The first light of dawn stretched across the Thornveil Mountains, illuminating jagged peaks and mist-covered valleys. The wind carried a faint chill, brushing over the spires of the ancestral hall, and the faint hum of spiritual energy lingered in the air like a promise of change.
Li Shen sat cross-legged in the outer courtyard, his black hair loose, eyes closed. He could feel the faint pulse of qi within the land, the residual echoes of the Spirit Vein Formation from the night before.
> Next Sign-In Target: Heavenly Spirit Ruins. Danger level: Extreme.
Rewards: Unknown. Potential breakthrough in Hidden Bloodline progression.
He opened his eyes, the pale morning light catching the faint glow in his pupils.
> "Extreme, huh…" he murmured. A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips. "Just the way I like it."
No one noticed him slipping out of the courtyard. Even Shun, his ever-faithful attendant, assumed he was meditating. This was the advantage Li Shen had cultivated—an air of calm mediocrity.
---
The path to the Heavenly Spirit Ruins was long and treacherous, winding through cliffs and valleys riddled with spirit beasts and unstable formations. Most cultivators of the Lower Mortal Sky Realm would never attempt it alone, and those who did often returned maimed—or not at all.
Li Shen's pace was slow, measured. Every step was deliberate, every breath controlled. He was testing his body, feeling the pulse of his newly awakened veins and the subtle flow of the Heaven-Devouring Flame Physique beneath his skin.
The first sign of danger came quickly.
A low growl rumbled through the misty valley. Shadows shifted. Three spirit wolves—eyes glowing crimson—emerged from the fog, circling him. Each one radiated mid-level spiritual energy, far beyond a normal mortal beast.
Most cultivators would have panicked.
Li Shen? He crouched slightly, studying them.
> "System," he whispered. "Scan threat."
> Target identified: Spirit Wolves, Level 3 Threat.
Recommended action: Avoid direct confrontation unless necessary.
Li Shen's lips curved into a faint smirk.
> "Level 3… that's cute."
He exhaled slowly, releasing a thread of black flame from his body—not enough to burn, but enough to obscure his presence. The wolves hesitated, sniffing the air.
> Hidden Bloodline activated: 2%.
Enhanced reflexes and sensory awareness.
A shadow passed over the ground, then over the wolves. In a blur, Li Shen leapt, landing atop a jagged rock. The wolves lunged, teeth bared, but he moved with impossible speed, barely visible to the eye. One swipe of his hand, a subtle motion, and two wolves crumpled silently, unconscious but unharmed—enough to demonstrate force without leaving blood.
The third wolf hesitated, then retreated into the fog, leaving a low growl behind.
> "Not bad for a first test," Li Shen murmured. His heart remained calm, but a thrill ran through him. This is just the beginning.
---
Hours passed as he navigated the valley. Every step forward, he encountered traps, unstable spirit formations, and minor beasts—tests laid by the Heavenly Spirit Ruins to weed out the weak.
By mid-afternoon, he reached a clearing. The ruins stretched before him: jagged stones rising like broken teeth, covered in ancient runes, faintly glowing with the remnants of long-lost cultivation energy.
He knelt and pressed his palm to the ground. The Sign-In System pulsed softly.
> Ding!
You have signed in at Heavenly Spirit Ruins (Outer Layer).
Reward: Spirit Condensation Pill x3. Hidden Bonus: Fragment of Ancestral Technique.
The pills materialized in his palm. He pocketed them quickly, suppressing any outward reaction.
> "Outer layer… easy enough," he muttered.
The ruins' true danger awaited deeper inside.
---
As Li Shen advanced, a faint ripple of energy struck his senses. He froze.
> "Someone's here…" he murmured.
A figure stepped out from behind a ruined pillar—a boy slightly older than him, wearing the robes of the Zhao Clan. His expression was smug, and a faint aura of arrogance clung to him like perfume.
> "So it's you, Li Shen," the Zhao boy sneered. "Thought you could sneak through the Heavenly Spirit Ruins without anyone noticing?"
Li Shen's eyes narrowed. "I don't sneak. I move."
The Zhao boy laughed. "Don't pretend you're strong. Everyone knows you're talentless. This place will be your grave."
Li Shen tilted his head slightly. Calm, patient. Dangerous in the stillness of his gaze.
> "I prefer to test my limits before claiming any grave," he said quietly.
> Hidden Bloodline triggered: 3%.
His aura shifted subtly, almost imperceptibly. The Zhao boy's expression faltered slightly, though he didn't understand why.
---
The fight began with a flick of the Zhao boy's wrist. A low-level spirit formation erupted from the ground, sharp stones launching toward Li Shen. Reflexively, Li Shen activated the Voidstep Technique, vanishing from sight, reappearing behind the attacker.
A single strike to the Zhao boy's shoulder sent him sprawling. Not deadly, but humiliating enough to shock him.
> "Impossible!" he gasped.
Li Shen's lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile. "Do you still think I'm talentless?"
The Zhao boy scrambled to his feet, fury and fear warring across his face. Li Shen didn't chase. Instead, he pressed forward deeper into the ruins.
> Sign-In System progress: Outer Layer cleared. Next layer unlocked: Middle Layer (Danger: High).
---
The ruins grew darker, the air thick with spiritual energy. Each step tested Li Shen's control over his veins, the subtle flow of his hidden bloodline, and the edge of his cunning. Every obstacle he bypassed, every small victory, fed the quiet fire within him.
By nightfall, he reached the inner courtyard of the ruins. Faint carvings of ancient masters glowed with residual energy. A single stone altar stood at the center, pulsing softly.
> Ding!
Inner Layer Sign-In Complete.
Reward: Fragment of Heaven-Devouring Flame Technique. Hidden Bonus: Inner Sense Expansion.
Li Shen carefully pocketed the fragment, feeling his senses sharpen. Now, even the smallest tremor of spiritual energy could be detected.
> "The first layer conquered," he whispered. "Tomorrow… I go deeper."
Lightning split across the sky, illuminating the ruins in stark white. In that moment, Li Shen's shadow stretched long, black, and sharp.
> The storm has begun.
And far above, in the clouds beyond mortal sight, a faint rumble echoed—as if the heavens themselves had sensed the rise of something dangerous, cunning, and unstoppable.
Li Shen crouched, calm, calculating. He had tested the limits of his body, his hidden constitution, and the fledgling power of the Sign-In System.
> "The clan sees a weak boy," he muttered softly. "The world sees nothing. But one day… everyone will bow to Li Shen."
The ruins were only the beginning.
> Next Sign-In Target: Inner Ruins of the Heavenly Spirit Tomb.
Danger Level: Extreme.
Potential for first true breakthrough: Very High.
Li Shen's lips curved into a faint, cold smile.
> "Let them come. Let them try to stop me."
And in the night, the wind howled, carrying the faint scent of smoke and lightning.
It was a warning, but Li Shen didn't flinch.
He thrived in danger.
He was danger.
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