The flickering yellow flame of the lantern on the manor wall continued to tremble, but the storm within Ye Fang refused to subside. The air in the chamber was still heavy with the profound knowledge of cultivation levels when suddenly, the blue screen before his eyes began to flicker violently. A sharp, resonating chime sliced through the silence—
'DING!'
[ NEW MISSION ALERT! ]
[ MISSION NAME: THE HIDDEN LEGACY OF HAO HUO ]
[ LOCATION: HAO HUO MOUNTAIN ]
[ DESCRIPTION: A Primordial 'Secret Realm' has awakened upon the Hao Huo Mountain, situated in the far northern reaches of the Tianxia Continent. This realm has been sealed for millennia, but its gates are finally beginning to fracture. ]
Ye Fang, who hadn't even recovered from the shock of the cultivation steps, nearly jumped out of his skin. "Hey! I just sat down to catch my breath and you've already thrown a new chore at me? My face isn't even fully clean yet!"
The Little System, who had been in a playful mood until now, suddenly became entirely professional and grave. She hovered in the air, expanding her holographic screen. "Host, this is no ordinary mission. The energy surging from the Hao Huo Mountain is so colossal that the grand sects of the entire continent have already caught the scent. This is the sacred ground where the ancient 'Fire Emperor' once undertook his supreme meditation."
She projected a map onto the screen, showing a mysterious portal shimmering amidst a landscape of erupting volcanoes and frozen peaks. "There, you can obtain rewards that could evolve your 'God-Demon Physique' to unprecedented heights. This is your greatest opportunity to shatter the bottleneck of your 1% Supreme Spiritual Root. But remember, Host—this is not the arena of Sanmiao City where people will simply ignore you as a 'lunatic.' This is a den of wolves."
Ye Fang's pupils constricted. He sensed that the System's tone this time was not just a warning—it was a premonition of doom.
"The practitioners congregating there will possess strength far exceeding your current comprehension," the System continued. "Monsters will appear, whose physical might will make your Body Tempering look like child's play. Golden Core veterans, Spiritual Ring masters, and perhaps even Sect Elders from the higher realms will descend with their chosen disciples. Your 'Nameless Technique' bluffs will crumble there, for at that peak, it is not words, but Aura that speaks. One false step, and death is certain."
Ye Fang clenched his fists. A faint, crackling spark erupted from his knuckles. "So, the real players are entering the field? Up until now, I was merely playing in the dirt with children?"
"Exactly," the System confirmed. "Rivers of blood will flow, for the treasures buried within that realm possess the power to forge an Immortal."
A sinister, predatory smile spread across Ye Fang's face. For a fleeting second, a crimson flash flickered in his eyes—the awakening of his inner 'Demon.' "The grander the challenge, the more lethal I become. If they are powerful, then I am a God-Demon. I care not for the rewards; I only crave the power that will lead me to the zenith of this world. I will awaken this Supreme Root until all of Tianxia kneels before me."
He gazed out the chamber window. The night was vast and oppressive, but toward the North, shrouded in ominous clouds, the Hao Huo Mountain loomed like a slumbering titan. A crimson radiance bleeding from its peak pierced the midnight sky.
"Very well, System. Begin the preparations. I've had enough of Sanmiao City's hospitality. I've intimidated their elders and warriors long enough; now, it is time for the world to witness the history written when this 'Mad' cultivator reveals his true form."
'DING!'
The Little System chimed with newfound fervor. [ MISSION ACCEPTED! THE JOURNEY TO HAO HUO MOUNTAIN COMMENCES! ] "But remember, Host... stay alive. Keep that 'Main Character Intuition' on a leash, for rewards are only useful if you're breathing to enjoy them! And please—ask me before you try to shatter any more stones."
Ye Fang let out a cold, chilling laugh. He gathered his meager belongings and stared at the infinite horizon. Before him lay a world devoid of mercy, where strength was the only absolute truth.
The torches in the corridor were flickering toward extinction as Ye Fang closed his door. His footsteps were ghost-like, leaving no sound upon the floor. He moved with singular focus, but as he reached the corridor's bend, a shadow blocked his path.
Yan Kai Long.
He stood leaning against the stone wall, arms crossed over his chest. His blue eyes were razor-sharp. "Brother Fang! Sneaking out at this hour? Where is your path leading you?" His voice was calm, but it held the coiled tension of a warrior on high alert.
Ye Fang halted. He took a measured breath. The 'God' essence within him, suppressed until now, surged to the surface. As he slowly turned his neck to meet Yan Kai Long's gaze, the very atmosphere shifted.
Yan Kai Long's body jerked upright. Before his eyes, Ye Fang's gaze—which he remembered as being blood-red—was now glowing with the brilliance of pure, molten gold. The radiance was so piercing, so divine, that for a moment, Yan Kai Long felt he wasn't facing a man, but an ancient Emperor. The atmospheric pressure skyrocketed.
"Brother... you..." Yan Kai Long stammered, his warrior's composure faltering. "Where are you going? And your eyes... what is this power?"
Ye Fang's voice carried an unnatural resonance, heavy with authority. He spoke with flat, absolute certainty. "Enough, Brother. I am departing for Hao Huo Mountain. A Secret Realm is awakening there, and it calls for me."
Yan Kai Long's eyes were wide with disbelief, his breath hitching in his chest. "What...? A Secret Realm! Brother, how could you possibly know of this? Not a single soul in the entire city has heard a whisper of it—not even the City Lord himself. From where did you obtain such forbidden knowledge?"
Caught in the heat of the moment, Ye Fang let it slip, "I have the Sy—"
Before the word 'System' could fully escape his lips, a bolt of mental lightning struck his consciousness.
The Little System, who had been silent until now, manifested abruptly, her voice a frantic shriek within his mind. "Are you insane, Host?! What do you think you're doing? Are you actually about to reveal my existence to this ordinary mortal? Do you want the entire world to hunt you down for possessing a 'Universal System'?"
Ye Fang's mouth clamped shut instantly, his words dying in his throat. The System hovered in the air, peering closely at Ye Fang's face. The moment her gaze met those molten golden eyes, even she froze in temporary shock.
"Oh..." A tone of surprised satisfaction crept into the System's voice. "So that's it. Your eyes have turned golden. Host, your 'God' essence has integrated into your physique with magnificent precision. This awakening is flawless! Your physical equilibrium is now deadlier than ever before."
She narrowed her eyes, issuing a stern warning: "But remember—keep your emotions under an iron seal. This golden form may augment your power, but it must not loosen your tongue. Whatever Yan Kai Long suspects, let it remain a mystery."
Yan Kai Long continued to stare at Ye Fang as if standing before a living miracle. He couldn't fathom why Ye Fang had suddenly gone silent, but the sheer, divine pressure emanating from those golden eyes stripped him of the courage to press further.
Without another word, Ye Fang turned, prepared to vanish into the shadows of the corridor. He now possessed the forbidden knowledge, the awakened power of his 'God' half, and a purpose that burned brighter than any sun.
Then, halting his steps, Ye Fang reached out a hand toward Yan Kai Long, his voice calm yet echoing with authority. "Brother Kai Long... will you journey by my side?"