The fist, as big as a large dumpling, came crashing down on Wen Ran with terrifying force. Relying on his instincts and the battle experience forged over thousands of years of cultivation and combat, he dodged to the side, barely escaping instant death.
He swiftly grabbed the tall, bulky man by the arm, intending to use his opponent's momentum and weight against him. But to his dismay, the body he now inhabited was far weaker than he had anticipated—the man didn't even budge an inch.
If someone were watching from the side, it would look like an ant trying to move a mountain—utterly ridiculous. But Wen Ran found nothing amusing about it.
Before he could react, the man shoved him with brute strength, sending his frail body hurtling into the corner of the room like a leaf caught in a gale. His back slammed into an old wooden chair, the impact shattering it into pieces beneath him.
The old man stared at Wen Ran, his expression a mix of shock and ridicule. "Wait a second, not only did you not kill yourself in shame, but you also dare to think you can win against this grandfather?" His booming laughter carried a malicious undertone, echoing in the small room.
The sound of cracking bones came from his fists as he slowly advanced toward the teenager like a predator stalking its prey. "You must have gone stupid. You're just a dog to our family. And yet, you had the audacity to sleep with the mistress?" He sneered, his lips curling in contempt. "Ah, Wen Ran, as a man, I can at least commend your stupidity."
Wen Ran, however, remained calm, even as his face betrayed the immense pain coursing through his body. His eyes, sharp and focused, held a glint of seriousness—tinged with the madness of a seasoned warrior. Reaching out, he picked up a sharp fragment of the chair's broken leg.
That's right, look down on me. Trash talk me. We'll see who the real dog is soon enough. His thoughts raced, formulating a hidden plan to turn the situation around.
As the old man loomed closer, his fist cocked and ready, he launched it toward Wen Ran with brutal force. But what the fool failed to realize was that he was facing a master of war.
In the blink of an eye, the tide turned. The old man's eyes widened in shock and confusion. Not only had he missed his target, but a sharp, thick object was now embedded deep in his throat.
"Y-You…" he croaked, blood surging and choking his words. It spilled from his mouth, cascading down his chest as he stumbled backward. With a loud thud, his lifeless body collapsed to the ground.
"Now, which one of us is the dog?" Wen Ran said calmly, his voice steady and cold. Not a single splash of blood—aside from his own—marred his body. It was the flawless work of a true battle expert.
[Congratulations!]
[You have successfully completed the quest.]
[The reward has been granted.]
[Proceeding to awaken the low-grade spirit root.]
Suddenly, an immense pain erupted in his abdomen, excruciating and relentless, as though something deep within his body was forcefully shifting and growing. It felt as if molten fire was carving its way through him, a transformation both violent and inevitable.
A surge of powerful energy—pure yet destructive—rushed through his dried-out meridians, carving new pathways as it flowed. The once-barren channels pulsed with vitality, brimming with a power this body had never known. The pain was overwhelming, each movement of the energy feeling like rivers breaking through dams, tearing apart his old limits and forging something entirely new.
As the energy circled through his meridians, it finally began to pool in his Dantian, the core of his being. His Dantian, once fragile and barely capable of sustaining a mortal body, now shone with an ethereal glow, overflowing with spiritual energy. A faint light began to take shape at its center—a crystalline structure forming, delicate yet powerful.
This was the spirit root, the foundation of cultivation, and its birth filled him with a sensation both familiar and foreign.
The familiar warmth of energy coursing through him made his face relax, the agony giving way to relief, as though he were being cleansed by cool, refreshing water after a lifetime of drought.
"I can finally feel it..." Wen Ran murmured, a warm smile gracing his lips. "The connection to this world... it's amazing."
But his smile faltered, replaced by an expression of deep pain, regret, and sorrow. "Yet... this world is so alien to me. I will never see the beautiful rivers and mountains of my own world again..."
He stood there silently, his gaze distant, lost in thought. For the time it takes to boil a cup of tea, he remained motionless, a man burdened by memories too heavy to bear. And though he was a man, he cried—tears streaming down his face as old memories washed over him, vivid and unrelenting.
After calming himself, Wen Ran shifted his gaze to the body sprawled in its own pool of blood. Without hesitation, he crouched down and began searching through its pockets. If I want to survive in this new world, I first need to figure out who I am. And I need money. I need to grow quickly.
His hands moved with practiced precision, swift and deliberate, like those of an experienced thief. The ease with which he worked carried an air of suspicion—hinting at the questionable skills he must have honed in his previous life.
Suddenly, Wen Ran's hand brushed against something small and rough. He pulled out a tattered leather pouch from the man's pocket. Oh? Let's hope for something good.
Lifting the bag, he gave it a quick shake and emptied its contents into his palm.
A handful of small, shimmering blue stones tumbled into his palm, each glowing faintly with a soft, ethereal light. Wen Ran could feel the pure energy radiating from them, a gentle yet powerful force that resonated with his newly awakened spirit root.
"Spirit stones!" he exclaimed, his voice low but brimming with satisfaction. Wen Ran's lips curled into a faint smile as he studied the glowing stones in his palm. From his previous life, he knew all too well—these small, energy-packed stones were the bread and water of every cultivator.
"This is just a small step," he muttered, his voice steady but filled with unyielding resolve. "Just you wait, you shameless gods. I'll regain my strength soon, and when I do..." His eyes burned with fiery determination. "I'll end your world, just as you did to mine."