Chapter 0.01: Tian Yuan
Part 1: Introduction(1)
Act 1: Mountain Cliff
The wind tore across the cliffside, howling through jagged rocks and rattling loose stones as if the mountain itself were wailing in pain. Darkness wrapped the peaks in a suffocating blanket, the kind of night where the stars seemed ashamed to shine, hiding behind heavy clouds. Tian Yuan crouched precariously at the edge of the cliff, his body battered and bruised, his skin pale and streaked with dried blood. Every breath he drew was shallow and ragged, as though his lungs themselves were afraid of being used.
He looked down at the void below, a black abyss that swallowed sound and light alike. A lifetime of suffering pressed against his chest so heavily that his heartbeat threatened to burst through his ribcage. "I… I should die," he whispered, his voice trembling like brittle glass, "I'm… useless… trash… a failure…"
His legs shook violently, not from the cold—though the wind cut like knives—but from the weight of all he had endured. He tried to lift a foot over the edge, but it wobbled, betraying his desire to end it. The void below seemed endless, a canvas onto which he could throw his failures, his pain, and himself. He wanted it. He wanted the relief of the fall. But courage, the kind that would let him step forward and embrace death, was absent.
Memories surged unbidden, stabbing through his mind like shards of ice. He saw his parents' faces, pale and lifeless from a disease that no healer could cure, no prayer could chase away. He remembered the small, cold room of his youth, the hands of his aunt and uncle never gentle, never kind, always striking when he earned better marks than their children, when he dared to rise above his assigned place in the world. Every achievement had been met with pain. Every smile punished.
And then, sixteen came, along with his inheritance. But even that did not bring hope only betrayal. His aunt and uncle forced him to take strange, bitter substances, drugs and alcohol that muddled his mind and weakened his body. They made him sign papers that transferred everything that was rightfully his, with smiles painted cruel and thin on their faces. Once they were done, they cast him out, tossing him into the cold world to die, leaving him to the mercy of nothing.
Tian Yuan's trembling hand grazed the edge of the cliff. He imagined letting go, imagined the wind swallowing him whole. His chest heaved as fresh tears mingled with blood on his face. "Why… why must I suffer like this?" he whispered, voice cracking under the weight of despair. "Why am I so helpless… while others… live so easily?"
He closed his eyes.
The world became a blur of wind and sky. The fall was nothing short of torture. Air tore at him, whipping against his battered body like a thousand invisible claws. Bones cracked, ribs splintered, and flesh tore under the unrelenting pressure of gravity. The impact was horrific. He slammed into the ground with a sound that was more scream than thud, his body folding in ways it was never meant to. Pain exploded in every nerve, a symphony of agony that drowned out everything else.
Blood poured from his body, soaking the dirt and leaves beneath him. He tried to scream, but the pain gutted him; the air left his lungs in ragged, broken gasps. He could not move; his limbs refused to obey. The forest around him was alive only in shadow, trees looming like silent sentinels, leaves shaking in the sudden storm that seemed to rise from the earth itself.
And yet, he was not entirely alone. A deep, resonant sound split the night—the roar of a dragon, ancient and terrible, rolling across the mountains, shaking the soil and rattling the branches. The air vibrated with power, the clouds above twisting as though bowing to the creature's will. Red eyes glowed in the darkness, reflecting lightning, fire, and malice all at once. The dragon spread its massive wings, each one a shadow that blotted out the forest below, and took to the sky, its flight beating the rain into a frenzy.
Tian Yuan lifted his gaze, blinking through tears and blood. His chest rattled as he whispered, hoarse, "Why… why does God make some people strong… and others… like me?"
Memories returned, violent and vivid. He saw himself, a scrawny boy, dressed in dirty, tattered clothes, pushed against a wall by a cultivator. The cultivator's fist smashed into his face, blood exploding from his mouth, teeth clattering against stone. He crashed backward, spitting crimson, before another boot slammed into his chest, forcing the air from his lungs. He tried to rise, to plead, to explain himself, but words and movement alike betrayed him.
"What did I do…?" he croaked, choking on blood.
Jun Lei's face loomed before him, twisted with fury. "How dare you look at me!" the cousin screamed. "You worthless trash… you have no right to speak!"
Another brutal kick, and Tian Yuan crumpled to the ground, every nerve alive with pain. Tears streamed freely, mingling with grime and blood. The sound of Jun Lei's laughter and his aunt's cruel whispers haunted him even now. No one came to help. No one. Only pain, humiliation, and the endless, suffocating weight of existence.
The dragon landed nearby with a ground-shaking impact. Trees bent under its landing, rain pouring in sheets from the sudden storm. Its roar rolled across the mountains like thunder, echoing off the cliffs and into Tian Yuan's ears, making him tremble from both fear and awe. Its eyes locked onto him, pupils glowing like molten rubies, wings folding with terrifying grace.
Tian Yuan's lips curled into a faint, bloody smile. Pain was everywhere, but it was accompanied by a strange clarity. "So… this is the end," he whispered, voice low and broken, yet tinged with grim acceptance. "At least… I will be eaten… by an ancient… terrifying dragon."
He let himself fall back against the cold, wet ground, letting rain mix with blood on his skin. The wind tugged at him like the hands of ghosts, and for a moment, he thought he could almost rest, even in agony. Memories of starvation, abuse, humiliation, and betrayal flashed through his mind, relentless and merciless, but the dragon's presence gave them a strange context—a dark, powerful witness to the depth of his suffering.
And in that storm, in that forest, with the rain pounding and the dragon looming above, Tian Yuan closed his eyes and let the night swallow him, letting the anticipation of his death—and perhaps something darker beyond it—fill the empty spaces left by a lifetime of pain.
(Act 1 Ends)
Act 2: Flood of Memories
Rain poured in heavy sheets, drenching Tian Yuan's battered body as he lay on the forest floor, broken bones screaming with every heartbeat. Blood from his limbs mixed with the rainwater, running down his face and staining the soil beneath him a dark, sticky crimson. His vision blurred, shadows and lightning dancing together as the sky roared above. He coughed violently, each hack spitting thick streaks of blood, but through the haze of agony, memories clawed their way to the surface of his mind—memories he had long tried to bury.
He was sixteen again, trapped in a dark, filthy room inside a sprawling mansion. The room smelled of damp, mold, and his own sweat; the walls were smeared with grime and scratches, the mattress a thin, threadbare rag that barely separated him from the cold floor. He had scratches along his arms, his back, his legs—marks left from his aunt's whips, the cruel, spiked lash she wielded without hesitation. Hunger gnawed at him constantly, a raw, insatiable pain that twisted his stomach into knots. Night after night, he could not sleep. Outside, the wind bit with lethal cold, and inside, the mosquitoes feasted on him while his aunt and uncle forbade him from using the thin blanket that barely covered the mattress. A normal human could survive thirty minutes outside in such cold; he had survived years.
Tian Yuan's mind wandered, lost in desperate daydreams. He imagined soft bread, warm meals, a bed that didn't bite back with cold. But the fantasy always ended in the same sharp pain of reality: hunger, bruises, and lashes. One evening, he wandered outside the confines of his cell-like room, his bare feet bleeding on the cold tiles, drawn by an unconscious need to glimpse a better life. His mind was vacant, not calculating, not scheming—he merely moved because his body acted on its own.
And then he stepped into the luxury of the living room. His bare feet made faint, wet prints on polished marble, the light reflecting cruelly on the filth that clung to him. His cousin's shriek tore through the air. "Mom! That dirty, worthless animal stepped on the clean tiles!"
Tian Yuan froze. The world contracted. Every beat of his heart sounded like a drum of doom. From within the opulent room, his aunt emerged, nails painted crimson, face calm but eyes burning with malice. In her hand, she held a whip lined with cruel, sharp points—the kind that tore flesh without mercy. Without a word, she struck. Tian Yuan screamed as metal tore across his skin, deep gashes blooming on his arms and back, blood mixing with sweat and grime.
His cousin Jun Wei's laughter rang sharp, cruel, and merciless. "Look at him! Useless trash!" she cried, her voice like glass shards cutting through his already fragile mind. Tian Yuan fell to the floor, clutching his bleeding wounds, tasting the coppery tang of his own blood, and he knew the world had never, would never, offer him mercy.
Even as he lay there, shaking from the pain, the dragon loomed above him. Its red eyes glowed like molten fire, wings stretching across the sky and blotting out the storm. It moved closer, immense and terrible, a living force of nature, and sank its jaws into his right arm. Tian Yuan's scream choked in his throat, guttural and broken. Pain unlike any other exploded through him as the limb was torn free, devoured in seconds as though it were no more than a morsel. Yet amid the agony, his mind betrayed him, spilling more memories that had been locked in the shadows.
He was a caged animal, dressed in filthy, torn rags, while his uncle, aunt, and cousins feasted on rich, rare meats. The food smelled sweet, heavy, savory—but none of it was for him. Instead, he was given raw, spoiled scraps, the kind that made his stomach revolt and his throat burn. He ate it anyway, because not eating meant death, and death was no mercy.
"Shouldn't you thank us for feeding you?" his uncle's voice sneered, a whip still clutched loosely in one hand. "We take care of you, we provide!"
His aunt laughed lightly, cruel and high-pitched. "Ungrateful little wretch," she spat. She struck him again with the whip, tearing the skin of his back anew. Pain, humiliation, and hunger formed a constant, choking fog around him.
Another memory struck like a blade. He was collared like a dog, Zun Xia, the rich merchant, staring down at him in greedy calculation. "Who is that?"
Jun Wei answered with glee, "A dirty, worthless pig!"
"Nothing is worthless," Zun Xia said smoothly. "You can use him. Sell him. Harvest his body."
Tian Yuan had not yet known rebellion, had not yet known resistance. "How?" his uncle asked, voice trembling with anticipation.
"Use a healing spell," Zun Xia replied, his grin broad and unkind. "Heal his organs after harvesting, then repeat. As many times as you like. Endless profit."
Profit. Torture. Pain. The words merged into a single nightmare that became his life.
Then, the memory of the princess, the ultimate humiliation, came like a strike to the heart. At a lavish party, she had seen him, and with a voice that dripped power and lust, she said, "He is the most beautiful and handsome man I have ever seen."
"But Princess," her butler interjected cautiously, "he is just a worthless animal."
"Nothing is worthless," she said. "Use him however you see fit. I care not what he suffers."
And so they did. Countless nobles, both male and female, used him as a tool for sexual pleasure and profit. He was sold, used, tortured beyond comprehension. Every time a customer complained, the princess punished him in new, more vicious ways. One particularly cruel act ended with her cutting him, a reminder that his body was never his own.
And now, in the present, the dragon tore his left arm with the same efficiency as the right. The pain was overwhelming, all-consuming, yet it drew a clarity from the flood of memories. Every injustice, every humiliation, every moment of suffering ignited a fire deep inside him. The dragon clamped down on his back, lifting him off the ground effortlessly, and tossed him into the stormy sky, intending to devour him fully.
Through the screaming pain, Tian Yuan's mind hardened, his resolve crystallized. "If I… if I get power… I will make them pay… every single one of them… for all eternity." The words were ragged, broken by agony, yet within them was the first spark of vengeance, of rebellion against a lifetime of suffering.
The dragon devoured him, body, soul, and blood, and in that moment, Tian Yuan's vow echoed silently into the heavens above. Power would come. Retribution would come. And no force in the universe would ever treat him as worthless again.
(Act 2 Ends)
Act 3: Ancient Wasteland Planet
The moment Tian Yuan was fully devoured by the colossal Ancient Dragon, the forest below fell silent, leaving only the echo of thunder rolling across the distant mountains. The dragon's enormous wings unfurled, black as storm clouds, veins of golden energy flickering along the membranes. Each beat of its wings churned the air into violent gusts that shredded trees and ripped the forest floor apart. It ascended higher and higher, until the creature's vast form grazed the dense, dark clouds overhead, a living shadow swallowed in the night sky. Lightning lanced through the clouds, striking the dragon's shimmering scales, but rather than causing harm, the electricity seemed to fuse with its body, reinforcing its already terrifying power. Sparks of energy danced across its sinewy form, purple and gold interweaving like molten veins.
Suddenly, the dragon froze mid-flight. Its keen, red eyes blazed, scanning the swirling mist beneath the clouds. There, a faint pulse of energy disrupted the currents—a presence unlike any other in the skies.
From the thick storm, three figures appeared, descending with precision and grace. The first was an elderly man, his white beard flowing in the gale, his eyes sharp as a hawk's. His robes glimmered faintly with runes of protection. Behind him, a young man and a woman followed, their expressions tense and calculating.
The old man spoke first, his voice cutting through the roar of the storm. "An Ancient Dragon… with the royal bloodline of a True Ancient Dragon. Its presence… it hasn't fully awakened. If its bloodline emerges, it could be even more dangerous than we imagined."
The young man, Yao Ming, clenched his fists. "I thought this was just a True Qi Stage beast. If it awakens, its power could eclipse entire kingdoms."
The young woman, Xue Mei, her long hair whipping around her face in the storm, added, "We need to capture it. If we fail, the consequences… will be catastrophic."
The Ancient Dragon sensed their intent immediately, and its roar split the sky. Fire spewed from its maw, the flames turning violet in the storm's charged atmosphere. But the old man's red energy barrier flared to life, forming a protective dome that absorbed the dragon's initial assault.
"Pathetic," the old man muttered, adjusting his stance.
Undeterred, the dragon unleashed a purple beam that cracked through the red shield like a blade through silk. Sparks and shards of energy scattered into the clouds, causing the storm to scream in fury. The cultivators braced themselves, barely avoiding fragments of the beam.
"What… what is this level of power?" Jia Xing Shi's voice trembled slightly with restrained anger.
Yao Ming's eyes widened. "I… I've never sensed a creature like this. Not even a True Ancient Dragon has this much uncontrolled power."
Jia Xing Shi's fingers traced sigils in the air, summoning a crimson beam of concentrated energy. "Demon Emperor Burning Art Four!" The spell surged forward, striking the dragon squarely in the head. Pain shot through the creature's mind, and it shrieked—a sound that tore through the storm, shaking the clouds themselves.
In an instant, its body began to warp. Muscles twisted, wings disappeared, and hands sprouted in their place. Its face elongated into something both terrifying and awe-inspiring. Its scales shimmered into multicolored patterns, glowing in every hue imaginable. Three horns erupted from its skull, and a mane of vibrant, flowing hair crowned its head. Steam hissed from its body, mingling with the storm as if the dragon itself was exhaling the fury of creation.
The cultivators coughed violently in the charged air, shielding their eyes. "Where… where did that steam come from?" Jia Xing Shi rasped.
"I don't know," Xue Mei admitted, her voice tight. "Neither can I sense its qi… it's as if it vanished."
Indeed, when the mist cleared, the dragon was gone. The storm raged on, yet the immense creature was nowhere to be seen. The cultivators' eyes scanned the sky, hearts pounding with disbelief.
"That dragon… it disappeared," Jia Xing Shi whispered, a dangerous edge to his tone. "It's not normal."
Yao Ming's gaze darkened. "It's like it never existed in this world."
The Ancient Wasteland Planet:
This was the planet known as Ancient Wasteland, a world vast beyond reckoning, home to countless species, civilizations, and powers. Unlike smaller, fragile worlds, the density of this planet was staggeringly high. On a low-density planet, even a novice Qi Condensing Stage cultivator could crush mountains and reduce cities to rubble. Here, the ground itself was resistant; even the strongest cultivators could barely scratch its surface. Stone walls and mountains could withstand storms of elemental power that would otherwise obliterate entire countries.
The planet's surface was divided into five major regions and five major oceans, arranged symmetrically. Its shape resembled a giant cruciform: eastern, western, northern, and southern regions stretched outward from the central lands, each bordered by its own vast ocean.
Eastern Region: Divine Spirit Continent → Eastern Ocean: Ice Lotus Ocean
Western Region: Sky Demon Continent → Western Ocean: Devil Lotus Ocean
Northern Region: Void Star Continent → Northern Ocean: Void Lotus Ocean
Southern Region: Myriad Beast Domain → Southern Ocean: Beast Lotus Ocean
Central Lands: Ancient Emperor Continent → Central Xuan Ocean: Ancient Mysteries Ocean
The Northern Region was home to five major kingdoms:
1. Eternal Night Kingdom – the largest, a shadow-drenched land of mystery
2. Eternal Day Kingdom – second largest, lands bathed in unceasing sunlight
3. Illusionary Realm – the third largest, a place of deceptive magic and illusion
4. Yellow Spring Kingdom – fourth largest, land of both life and decay
5. Empyrean Emperor Kingdom – smallest among the six, divided into four major states:
1.Ling State (Spirit State) – South, Tian Yuan's home
2.Xuan State (Mysteries State) – West
3.Yao State (Medicinal State) – Central
4.Lei State (Thunder State) – North, where the dragon now roared
5. Yan State (Flame State) – East
The Dragon Descends:
The dragon materialized in Lei State, descending in a storm of thunder. Each strike of lightning seemed to reverberate through its body, strengthening it rather than injuring it. Its immense size dwarfed the surrounding mountains, golden energy radiating outward like a miniature sun. Clouds swirled around its wings, lightning dancing along its claws, until finally it crashed onto the mountain ground. The shockwave flattened forests, shattered rocks, and carved deep trenches into the soil.
With a roar that rattled the heavens, the dragon coughed up blood, crimson rivulets staining the golden light surrounding it. Its breathing was labored, each exhale sending gusts of storm-wracked wind across the valley. For a moment, the world seemed to pause, sensing the birth of a force beyond reckoning. Then, the dragon's massive form collapsed, unconscious, yet radiating a power that could shake the foundations of kingdoms.
Even in repose, it was clear: this was no ordinary beast. This was the true awakening of an Ancient Dragon, a creature that would carve its existence across the annals of history, a force that would reshape the very world Tian Yuan called home.
(Act 3 Ends)
{End of 1st Part}
Part 2: Introduction (2)
Act 1: Hunters (1)
The storm in the Lei State slowly calmed, yet the mountain valley remained scarred by the aftermath of the Ancient Dragon's fall. The sky still rumbled faintly, as if the heavens themselves remembered the terror that had descended not long ago. At the center of the shattered mountain peak lay the unconscious body of the colossal dragon, its immense form stretched across the land like a fallen god. Even in its weakened state, golden energy pulsed faintly from its scales, illuminating the surrounding destruction.
Then, something changed.
A soft, radiant glow began to emerge from within the dragon's body, at first subtle, then rapidly intensifying. The golden light spread across every inch of its massive form, wrapping it completely as if cocooning it in divine protection. The air trembled, and the surrounding stones began to vibrate under the pressure of this mysterious transformation.
Cracks of energy spread like lightning across the dragon's body, and its enormous form—once towering at nearly 50,000 feet—began to shrink. Slowly at first, then faster and faster, its body compressed inward, bones, flesh, and energy folding into itself as if being rewritten by an unseen force.
Within moments, the terrifying beast was gone.
In its place remained a 10-foot white egg, smooth and flawless, glowing with a golden aura that radiated power far beyond what the dragon had shown before. The egg hovered slightly above the ground, humming faintly as if alive, as if thinking.
Then, without warning, it sank.
The egg phased through the earth as though the ground did not exist, descending deep beneath the mountain. Rocks shattered silently as the egg passed through them, disintegrated by the overwhelming energy surrounding it. The deeper it went, the more violent the energy became, until suddenly—
A hidden world was revealed.
A massive crystal cave, hidden beneath layers of earth and stone, illuminated by countless multicolored crystals embedded in the walls. Blue, red, violet, and golden hues reflected endlessly, creating a dreamlike environment that felt both beautiful and unnatural. The egg descended to the very center of this hidden domain and finally came to rest, its golden glow softly illuminating the chamber.
This was no small cave.
It was a vast underground structure, divided into five enormous floors, each containing one hundred rooms, connected through winding passages and spiral pathways carved into crystal. Beneath even the fifth floor, there existed a hidden chamber, sealed and silent, untouched by time.
The entire cave pulsed with a faint blue light, as if it possessed a life of its own. And then, as if reacting to the presence of the egg, the cave activated its defenses. The glowing crystals dimmed, their colors fading into dull stone. Illusions formed over the entire structure, replacing the radiant cave with nothing more than ordinary rock formations.
From the outside, the mountain appeared completely normal.
No one could sense it. No one could see it.
And thus, the place vanished from the world.
Time passed.
Days turned into months. Months turned into years.
Years became decades.
One hundred years passed in complete silence.
The world above had changed.
Generations came and went, kingdoms rose and fell, and countless cultivators walked the path of power, unaware that beneath their feet, a hidden force slept—waiting.
On a calm morning, under a pale sky, a group of five cultivators entered the long-forgotten mountain valley. Their footsteps were light but cautious, their eyes scanning every corner with anticipation.
They were hunters. Treasure seekers. Opportunists.
At the front stood Li Yun, a young man with black hair and deep blue eyes that seemed to shimmer with intelligence. His calm smile gave him a gentle appearance, but beneath it lay sharp calculation. Dressed in blue robes, he carried himself like a natural leader.
Beside him walked Xian Yi, his girlfriend, a strikingly beautiful girl with long black hair flowing down her back and red eyes that held both charm and danger. Her purple outfit fluttered slightly in the wind as she observed the surroundings carefully.
Behind them followed three others.
Xu Ming, a muscular man with a rugged face and intimidating aura, wore simple brown clothes. He looked like someone who relied more on brute strength than intellect.
Hua Yun, dressed in black, had a calm and thoughtful expression, his eyes constantly analyzing everything around him.
And finally, Yao Yue, whose long white hair and red eyes gave her an ethereal beauty. Her white clothes made her appear almost like a spirit walking among mortals.
All five stood at roughly the same height, their presence balanced yet distinct. Each carried a bag filled with tools, resources, and hope.
They stopped in front of a towering mountain, rising nearly 5000 meters into the sky.
Li Yun narrowed his eyes slightly. "I can sense it… there are treasures inside that mountain."
Yao Yue smiled faintly. "Your Heavenly Sensing Ability has never failed us before."
Hua Yun crossed his arms thoughtfully. "If that's true, then this place might contain something far greater than we expected."
Xu Ming cracked his knuckles. "And we're sharing it equally, right?"
Li Yun immediately replied, "No. We divide based on effort. If you don't work, you don't earn. No pain, no gain."
Xian Yi stepped closer, her expression slightly serious. "Darling… I can sense dangerous beasts inside. This place isn't safe."
Li Yun nodded. "That's exactly why we're not rushing in blindly."
Xian Yi crouched down and placed her bag on the ground. She slowly opened it, revealing several carefully packed items. From inside, she pulled out two pouches and a smaller bag of ash.
"The sleeping powder… the blood-lust beast feeding powder… and dragon ash," she said softly.
Li Yun gestured toward them. "Pink is sleeping powder. Red is blood-lust feeding powder. And that gray ash… dragon ash. It attracts beasts more effectively."
Xu Ming snorted. "So what? We already know that."
Li Yun sighed. "I was trying to educate you."
Xu Ming puffed his chest. "I know everything."
Li Yun raised an eyebrow. "Really? Then tell me… what is One Piece?"
Xu Ming froze. "One Piece… is… uh…"
Hua Yun calmly answered, "One Piece is 'change the question.'"
Li Yun clapped slowly. "What an answer. Someone give him a Nobel Prize."
Xu Ming nodded proudly. "See? I was right."
Li Yun and Hua Yun exchanged a look of pure disappointment.
"We were joking," Li Yun said flatly.
Xu Ming frowned. "Why would a king joke?"
Li Yun sighed deeply. "Why is there an idiot in our group?"
Xu Ming blinked. "Who's the idiot?"
Li Yun smirked. "Everyone knows."
Xu Ming crossed his arms. "Obviously, it's not me."
Li Yun leaned slightly closer. "Listen carefully. Between you and me… one of us is smarter than you."
Xu Ming smiled proudly. "Oh, thank you."
Hua Yun shook his head. "How can someone be this dumb…"
Li Yun continued, "Xu Ming, a small frog can jump higher than a 20-floor building."
Xu Ming looked confused. "How?"
Li Yun replied calmly, "Because a building can't jump."
Hua Yun added, "And there's a fish in front of dinosaurs, yet they can't eat it."
Xu Ming frowned harder. "How?"
"Because they're dead," Hua Yun answered.
Xu Ming held his head dramatically. "My mind is exploding from too much knowledge!"
Li Yun leaned toward Hua Yun and whispered, "For that, he would need a brain."
Hua Yun whispered back, "But he doesn't have one."
Xu Ming narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What are you two whispering about?"
Li Yun immediately straightened. "Nothing."
The group stood silently for a moment, the mountain looming before them like a sleeping giant. Beneath it, unknown to all of them, something far more terrifying than treasure waited in silence.
And fate… had already begun to move.
(Act 1 Ends)
Act 2: Hunters (2)
The mountain valley had long fallen into silence after their earlier chatter, the playful arguments fading into the background as a strange stillness took over the surroundings, as if even the wind itself had decided to stop and observe what was about to unfold. The sky above remained dim, clouds drifting lazily while a faint chill spread across the air, brushing against the skin like an invisible warning that something far greater than treasure lay hidden within this place.
At the center of the valley, Li Yun sat in a perfect lotus position, his posture straight and unwavering, as if his body had merged with the ground beneath him. His breathing slowed, becoming deep and rhythmic, each inhale pulling in the surrounding spiritual energy, each exhale refining it within his body. Around him, faint threads of white energy began to gather, at first barely visible, like thin strands of mist drifting through the air, but soon growing denser, brighter, forming a small vortex that circled his entire body.
The energy did not resist him, nor did it behave wildly. Instead, it flowed toward him naturally, gently, as if it had always belonged to him. The white aura wrapped around his limbs, entered through his pores, and merged seamlessly into his meridians, moving through his body like a calm river finding its path. There was no struggle, no violent absorption—only harmony, a perfect synchronization between Li Yun and the spiritual energy of the world.
Not far from him, the others were also cultivating, but the difference between them was clear, almost unsettling. Xian Yi sat gracefully, her long black hair flowing behind her as purple energy surrounded her body, yet her aura fluctuated slightly, showing resistance as she forcefully pulled the energy into herself. Hua Yun's green aura flickered with instability, as if it required constant control to prevent it from dispersing, while Xu Ming's yellow energy surged roughly around him, entering his body in bursts rather than a steady flow. Yao Yue, on the other hand, was calm, her white energy pure and steady, yet even her absorption lacked the natural ease that Li Yun displayed.
Time passed quietly, almost unnoticed. The sun rose and set multiple times, the valley experiencing days and nights while the group remained still like statues, focused entirely on their cultivation. The ground beneath them gathered traces of energy, the air growing thicker with spiritual presence as if the valley itself was being slowly awakened.
Then suddenly...
A burst of blue light exploded from Li Yun's body.
The calm atmosphere shattered instantly as a powerful wave of energy spread outward, pushing against the ground and air with overwhelming force. Dust rose into the air, small rocks trembled, and the surrounding space distorted slightly as the energy surged like a breaking tide. Li Yun's body lifted from the ground, rising higher and higher until he floated nearly a hundred feet above the valley floor.
His eyes snapped open.
A faint glow flickered within them, sharp and clear, filled with a confidence that had not been there before. His lips slowly curved into a smile, one that carried both satisfaction and excitement, as if he had just broken through an invisible barrier that had been holding him back for a long time.
The energy around him slowly calmed, retracting back into his body as he descended from the air. The moment his feet touched the ground, a loud crack echoed throughout the valley, the force of his landing shattering the earth beneath him, sending fractures spreading outward in all directions.
Li Yun clenched his fists slightly, feeling the power flowing through his veins, his entire body feeling lighter yet stronger at the same time.
"Finally… I reached Qi Gathering 7 Star Initial," he said, his voice filled with excitement.
A laugh escaped his lips, light yet filled with genuine happiness, echoing softly through the quiet valley. It was not the laugh of arrogance, but the laughter of someone who had worked hard and finally seen results.
He turned his head slightly, glancing behind him.
The others were still cultivating, their eyes closed, their auras continuing to fluctuate as they remained immersed in their own breakthroughs. Li Yun stretched his body a little, rolling his shoulders as he looked around the valley, noticing the subtle changes that had occurred over time.
"Looks like… one week has already passed since we arrived here," he murmured to himself.
Before he could say anything more...
A surge of purple energy erupted from Xian Yi's body.
The energy rose like flames, surrounding her completely as her body lifted into the air, reaching nearly the same height Li Yun had earlier. Her hair fluttered wildly, her aura stabilizing as the energy settled within her. After a brief moment, her eyes opened, glowing faintly with satisfaction as she spotted Li Yun standing below.
She smiled brightly.
With a gentle descent, she landed beside him, her expression filled with joy.
"I reached Qi Gathering 4 Star Advance," she said proudly.
Li Yun nodded with a grin. "Very good."
Xian Yi tilted her head slightly, her eyes shining with curiosity. "Babe, what is your power level?"
Li Yun crossed his arms casually, clearly pleased with himself. "7 Star Qi Gathering Initial."
Her eyes widened slightly. "Amazing… you're a prodigy."
Li Yun chuckled softly. "You're also talented, just like me."
Before their conversation could continue...
Two more bursts of energy erupted almost simultaneously.
Green light surrounded Hua Yun, while yellow energy engulfed Xu Ming. Both of them rose into the air, their auras stabilizing as their breakthroughs completed. After a short moment, they opened their eyes and descended back to the ground.
Hua Yun adjusted his clothes slightly, looking at Li Yun with interest. "So, what's your power level now?"
"7 Star Qi Gathering Initial," Li Yun replied calmly.
Xu Ming immediately stepped forward proudly. "My power level is 4 Star Qi Gathering Intermediate."
Li Yun looked at him blankly. "Who asked?"
For a moment, silence… then Hua Yun burst into laughter.
"My power level is also 4 Star Intermediate," Hua Yun added, still smiling.
Xian Yi crossed her arms lightly. "I'm 4 Star Advance."
Hua Yun nodded. "You've surpassed both me and Xu Ming."
Li Yun then glanced toward the last remaining figure. "What about Yao Yue?"
All of them turned their attention toward her.
Yao Yue remained seated, her eyes still closed, her white aura steady yet growing stronger.
"We shouldn't disturb her," Xian Yi said softly.
Hua Yun looked back at Li Yun. "Still, jumping from 6 Star Peak to 7 Star Initial in just seven days… that's insane."
Li Yun shrugged lightly. "You already know my cultivation speed is fast."
At that exact moment...
A powerful burst of white light exploded from Yao Yue's body.
Her aura surged far beyond the others, lifting her high into the sky, where she remained suspended. Seconds passed… then minutes… yet she did not open her eyes.
Li Yun frowned slightly. "She's been floating for five minutes…"
Xian Yi's expression turned serious. "Something feels off."
Then suddenly...
Yao Yue opened her eyes.
Her gaze was calm, yet deep, carrying a level of clarity that surpassed everyone present. She slowly descended back to the ground, landing gracefully as her aura stabilized completely.
Li Yun stepped forward. "What's your power level?"
She looked at him calmly. "10 Star Qi Gathering Peak."
Silence fell over the group.
Li Yun let out a low whistle. "You're at the peak… one step away from Qi Condensing Stage."
Yao Yue tilted her head slightly. "And you?"
Li Yun replied, "7 Star Initial. Xian Yi is 4 Star Advance, Hua Yun and Xu Ming are 4 Star Intermediate."
Yao Yue nodded slowly. "Very good… but Li Yun, I think you'll reach Qi Condensing before me."
Li Yun immediately shook his head. "You're three stars and multiple stages ahead of me, how is that possible?"
She smiled faintly. "Because you're a prodigy. You went from 1 Star Initial to 7 Star Initial in just two months. Ordinary people take years… even decades."
Li Yun looked away slightly. "I'm not that special."
"You are," Xian Yi said firmly.
Li Yun waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, enough of that. We should focus on collecting treasures now."
Hua Yun nodded. "You're right."
The group turned toward the towering 5000-meter mountain standing before them, its massive presence casting a shadow over the valley like an ancient guardian protecting something hidden within.
They walked forward together, their steps steady, their expressions serious now as they approached the base of the mountain.
Yao Yue raised her hand slowly.
The two packs of powder and the dragon ash floated into the air, surrounded by her white energy. With a gentle motion, she sent them flying toward another mountain nearly two kilometers away. The packs opened mid-air, releasing their contents into the wind.
A strange scent spread rapidly through the valley.
Xian Yi immediately released her purple energy, covering the entire group. Their bodies faded, turning invisible as their presence completely vanished from the surroundings.
Moments later...
A massive rumble echoed from the mountain.
A huge opening appeared, as if something had torn the mountain apart from within. One by one, beasts began rushing out, their eyes glowing with madness as they followed the scent toward the distant mountain. Soon, dozens… then hundreds of beasts flooded out, leaving the mountain completely empty.
The group watched silently.
Then slowly, they turned their heads toward the dark opening.
Without hesitation, they leaped forward...
And disappeared into the mountain.
(Act 2 Ends)
Act 3: Hunters (3)
The moment the team leaped into the massive hole within the mountain, the outside world vanished behind them as if it had never existed. The light of the sky was swallowed instantly, replaced by a suffocating darkness that stretched endlessly in every direction. It was not just ordinary darkness—it felt heavy, thick, almost alive, pressing against their senses and trying to disorient them.
Their footsteps echoed faintly as they landed inside, the sound traveling through the hollow interior of the mountain, creating an eerie atmosphere that made even the air feel cold and unwelcoming.
Li Yun narrowed his eyes, trying to adjust his vision, but no matter how hard he tried, he could barely see anything beyond vague shadows.
"There is so much darkness here…" he muttered, his voice low yet cautious.
Yao Yue stepped slightly forward, her expression calm, completely unaffected by the oppressive surroundings. "Wait a second."
She slowly raised her hand.
A small sphere of white light began to form above her palm, at first no bigger than a marble, but within seconds it expanded into a radiant orb. The moment it stabilized, it released a soft yet powerful glow that spread outward like a wave.
The darkness retreated instantly.
It didn't fade—it was erased. Completely.
The entire underground space was illuminated, revealing the rocky interior of the mountain in full detail. Jagged walls surrounded them, uneven and ancient, with cracks running through them like veins. The ground beneath their feet was rough and solid, clearly untouched for years.
Li Yun blinked once, then smirked lightly. "Now I can see everything."
Xu Ming immediately looked around, his eyes scanning every corner eagerly. "So… where are the treasures?"
Li Yun didn't even hesitate. "Underground."
For a moment, silence.
Then
Everyone slowly turned their heads toward Xu Ming.
Xu Ming blinked, confused. "What? Why are you all looking at me?"
Hua Yun crossed his arms. "Use your mountain digging technique."
Xu Ming's expression immediately brightened. "Oh… okay!"
He stepped forward confidently, raising both hands as yellowish energy began to surge out of his body. The energy spread outward, forming a spherical barrier that surrounded all five of them. The aura was dense and heavy, vibrating slightly as if it was preparing to break through something.
Then
The ground beneath them cracked.
The yellow energy pushed downward, forcefully breaking through the rocky surface as if it were nothing more than fragile soil. The entire group was carried along within the sphere as it drilled deeper and deeper into the mountain.
Rocks shattered, layers of earth split apart, and the sound of destruction echoed around them as they descended rapidly.
Within seconds
They reached an underground chamber.
The yellow energy dissipated instantly, vanishing as if it had never existed.
The group landed smoothly inside a large, rocky room.
The chamber was vast, its ceiling high and uneven, supported by natural stone formations. The air felt old, carrying a faint scent of minerals and something ancient, something that had been hidden for a very long time.
Li Yun stepped forward slowly, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Now… follow me."
Without waiting for a response, he moved toward the right side of the chamber.
The others exchanged brief glances before following him.
They soon stopped in front of what appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary rocky wall.
Xu Ming frowned. "Why are we here?"
Li Yun didn't answer.
Instead, he knelt down and placed his hand on the ground. A faint stream of energy flowed from his palm into the stone beneath him.
For a moment—nothing happened.
Then suddenly
The wall in front of them distorted.
It didn't break. It didn't crack.
It simply… disappeared.
As if it had never been there.
An empty room revealed itself beyond the illusion.
Xu Ming's eyes widened. "An empty room? Bro, your heavenly sensing ability failed."
Li Yun didn't even look at him. "Your parents failed to teach you patience. My ability never fails."
Then he stood up and walked inside.
The others followed closely.
At the center of the room, Li Yun stopped and sat down again, his expression turning serious.
Xu Ming scratched his head. "What is he trying to do now?"
Hua Yun adjusted his posture calmly. "He's solving a complex equation. There's a hidden mechanism here that requires precise calculation to reveal the real entrance."
Xu Ming blinked. "Oh…"
Li Yun's face became focused, his brows slightly furrowed. His mind worked rapidly, analyzing patterns, energy flows, and hidden structures within the room. This was not a simple puzzle—it required intelligence, patience, and precision.
Time passed slowly.
The air became tense as everyone waited.
Then
Li Yun's eyes flashed.
"I got it."
A faint vibration spread through the room.
Suddenly
A door appeared in the wall in front of them.
It formed out of thin air, its outline glowing faintly before solidifying completely.
Li Yun stood up immediately.
Xu Ming grinned widely. "It worked!"
Without wasting time, Li Yun walked toward the door and pushed it open.
The moment it opened
A soft glow filled the room.
Inside, three treasures floated gently, each radiating a unique and powerful aura.
At the center was a black sword, its blade covered in crimson patterns that pulsed like veins. Red lightning crackled faintly around it, while its golden guard and embedded red gems gave it a majestic yet terrifying presence. At the end of its handle, a golden face with glowing red eyes stared outward, as if it were alive.
On the right side, a ring floated silently. It was black with golden edges, and on its surface was a strange face, its red eyes glowing faintly, giving it an eerie presence.
On the left, a pendant hovered in the air, similar in design to the ring, carrying the same mysterious aura.
Li Yun stepped forward without hesitation and grabbed the sword.
At the same time
Xian Yi moved left and took the pendant.
Yao Yue calmly walked right and picked up the ring.
Each of them quickly stored their treasures into their holding pouches.
Li Yun immediately sat down again.
"Already?" Xu Ming muttered.
Li Yun ignored him and began solving another equation.
Five minutes passed.
Then...
Another door appeared, this time on the left side of the room.
Li Yun opened his eyes and stood up.
They approached the door and opened it.
Inside
Two more treasures floated.
A massive axe on the right, and a long spear on the left, both carrying the same design and aura as the previous items.
Hua Yun stepped forward and took the spear.
Xu Ming grinned and grabbed the axe.
Then Xu Ming spoke, slightly annoyed. "Li Yun said the one who works gets the treasures, but you didn't do anything."
Hua Yun looked at him blankly. "I'm the one who brought the powders."
Xu Ming blinked. "I thought Xian Yi brought them."
Hua Yun sighed. "Do you think Li Yun would let me take a treasure if I didn't contribute?"
Before Xu Ming could respond
Li Yun spoke firmly. "We need to leave. Now."
Xian Yi nodded immediately. "The beasts will return soon."
Yao Yue added calmly, "We don't have much time."
Without hesitation, the group began moving back toward the entrance.
As they walked
Xu Ming suddenly spoke again. "Li Yun, I saw something online, but I didn't understand it."
Li Yun didn't even look at him. "Bark."
Xu Ming ignored that. "A boy told his father he wants to marry the woman his dad chose. The father said he didn't choose anyone. Then the boy said he wasn't talking about that… he was talking about his father's choice."
Li Yun slowed down slightly. "His father's choice?"
Then his expression froze.
Hua Yun also stopped, his face turning strange. "That shouldn't mean what I think it means…"
Li Yun muttered, "Sweet Home Alabama…"
Xu Ming blinked. "What does that mean?"
Li Yun sighed. "He's talking about his mom."
Xu Ming frowned. "But the post didn't mention his mom."
Li Yun waved his hand. "You'll understand later."
By now, they had reached the tunnel created earlier.
They ascended quickly, flying upward through the passage.
Within seconds
They returned to the upper chamber.
But the moment they arrived
They froze.
The entire room was filled with beasts.
Dozens… no, hundreds of them.
Their eyes glowed red, filled with rage and hunger. Their breathing was heavy, their bodies tense, all of them staring directly at the group.
The scent of the treasures… had drawn them back.
Li Yun slowly looked around.
Then said one sentence
"We're cooked."
(Act 3 Ends)
{End of 2nd Part}
Part 3: Introduction(3)
Act 1: Hunters vs Beasts (1)
The moment the team stepped back into the upper chamber, the air itself seemed to freeze as a suffocating pressure spread across the surroundings, their eyes widening as they were met with a horrifying sight, countless beasts had already returned, their massive bodies filling the rocky space completely, their glowing red eyes locked onto the group with pure killing intent, their heavy breaths echoing like thunder in the enclosed chamber, claws scraping against stone while low growls overlapped into a chaotic wave of sound, making it clear that the scent of treasures had driven them into a frenzy, turning the entire mountain into a death trap with no escape left. Li Yun's expression instantly changed, all his previous confidence disappearing as his instincts screamed danger, his gaze quickly scanning the overwhelming number of enemies, realizing that staying even a second longer would mean certain death, his voice cutting through the tension as he shouted with full force, "Run!" and in that exact moment the fragile balance broke as the entire team scattered in different directions, each of them choosing survival over formation as the beasts roared and charged simultaneously, the ground trembling violently under the stampede as chaos erupted within the mountain.
Xu Ming sprinted with everything he had, his heart pounding wildly as the sound of heavy footsteps chased him relentlessly, a massive shadow looming behind him as a giant one-eyed wolf locked onto him as its prey, its single glowing eye burning with hunger while its massive jaws opened wide enough to swallow him whole in a single bite, its speed terrifyingly fast as it closed the distance in seconds, forcing Xu Ming to panic as he shouted, "Why am I first?!" while desperately gathering his energy, forming a dense yellow spherical barrier around his body just as the wolf lunged forward, its jaws slamming into the barrier with immense force, a loud crack echoing as its teeth collided against the energy shield, yet instead of breaking the barrier, the wolf's own teeth shattered under the impact, fragments scattering as it let out a furious roar, enraged by the resistance. The wolf didn't stop, instead it used brute force, grabbing the glowing sphere and violently throwing Xu Ming out of the mountain like a projectile, sending him flying through the air before crashing outside, but the moment he stabilized himself, he dismissed the shield instantly and pushed his speed to the limit, his body bursting forward with insane velocity as he ran without looking back, while behind him multiple one-eyed wolves howled and gave chase, their bloodlust intensifying as they pursued him across the terrain.
At another side of the battlefield, Li Yun found himself facing a towering Blizzard Ape, its massive body covered in icy fur while cold mist leaked from its mouth with every breath, its presence alone lowering the surrounding temperature drastically as it roared and swung its enormous fist toward him with destructive force, the air itself trembling under the impact, yet Li Yun reacted instantly, his body moving with precision as he leaped upward, narrowly dodging the punch as it smashed into the ground, shattering rock and sending debris flying, but the ape didn't stop as it immediately followed up with its other arm, trying to grab him mid-air, its massive hand closing in rapidly, yet Li Yun's eyes sharpened as he twisted his body, grabbing onto the ape's arm instead, using its own momentum against it as he flipped and delivered a powerful kick that drove the beast into the ground with explosive force, creating a crater beneath it. Before he could continue, two more Blizzard Apes appeared from the mist, their roars shaking the area as they charged simultaneously, forcing Li Yun into a rapid exchange where he struck one with a punch and kicked the other away, but the situation escalated instantly as all three apes opened their mouths and released freezing breath, a thick wave of cold mist spreading rapidly, surrounding Li Yun completely as ice began forming over his body, slowing his movements as the cold pierced deep into his bones, making him grit his teeth as he muttered, "So cold…" while forcing his energy outward in a sudden burst, shattering the forming ice and pushing back the freezing mist as his aura flared violently, overwhelming the apes for a brief moment.
The three Blizzard Apes quickly repositioned, forming a triangular formation around him, their coordination far more dangerous than before as they attacked simultaneously, three massive fists crashing toward him from different directions, yet Li Yun stood his ground, blocking two punches with both hands while raising his leg to stop the third, the impact sending shockwaves through his body as the ground beneath him cracked, but his expression remained focused as he suddenly moved, unleashing a technique so fast that it became invisible to the naked eye, a blur of motion cutting through the battlefield as all three apes were sent flying in different directions, one crashing violently into the ground, another slamming into the wall with a loud impact, and the third being launched upward with such force that its head became stuck in the ceiling, its body hanging awkwardly as dust fell around it, creating a brief moment of silence before Li Yun immediately turned and rushed toward Xian Yi and Yao Yue.
When he arrived, his eyes burned with anger as he saw them surrounded by ten massive black bears, each one towering with thick fur and immense strength, their glowing eyes fixed on the two girls as they prepared to attack, causing Li Yun's killing intent to surge as he shouted, "Stay away from Xian Yi!" while summoning the Black Mysteries Sword in his hand, the blade crackling with red lightning as he dashed forward without hesitation and sliced through one bear instantly, its head separating from its body as blood sprayed across the ground, the remaining bears pausing for a moment under the pressure of his presence, his cold glare locking onto them like a predator, forcing two of them to instinctively retreat, yet the others remained, their aggression overpowering their fear as Li Yun charged again, his lightning-fast movement allowing him to strike another bear, but this time the beast reacted, forming a yellow energy shield that blocked his attack, surprising him slightly before he adjusted instantly, leaping upward and striking again with increased speed, breaking through the defense and decapitating the beast in one clean motion.
Xian Yi stepped forward, her expression serious as she said, "Yao Yue, we have to help him," while Yao Yue nodded calmly, both preparing to engage as Li Yun faced the remaining bears, but suddenly the two bears that had retreated returned, now holding massive iron axes in their claws, their aggression amplified as they charged forward and swung their weapons downward, attempting to split Li Yun in half, yet he reacted instantly, using lightning movement to dodge the attack as the axes slammed into the ground, creating deep cracks, and before they could recover, Li Yun unleashed the same invisible-speed technique again, his body becoming a blur as all the black bears were sent flying in different directions, crashing into walls, ceilings, and ground with heavy impacts, yet despite the damage, they began standing up again, their resilience terrifying as more beasts started appearing behind them.
The situation escalated beyond control as dozens of Blizzard Apes emerged from the depths, including the three Li Yun had previously defeated, now returning with even greater rage, while more black bears gathered, their numbers rapidly increasing until the group was facing fifty-eight black bears and thirty-six Blizzard Apes, their combined presence turning the battlefield into a nightmare as the ground trembled under their roars, the sheer number making direct combat impossible, forcing Li Yun to make a split-second decision as he grabbed Xian Yi and Yao Yue onto his shoulders and activated lightning movement at full power, his body shooting backward at incredible speed as he escaped the encirclement, rushing out of the mountain without stopping for even a moment while the beasts roared and chased after them relentlessly.
At the same time, Hua Yun found himself in an even worse situation, surrounded by hundreds of massive mosquito-like beasts, their sharp proboscises glinting as they swarmed toward him in a dense cloud, their buzzing filling the air like a death song as he ran at full speed, barely avoiding being overwhelmed, his voice carrying frustration as he muttered, "Ninety percent of the beasts are trying to eat me…" before finally breaking out of the mountain, where he immediately summoned a sword engulfed in flames, turning around and unleashing a massive wave of fire that swept across the sky, burning countless mosquitoes instantly as their bodies fell like ash, yet despite the attack, hundreds still remained, continuing their pursuit with relentless hunger.
Moments later, Li Yun, carrying Xian Yi and Yao Yue, burst out of the mountain at high speed while Hua Yun quickly joined him, the two synchronizing their movements as they ran side by side, and as Li Yun glanced toward him, he asked urgently, "Hua Yun, where is Xu Ming?" to which Hua Yun simply pointed forward, and as Li Yun looked ahead, he saw Xu Ming being chased by a pack of one-eyed wolves, their numbers growing as they ran across the terrain, forcing Li Yun and Hua Yun to immediately leave the ground and fly upward, escaping the reach of the ground beasts whose furious roars echoed below, unable to follow, leaving only the massive mosquito swarm as the real threat in the air, while Xu Ming also took to the sky, desperately trying to escape as the group finally reunited mid-air, only to realize that hundreds of mosquito beasts were still chasing them relentlessly, their formation tightening as if preparing to attack all at once, making Li Yun's expression turn serious as he looked at the overwhelming swarm behind them and said in a low voice filled with urgency, "We have to do something… or we'll die."
(Act 1 Ends)
Act 2: Hunters vs Beasts (2)
The sky above the mountain valley trembled slightly as Li Yun, Hua Yun, and Xu Ming pushed their bodies to the absolute limit, flying at insane speed through the air while the sound of hundreds of wings buzzing violently echoed behind them like an endless storm, the massive swarm of mosquito beasts chasing them relentlessly, their sharp mouths glinting with a bloodthirsty hunger that refused to fade, their formation tightening as they surged forward again and again, closing the distance despite the team's speed, while Li Yun carried both Xian Yi and Yao Yue on his shoulders, his breathing heavy yet controlled as he gripped the Black Mysteries Sword tightly, his expression turning cold and focused as red thunder began gathering around the blade, crackling violently as if the weapon itself was awakening to the danger, the lightning spreading along the edge and forming a dense aura of destructive energy before Li Yun suddenly twisted his body mid-air and unleashed a massive thunder slash, the red lightning tearing through the sky like a violent storm as it struck directly into the swarm, instantly vaporizing dozens of mosquito beasts in a single strike, their bodies disintegrating into nothingness, yet even after such a powerful attack, the swarm remained overwhelming, more than two hundred still chasing them with undying aggression as if nothing could stop their hunger.
Hua Yun immediately reacted, turning his body sharply in the air, his eyes narrowing with determination as he raised his flaming sword, the blade igniting with intense heat that distorted the surrounding air, while Xu Ming tightened his grip on his massive axe, his aura flaring as red energy gathered around the weapon, preparing for a full-force strike, at the same time Xian Yi raised her hand despite being carried, her purple energy spreading outward as countless crystal-like needles formed around the group, floating in the air like a deadly storm waiting to be unleashed, while Yao Yue calmly created dozens of small spheres of light, each one radiating a quiet yet terrifying power, their glow steady as if they contained compressed explosions within them, and in that brief moment, without needing further words, the entire team synchronized their attacks perfectly, Li Yun moved first as he unleashed another thunder slash, Xu Ming followed immediately as his axe released a powerful red energy wave, both attacks tearing through the front layer of the swarm and completely clearing it, creating a temporary opening in the sky, but the momentum didn't stop as Hua Yun swung his sword, releasing a massive storm of flames that spread outward like a burning tide, consuming another layer of mosquito beasts while Xian Yi's crystal needles shot forward in all directions, piercing through the swarm with deadly precision, shattering bodies and disrupting their formation completely, and finally Yao Yue released her light spheres, which shot forward and exploded upon impact, each detonation wiping out multiple beasts at once, their combined attacks forming a devastating chain reaction that engulfed the entire swarm.
Within moments, the sky that was once filled with buzzing monsters turned silent, fragments of burned and destroyed bodies falling from above like rain, the last remnants of the mosquito beasts disappearing completely as the overwhelming threat was finally erased, leaving only a faint smell of burnt flesh lingering in the air, the sudden silence almost unreal after the chaos, and with their energy nearly depleted, the team slowly descended toward a nearby mountain peak, landing heavily as their bodies gave in to exhaustion, each of them collapsing onto the ground, breathing heavily as their chests rose and fell rapidly, sweat covering their bodies while their muscles trembled from overexertion, the battle having pushed them far beyond their limits, Li Yun resting his sword beside him as he tried to stabilize his breathing, his voice coming out slightly strained as he said, "That was… dangerous… and destructive… Yao Yue," acknowledging the power of her attacks, while Hua Yun lay on the ground staring at the sky, letting out a tired laugh as memories surfaced in his mind, his voice carrying a nostalgic tone as he said, "It reminds me of the past… when we faced hundreds of wolves and ran for our lives."
Li Yun turned his head slightly, a faint smile appearing despite his exhaustion as he replied, "And how did you forget about that incident?" while Hua Yun shook his head slowly, still catching his breath as he answered, "I didn't forget… I could never forget that day," and as his words faded, their minds drifted back to the past, to a time when everything was simpler, when fear was new and survival was instinctive rather than calculated, when they were nothing more than children playing under an open sky, running across the village ground as laughter filled the air, young Li Yun and Hua Yun chasing each other without care while Xu Ming slept lazily on a bench nearby, completely unaware of anything happening around him, while Xian Yi and Yao Yue stood at a distance watching them, their expressions calm yet amused, but the peaceful scene shattered suddenly as dark clouds gathered in the sky, covering the sun and turning the bright day into something ominous, the air growing heavy as a massive wave of winged lions appeared above the village, their roars echoing across the land as fear spread instantly among the villagers, people running in panic as the beasts descended, young Li Yun stopping in confusion as he asked, "What is that?" while Hua Yun didn't hesitate for even a second, grabbing him as he said, "I don't know… but I know how to run," and without looking back, the children began fleeing with all their strength, fear pushing their small bodies to move faster than ever before.
As they ran, Li Yun suddenly noticed Xu Ming still sleeping on the bench, completely unaware of the approaching danger, forcing him to change direction instantly as he rushed toward him while the others followed closely, and without hesitation, Li Yun punched Xu Ming directly in the face, waking him up instantly as Xu Ming opened his eyes in shock, only to see the terrifying wave of beasts descending from the sky, his expression turning pale as all of them ran without thinking, their instincts taking over as survival became the only goal, while above them cultivators appeared in the sky, powerful figures rushing forward to intercept the winged lions, their auras clashing as they prepared to protect the village, the children and villagers stopping briefly to look back, witnessing the cultivators charging fearlessly toward the incoming beasts, the winged lions roaring as the battle began in the sky, that moment engraving itself deeply into their memories, a moment where they first understood what it meant to be strong, to protect others, to stand against overwhelming danger without retreating.
Returning to the present, Li Yun slowly exhaled as he said, "That day… we saw what true cultivators are… risking their lives to protect the weak," his voice carrying a deeper meaning now as the memory strengthened his resolve, while Yao Yue quietly stood up despite her exhaustion, her expression calm yet firm as she said, "As the strongest among us… it is my responsibility to protect the team," her words carrying weight as she looked forward, and seeing her stand, Li Yun also forced himself up, his body still tired but his will steady, while the others remained on the ground, barely recovering their strength, but as Li Yun turned his head and looked back toward the direction they came from, his expression suddenly changed, his pupils shrinking slightly as a sense of danger surged through him like a cold wave, and Yao Yue, noticing his reaction, also turned back, her calm expression breaking for the first time as she saw it too, the ground in the distance shaking violently as an enormous wave of beasts approached, their numbers far greater than before, their roars merging into a deafening sound that echoed across the valley.
Without a single word, both of them understood the situation instantly as Li Yun rushed forward, grabbing Hua Yun and Xu Ming onto his shoulders despite his exhaustion, while Yao Yue lifted Xian Yi with surprising ease, and without hesitation, both of them began running again with everything they had left, their bodies moving at incredible speed as survival instinct took over completely, because behind them, the nightmare had returned in an even greater form, fifty-eight black bears, thirty-six Blizzard Apes, forty-four one-eyed wolves, and more than a hundred mosquito beasts surged forward together, their combined presence turning the entire valley into a battlefield of death, their roars shaking the air as they chased the fleeing team with unstoppable momentum.
(Act 2 Ends)
Act 3: Hunters vs Beasts (3)
The moment Li Yun and Yao Yue burst into the wide empty ground between the towering mountains, their speed finally collapsed under the weight of exhaustion, their bodies giving in as both of them fell heavily onto the rough earth, dust rising around them while their chests heaved violently, Li Yun still gripping Hua Yun and Xu Ming before dropping them beside him, while Yao Yue carefully released Xian Yi, yet even she staggered slightly, her legs trembling from the overwhelming drain of energy, and for a brief second, the entire battlefield fell into a suffocating silence, broken only by their ragged breathing and the distant roars of the approaching beasts. Hua Yun lay flat on his back, staring at the sky with lifeless eyes, his voice dry and filled with despair as he muttered if this was the end, if they were truly going to die here after everything they had done, after every struggle they had survived, and his words carried a heavy weight that pressed down on everyone's hearts like an invisible mountain.
Before that despair could fully consume them, Yao Yue slowly stood up, her expression no longer soft but firm and resolute, her eyes glowing with determination as a powerful wave of energy burst out from her body, spreading like a warm tide across the battlefield, her aura stabilizing the chaotic flow within everyone's bodies as their stamina rapidly recovered, their breathing gradually calming down as strength returned to their limbs, and one by one, they all rose back to their feet, their exhaustion replaced by a burning will to survive, while Li Yun clenched his fists tightly, his eyes blazing with fierce determination as he spoke with a voice that carried both defiance and pride, declaring that they would fight till the very end like true cultivators, like real humans who refused to bow to fate, and his words ignited something deep within everyone's hearts.
Hua Yun pushed himself up, a fierce grin appearing despite the danger surrounding them as he declared that if death was inevitable, then they would drag those beasts down with them, that they would not die without resistance, while Xu Ming lifted his black axe slowly, his expression turning serious as he stated that today, they would unleash every bit of their power without holding anything back, and Xian Yi, though calm, had a sharp light in her eyes as she added that only losers give up, her voice quiet yet filled with unshakable resolve, while Yao Yue stepped forward, her aura flaring even brighter as she declared that none of them would die as long as she still breathed, her words echoing like a vow carved into the battlefield itself.
The ground began to tremble as the beasts finally arrived, surrounding them from every direction, their roars shaking the air as killing intent flooded the entire area, the sky itself seeming to darken under their overwhelming presence, and Li Yun slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping across the countless enemies as he spoke coldly, saying that today, they would either kill or be killed, and without hesitation, the team split apart, each moving toward their assigned enemies as if it had been decided long ago, their coordination flawless despite the chaos.
Li Yun stepped forward alone, facing all thirty-six Blizzard Apes as his aura surged violently, summoning his black sword in one hand and a scythe wrapped in blue aura in the other, the two weapons radiating different yet equally terrifying energies, red lightning crackling wildly across the sword while blue lightning danced along the scythe, illuminating his figure like a storm incarnate, and with a cold smile, he whispered that the slaughter was about to begin before vanishing instantly using lightning movement, his figure turning into a streak of red and blue as he charged directly into the apes, his weapons slicing through the air faster than the eye could follow, heads flying into the sky as blood sprayed across the battlefield, the sheer speed and power of his attacks overwhelming the beasts completely as within moments, twelve massive bodies collapsed onto the ground, lifeless, while Li Yun appeared again at a distance, breathing heavily yet still standing tall, counting the remaining enemies with cold precision.
On the other side, Xian Yi and Yao Yue faced fifty-eight Black Bears, their massive forms shaking the ground with every step, yet neither of the girls showed fear as Xian Yi raised her hand, summoning a massive purple energy tornado that roared into existence, its violent winds lifting dozens of bears into the air as they struggled helplessly, while Yao Yue followed instantly, summoning countless shining mirrors that floated around the tornado, each reflecting blinding beams of light that converged onto the trapped beasts, the combination of destructive wind and piercing light creating a devastating storm that tore through the bears' defenses, their roars turning into screams before being completely silenced as twenty of them were annihilated in seconds, their massive bodies reduced to lifeless remains.
Meanwhile, Hua Yun and Xu Ming faced the combined threat of forty-four One-Eyed Wolves and hundreds of massive mosquito beasts, the air itself buzzing violently as Hua Yun summoned a black spear engulfed in burning energy, his grip tightening before he hurled it forward with immense force, the spear cutting through the swarm before striking the ground and triggering a massive explosion that engulfed the sky in flames, countless mosquitoes burning instantly, while Xu Ming swung his black axe with brutal force, releasing a red energy slash that tore through the wolves, killing ten of them instantly, yet he did not stop there, spinning his axe in a wide arc as he charged forward, cutting down five more wolves with raw strength and relentless momentum.
Moments later, the team regrouped at the center of the battlefield, the ground around them now covered in the corpses of fallen beasts, yet before they could even catch their breath, Li Yun suddenly raised his hand, his expression turning serious as he sensed something unusual, telling the remaining beasts to wait for a moment as he sat down and closed his eyes, completely ignoring the chaos around him, while the others immediately formed a protective formation around him, their expressions tense as they prepared to defend him at all costs, even as the beasts charged toward them with renewed fury.
Xian Yi unleashed a massive purple energy tsunami that surged forward like a tidal wave, sweeping countless beasts into its grasp, while Yao Yue formed a giant sphere of condensed energy and hurled it forward, its impact creating a devastating explosion that wiped out everything caught within the tsunami, while Hua Yun's spear, now moving on its own, pierced through one beast after another, changing direction mid-air as if alive, and Xu Ming created a massive spinning drill of yellow energy that tore through everything in its path, leaving nothing but destruction behind, and within moments, every single beast in front of them was annihilated, their combined power creating a scene of absolute devastation.
But just as hope began to rise, the ground shook even more violently than before as an even larger wave of beasts appeared, their numbers far exceeding the previous ones, their roars shaking the heavens as despair once again crept into the team's hearts, Hua Yun's voice trembling as he questioned what they were supposed to do now, his confidence finally breaking under the overwhelming pressure, and for a brief moment, it felt as if everything was over.
Then suddenly, Li Yun opened his eyes.
Without hesitation, he punched the ground with immense force, shouting for Xu Ming to use the Mountain Digging Technique, and Xu Ming instantly responded, creating a massive yellow energy sphere that enveloped all of them before rapidly drilling into the ground, the earth splitting apart as they descended deeper and deeper until they suddenly broke through a layer of glowing crystals, entering a hidden underground chamber filled with countless shining crystal formations, the entire space radiating a mysterious and ancient aura, while Li Yun quickly explained that this was a crystal cave with hundreds of rooms and multiple floors, his voice calm yet urgent as he sensed something extraordinary within it.
As he focused, his expression suddenly changed as he told everyone to step away from the center, and the moment they did, the ground beneath them shattered as a massive white egg, nearly ten feet tall and surrounded by golden energy, slowly emerged from below, its presence overwhelming as it rose into the air, the golden aura around it pulsating like a living heartbeat, and without hesitation, the team followed it as it ascended back toward the surface, their curiosity overpowering their fear.
The moment they emerged outside, they were greeted once again by hundreds of waiting beasts, their eyes filled with killing intent, yet before any of them could attack, the egg suddenly released a massive wave of golden energy that spread across the battlefield like a divine judgment, instantly erasing every beast in its path, their bodies disintegrating into nothingness as if they had never existed, leaving behind only silence and shock as the team crouched low, barely able to comprehend the overwhelming power they had just witnessed.
Cracks began to form across the surface of the egg, golden light leaking through them as the energy intensified, and Yao Yue whispered in confusion about what was happening, her voice trembling slightly, while Li Yun stared intently, his instincts screaming that something extraordinary was about to be born, and then, the egg shattered completely.
From within, a tall and handsome young man emerged, his figure standing at over six feet, his body perfectly formed as multicolored energy swirled around him, shaping itself into elegant clothes that seemed almost alive, his eyes glowing with countless colors as if containing entire worlds within them, his presence alone distorting the air around him, making the atmosphere feel heavy and sacred at the same time, and as he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze fell upon the hunter team standing before him.
Li Yun stepped forward, his grip tightening on his weapon despite the unknown pressure radiating from this mysterious figure, his voice steady yet filled with caution as he asked the only question that mattered.
"Who are you?"
(Act 3 Ends)
{End of 3rd Part}
[End of Chapter 0.01]