A cold wind whispered through Jincheng Spirit Forest, carrying the scent of damp earth and old leaves. The trees stood tall like ancient sentinels, their thick canopies allowing only faint traces of moonlight to pass through. In this dimness, a lone figure moved carefully.
Fang Lin clutched his empty stomach, his frail body barely able to push forward. His clothes, already worn from years of hardship, were tattered, exposing his thin frame. He wasn't searching for anything grand—just food, something to sustain him for another day.
In his village, he was considered useless.
Born with no spirit root, he was a frequent target of ridicule. The other children mocked him, the elders dismissed him, and even the poorest villagers looked down on him. But the worst part wasn't the insults or the hunger—it was the emptiness. The feeling of being completely alone in a world where strength dictated worth.
The only trace of his past was the jade pendant hanging around his neck.
It had been on him since birth. No one—not even the village chief or skilled warriors—could remove it. When he was younger, he once tried cutting the cord, only to feel an invisible force tighten around him, making it impossible. The pendant wasn't just a simple heirloom; it was a mystery he had never been able to solve.
"Is this all my life will ever be?" Fang Lin thought bitterly as he kicked a small rock aside.
But before his thoughts could wander further—
A deep, rumbling growl echoed through the forest.
Fang Lin froze.
The shadows ahead shifted, and two golden eyes gleamed in the darkness.
A beast stepped forward—massive and menacing. Its black fur, streaked with crimson patterns, shimmered under the faint moonlight. Its razor-sharp fangs glinted, and its powerful muscles tensed with each step.
Fang Lin's heart pounded.
A Mochen Tiger.
A King-ranked spirit beast.
His mind raced in disbelief.
"This is impossible! The Jincheng Spirit Forest isn't supposed to have anything stronger than a Lord-ranked beast! Why is something like this here?!"
The Mochen Tiger licked its lips, its golden eyes filled with amusement.
Then—
It moved.
A blur of black and red lunged toward him.
Fang Lin's body reacted before his mind could process what was happening. He threw himself to the side, barely avoiding the razor-sharp claws that slashed through the ground where he had stood just a second ago.
The impact alone sent tremors through the earth.
But the beast wasn't in a hurry. It was toying with him.
Fang Lin ran.
His breath came in ragged gasps as he darted between trees, dodging roots and branches. The thundering footsteps behind him never ceased. No matter how fast he moved, the beast was right there, watching, waiting.
Then—
A sharp pain tore through his side.
His body was hurled through the air, crashing against a tree with a force that rattled his bones.
He gasped, his vision spinning, his body trembling from the impact. A deep wound had opened on his right side, warm liquid soaking his torn clothes.
He collapsed to his knees, struggling to breathe.
The Mochen Tiger prowled closer, its gaze sharp and knowing. This wasn't just a wild beast—it was intelligent. It understood his weakness. It knew he was helpless.
"Am I really going to fall here?"
Memories surged through his mind.
The taunts. The hunger. The endless struggle.
His entire life had been an uphill battle for survival—yet, even now, he was powerless.
A bitter laugh escaped his lips. Was there any meaning to his suffering?
"Then what was the point of it all?"
CRACK.
A sound like breaking glass echoed through the silent night.
The jade pendant around his neck split open.
A brilliant golden light burst from the cracks.
The air shook. The ground quivered.
A pillar of radiant energy shot into the sky, illuminating the entire forest.
The Mochen Tiger let out a startled roar, its massive body thrown backward by the sheer force of the explosion. The sky trembled, the trees bowed under an unseen pressure, and a deep, ancient energy surged through Fang Lin's body.
And then—
Darkness.
---
When he woke, the world was eerily silent.
The air smelled of blood.
Right in front of him, the Mochen Tiger lay motionless.
Its once-magnificent golden eyes were now dim and lifeless. Its mighty body, which had exuded overwhelming strength just moments ago, was now a ruined corpse. The ground beneath it was charred, as if scorched by divine fire.
Fang Lin's breath hitched.
"Did… did I kill it?"
But how?
He slowly sat up, expecting pain, but there was none. His injuries—gone. His body—light, yet powerful.
Then—
A floating window appeared before him, glowing with ethereal light.
---
STATUS
Fang Lin (Spawn of the Heavens)
Spirit: Ashura Spirit (?? Rank)
Physique: Dao Demon Physique (Mythical Rank)
Fortune: XXXXXXX
Realm: 1st (Apprentice)
Achievement Unlocked: One Who Returned from the End
Reward: Body Reconstruction (Spirit Awakening, Physique Activation)
"GOOD LUCK ON YOUR JOURNEY TO IMMORTALITY."
---
Fang Lin stared.
The nothingness that had once defined him was gone.
Power coursed through his veins, filling him with a strength he had never known. The emptiness inside him had been replaced by something vast and boundless.
His fists clenched, his eyes burning with newfound determination.
The Mochen Tiger, a creature far beyond his reach, now lay dead before him.
This was just the beginning.
He wouldn't be weak anymore.
He wouldn't be helpless anymore.
From this moment forward, the world would know his name.