."
"I could also bang my head against the wall. Both sound equally productive right now."
Time crawled by. Two contestants were called.
A third went up.
Another loud cheer erupted somewhere near the front.
Shen Hao slumped lower in his seat, eyelids drooping.
Mo Han's voice chimed gently, "Don't fall asleep in a public place."
"I'm not… I'm just… preserving energy…"
And just as his chin nearly touched his chest—
"This is really boring, isn't it?"
A voice spoke softly beside him — calm, friendly, almost like commenting on the weather.
Shen Hao jerked upright, blinking. "Huh? Wha— Oh!"
He turned and saw a man sitting next to him. About the same height as him. Definitely not human — not that it mattered here. The guy gave him a small, apologetic smile.
"Sorry," the man said. "Didn't mean to startle you. Were you… asleep?"
Shen Hao blinked a few times, rubbed his face, and let out a low sigh. "Almost. But… forget it." He waved a lazy hand. "No big deal."
The man chuckled softly. "Well, I didn't think someone would actually doze off in this place. You've got guts."
Shen Hao gave him a sideways glance. "Yeah, I've got guts… and a serious lack of sleep."
The man smiled and extended a hand. "I'm Kael. Nice to meet you."
Shen Hao hesitated for half a second… then shook his hand. "Shen Hao."
Kael leaned back on the bench, relaxing like they'd been friends for years. "So, you here for the exam too?"
Shen Hao smirked. "Isn't everyone?"
Kael laughed lightly. "I guess. Been living here in Void Gate City a long time, but figured it's finally time I gave the Hunter's Palace another shot."
Shen Hao raised a brow. "Oh yeah? How long exactly have you been here?"
Kael tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm… I'd say about… seven hundred years?"
Shen Hao nearly choked on air. "Seven. Hundred? Years?!"
"Don't panic," Mo Han said calmly. "That's normal for cultivators. He's still quite young."
"Seven hundred is young?!" Shen Hao shot back mentally.
"Correct."
Shen Hao glanced at Kael again, eyebrows drawn. "You look the same age as me. How is that even possible?"
Kael chuckled. "Good genes, I guess."
He rested his elbows on his knees, gazing toward the front of the hall where another contestant was stepping into the arena.
"I've tried this exam…" Kael started, "oh… about eleven or twelve times."
Shen Hao blinked. "Wait. You mean you've failed eleven or twelve times?"
Kael gave a sheepish smile. "Pretty much."
Shen Hao stared at him like he'd grown a second head. "You're joking."
"I wish I was." Kael laughed lightly. "Every time… the same examiner. Same result."
Shen Hao leaned forward slightly. "So who is this examiner anyway? Some overpowered cultivator?"
"Oh, he's more than that," Kael said, his tone dropping just a notch. "He's strong. Scary strong. And experienced — way too experienced for someone handling entry tests."
"How strong are we talking?"
Kael tapped his chin again. "Hard to say exactly, but… Beginning Realm Level 8 or maybe Level 9."
Shen Hao's eyes widened. "Level 8 or 9?! For an entrance test examiner?!"
"Yep." Kael shrugged. "I've seen him flatten guys twice my level with one move. His techniques… terrifying."
Shen Hao sank back in his seat. "And you still keep coming back?"
Kael gave a slow, confident nod. "This time will be different. I just broke through to Level 7."
Shen Hao gave him a look of half-respect, half-concern. "You're seriously planning to fight a Level 9 examiner… at Level 7."
Kael smiled. "I'm not the brightest, I know."
"…At least you're honest."
Shen Hao crossed his arms, trying to wrap his head around it. Then a thought struck him like a lightning bolt.
"Wait, wait— Master!" he called mentally. "What even is this?! This guy's been trying for over seven hundred years and only just reached Level 7?! I hit that in less than twenty years!"
Mo Han answered coolly, "That's the nature of cultivation, Shen Hao. Advancement is heavily influenced by a person's bloodline, talent… and most importantly, their DNA."
Shen Hao frowned. "DNA?"
"Correct. Some races have superior cultivation potential woven into their very genes. Others… like your friend here… are at the lower end of the spectrum."
Shen Hao shot a side glance at Kael, who was still humming quietly. "So… he's from a weak race?"
"Likely. His progression speed reflects that."
Shen Hao shook his head. "Can't he… I don't know… fix that somehow?"
Mo Han's voice grew slightly serious. "He could — through a DNA upgrade. But such procedures are extremely expensive. Only those with vast wealth or powerful backers can afford it."
Shen Hao blinked. "DNA upgrade…?"
"That," Mo Han said, "is something you should learn about."