The town was still asleep when Lin Yuan left.
Thin mist drifted silently through the snow-covered streets while faint traces of dawn slowly brightened the distant horizon.
Most homes remained dark, their residents still hidden beneath blankets against the winter cold.
Only the blacksmith workshop still showed light.
Lin Yuan stood quietly outside the entrance for several moments.
The old wooden building looked no different from usual.
Smoke rose slowly from the chimney while faint furnace heat escaped through the cracks in the walls.
An ordinary place.
Yet for six years, it had been the closest thing to home he possessed in this world.
The door creaked open suddenly.
Old Chen stepped outside carrying a small cloth bundle in one hand.
“You were planning to leave without saying goodbye?” Lin Yuan smiled faintly.
“You were awake.” The old man snorted.
“With a monster like you leaving today, how could I sleep peacefully?” He walked closer before shoving the cloth bundle directly into Lin Yuan’s arms.
“Food.” Lin Yuan looked down.
Dried meat.
Bread.
A water pouch.
Simple things.
But carefully prepared.
“You didn’t need to—” “Enough nonsense.” Old Chen interrupted immediately.
“You’re traveling alone.
Don’t starve to death before becoming famous.” Lin Yuan fell silent briefly before nodding slowly.
“…Thank you.” The old man looked away awkwardly.
For a while, neither spoke.
Cold wind swept through the empty street while snowflakes drifted silently between them.
Eventually, Old Chen sighed deeply.
“You really remind me of an old man sometimes.” Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly.
“That sounds insulting.” “It is insulting.” A faint smile appeared on the old man’s weathered face.
Then his expression gradually became serious again.
“The outside world isn’t like this little town.” Lin Yuan looked toward the distant mountains quietly.
“I know.” “No,” Old Chen corrected softly.
“You know it in your head.
But actually living through it is different.” His voice lowered slightly.
“Spirit masters kill each other over spirit rings.
Noble families treat civilians like insects.
There are places where people disappear every night and nobody even bothers asking why.” Lin Yuan remained silent.
Everything Old Chen said was true.
And perhaps even gentler than reality.
Because Lin Yuan knew about Slaughter City.
Knew about the underground brutality hidden beneath the continent’s surface.
Knew how terrifying true killing intent could become.
Still— He had already chosen this path.
Old Chen stared at him carefully.
“You’re not changing your mind, are you?” Lin Yuan shook his head once.
The old man laughed quietly.
“Figured.” Then, after a brief hesitation, he suddenly pulled something from his coat.
A small black iron dagger.
The blade looked old and worn, its edge covered with tiny scratches from years of use.
Old Chen held it toward Lin Yuan.
“Take it.” Lin Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“You need it more.” “I’m an old blacksmith.” The man waved dismissively.
“The most dangerous thing I fight is bad customers.” Lin Yuan accepted the dagger slowly.
The metal felt cold against his palm.
Not a powerful spirit tool.
Not some legendary weapon.
Just an ordinary dagger.
Yet strangely— It felt heavier than expected.
Old Chen scratched his chin awkwardly.
“Don’t misunderstand.
I’m not giving it to you because I’m sentimental.” Lin Yuan almost smiled.
“Of course.” “I’m serious.” “I know.” The old man coughed dryly before suddenly muttering: “…Try not to die.” The words caused silence to linger briefly between them.
Lin Yuan looked toward the old blacksmith quietly.
Then he nodded once.
“I’ll come back someday.” Old Chen laughed.
“Then next time, don’t return looking like some terrifying villain.” Lin Yuan turned toward the mountain road ahead.
Snow covered the long path beyond town, stretching endlessly toward the unknown world outside.
For a brief moment, he paused.
Then he began walking forward.
Without hesitation.
The cold morning wind brushed against his coat while the town gradually disappeared behind him.
And for the first time since arriving in this world— Lin Yuan finally stepped onto the true path of a spirit master.
The mountain roads were quieter than expected.
Most merchants avoided traveling during heavy winter unless absolutely necessary, leaving only occasional wagon tracks visible beneath the snow.
Lin Yuan walked steadily without stopping.
His breathing remained calm while spirit power circulated slowly through his body.
Every few steps, invisible pressure quietly increased around him.
Not enough to damage his surroundings.
Only enough to continue refining himself continuously.
This had already become instinct.
A cultivation method engraved into daily life itself.
By noon, snowfall had finally weakened.
Lin Yuan stopped briefly near a frozen stream to rest.
The moment he sat down beside the water— His expression suddenly changed slightly.
Someone was nearby.
His senses had become extremely sharp after years of pressure training and mental combat.
Footsteps approached rapidly from deeper within the forest.
Then— A scream echoed faintly.
Lin Yuan stood immediately.
The sound belonged to a child.
Without hesitation, he moved toward the noise.
Branches cracked beneath his feet while cold wind swept violently through the forest.
Soon, movement appeared ahead.
Three ragged men surrounded a small carriage stopped between the trees.
Bandits.
One carried a rusted axe.
Another held a short blade.
The third was dragging a frightened young girl from inside the carriage while an injured middle-aged man lay bleeding nearby.
“Please—” The man’s desperate voice was interrupted by a kick to the stomach.
Lin Yuan’s eyes gradually darkened.
Weak people preyed upon weaker people.
The Douluo Continent truly never changed.
One bandit suddenly noticed movement between the trees.
“Who’s there?!” Lin Yuan stepped calmly into view.
The men froze briefly after seeing only a young boy.
Then laughter erupted immediately.
“A child?” “Looks rich enough.” “Maybe today’s lucky.” The man holding the axe grinned viciously while walking forward.
Lin Yuan observed them silently.
Ordinary people.
Not spirit masters.
But still dangerous enough to kill civilians easily.
The little girl inside the carriage suddenly shouted desperately: “Run!” Lin Yuan glanced toward her briefly.
Then his gaze returned toward the approaching bandit.
The man raised his axe carelessly.
“You should’ve stayed hidden, brat.” Boom.
Invisible pressure descended instantly.
The snow-covered ground shattered beneath Lin Yuan’s feet.
The bandit’s expression froze completely.
An overwhelming heaviness crashed onto his body without warning.
His knees bent violently.
Fear exploded inside his mind instinctively.
“What—?!” The other two men stumbled backward in horror.
Dark crimson halos appeared faintly behind Lin Yuan while distorted black chains flickered through the cold air.
The surrounding atmosphere became suffocating.
Lin Yuan walked forward slowly.
Each step felt unbearably heavy to the bandits.
The axe slipped from trembling fingers.
One man tried turning to run.
Boom.
Gravity intensified suddenly.
The fleeing bandit slammed directly into the snow-covered ground face-first.
Screams echoed through the forest.
Lin Yuan stopped before the first man calmly.
The bandit’s face had already turned pale from terror.
“M-monster…” Lin Yuan’s voice remained quiet.
“No.” Then the pressure increased further.
“I’m only stronger than you.” The forest fell silent afterward except for the sound of terrified breathing.
And somewhere deep within Lin Yuan’s heart— He realized something unsettling.
For the first time— Using the Asura Prison against others had felt… natural.