Chapter 1: The Awakening of Shadows
A cold wind blew across the expanse of scorched land where a village once stood. The black houses were silent, the ashes of the lost swirling in the bitter air. In the ruins, eighteen-year-old Adam shivered, his body shaking with hunger and exhaustion. His face, once bright with youthful determination, was now the eyes of a soul shattered by tragedy.
He had been wandering for days Since the murder, his feet had dragged him further from the rubble. No family, no food, no hope as he clutched his ribs, his hands shaking, the intense pain a reminder of his weakness.
Adam was an orphan before this - his parents died when he was young - but his home was his family. The old men talking by the fire, the children playing in the fields, even the old farmer who scolded him for the hidden peaches. They are lost and gone A cruel night of unknown worship came after something that his small home did not fully understand.
The sky ignores his cries as he watches his world burn.
Now, Adam knelt down by the river and dipped his bright lips into the icy water. The water was a bad heater — it prevented the disease, but it could not fill the hole in his stomach. As he rolled on the surface, he barely recognized himself. he The shell dried up in front, the skin stretched over the brittle bones.
The sky darkened, and Adam fell under the dead tree. His body was on the edge of the surface, his mind was shaking, on the edge of unconsciousness.
"Is that all?" He whispered into the cold night.
The stars above darken as his vision fades. His body was very weak, and in the silence of the forest, Adam's spirit was ready to go.
But that was later.
Panel
A.
An electric wave appeared in his body and his eyes opened. His breath quickened as something strange and powerful surged through him. The pain in his legs had faded, replaced by a cold light that cut through his sorrow like a razor.
Then he heard.
** Activate the instant kill system. .. >>
Adam's heart pounded as the voice penetrated his mind, deeper than anything he had ever known.
**< Welcome to the completed hosting system setup. Synchronizing with the spirit of the host.. >>
"What...?" His voice was soft, barely audible, but his mind flashed into his consciousness like a foreign world.
** Status: critical. Physical and mental exhaustion was evident. Start the sudden stabilization >>
Heat spread through his body, repairing his broken form. Hunger was suppressed, his breathing slowed. For the first time in days, Adam felt something other than despair—he felt alive.
*** Host selected. The Killing System is now connected to your soul. Use it wisely to achieve your goals, but be careful: all costs are worth it. >>
He sat up straight with wide eyes. "The system? bind me What does this mean?"
the voice replied, its tone ignoring his confusion.
**< The instant kill system can take out selected targets. Complete Quests involving this system will grant rewards such as powers, spirit roots, and garden materials. >>
Adam clasped his hands. The thought of destroying the targets was cold and cruel. Still, he thought of the senseless men who had attacked his home, of their laughter as they destroyed everything he loved. If this "system" could fight back. ..
"What should I do?" he asked, his voice growing louder.
** First, understand The foundation of this world without power, without life. Let's start by understanding the cultivated lands: >>
Adam felt a wave of knowledge flowing through his mind, the voice of the system weaving a fabric of light.
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The sound gradually faded, and Adam fell silent. The vastness of the cultivated world was far beyond what he had imagined, both terrifying and exciting.
"Power," he whispered. "This is what I want"
His thoughts turned to the invaders, to mock them as they destroyed his home. He rose from these lands. He wants power at any cost.
"System,"
said in a shaky but firm voice. "What's the first step?"
** Mission assigned: eliminate a threat. Target: nearby hungry wolf. Supplies: Low-grade Spirit Flower, Body Transformation Technique, and a Low-grade Healing Elixir. >>
the system A picture of a thin and ferocious wolf with bright yellow eyes was displayed. Adam's arrival cooled him down, but his fear was replaced by thought.
As if realizing his decision, the system's voice repeated:
*< Complete the mission, collect the rewards and take the first step towards the reward. >>
Adam stood up. His body was lighter, his vision clearer. The darkness of his heart's sadness turned to clarity of purpose.
"Let us begin."
In a lonely forest under a starry sky, Adam took his first step on a long and treacherous path to power. The ashes of his days still clung to him, but within those fires the flame of wisdom burned.
Rise up. He wanted revenge. And he will live.
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End of Chapter 1.
### **The Cultivation Realms**
**Body Refinement Realm**
The first step on the path of cultivation. A cultivator strengthens their body to withstand the strain of spiritual energy, enduring grueling trials to cleanse bones, temper muscles, and purify marrow. Those in this realm gain immense physical strength, endurance, and resistance to minor injuries.
**Qi Gathering Realm**
The second realm focuses on sensing and absorbing spiritual energy, or Qi, from the environment. Cultivators in this realm can manipulate basic energy techniques. Progression through Initial, Middle, and Peak stages enhances their control and capacity for spiritual energy.
**Foundation Establishment Realm**
A cultivator consolidates their spiritual energy into a stable foundation, forming the basis for advanced cultivation. This realm requires the creation of a spiritual core and mastery over basic spells and techniques.
**Core Formation Realm**
The pinnacle of mortal cultivation. Spiritual energy is condensed into a golden core, granting immense power. Cultivators in this realm enjoy heightened perception and advanced techniques, their lifespan significantly extended.
**Nascent Soul Realm**
By transforming their golden core into a nascent soul, cultivators take the first step toward transcendence. This soul, an avatar of the cultivator's spirit, grants them control over life and death energies.
**Soul Ascension Realm**
Cultivators merge their nascent soul with the heavens, achieving semi-immortality. At this stage, they command elemental forces and divine techniques, gaining mastery over the laws of the world.
**Void Transcendence Realm**
A realm of legends. Cultivators here manipulate spatial laws and create domains where they reign supreme. Few ever reach this stage, as it demands defiance of mortality itself.
**Divine Sovereign Realm**
The peak of cultivation. Cultivators become divine entities, shaping reality with their will. Those who ascend to this stage can create realms, control all elements, and wield a divine aura that commands the heavens themselves.