Chapter 2 – Red Pound Valley
After taking his share of the meat, Wen Lin returned to his room.
The moment the door closed behind him, his calm façade finally cracked.
His fists clenched, breath quickening—excitement surged through him like a tide.
Free Points…
He knew better than anyone how terrifyingly useful they would be for his future growth.
Still, excitement did not dull his discipline.
He carefully cleaned the meat from the hunt, removing blood and impurities with practiced efficiency. Once done, he poured cooking oil into a pot, waiting patiently until it heated. Only then did he place the meat inside.
No wasted movement. No unnecessary steps.
Soon, the rich aroma filled the small room. Wen Lin sat down and took his first bite.
The moment the meat entered his mouth, information surfaced in his mind.
Flesh of Primitive Red-Fur Monkey consumed.
Primitive Geno Point gained: 0.
His brows twitched slightly.
As the meat dissolved into warm energy, it spread through his limbs, strengthening muscle and bone. The sensation was subtle—but real.
Then—
Primitive Geno Point gained: 1.
A faint smile appeared on Wen Lin's lips.
By the time he finished the entire portion, the result was clear.
One Primitive Geno Point.
Not much—but enough to confirm that this hunt had been worth it.
Exhaustion followed swiftly. The combination of battle, tension, and nourishment pulled his consciousness downward. Wen Lin lay back on the bed and closed his eyes.
Sleep claimed him almost instantly.
Deep into the night, Wen Lin's eyes snapped open.
Cold sweat soaked his back.
In his dream, a blurry figure had been pressing down on his throat—fingers like iron, crushing the air from his lungs. Even awake, the phantom pressure lingered, making his heart hammer violently.
He sat upright, gasping.
"…Even after death, you won't let me rest."
The darkness offered no reply.
Wen Lin remained seated for a long time, staring into nothingness.
Only when the first rays of morning light brushed his face did he finally rise.
After stepping outside, Wen Lin purchased two Ordinary creatures from the shelter market.
He wanted to max out his Ordinary Geno Points, but he lacked accurate information about nearby hunting grounds. A single mistake could cost him his life. For now, caution came first.
Back in his room, he cleaned the beasts efficiently.
One was chopped into manageable pieces.
The other, he left whole.
Once seasoned and cooked, Wen Lin placed everything neatly onto a plate and began his breakfast.
He wasn't a master chef—but his skills were far from poor. In his previous life, cooking had been a necessity, not a hobby.
As he ate, notifications flooded his mind.
Flesh of Ordinary Sharp-Tooth Rabbit consumed.
Ordinary Geno Point gained: 1.
Ordinary Geno Point gained: 1.
Ordinary Geno Point gained: 1.
…
From a single creature, he gained six Ordinary Geno Points.
His eyes gleamed.
He felt the urge to immediately devour the second beast—but he stopped himself.
Greed leads to mistakes.
He packed his bag instead.
Essential supplies only. No excess.
He wrapped the remaining meat carefully in plastic. Today's destination was not a place for hesitation.
Red Pound Valley.
A hunting ground reserved for experienced hunters.
Iron Boars roamed there—dangerous, but predictable. They charged in straight lines. With proper bait and preparation, they could be hunted solo.
It was the perfect testing ground.
On his way out, Wen Lin encountered members of his previous hunting team. They were heading toward Monkey Mountain again. From their conversation, it was clear—they had intended to invite him along.
Wen Lin declined calmly.
Today, he walked alone.
Red Pound Valley lay silent beneath a dim crimson sky.
The ground was dark and cracked, like dried blood. A foul wind swept through the bushes, carrying the stench of beasts and decay.
Wen Lin moved carefully, every step controlled, his breathing steady.
In his hand was cooked rabbit meat.
He tied it to a thin cord and placed it near a cluster of rocks. Around it, he constructed crude traps—sharpened wooden stakes buried beneath leaves, tension ropes stretched low, and a shallow pit concealed with loose soil.
This wasn't bravery.
It was necessity.
After finishing his setup, Wen Lin retreated into the bushes, suppressing his presence as much as possible. His heartbeat thundered in his ears as seconds stretched into minutes.
Then—
Snort.
A deep, guttural sound echoed through the valley.
The bushes trembled violently.
A massive figure emerged.
Its body was thick and muscular, coated in coarse black bristles that glimmered faintly like iron. Bloodshot eyes burned with savage hunger.
Iron Boar.
The moment it caught the scent of meat, it charged.
The earth shook.
Traps triggered one after another—stakes pierced flesh, ropes snapped tight—
But the boar did not stop.
With a furious roar, it tore free through sheer brute strength.
Wen Lin's pupils contracted.
Too strong.
Wen Lin lunged forward, gripping his weapon with both hands.
He struck with everything he had.
The blow landed.
But the Iron Boar countered instantly.
Bang!
Its iron-hard head smashed into Wen Lin's abdomen.
Pain exploded.
His vision shattered as his body was sent flying. He crashed into the ground hard, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs. Blood surged up his throat, and a tearing, crushing sensation spread through his organs.
My… stomach…
The pain was unreal—like his insides had collapsed inward.
Ignoring it, Wen Lin forced himself up.
The Iron Boar charged again, wounded but even more ferocious, blood streaming from its neck as its hooves tore into the earth.
This time—
Wen Lin did not retreat.
He stepped forward instead.
At the last possible instant, he twisted aside, the boar's charge grazing past him. Using the opening, Wen Lin drove his weapon deep into the creature's neck, twisting with every ounce of strength left in his body.
The Iron Boar let out a final, unwilling scream.
Then its massive body collapsed.
Silence followed.
Wen Lin dropped to his knees.
Blood soaked through his clothes. His stomach throbbed violently, each breath feeling like fire ripping through his insides. He knew it instantly—
This injury… I can't endure it.
The world around him darkened at the edges.
Just as consciousness threatened to fade, cold information surfaced in his mind.
[Kill Confirmed]
Target: Primitive Iron-Stomach Boar
Beast Soul obtained: Iron-Stomach Boar
Consume flesh to gain 0–10 Primitive Geno Points
Free Point gained: +1
Before he could even process it, another alert followed.
[Geno Art Detected]
Name: Organ Tempering Art
Rank: C
Status: Unlearned
Cost to Learn: 1 Free Point
Geno Arts.
Techniques derived from ancient Qi cultivation methods—arts that could reshape the human body itself. Healing, strengthening, enhancement, control… even flight.
The stronger the Geno Art, the harsher its requirements.
Normally, a C-rank Geno Art required a corresponding Geno Solution just to begin cultivation.
Licenses issued by Saint Hall. Money alone was never enough.
One license. One Geno Art.
A near-impossible system.
For ordinary people, killing a creature only offered a chance at a Beast Soul.
But Wen Lin was different.
His Golden Finger granted him something far rarer—Free Points and Geno Arts.
In any other situation, he would have been ecstatic.
But now—
Death loomed.
Wen Lin's mind went blank.
There was no calm analysis. No calculation.
Only instinct.
Without hesitation, he chose to learn it.
[Free Point consumed]
Organ Tempering Art learned
Mastery: Beginner
The knowledge poured into his mind as if it had been engraved there for hundreds of years. Pathways. Circulation. Breathing rhythm.
This Geno Art strengthened internal organs.
It had only one Geno Lock.
Wen Lin didn't care.
I just need to live.
He began circulating energy according to the art.
The process was terrifyingly smooth—as if his body had practiced it countless times before.
But the moment the energy reached his damaged organs—
Agony erupted.
His injuries worsened.
Wen Lin coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth. His face turned deathly pale, his vision flickering.
He was one step away from death.
"I won't die here…"
His hands trembled.
He hadn't even begun his journey yet. There were things he wanted—power, freedom, answers.
How could he die like this?
A fierce fire ignited in his chest.
The desire to live burned hotter than pain.
Wen Lin dragged himself forward and smeared blood and dirt across the Iron-Stomach Boar's corpse, masking its scent as best he could. He left the body behind, then began dragging himself toward the shelter—each step a battle against darkness.
Just one thing…
Inside the shelter… I can teleport.
To the Alliance.
There, his parents could save him.
Here—
Staying even one more second meant death.