Chapter Four: Beyond the Sect Walls
The sect gates behind him…
were closed.
Not merely to exile him,
but to erase his existence.
Mo Tian sat on a rock at the foot of the mountain, his chest rising and falling with difficulty.
The pain hadn't faded—
it had grown deeper, slower, gnawing at his body from within.
[Warning]
[Causal debt is affecting the body.]
[Stability: Low.]
"Expected,"
he muttered coldly.
If he had left the sect in perfect condition,
that itself would have violated the laws of this world.
And this world…
was not forgiving.
He looked around.
A dense forest stretched endlessly,
distant roars of beasts echoed,
and a faint scent of blood lingered in the air.
"So this is the real world,"
he said calmly.
No elders.
No sect rules.
No one protecting anyone.
He stood with difficulty, leaning against a tree.
The memories of the original body surfaced—
old road maps,
forbidden zones,
and place names the weak dared not approach.
"The nearest city… Blackstone City,"
he murmured.
But before he could take a step—
Something moved within the shadows.
A low growl…
heavy and oppressive.
Mo Tian stopped.
From between the trees emerged a massive gray wolf, its eyes blood-red, its body covered in old scars.
A first-rank beast…
But in his current condition?
Deadly.
[Analysis]
[Target: Wild Beast – Bloodfang Wolf.]
[Survival probability in direct confrontation: 12%.]
Mo Tian smiled.
"Perfect."
The wolf lunged.
At the same instant—
[Suggestion]
[Distort the Law of Instinct.]
[Effect: Target confusion.]
"Activate."
The wolf trembled mid-air.
Its leap veered slightly off course,
and it crashed onto the ground instead of his throat.
But Mo Tian did not attack.
He retreated.
The wolf rose, snarled, then…
hesitated.
It began circling aimlessly, breathing heavily, its eyes filled with uncertainty.
[Warning]
[Unstable distortion.]
[Duration: Short.]
Mo Tian picked up a sharp stone from the ground.
"I'm not stronger than you,"
he said calmly.
"But I don't need to be."
When the wolf lunged again,
Mo Tian slipped to the side
and drove the stone forward with everything he had—
Straight into its eye.
A terrifying howl ripped through the forest.
The wolf collapsed, thrashing violently,
then slowly…
fell silent.
Mo Tian dropped to his knees.
Breathing.
Laughing softly.
[Target killed.]
[Distortion residue absorbed.]
[Causal debt slightly reduced.]
"So…"
he said, wiping the blood from his hand.
"Even killing can be used to restore balance."
He sat beneath the tree, closing his eyes.
Within the system, a new window appeared.
[New Path Unlocked]
[Path of Wilderness Survival]
[Reward: Pain Resistance +1]
He opened his eyes.
It wasn't overwhelming power—
but it was real.
He lifted his head and looked deeper into the forest.
"The sect thought exile was the end,"
he said calmly.
Then he smiled.
"But for me…"
He stood, despite the pain.
"It's the beginning."
And somewhere far away…
deep within the forest—
Other eyes moved.
Not ordinary beasts.
But something
watching.