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Chapter 13 – Tremors of a New Rule
Our steps were heavy as we left the giant wolf's corpse behind. The stench of blood still hung thick in the air, mingling with the foul odor of the green liquid dripping from its body. The ground trembled faintly, as if even the forest itself was uneasy. Qin and I staggered onward, searching for a safer place to rest.
My body trembled—not just from wounds, but from the truth I had just discovered: I could extract lifespan and life energy from other beings. A dangerous path… yet also an opportunity.
We stopped at a large rock crevice, half-hidden by roots and bushes. Qin sat cross-legged, resting his sword on his lap. I leaned against the stone wall and drew in a deep breath.
"status"
A faint glow appeared. Words shimmered in the air:
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Status – Lu Yuan
Level: 3 (Foundation Realm – Early)
Remaining Lifespan: -0.4 years (stable)
XP: 12 (stored)
Dark Energy: 79%
Avatars Remaining: 1 (Qin – active)
Physical Condition: Severe injuries, stamina recovering slowly
Cultivation Path: Basic Evolution – Stage 1 (early)
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My eyes narrowed. XP? I had never seen that line before. The number—12—came from the wolf. So, the life energy I extracted now didn't just strengthen my body; it also accumulated into something else.
"XP…" I whispered. "Is this world… creating new rules?"
Qin turned toward me, eyes sharp but uncertain. "I sense it too. The spiritual energy in this forest… it's changing. As if something is rewriting the balance."
I fell silent, recalling the cracks in the sky, the alien beasts that crawled through the rifts, and the battle with the magma tiger. All of it felt like fragments of something larger. And now, it seemed… the world itself was preparing an answer.
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Corpses and XP
As the night deepened, we decided to scout the area. Signs of battle littered the forest—fallen trees, scorched ground, and bodies of both humans and monsters strewn about. The metallic stench of blood hung thick.
I crouched beside the corpse of a village soldier. His body was cold, his face pale. I stared at my palm, hesitation gnawing. "If it worked on monsters… what about humans?"
Qin lowered his gaze, his tone heavy. "You want to try?"
I nodded faintly. "If this path exists, I need to know its limits."
I pressed my hand to the soldier's chest. My awareness connected, and a faint pull drew out lingering energy.
The panel flickered.
[XP +4]
[Lifespan +0.1 years]
I froze. Not much, but it worked. So it wasn't only monsters—every living being, as long as traces of life energy remained, could be drained.
Qin exhaled slowly. "That means… every battle, every death… will give you strength."
I clenched my fist. "Not just me. You as well. The avatar and the main body share XP. What I gain, you gain."
We pressed on, extracting energy from several scattered monster corpses. The XP count rose slowly, even as my body grew more exhausted.
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A New Omen
As dawn neared, I sensed something different. Not just spiritual energy—something deeper. A pulse. A rhythm that echoed through the air, flowing in the ground and trees.
Qin sensed it too. He stared at the paling sky. "It feels as though the world itself… is breathing. Aware of the threat."
I recalled the faint whispers that surfaced when I extracted energy earlier. Words not from the avatar, not from mana—something deeper, wider.
—A new rule will soon be born.
I clenched my teeth. If the world was truly shaping new rules, then this status panel was only the beginning. The system was still crude, but it was evolving.
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End of Chapter
The ground suddenly shook violently. Cracks echoed from the distance. Qin and I exchanged sharp looks, then sprinted toward the source.
In the distance, among charred trees, the sky split open once more. A jagged rift of purple-black light tore wider than before. Alien roars spilled forth, filling the forest.
I raised my sword, my hands still trembling. Qin stood at my side.
"The rift has opened again," I muttered. "And this time… I have to see what waits beyond."
Purple light flared, black mist cloaking the trees. Heavy footsteps approached, each closer than the last.
I clenched my fist, the panel still hovering before me. The XP count pulsed faintly, as if it too awaited the coming storm.
The next battle… would be even harsher.