Snowfall continued through the night.
Inside the blacksmith workshop, silence lingered heavily after Wang Lie’s departure.
The furnace flames crackled faintly while cold wind seeped through the cracks in the wooden walls.
Old Chen remained seated near the entrance without speaking.
His hands trembled slightly while holding the unfinished cup of ale.
Lin Yuan quietly dispersed the last traces of spirit power surrounding his body before sitting beside the furnace once more.
The pressure in the room had vanished.
Yet the atmosphere remained tense.
After several minutes, Old Chen finally exhaled deeply.
“You really frightened me tonight.” Lin Yuan lowered his gaze toward the flames.
“They won’t give up.” The old man laughed bitterly.
“Of course they won’t.
You think innate full spirit power geniuses appear every year?” His expression gradually became serious.
“Especially not monsters like you.” Lin Yuan remained silent.
He already understood the situation clearly.
Tonight’s incident was only the beginning.
Wang Lie might have retreated temporarily, but eventually stronger people would arrive.
Spirit masters valued talent too highly to ignore someone like him forever.
And unlike powerful clans or noble families— He had no protection.
No background.
No authority.
Only strength.
Or more accurately— Potential strength.
Which meant that until he truly became powerful, he remained vulnerable.
Old Chen suddenly asked quietly, “You’re planning to leave soon, aren’t you?” Lin Yuan looked toward him calmly.
“Yes.” This time, there was no hesitation in his answer.
The old man closed his eyes briefly.
Then he nodded slowly as though he had already expected it.
“When?” “Tomorrow.” Old Chen froze slightly before laughing helplessly.
“You really don’t waste time.” Lin Yuan did not reply.
There was nothing left for him here anymore.
This small town had already fulfilled its role in his life.
He had awakened his martial soul.
Learned basic cultivation.
Stabilized his abilities.
Now— He needed real growth.
Real danger.
Real experience.
Because the future he intended to change could not be altered through peaceful cultivation alone.
Tang Chen remained trapped inside Slaughter City.
And every year that passed pushed the old man deeper into madness.
Lin Yuan’s eyes darkened faintly.
He did not know exactly how much time remained before Tang Chen completely lost himself.
But one thing was certain— He could not afford to waste years.
Old Chen stood slowly and walked toward the storage corner of the workshop.
After digging through several wooden boxes, he eventually returned carrying a worn leather bag.
He tossed it toward Lin Yuan.
“There’s some money inside.” Lin Yuan caught it instinctively.
“You should keep it.” Old Chen snorted.
“What for?
So I can spend it drinking myself to death?” Lin Yuan almost smiled.
The old man sat down heavily again before continuing.
“You’ve worked here for years.
Consider it payment I owed you.” Lin Yuan opened the bag quietly.
Inside were several silver soul coins.
Not a large amount.
But for ordinary civilians, it was still valuable savings.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Old Chen suddenly muttered: “You know… when I first found you outside town years ago, I thought you’d die within winter.” Lin Yuan looked up slightly.
“You found me?” The old man nodded.
“You were half-frozen near the forest road.
Didn’t even cry properly.” Lin Yuan fell silent.
The memories from his earliest days after reincarnation remained blurry.
At the time, his mind had still been overwhelmed by confusion and fragmented memories.
Old Chen stared quietly at the furnace flames.
“You were strange from the beginning,” he continued.
“Most children panic after nightmares.
But you…” The old man shook his head slowly.
“You always looked like someone carrying too many thoughts.” Lin Yuan lowered his gaze.
Perhaps that was true.
After all, no child should remember another life.
No child should carry knowledge of future wars and deaths before even learning how to survive.
Old Chen suddenly laughed softly.
“Still… I’m glad I picked you up.” The warmth in his voice caused Lin Yuan’s expression to soften slightly.
This world was cruel.
But not everyone within it was.
That was important.
Very important.
Otherwise— There would be no reason to change fate at all.
The night passed quietly afterward.
Near dawn, Lin Yuan returned alone to the cliffside mountain where he normally cultivated.
Cold wind swept across the snowy forest continuously while faint sunlight slowly appeared beyond distant peaks.
Lin Yuan stood silently near the edge of the cliff.
Then— Boom.
Invisible pressure erupted around him instantly.
The surrounding snow exploded outward.
Dark crimson halos appeared faintly behind his body while gravity distorted across the nearby ground.
Lin Yuan slowly closed his eyes.
Pain spread through his body immediately as pressure intensified.
Five times.
Six times.
Seven.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Yet he continued increasing it.
His muscles trembled violently while spirit power surged through his meridians like burning fire.
Inside the overwhelming pain— Lin Yuan could feel growth.
Tiny.
Slow.
But real.
Then suddenly— The world around him vanished.
Darkness swallowed everything.
The Mental Battle Space appeared once more.
This time, however— Three figures stood waiting in the distance instead of one.
Lin Yuan’s pupils narrowed slightly.
The figures moved instantly.
The first attacked head-on.
The second circled behind him.
The third remained motionless further away, observing silently.
Lin Yuan inhaled sharply.
Then the battle began.
Pressure collided violently within the endless black world.
Fists.
Blood.
Pain.
Again and again.
Lin Yuan lost repeatedly.
Sometimes within seconds.
Sometimes after prolonged struggle.
Yet every defeat sharpened him further.
His reactions improved.
His movements became cleaner.
More efficient.
More ruthless.
Hours later, Lin Yuan finally opened his eyes atop the snowy cliff once more.
Blood stained the corner of his lips.
Exhaustion weighed heavily upon his body.
But his gaze had become even sharper than before.
The Mental Battle Space was evolving alongside him.
And someday— Those opponents inside might become terrifying enough to rival true monsters.
Lin Yuan looked toward the distant horizon quietly.
Beyond those mountains lay cities.
Spirit masters.
Danger.
Opportunity.
And the path he had already chosen.
Slaughter.
Pressure.
Asura.
The cold wind brushed against his face gently.
Then without hesitation— Lin Yuan turned and began walking down the mountain.
Toward the world beyond the town.
Toward the future waiting ahead.