Huiping City, a residential district.
After completing his ability awakening, Baili An did not linger at school, nor did he join the excited discussions among his classmates. He went straight home.
At the entrance of a high-rise, he swiped his card and stepped inside.
It was a well-known upscale apartment complex in the city, made up entirely of large, single-floor units. His predecessor's family had lived here.
After transmigrating, Baili An had not inherited any of the original owner's memories. It was his father's assistant who had helped him the most after he "lost his memory" following the incident.
From what he learned, the original parents had both been exceptional researchers.
They worked for a major technology company, focusing on fields related to abilities.
Their mysterious deaths remained unsolved to this day.
As for Baili An, he had no choice but to inherit what they left behind.
Including this apartment, and over ten million in savings.
Back home, he walked through the empty living room and went straight to his bedroom.
He turned on his computer and began searching for detailed information about secret realms and low-tier monsters within Huiping City.
Unlocking ocular abilities required Source Essence.
For his current situation, the best way to obtain it was obvious.
Hunting low-tier monsters inside secret realms.
Although these creatures were generally weak, he himself was not much stronger.
So he needed a careful plan.
He also considered whether there might be ways to gain an advantage, such as letting others restrain monsters while he delivered the finishing blow to collect Source Essence.
There was a lot to prepare.
But unlike the anxiety and pressure he felt when he first arrived in this world, Baili An now looked toward the future with anticipation.
…
Time passed quickly.
Two years later.
In these two years, Baili An had focused on three main things.
First, he successfully convinced Old He and took a leave of absence from school, creating a detailed plan for himself.
Second, he spent a full year on foundational training, supplementing it with alchemical potions to strengthen his body as efficiently as possible.
Third, during the second year, he began entering secret realms regularly, hunting low-tier monsters to gather Source Essence.
Over the past two hundred years since the resurgence of spiritual energy, countless secret realms had appeared across the planet.
Each one varied in size and danger, with a wide variety of monsters inside.
Humanity classified these creatures based on the threat they posed.
Tier 1 was the weakest. With proper preparation, even an ordinary adult could defeat one alone.
On the other end, the strongest recorded monster reached Tier 8. It once emerged from a realm and destroyed half a city in the western regions, causing over two hundred thousand casualties.
And now, Baili An was out there hunting.
Huiping City, Public Secret Realm No. 3, outer perimeter.
"Come on, you little green patrol squads… where are you…"
On a dim, damp path, thick grass grew wildly on both sides.
This was part of a goblin tribe's patrol route.
Hidden within a dense patch of grass, Baili An held a compound crossbow, waiting patiently for his prey.
He had been crouching there for over half an hour.
Based on past patterns, the goblin patrol should have passed through more than ten minutes ago.
Suddenly, his body tensed.
His breathing slowed.
They're here.
At the corner up ahead, three small green figures appeared.
Ugly, with green skin and crude wooden weapons in their hands.
Through the narrow gaps in the grass, Baili An locked his dark, steady gaze onto one of them.
Even from over ten meters away, he could clearly see the wrinkles on its skin.
A sharp twang cut through the air.
The bolt shot forward at high speed, striking one goblin directly in the head.
Source Essence gained: 1.
The remaining two goblins panicked at the sudden attack.
Before their slow minds could react, Baili An burst out of the grass.
He discarded the crossbow mid-charge, replacing it with a Tang blade.
The straight, gleaming edge flashed coldly.
The goblins froze in fear as the tall figure rushed toward them.
The distance was too short. His speed was too fast.
They had no chance to escape.
Overwhelmed by panic, the one in front failed to mount any real defense before the blade swept across its throat.
Blood sprayed into the air, some splattering onto Baili An.
The stench was foul, but his expression did not change.
Source Essence gained: 1.
Without pausing, he turned to the last goblin.
Gripping the blade with both hands, he brought it down toward its head.
Its companions were already dead. The last goblin was terrified.
Yet faced with death, instinct drove it to raise its crude club.
It blocked the strike.
Baili An was not surprised.
Despite their size, these creatures were far stronger than an average human.
The blade bit deep into the wood.
The goblin's fearful expression shifted into relief, even a hint of triumph.
Then, in the next instant.
A heavy impact.
Baili An kicked it clean off its feet.
The goblin crashed to the ground.
Before it could recover, the blade pierced straight through its chest, pinning it to the earth.
"…You guys showed up over ten minutes late. My legs were getting numb waiting."
With his left foot pressing down on its arm, his knee holding its struggling body in place, Baili An slowly twisted the blade.
Only when it stopped moving did he let out a breath.
"Even a jungler shows up faster than you. Do better next time."
Source Essence gained: 1.
Hearing the notification in his mind, Baili An finally relaxed.
He pulled the blade free and stood up.
Exhaling slowly, he wiped a bit of blood from his fringe. His features were sharp, his hair neat and slightly tousled.
Over the past two years, he had grown even more striking.
"Three points of Source Essence. Just a little more. I should be able to unlock the Sharingan today."
Holding the blade, still faintly stained with blood, he gave it a practiced flick, restoring its clean shine.
He returned to the grass, picked up his crossbow and sheath, and secured the blade at his waist.
His clothes were stained with blood, but he paid it no mind.
Stepping past the goblin corpses, Baili An followed the path and left without looking back.
…