Feng Rui slid out of the window, landing softly on the ground with barely a sound. The cold, damp breeze brushed against his dark hair as he sprinted toward the formation where the malignant energy concentrated most heavily.
The location wasn't far—a secluded corner of the courtyard hidden between twisted bamboo stalks and moss-covered stones. There, the malignant energy was so dense it formed a black mist floating in the air.
Normally, Feng Rui would avoid such a place at all costs. It was only a matter of time before the ghosts used it to cultivate and transform into demons—just like his grandfather had. But now, this place had become a treasure trove for him.
He deliberately ignored the fact that he was human and not a ghost.
'As long as it works, it's good enough.'
Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Feng Rui closed his eyes and began cultivating. Slowly, he imagined the malignant energy flowing through his pores, coursing through his damaged cultivation channels effortlessly.
The pearl within his dantian spun greedily, absorbing the energy with an insatiable hunger.
Feng Rui focused entirely on drawing in as much energy as possible before other ghosts arrived to share it—or fight him for it.
Time passed quickly, and the sun was already high in the sky when he finally opened his eyes. The pearl in his dantian was now solid and robust, radiating a dull yet imposing glow.
It looked dependable in the best sense.
In the worst sense... well, anyone who saw it would likely be terrified by the sinister and malevolent aura it emitted.
Most people would have immediately sent him to be exorcised.
Feng Rui examined the pearl with satisfaction. He could use it as a temporary core while repairing his cultivation. The only question left was what kind of techniques he could perform with his current abilities.
Before he could ponder further, the sounds of shouting and hurried footsteps shattered the silence.
"The young master isn't in his room!"
"Search the courtyard! Quickly, before the general finds out!"
Feng Rui clenched his teeth.
'Aren't these ghosts hypocritical? I gave them my best dramatic performance, shouting and smashing decorations, demanding to see my father, and they ignored me. Now they're running around like NPCs reciting pre-programmed lines.'
Tsk, tsk.
Still, what if they actually called the general? That would be ideal.
Carefully, Feng Rui slipped between the bamboo forest, the shadows of the hallways, and anything else that could conceal him.
Sweat trickled down his brow. He hadn't realized just how many servants and guards were stationed in his courtyard. Their numbers seemed to increase by the minute.
Just when he thought he might be caught, his grandfather appeared in the distance. The old man created a distraction, knocking over furniture in one of the rooms.
Feng Rui didn't need another signal. Using the opening his grandfather created, he darted toward the crypt entrance.
The hidden passage was well-concealed beneath a cluster of ornamental stones in the garden. His grandfather shoved one aside, revealing a narrow staircase descending into darkness.
"Go," the old man said in a low voice, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
Feng Rui nodded, murmuring a quick, "Thank you."
Without wasting another second, he slipped inside, closing the stone back in place just as the muffled sounds of approaching servants reached his ears.
The air in the crypt was damp and cold, carrying a faint metallic tang of decay. The flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows over rows of stone coffins. Most of the coffins were open and empty, their lids pushed aside, while others bore scratches and cracks, as if something inside had tried to claw its way out.
"Charming," Feng Rui muttered under his breath.
To his disappointment, Lin Xian was nowhere to be found. Feng Rui wanted to experiment with him and the missions he could give him.
Before he could investigate further, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from above.
"Over here! I think I heard something!"
To his surprise, he heard the stone move and the entrance open.
'Is it Grandpa, Lin Xian, or the servants?'
Not willing to take any chances, Feng Rui's eyes darted toward the rows of coffins.
He grimaced.
'Ugh, this is ridiculous.'
In the game, there was a scenario like this. To access a hidden realm, the player had to seal themselves inside a coffin and endure the oppressive energy within. It wasn't ideal, but it worked.
'If it worked in the game...' Feng Rui sighed, climbing into the nearest coffin.
The interior was cramped and stifling, and the smell of damp wood and rot nearly made him gag. Closing the lid over himself, he was plunged into darkness.
The malignant energy inside the coffin pressed against him, making his bones creak under the weight. His newly formed phantom core welcomed the energy, devouring it greedily, but Feng Rui's body and mind paid the price.
Blood trickled from his nose and ears as his sanity teetered on the edge of collapse. Memories, nightmares, and hallucinations blended in an unrelenting storm.
The physical pain was nothing compared to the mental anguish.
Feng Rui gritted his teeth, determined to endure as long as possible to strengthen himself. But soon, his limit was reached.
Ding!
[You have activated access to the Han Clan's Legacy.]
[Warning: NPCs cannot claim the full rewards.]
[Do you wish to enter the Legacy?]
[Yes] [No]
Disappointed but left with no choice, Feng Rui selected "Yes."
The air inside the coffin grew even denser as if a thousand invisible hands were holding him down. His vision darkened, and he felt himself being pulled into an endless abyss.
When he finally opened his eyes, he found himself in a completely different place.
The sky above was a perpetual gray, devoid of sun or moon, casting an eerie gloom over the desolate landscape. The barren ground stretched out in all directions, scarred with cracks, while rivers of a black, viscous substance snaked across the terrain, their currents writhing unnaturally, as if alive.
In the distance, a sound broke the oppressive silence—low, guttural growls that Feng Rui recognized all too well.
'Zombies,' he thought grimly, his lips pressed into a tight line.
Facing these creatures had once been second nature to him in the game, but this time was different. This wasn't a polished avatar with refined stats and impeccable technique. This was his real body: sluggish, damaged, and far from its peak.
Feng Rui stretched his limbs, trying to shake off the oppressive force weighing down his body. This small world actively rejected him, particularly the part of him that was still "alive."
He exhaled deeply, drawing the malignant energy into his body. The perverse aura flowed through him, and despite the burning discomfort, it gradually felt less foreign, more natural.
Ding!
[You have successfully entered the Legacy.]
[Description: This realm was created by the master of the Han Clan to train potential successors. To activate the Legacy, you must fulfill the following requirements:
Prove your worth by defeating 100 Corrupted Beings (0/100)
Receive the "Soul's Blessing" and successfully contract a guardian spirit (0/1)]
[Countdown to start: 10… 9… 8…]
'No time to complain,' Feng Rui thought, adjusting his stance.
He didn't dare use techniques that only the original Feng Rui had practiced. Instead, he relied on his old techniques, which he had practiced until he was exhausted because he could not afford to buy time accelerators.
Before he could mentally prepare, dark figures emerged from the horizon. At first, there were only a few: three or four zombies staggering toward him. Their bodies were riddled with open sores, their hollow eyes filled with void, and their movements erratic but unsettlingly dangerous.
The most disturbing detail, however, was their clothing—they were dressed like the guards and servants of the Han mansion.
A wild theory struck his mind like a bullet. The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
"Forget it. Focus on the fight," Feng Rui muttered, adjusting his fighting stance.
The zombies entered his range, and the one to his right struck first, its attack slow and weak. Feng Rui dodged with ease, spinning on his heel to deliver a powerful kick to its neck, knocking it to the ground. His movements were precise, but his strikes lacked the strength to finish the creature.
The zombie rose again, growling, as the other three moved to surround him.
"Really?" Feng Rui growled, condensing malignant energy into his palms. The pearl in his dantian hummed violently, stabilizing his body while suppressing the corrosive malice of the energy he wielded.
He punched the second zombie with a fist cloaked in energy, shattering its chest and sending it flying. The third lunged at him, but Feng Rui countered with a swift kick, sending it hurtling backward.
The first zombie charged once more, and this time, Feng Rui landed a direct blow to its head, splitting its skull with a grotesque crunch.
There was no time to savor his victory. More zombies shuffled into view, a steady tide that seemed endless.
Before long, Feng Rui found himself surrounded, the pressure mounting as the horde closed in.