The room was silent once more.
But this time—
It wasn't the silence of tension.
It was the silence of aftermath.
Six corpses.
Blood pooled across the wooden floor, seeping into cracks like dark veins.
Lin Ye stood in the center, unmoving.
Thinking.
"…This won't stay hidden."
The Azure Cloud Sect wasn't a place where deaths went unnoticed.
Outer disciples might be insignificant—
But six of them dying at once?
That would draw attention.
Lin Ye's gaze swept the room.
No panic.
Only calculation.
"First… clean what I can."
He crouched down and began searching the bodies.
Pouches.
Clothing.
Hidden pockets.
Soon—
He gathered his spoils:
13 low-grade spirit stones
2 worn daggers
A broken cultivation manual
A sect token from each corpse
"Not bad."
[Ding!]
[Loot Collected]
[+10 Blood Points]
"Blood Points…"
Another new feature.
[Blood Points can be used in the System Shop]
Lin Ye's eyes flickered.
"A shop…"
He didn't open it yet.
Not here.
Not now.
Next—
He dragged the bodies.
One by one.
Stacking them in the corner.
Then he tore cloth from their robes.
Wiped excess blood.
Not perfectly—
But enough to delay suspicion.
"Fire would be better…"
He muttered.
But fire would attract attention.
Too risky.
Instead—
He opened the back window.
The night air flowed in.
Cold.
Silent.
Without hesitation—
He lifted the first corpse—
And threw it out.
Thud.
Then another.
And another.
Six bodies.
Gone into the darkness below.
Lin Ye wiped his hands.
"…Now it looks like they left."
Not perfect.
But good enough.
Just as he turned—
[Ding!]
[New Mission Issued]
Lin Ye stopped.
[Mission: First Hunt]
[Objective: Kill 10 targets outside the sect]
[Reward: Technique – Blood Shadow Step]
[Bonus: Unlock System Shop Tier 1]
Lin Ye's eyes narrowed.
"Outside the sect…"
The system wasn't giving him time to settle.
It was pushing him.
Forward.
"…Good."
A faint smile formed.
"I was planning that anyway."
🌲 The Outer Forest
Night deepened.
The moon hung high.
Silver light bathed the world.
Beyond the sect walls—
A dense forest stretched endlessly.
Known as:
Black Wind Forest.
A place where:
Weak disciples hunted beasts
Strong preyed on weak
And death… was common
Lin Ye stepped into it without hesitation.
The moment he crossed the boundary—
The air changed.
Colder.
Heavier.
Filled with killing intent.
"…Perfect."
His senses sharpened.
Every rustle.
Every movement.
Every breath of wind—
Clear.
Then—
A sound.
Rustle.
Lin Ye turned instantly.
His body tensed.
From the bushes—
A figure leapt out.
A beast.
Wolf-like.
Dark fur.
Red eyes.
Sharp fangs glistening under moonlight.
"Black Fang Wolf…"
[Ding!]
[Target Identified]
[Level: 3]
The wolf growled.
Low.
Dangerous.
Then—
It lunged.
⚔️ First Beast Kill
Fast.
Faster than most disciples.
But Lin Ye—
Was no longer weak.
He stepped sideways.
Barely dodging the claws.
SWISH!
The wolf turned instantly—
Attacking again.
Lin Ye's eyes locked onto it.
Studying.
Learning.
"Predictable…"
As the wolf leapt—
He moved forward instead of back.
THUD!
His fist slammed into its side.
The beast yelped.
But it didn't fall.
Stronger than humans.
Tougher.
The wolf bit toward his arm—
Lin Ye grabbed its jaw.
GRRRR—!
The beast struggled wildly.
Claws tearing into his shoulder—
Drawing blood.
But Lin Ye didn't let go.
Instead—
He smiled.
"More…"
CRACK!
With brutal force—
He tore its jaw apart.
Blood exploded outward.
The beast collapsed.
Dead.
[Ding!]
[Beast Kill Confirmed]
[+150 EXP]
[+20 Blood Points]
Blood essence rose—
Thicker than human blood.
Richer.
It flowed into Lin Ye.
[Body Strengthened]
He exhaled slowly.
His wounds…
Already closing.
"…Beasts give more."
🌑 The Hunter Awakens
Lin Ye stood under the moonlight.
Blood dripping.
Eyes glowing faintly red.
Something inside him—
Was changing faster now.
"Ten kills…"
He looked deeper into the forest.
Where darkness swallowed everything.
"…Let's not waste time."
He moved.
Faster.
Silent.
Like a shadow.
Minutes later—
Another beast.
Then another.
Each fight—
Shorter.
Cleaner.
Deadlier.
His movements sharpened.
His instincts refined.
Kill.
Absorb.
Grow.
Kill.
Absorb.
Grow.
Like a cycle.
Endless.
Addictive.
🌙 Meanwhile…
At the edge of the forest—
A figure stood quietly.
White robes swaying gently.
Su Qingyue.
Her cold eyes watched from afar.
Following a faint trail.
Blood.
"…He came here."
She stepped forward slowly.
Her aura—
Freezing the air itself.
"…Interesting."
🔥 Back to Lin Ye
[Ding!]
[Kill Count: 9/10]
One more.
Lin Ye stood before his final target.
Not a beast.
A human.
A wounded disciple.
He looked up at Lin Ye in terror.
"P-please… help me…"
Lin Ye stared at him.
Silent.
The man crawled closer.
"I'll give you everything…"
The forest was quiet.
Wind blew softly.
For a moment—
Time seemed to pause.
Then—
Lin Ye stepped forward.
"…Wrong place."
THUD.
[Ding!]
[Kill Count: 10/10]
[Mission Completed]
A powerful surge exploded within him.
[Reward Unlocked: Blood Shadow Step]
[System Shop Tier 1 Unlocked]
Lin Ye stood still.
Breathing slowly.
Then—
He vanished.
WHOOSH.
Reappearing several meters away.
"…A movement technique."
His smile deepened.
Behind him—
Unseen—
Su Qingyue watched everything.
Her cold eyes narrowed slightly.
"…A demonic technique."
For the first time—
A trace of curiosity appeared on her face.
"…Who are you, Lin Ye?"