The first rays of dawn pierced through the dense canopy of Black Crow Mountain.
Lin Yuan emerged from the hidden tunnel, covered in dust and dried blood. Behind him, the mountain rumbled as the ancient cavern collapsed forever, burying the inheritance site beneath tons of rock.
He took a deep breath.
The air felt different.
Every leaf, every breeze, every bird's heartbeat seemed clearer than before. The world itself had become sharper to his senses.
"So this is... cultivation."
His empty stomach growled.
For two days, he had eaten nothing.
He searched the forest, quickly spotting a wild rabbit. Before obtaining the inheritance, he would never have caught it.
Now, with a single leap, he closed the distance.
Whoosh!
His hand shot forward.
The rabbit struggled briefly before falling still.
Lin Yuan stared at it in surprise.
"I've become this strong already..."
After roasting the rabbit over a small fire, he continued down the mountain.
But he wasn't alone.
From the shadows, a pair of cold eyes watched him.
A mile away, three men wearing wolf-skin armor stood on a cliff.
Each carried a heavy blade stained with old blood.
The leader held a jade compass that glowed with a faint golden light.
"It reacted again."
One of the men frowned.
"Captain, are you sure the treasure is nearby?"
The leader nodded.
"The elders never make mistakes. Something ancient awakened beneath this mountain."
He looked toward the path Lin Yuan was walking.
"And that boy... why is he coming from the forbidden mountain?"
The captain smiled cruelly.
"We'll ask him."
An hour later, Lin Yuan reached a narrow mountain pass.
The path was blocked.
Three men stepped onto the road.
The leader rested his sword on his shoulder.
"Boy."
"Where did you come from?"
Lin Yuan's heart skipped a beat.
He could sense spiritual energy flowing through their bodies.
Cultivators.
He lowered his head.
"I... I'm just a hunter."
The three laughed.
"A hunter?"
The captain pointed at Lin Yuan's tattered clothes.
"Then explain why you're covered in blood and walking out of Black Crow Mountain."
Lin Yuan remained silent.
Silence was enough.
The captain's smile disappeared.
"Capture him."
The other two rushed forward.
Lin Yuan instinctively stepped back.
His heart pounded.
He had never fought cultivators before.
The first bandit swung his blade.
Lin Yuan dodged at the last moment.
The blade split a tree in half.
"So fast..."
Before he could recover, the second attacker punched toward his ribs.
Instinct took over.
The black chain inside his dantian pulsed.
A surge of power flowed through his body.
Lin Yuan threw a punch.
BOOM!
The two fists collided.
A sickening crack echoed through the pass.
The bandit's arm bent unnaturally.
"AARGH!"
He flew backward, crashing into a boulder.
"What?!"
The captain's eyes widened.
"Impossible!"
"A mere boy broke a Chain Disciple's arm with one punch?"
Lin Yuan looked at his own fist in disbelief.
"I..."
"I'm actually stronger..."
The captain's expression darkened.
"This brat is hiding something."
He drew the long saber from his back.
Its edge shimmered with spiritual energy.
"I'll kill him myself."
The pressure from the captain was far greater than the other two.
Lin Yuan instinctively took a step back.
For the first time since obtaining the inheritance...
He felt the presence of a truly dangerous opponent.
The captain lunged.
His saber cut through the air like a bolt of lightning.
Lin Yuan had nowhere to run.