Year 2023 – an era where the world was already connected by the global web.
Like any ordinary day, a young student with a rather unstable family background constantly thought about ways to earn money earlier than his peers. He wore glasses with a three-degree prescription, his hands never leaving his phone.
After finishing the high school entrance exams, just like other sixteen-year-olds, he sought to relieve stress, wandering aimlessly and indulging in little pleasures.
"Standing on the rooftop of his own house, he relaxed, dreaming of a bright future—wishing to one day become someone of status, so that the world would treat his mother like a queen."
Tu Yi:"Better check my phone… oh, it's already half-past three? Time flies. I should sleep now; tomorrow I still have plans to hang out."
Suddenly—A hand pushed him off the third floor.
"What the hell is happening?!"
When his eyes opened again, sunlight was piercing his face. His body ached all over. As he staggered to his feet and looked around, his heart nearly stopped—
Before him stretched an endless field, piled high with corpses. Men and women, slain by sword and spear, heaped together into a gruesome hill three meters tall.
Tu Yi:"This… what is this…?!"
The stench of blood suffused the land. Resentful spirits seemed to wail and weep, as though demanding justice for themselves and their kin.
Terrified, he leapt down and ran desperately, stumbling into the nearest house in search of food. Finding nothing, he scoured the village, his vision blurring from hunger—until a group of armored cultivators appeared, calling themselves the Imperial Legion.
Tu Yi:"Sirs, might you spare this humble one some food?" He bowed low, trembling.
One of the cultivators sneered. With a flick of his hand, a piece of dry rations appeared from his storage ring and fell to the ground.
Cultivator:"For you? Such things are reserved for those who have passed the trials. Better you enjoy it in the underworld instead."
Without warning, he drew his longsword. Spiritual light flared, killing intent surged, and he slashed downward.
Tu Yi:"Wait! Please, senior, spare me—!"
Darkness swallowed him. When he finally regained consciousness, he was stunned to find himself alive. Remembering the Legion, his heart trembled—but when he turned his head, he saw only mutilated corpses, throats ripped open as though by savage beasts.
Tu Yi (quivering):"Could it be… a senior expert has saved me? This junior has nothing to repay such grace… please, allow me to serve under your banner, to devote my life in gratitude!"
He shouted until his voice grew hoarse. Stomach growling, his gaze fell upon a bloodstained ration—the very one thrown at him earlier.
Tu Yi (muttering):"Well… since I've clawed back my life, I can't be choosy. This will have to do."
But before he could finish swallowing, furious voices thundered from afar:
"The Moon Soul yet lives! Kill him at once!"
A tide of white-robed cavalry surged toward him, killing intent flooding the heavens. Terrified, Tu Yi turned and fled.
"Stop right there, wretched spawn!"
Dozens of blades sang in pursuit. Sword qi howled behind him. In panic, Tu Yi clenched his teeth:
Tu Yi:"Living is worse than death… if so, I'll gamble everything on the forest. Perhaps fate will leave me one final path!"
Stumbling through the dense woods, he barely gained distance. Then—through ragged breath—he spotted a narrow crevice. Without hesitation, he slipped inside.
The cramped cave barely fit his body. Holding his breath, he pressed his ear to the stone wall. Outside, the white-robed pursuers swept past, their killing aura freezing his very blood.
Just as he believed he was safe, something alive wriggled and bit his leg. Startled, his heel struck a jagged stone. The pain was unbearable—he cried out involuntarily:
"Ahhh—!!!"
His scream echoed through the mountains, tearing apart the silence.
The white-robed cultivators immediately turned back. Their cold eyes blazed with murderous intent as they formed a battle array at the cave entrance.
Before Tu Yi could escape, spiritual force crashed down upon him, crushing his body as if to pieces. His consciousness grew dim, his final cry breaking into despair:
Tu Yi:"Heavens… this time, I truly won't survive!"