Chapter 2: The First Spark
**Black Mountain Village – Chen Family Courtyard**
The door creaked open.
Standing outside was a burly servant, his face twisted in a sneer. Behind him stood two others, cracking their knuckles. They looked at Chen Feng not as a person, but as trash to be disposed of.
"So the cripple finally woke up," the lead servant, Big Hu, laughed. "Young Master Zhao has been waiting. He wants to... apologize for yesterday's misunderstanding."
Chen Feng's eyes narrowed slightly. *Apologize?*
In his past life, he had seen this trick a thousand times. An apology from a young master usually meant more humiliation, more pain, and perhaps a public beating to entertain the guests.
"Lead the way," Chen Feng said calmly.
Big Hu blinked, surprised by the lack of fear. Usually, Chen Feng would be trembling, begging for mercy. But today... his gaze was cold. Unsettlingly so.
"Don't get cocky, trash," Big Hu growled, masking his unease with anger. He grabbed Chen Feng's shoulder roughly. "Move!"
Chen Feng didn't resist. He let himself be dragged through the courtyard. Servants stopped their work to watch. Some pitied him. Most smirked, enjoying the show.
They reached the main hall. It was grand, filled with expensive furniture and spiritual paintings—things a mere servant could only dream of touching.
Sitting on the high chair was a young man in silk robes. Zhao Kang. The Young Master of the Chen Family. A Qi Gathering Level 3 cultivator. To this village, he was a genius. To Chen Feng, he was an ant.
"Well, well," Zhao Kang smiled, swirling a cup of tea. "Look who decided to join us. I heard you survived the night. Impressive resilience for someone with blocked meridians."
Chen Feng stood silently. He didn't bow. He didn't kneel.
Zhao Kang's smile faded. "Did you lose your hearing, servant? Kneel."
"I kneel only to those worthy of respect," Chen Feng said softly. His voice carried a strange weight, making the air in the room feel heavy.
The servants gasped. Big Hu stepped forward, raising his hand to strike. "You dare—"
"Stop," Zhao Kang commanded. He stood up, his eyes narrowing. "It seems the beating yesterday wasn't enough. You need a reminder of your place."
He dropped his teacup. It shattered on the floor.
"Teach him a lesson. Break his legs this time. Let him crawl for the rest of his life."
Big Hu grinned cruelly. "With pleasure."
He lunged forward, his fist glowing with a faint yellow light. *Earth Element Technique: Heavy Stone Fist.* A low-tier martial art, but deadly against a mortal.
The fist aimed directly at Chen Feng's knee. One hit would shatter the bone.
Time seemed to slow down.
Chen Feng watched the fist approach. He saw the flaws in the stance. The exposed ribs. The predictable trajectory.
*Pathetic,* he thought.
In his mind, the System screen flashed.
**[Quest Update: Survive the Encounter]**
**[Status: In Progress]**
**[Recommendation: Use Void Step (Basic)]**
**[Cost: 5 Void Points]**
Chen Feng didn't have points yet. But he didn't need the system to tell him what to do. He remembered. He was the Sovereign.
Just as the fist was inches away, Chen Feng moved.
It wasn't a fast movement. It was... efficient. He shifted his weight slightly to the left. The fist whistled past his leg, missing by a hair's breadth.
Big Hu stumbled, off-balance.
"Now," Chen Feng whispered.
He raised his hand. Not to block. To touch.
His finger lightly tapped Big Hu's wrist.
But inside that tap... a tiny spark of black fire flickered. Invisible to the naked eye.
**[Void Flame Effect Activated]**
Big Hu screamed.
It wasn't a scream of pain from a broken bone. It was a scream of pure terror. His arm went numb. Then cold. Then it felt like it was burning from the inside out.
"What... what did you do?!" Big Hu clutched his arm, falling to his knees. His skin turned pale, then grey. The vitality was being drained.
Zhao Kang stood up, shocked. "What is this magic?"
Chen Feng lowered his hand. The black flame vanished.
"Magic?" Chen Feng chuckled darkly. "No. This is just the beginning."
He looked at Zhao Kang. Their eyes met.
For a split second, Zhao Kang didn't see a servant. He saw a monster. A predator staring at its prey. The pressure emanating from Chen Feng was suffocating. It felt like standing before an abyss.
"You..." Zhao Kang stammered, taking a step back. "Who are you?"
"I am Chen Feng," he replied simply. "Your servant."
He turned around. "If there is nothing else, I will leave. I have things to do."
The servants parted ways silently, too terrified to stop him. Even Big Hu, still clutching his withered arm, didn't dare to speak.
Chen Feng walked out of the hall. Into the sunlight.
As soon as he was out of sight, he leaned against a wall, breathing heavily. Sweat poured down his forehead.
"That took too much energy," he muttered. "My body is too weak to handle even 0.01% of the Void Flame."
But a smile crept onto his face.
**[DING!]**
**[Quest Completed: Survive the Encounter]**
**[Reward: 10 Void Points]**
**[Bonus Reward: Basic Void Technique Unlocked - 'Void Sense']**
**[Current Void Points: 10]**
Chen Feng closed his eyes and activated the new technique.
Suddenly, the world changed.
He could *feel* everything. The flow of wind. The heartbeat of a bird in the tree. The weak spiritual energy leaking from the Chen Family's formation array.
And most importantly... he could feel the path out of the village.
"The quest says I have 3 days to leave," Chen Feng whispered, opening his eyes. They glowed faintly purple for a second.
"Why wait?"
He pushed off the wall. His steps were lighter now. Stronger.
"First, I need supplies. Then... I disappear."
He headed towards the storage room. T
onight, the "trash" of the Chen Family would vanish. And the Void Flame Sovereign would begin his journey.
---
**To be continued...**