The morning sun illuminated the Heavenly Frost Sect.
Mist floated between the mountains.
Spiritual cranes flew across the sky, while countless disciples moved between the outer and inner peaks.
Today was different.
A young man was leaving the mountain where he had spent the last three years.
Ye Xuan stood before his courtyard.
His long white hair fluttered gently in the morning breeze.
His golden eyes looked toward the distant horizon.
Three years ago, he had arrived here as an inexperienced village boy.
Today—
he was a Spirit Gathering Ninth Layer cultivator.
His foundation was incredibly stable.
His body was far stronger than ordinary cultivators at the same realm.
His combat ability had reached an entirely different level.
But Ye Xuan wasn't satisfied.
He knew something very clearly.
Spirit Gathering Ninth Layer was only the beginning.
Beyond it was the Spirit Sea Realm.
And once he entered the Spirit Sea Realm, he would truly begin competing with the younger generation of the Lower Realm.
"Are you leaving?"
A calm voice came from behind.
Ye Xuan turned.
His master stood at the entrance of the courtyard.
Elder Han Yue.
She wore her usual white robes, her silver hair flowing behind her.
Even after three years, her appearance hadn't changed.
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Yes."
Han Yue looked at him carefully.
"Your aura has become much more stable."
"Thanks to your guidance."
"Your body has also become stronger."
"Thanks to your guidance."
"Your techniques have improved."
"Thanks to your guidance."
Han Yue narrowed her eyes.
"And your shamelessness has also improved."
Ye Xuan paused.
"That one wasn't your guidance."
"Unfortunately."
He laughed.
Han Yue shook her head.
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know yet."
She frowned.
"You don't have a destination?"
"No."
"Then why are you leaving?"
Ye Xuan looked toward the distant mountains.
"Because if I stay here forever, I'll never know how large this world really is."
Han Yue became silent.
After a moment, she nodded.
"Good."
She handed him a jade token.
"This will allow you to enter most areas of the sect."
Ye Xuan accepted it.
Then she handed him another item.
A small white jade pendant.
"Keep this."
Ye Xuan examined it.
"Protection?"
"Yes."
"How strong?"
"Strong enough to save your life once against an opponent below the Spirit King Realm."
Ye Xuan's eyes widened.
"Master..."
"Don't rely on it."
"I won't."
"Good."
Han Yue looked at him seriously.
"Your strength is impressive for your age, but the Lower Realm is enormous. There will always be someone stronger."
Ye Xuan nodded.
"I understand."
"And don't reveal everything you can do."
His expression became serious.
"I know."
His System.
His unusual physique.
His bloodlines.
His special abilities.
None of them could be exposed.
That secret would remain buried inside him.
Han Yue looked satisfied.
"Then go."
Ye Xuan smiled.
"You're really not going to miss me?"
"No."
"Not even a little?"
"No."
"Master, your heart is cold."
Han Yue's expression didn't change.
"Go before I change my mind."
Ye Xuan immediately stepped onto his flying sword.
"Then I'm leaving!"
Han Yue watched him rise.
"Ye Xuan."
He stopped.
She looked at him for a moment.
"Come back alive."
Ye Xuan's smile softened.
"I will."
The flying sword shot into the sky.
Han Yue stood silently beneath the morning sun.
Only after Ye Xuan disappeared beyond the clouds did she quietly whisper:
"Take care."
The Sect's Outer World
Ye Xuan traveled for several hours.
The mountains of the Heavenly Frost Sect gradually disappeared behind him.
For the first time in three years—
he was completely free.
No training schedule.
No master waiting for him.
No courtyard.
No mountain.
Just the enormous Lower Realm before him.
Ye Xuan stretched his arms.
"Finally."
The System appeared.
[The host appears unusually happy.]
"Of course."
[Reason?]
"No one is watching me."
A brief silence.
[The system is always watching.]
Ye Xuan's smile disappeared.
"...You ruined the moment."
[The system considers this a success.]
He laughed.
"Fine."
He continued flying.
Below him were cities, forests, rivers and villages.
The Lower Realm was much larger than he had imagined.
Three years of cultivation had isolated him from the outside world.
Now—
he wanted to explore everything.
But he also needed resources.
Cultivation wasn't free.
Spirit stones.
Pills.
Weapons.
Techniques.
Everything required resources.
Ye Xuan suddenly remembered something.
"System."
[Yes?]
"How many spirit stones do I have?"
[Current spirit stone reserves: 18,743.]
Ye Xuan blinked.
"That's all?"
[The host spent most of them during cultivation.]
"Right."
He sighed.
"I need money."
[The system recommends becoming a robber.]
Ye Xuan stared into the distance.
"No."
[The system recommends becoming a handsome robber.]
"That doesn't make it better."
[The system disagrees.]
Ye Xuan laughed.
Then his expression suddenly changed.
He sensed something.
A strange fluctuation.
Very faint.
Coming from beneath the forest.
Ye Xuan slowed his flying sword.
"What is that?"
The System remained silent for a moment.
Then—
[A special location has been detected.]
Ye Xuan's eyes brightened.
"Special location?"
[Yes.]
"Can I check in?"
[Conditions have not yet been fulfilled.]
Ye Xuan frowned.
"What conditions?"
[Reach the center of the location.]
"That's it?"
[No.]
"..."
[The host must first survive.]
Ye Xuan smiled.
"That sounds more interesting."
He changed direction.
His flying sword descended toward the forest.
The Blackwood Forest
The moment Ye Xuan entered the forest—
the atmosphere changed.
The spiritual energy became chaotic.
Ancient trees covered the sky.
The sunlight could barely pass through the thick branches.
Ye Xuan landed.
He immediately became cautious.
His spiritual perception spread outward.
Nothing.
No humans.
No beasts.
But something felt wrong.
He walked deeper.
Ten minutes.
Twenty minutes.
Thirty minutes.
Suddenly—
ROAR!
A gigantic beast jumped from the trees.
Its body was covered in black scales.
Its eyes were crimson.
Ye Xuan immediately recognized it.
"A Black Iron Demon Bear."
Its cultivation was—
Spirit Sea Second Layer.
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Perfect."
The Demon Bear charged.
BOOM!
Its enormous paw struck.
Ye Xuan used Spatial Step.
He disappeared.
The paw smashed the ground.
Ye Xuan appeared above its head.
His fist descended.
Thunder Dragon Fist!
Purple lightning exploded.
BOOM!
The Demon Bear staggered.
It roared furiously.
Its spiritual energy erupted.
Ye Xuan's eyes became serious.
"You're tougher than I expected."
The Demon Bear attacked again.
Ye Xuan didn't retreat.
Golden-blue energy surged through his body.
His physical strength exploded.
BOOM!
The two collided.
The forest shook.
After several exchanges—
Ye Xuan finally found an opening.
He stepped forward.
His right fist gathered lightning.
His left hand carried golden-blue spiritual energy.
Then—
BOOM!
The Demon Bear crashed into a massive tree.
It struggled to stand.
Ye Xuan appeared before it.
"Sleep."
One final strike.
The Demon Bear collapsed.
Ye Xuan exhaled.
He looked at his fist.
"Spirit Sea Second Layer."
He smiled.
"Not bad."
Then—
the System spoke.
[Special Location condition fulfilled.]
Ye Xuan's eyes brightened.
"Check-in?"
[Yes.]
[Special Check-In Location: Blackwood Ancient Ruins.]
Ye Xuan looked around.
"Ancient ruins?"
[The ruins are located beneath the forest.]
"How old?"
[Approximately thirty thousand years.]
Ye Xuan became serious.
Thirty thousand years.
That meant this place existed long before most current sects.
"What's inside?"
[Unknown.]
"Can you detect danger?"
[Yes.]
"How dangerous?"
The System paused.
[Extremely.]
Ye Xuan's smile widened.
"Then let's go."
Beneath the Earth
Ye Xuan followed the System's guidance.
After walking several hundred meters—
he discovered an ancient stone entrance.
The door was covered in strange symbols.
At the center was a circular depression.
Ye Xuan placed his hand against it.
BOOM!
The entire forest trembled.
Ancient characters lit up.
A massive stone door slowly opened.
Cold air flowed outward.
Ye Xuan stared into the darkness.
"This doesn't feel like an ordinary ruin."
[Correct.]
"Anything else?"
[The system recommends caution.]
"That's rare."
[The system is capable of wisdom.]
"Since when?"
[Since the host became annoying.]
Ye Xuan chuckled.
He stepped inside.
The moment his foot crossed the entrance—
the stone door closed behind him.
BOOM!
Ye Xuan turned.
"...Well."
He sighed.
"No going back."
He continued forward.
After several minutes—
a vast underground palace appeared before him.
Ancient pillars stretched toward the darkness.
Broken statues stood on both sides.
At the center of the palace was a massive stone platform.
And on that platform—
sat a skeleton wearing ancient golden armor.
Ye Xuan's expression became serious.
Even after tens of thousands of years—
the skeleton still released a terrifying aura.
Then—
the skeleton's eyes suddenly lit up.
Two golden flames appeared within its empty eye sockets.
Ye Xuan stopped.
The ancient skeleton slowly raised its head.
A voice echoed through the palace.
"After thirty thousand years..."
"...someone has finally come."
Ye Xuan's hand slowly moved toward his weapon.
The skeleton stared directly at him.
"Young one."
"Why have you come?"
Ye Xuan thought for a moment.
Then smiled.
"Honestly?"
The skeleton nodded.
"I came here to check in."
Silence.
The ancient skeleton stared at him.
Ye Xuan stared back.
After several seconds—
the skeleton's golden flames seemed to flicker.
"...What?"
Ye Xuan smiled.
"Long story."
Deep within the palace—
something ancient awakened.
And for the first time in thirty thousand years—
the Blackwood Ancient Ruins welcomed a living visitor.
[Special Check-In Location confirmed.]
[Check-In will become available after the trial begins.]
Ye Xuan's smile slowly disappeared.
"Trial?"
The ancient skeleton stood.
The entire palace trembled.
"Young one..."
"If you wish to receive what lies within this ruin—"
"Then prove that you are worthy."
Ye Xuan cracked his neck.
A golden light appeared in his eyes.
"Finally."
"Something interesting."