Complex feelings arose in Adam as he considered embarking on the path of cultivation. In this world full of unknowns, he had no doubt his journey would be daring. Yet, the spark of ambition ignited by the prospect of unlocking hidden powers steeled his resolve.
'Status'
*ZZAP*
[ NAME : ADAM RAYMOND ]
[ LEVEL : 1 {0/50} ]
[ SYSTEM IQ : (Locked) ]
[ IQ : 140 ]
[ STRENGTH : 1.7 *(AN; 1 is average strength of a five year old)* ]
[ AGILITY : 1.9 ]
[ CONSTITUTION : 3.0 ]
[ HEALTH : 2.0 ]
[ PSYCHE : (locked) ]
--------
[ SKILLS : MindSplit{LVL 1} ; Sage Mode{LVL 1} ]
[ SYSTEM ADVISES HOST TO INCREASE IQ ]
"I'm ready," he professed in a resolute tone.
During these five years, he had not been idle; when he wasn't searching for information, he was strengthening his body through pushups and other exercises.
"Zhihui, in this final test, your martial god physique will be of no help."
"Even better."
"Hohoho, Good."
The old man's grip was swift and powerful as he lifted Adam into the air. A surge of energy enveloped them, and they began to ascend.
The wind whistled past them as they climbed higher, and Adam felt the exhilarating rush of air against his face.
The world below quickly transformed into a mosaic of colors, with the village shrinking beneath them and the landscape spreading out like a vibrant blanket.
...
By the time they arrived, the sky had darkened, the stars had become visible, and the moon had shone down in all its grandeur.
Adam had no idea how far they had traveled, but he was certain they had covered half the planet.
Upon landing, he was confronted by a macabre scene: towering mountains composed of what seemed to be decaying food, excrement, and rotting corpses, all overrun by algae and fungus.
An appalling array of pollution extended endlessly, assaulting his senses with a toxic, overpowering stench that threatened to induce vomiting.
Slimy green substances and the wriggling movements of small organisms resembling maggots covered the putrid mounds, while the air hung heavy with a repulsive dampness, making each breath a laborious task.
He pondered that even a higher cultivator would struggle to endure this noxious environment for long.
The origin of this calamity remained a mystery to him, yet his immediate concern was understanding why his master had brought him to this repugnant place.
The elderly man fixed a penetrating gaze on Adam, his ragged robes billowing in the air. Hands clasped behind his back, he spoke with authority, his wrinkled face bearing a rarely-seen seriousness.
"Zhihui, your final test is to consume this mountain."
Adams eyes widened, his expression exchanging to one of dismay and shock as his face paled, his thoughts becoming chaotic. 'Eat that??!'
'What type of fucking test is this?!'
'Can someone even survive after taking even a taste of that?'
He was certain that even the vultures from Earth wouldn't dare come anywhere near this abomination. Yet, he was supposed to consume a 15,000-foot mountain of it?
"Zhihui, you can begin now," the old man commanded in a hoarse voice, furrowing his brows.
"But master, I can't possibly—SPLURT—ARGGHHHHHH!" Adam's agonized scream echoed as his right shoulder sprayed blood like a fountain into the air.
THUMP His despair deepened as his severed arm collapsed on the ground beside him. Tears flowed down his face, and his pulse rate skyrocketed as he tightly grabbed his shoulder.
The pain was indescribable. He had been in fights, been shot, and believed he could take a decent beating, but this was a new level of anguish.
He felt as if his arm was on fire—a torment beyond words.
"Zhihui," the old man called out, taking slow steps over to where Adam lay. His bare feet left footprints on the filth below them.
Gazing down at Adam with a somber expression, the old man emitted a piercing murderous intent as he spoke in a baleful tone.
"Focus your eyes on the filth before you. Tell me, what difference is there between you and this filth?"
Adam tried to speak, but the words didn't come out. Muffled by his groans, it took him all his effort to just stay aware.
"In your current state, you are no different."
"A Martial God physique? A level of intellect beyond what a child your age should possess? Do you believe that with only these attributes, you have the right to be arrogant?"
"I hold the power to extinguish your existence with a mere thought, Zhihui. In my presence, you amount to nothing more than a solitary speck of filth clinging desperately to this mountain."The old man's voice roared with admonishment, a resonant thunder that reverberated through the air.
Vast gray Qi billowed from his figure, swirling and engulfing the surroundings like an ethereal storm before coalescing and returning.
It condensed with an almost tangible weight on the tip of the old man's slender index finger, where his short nail sparked to life with a brilliant, blinding white glow...
*SPLURT*
"ARGHHHHH!" Adam let out an anguished scream, his lungs burning. He slowly turned his head and saw his severed leg, spurting blood like a fountain. Feeling his consciousness fading. He had never seen his master look so serious before.
Adam had died once before, and he wasn't afraid of death. But he felt a deep hatred for his own weakness and for suffering at the hands of another once again.
The searing pain forced Adam to confront the harsh reality—he had grossly overestimated himself. This was nothing like the novels he was accustomed to; the pain was tangible, and death lurked as a genuine threat.
In that moment, the gravity of his situation struck him—his preparations, the system, the unknown variable 535—all inconsequential if the old man intended to kill him.
He faced the prospect of death, the end, without understanding how, without achieving anything, without glimpsing the wonders of the vast cosmos, and without tasting true freedom.
Clutching his fists and grinding his teeth, a blaze of hatred ignited within Adam. Images of his past flooded his mind—being manipulated by others, enduring relentless bullying throughout school, and the countless beatings that emphasized his vulnerability.
"Zhihui, within this wretched filth lie the remnants of kings! Martial art masters, revered ancestors, unrivaled geniuses, and divine beasts with power enough to obliterate all life on this earth—they all lay here as beggars!""
Adam's fury surged to a breaking point upon the return of his memories, replaced by a profound resentment. Suddenly, his surroundings morphed; the repulsive mound of filth vanished, replaced by an immense black abyss.
His maimed body, lacking a right arm and left leg, bled on an enigmatic surface, encircled by humanoid figures with featureless faces, their eyes white with no pupils. The expressions were inscrutable, yet a palpable pity emanated from their gaze.
Amidst this surreal scene stood a young boy, his long black hair cascading to his knees. His eyes, a dark blue abyss, swirled like a vortex, pulling everything toward an endless void. With a disgusted expression, he stared deep into Adam's eyes, angrily professing his disdain.
"Pathetic"
"Toyed with again and again, time after time after time."
"Waiting as death slowly draws me into its embrace once again? ...such weakness..such helplessness."
"Truly Pitiful"
"In the presence of overwhelming power, these beings were left with no choice but to beg for their lives! In the absence of supreme might, only begging remains an option."
"Zhihui!! Even your master finds himself begging."
Staring into the eyes of the figure mirroring his own, anger surged within Adam, reaching a boiling point before erupting. With unwavering resolve, he uttered a single, commanding word:
"Enough."
The young boy responded with a faint smile before dissolving into a shroud of black smoke, a spectral departure shared by all the other identical figures.
As the darkness enveloped them, the daunting sight of the Mountain of Filth reappeared before his eyes.
"Zhihui! Your only option is to beg."
"Do not delude yourself with false estimations, Zhihui. While today finds you in the position of a beggar, recognize that your tomorrow carries boundless potential."
"Suprass me, Zhihui! Mere overwhelming power will not suffice. Cultivate your mind; harness every resource at your disposal with unwavering determination."
Adams's dark blue eyes began to whirl in a vortex-like manner. With a new resolve, ignoring the pain, he slowly dragged his fingers deep into the filth.
Adam clutched the dirt in his fists, fighting the urge to vomit as green, murky slime seeped through his fingers, the revolting odor becoming even more distinct.
'So this is the truth of the world I've been reborn in? It looks like reaching the top will be harder than I expected.
Adam raised his palm to his mouth, fingers uncurling like a conductor about to lead a grand symphony. 'Right now, I'm weak; neither do I have the smarts to go up against the truly strong and intelligent in this world.'
'But it's way too early to give up,'
'The curse could come back, but right now..'
'My mind has no limits.'
' I'll make up for all the times I've been taken advantage of in the past.'
"This world...No..
His hand opened, and after the silence that followed, he declared with a resonance that echoed through the very fabric of existence.
"This universe shall be my playground."
The air crackled with newfound purpose, a declaration that transcended the boundaries of mere words.
Without further delay, Zhihui consumed the filth and soon fell unconscious.
The surrounding Qi became unsettled, like the opening of flood gates, and surged into his figure.
*ZZAP*
[ Congratulations host! ]
[ PSYCHE UNLOCKED ! ]
[ CURRENT PSYCHE : BEGGAR ]