Interwoven mountains stretched across the land, with ancient trees towering high into the sky. The mountain breeze brought waves of heat, and the flowers, plants, and trees swayed in rhythm. At the edge of these mountains lay a small village with only a few dozen households—Zusheng Village.
As the sun began to set, the clouds were painted red by the evening glow. A boy, around fourteen or fifteen years old, emerged from the forest behind the village. His delicate features were marked by a quiet strength and determination, yet he looked utterly exhausted. Dirt covered his rough, worn clothing, and his steps faltered slightly. His hands, if one looked closely, were dripping with blood. But his eyes gleamed with excitement as he held a blood-red Ganoderma lucidum tightly in his right hand.
"Aunt Sister, with this Blood Ganoderma, your body will surely recover," Xiao Fan murmured to himself, a warm smile appearing on his face. Despite the blood on his hands, he seemed to feel no pain.
As he neared the village, he heard the sound of boys his age sparring, fists colliding with each other. A flicker of indifference crossed his eyes.
"Hey, isn't that Xiao Fan? Look at him! He looks half-dead."
A slightly childish voice rang out from the village, followed by a group of teenagers turning to look at Xiao Fan.
"Stop right there!"
A burly young man stepped in front of Xiao Fan.
Xiao Fan glanced at him but said nothing. He simply stepped around him, trying to walk past.
"Are you deaf? I said stop!"
The young man, clearly angered at being ignored, sneered, his eyes flashing with a hint of cruelty.
"Hey, Xiao Fan, are you begging for trouble today? How dare you ignore Brother Hu Fei?"
"Brother Hu Fei told you to stop. You don't go anywhere without his say-so!"
Two other boys joined in, and soon a few more surrounded Xiao Fan, trapping him in the center.
Xiao Fan's eyes twitched slightly, and he tucked the Blood Ganoderma safely into his coat. But Hu Fei reached out and grabbed Xiao Fan's hand.
"What do you have there? Show me!"
As he spoke, he tried to snatch the Blood Ganoderma from Xiao Fan's grip.
"Let go! Do what you want to me, but you can't take the Blood Ganoderma!"
Xiao Fan's voice was tense, anger simmering within him. These boys had bullied him his whole life, looking down on him since they were young. Xiao Fan had always refrained from fighting back—not because he feared them, but because his aunt, Shangguan Lanruo, had forbidden him from retaliating.
Though Xiao Fan was only at the fourth level of the Body Refining Realm, he wasn't afraid to take on Hu Fei, who had reached the ninth level. Over the years, by watching the agile movements of tigers and leopards, he had learned a unique fighting style. His speed was far greater than others at his level, and his strength was considerable, though he had never displayed it openly. Yet his cultivation couldn't keep up with his peers, and he had fallen far behind.
"Blood Ganoderma?"
The boys all froze, and Hu Fei's eyes lit up. A hundred-year-old elixir like Blood Ganoderma was rare and difficult to find. He couldn't believe Xiao Fan had managed to get his hands on one.
"Give me the Blood Ganoderma, and I promise I won't bully you anymore. Besides, you're nearly fifteen, and you haven't even reached the fifth level of the Body Refining Realm. That Ganoderma is wasted on you."
Hu Fei's tone was condescending, his gaze cold and dismissive. He had already reached the ninth level of the Body Refining Realm and was close to awakening his martial soul, a step closer to becoming a true warrior.
"Forget it. No one is taking this Blood Ganoderma!"
For the first time, Xiao Fan's tone was firm as he clutched the Blood Ganoderma closer to his chest.
"Oh, got a spine now? That's not up to you!"
Hu Fei sneered, signaling to his followers. In an instant, several fists came swinging at Xiao Fan.
"Bang!"
A boy kicked Xiao Fan, sending him stumbling to the ground, but he held onto the Blood Ganoderma with a death grip.
"Let go, or I'll beat you until you do!"
Hu Fei shouted, raising his fist and aiming a punch at Xiao Fan's hand. Already injured from retrieving the Blood Ganoderma, his hand bled profusely, the pain intense.
Xiao Fan gritted his teeth, saying nothing. Though his right hand throbbed with agony, he held on tight. The Blood Ganoderma was for Shangguan Lanruo's health, and even if it cost him his life, he wouldn't let anyone take it from him.
"Enough! Beat him! Let's see if he's still stubborn!"
Hu Fei shouted in rage, and the other boys joined in, pummeling Xiao Fan with fists and kicks. He endured in silence, teeth clenched, as if a fierce beast was caged within his heart. If not for Shangguan Lanruo's voice echoing in his mind, urging him to bear it, he would have unleashed his fury on all of them.
"Brother Hu, this kid is acting strange today. I think we should just let it go. If we keep fighting, someone might get seriously hurt!" A young man spoke up, noticing the shift in Xiao Fan. At that moment, Xiao Fan lay on the ground, but his eyes were bloodshot, as if they could drip blood. The ferocity in his gaze sent chills down the spines of those around him.
"Humph, he's just a piece of trash. Even if he's gone mad, he's still worthless. If he doesn't hand over the Blood Ganoderma, I'll break a few of his ribs today!" Hu Fei shouted angrily, swinging a punch at Xiao Fan. A sharp crack echoed as bone met bone, yet Xiao Fan didn't scream. He gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with intensity, his hair wild, and an unexplainable aura radiating from him.
In that moment, a cruel voice echoed in Xiao Fan's mind. "Kill them! Eliminate all who bully you, do it!" The voice reverberated, making it nearly impossible for him to control his thoughts.
"Boom!!"
Suddenly, thunder rumbled in the clear sky, and dark clouds rolled in. From the churning clouds, shafts of light pierced through, casting vibrant colors across the world. Everyone was taken aback, bewildered by the strange phenomenon.
In the distance, on a peak that seemed to touch the clouds, a heroic middle-aged man stood. His eyes gleamed brightly, like flickering lamps. "In the eastern part of the Longteng Empire, an ominous and strange aura has triggered bizarre phenomena in the heavens and earth!" His voice was filled with astonishment. Such occurrences were rare; the aura was not particularly strong, yet it had caused this unusual display.
At the entrance of Zusheng Village, a loud bang echoed as Xiao Fan erupted with an energy that Hu Fei and his friends couldn't fathom, sending them all flying.
"Aunt Sister, I can't forget your teachings today. I can't take it anymore. Please forgive me!" Xiao Fan murmured to himself, his eyes blood-red and cold. A single glance sent shivers down the spines of the boys surrounding him.
"Oh no, Xiao Fan has lost it!" Someone cried out in fear, ready to flee.
"Where do you think you're going?" Xiao Fan lunged like a cheetah, grabbing one boy's arm and delivering a crushing blow to his ribs. The sound of cracking bones filled the air as the boy let out a piercing scream.
At the same time, Xiao Fan raised his right leg and kicked the dazed Hu Fei to the ground, stepping on his back while grabbing his hair.
"Xiao Fan, what are you doing? Let me go!" Hu Fei stammered, terror creeping into his voice. Under Xiao Fan's intense gaze, he felt a bone-deep chill. He had never seen such a terrifying look.
"Bang!!"
Without a word, Xiao Fan slammed Hu Fei's head into the ground, causing him to scream in agony. Blood streamed from his forehead, and dirt filled his mouth and nose.
"How dare you do this to me? My father is the village chief—a true warrior!" Hu Fei threatened, his arrogance fueled by his father's status as one of the only two warriors in the village.
"All the grudges of the past decade are settled today!" Xiao Fan replied coldly, his body and face smeared with blood, making him appear fearsome.
"Xiao Fan! Who gave you the audacity to treat my son like this?" A powerful voice rang out. The villagers, alerted by the commotion, gathered around. Hu Fei's father, Hu Yang, was the first to arrive, and upon seeing his son battered and bleeding, he erupted in fury.
Without hesitation, Hu Yang charged at Xiao Fan, attempting to restrain him with a grappling move. "Come on, the younger one shouldn't bully the older one, so I'll take action!"
Xiao Fan's voice was icy. He had a deep grudge against the Hu family, and seeing the village chief, a warrior, attacking him only fueled his rage. He quickly sidestepped the attack and aimed a punch at Hu Yang's hand.
"Bang!!"
Xiao Fan's fist connected with Hu Yang's palm. The impact sent a jolt of pain through Xiao Fan's arm, causing it to go numb as he stumbled back several steps.
"Xiao Fan, your methods are too brutal. I shouldn't interfere in the conflicts of the younger generation, but you've gone too far. I will teach you a lesson today!" Hu Yang lunged again, transforming his palm into a claw, each attack aimed directly at Xiao Fan's joints. However, Xiao Fan's agility allowed him to evade each attempt, surprising Hu Yang.
Xiao Fan's reputation for strength in the village was well-known. He trained every morning with the village martial arts master, Hong Dahai. While many of his peers had already reached the seventh level or higher, Xiao Fan remained stuck at the fourth level of the Body Refining Realm. Little did they know, despite his low cultivation level, his combat prowess far exceeded that of his peers.
"Hu Yang, you're going too far!" Just as Xiao Fan dodged another of Hu Yang's grasping hands, Hong Dahai's voice rang out. He leaped forward and seized Hu Yang's arm.
"Children were sparring. As the village head and a warrior, how can you attack Xiao Fan, who is still at the Body Refining level? I am ashamed of your behavior!" Hong Dahai's voice was filled with indignation as he released Hu Yang's arm.
"I don't intend to meddle in their affairs, but Xiao Fan was excessively violent. If I hadn't arrived when I did, my son could have been killed. Since you're Xiao Fan's master, you should teach him better and let this matter rest," Hu Yang admitted, his anger subsiding as he regained his composure.
"Xiao Fan, are you alright?" Hong Dahai approached him, concern etched on his face as he noticed the unusual gleam in Xiao Fan's eyes. The sight was unsettling; not only were his eyes blood-red, but they also emanated a strange aura.
"Master Hong, I'm fine." Xiao Fan shook his head and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. His gaze fell upon the damaged Blood Ganoderma, a deep pain flashing in his eyes.