The sky above Azurefall City cracked like shattered glass. Thin lines of light spread across the heavens, glowing with colors that no mortal tongue could name. Every cultivator in the city froze—because they all knew what it meant.
The Heaven's Ruin had opened again.
Legends spoke of the Ruin: a realm beyond the heavens, brimming with beasts stronger than gods, treasures that could rewrite fate, and dangers that consumed even Saints whole. Whenever the Ruin opened, kingdoms fell, dynasties rose, and forgotten names were carved into history.
At the center of the bustling southern district, a boy no older than seventeen leaned against a broken wall, clutching his stomach. His plain gray robes were patched so many times that the fabric looked like it was stitched from beggars' rags. His name was Lin Feng.
And at that moment, he was starving.
"Another opening… and another chance wasted," he muttered, watching the glowing sky. Around him, noble clans and sect disciples cheered as they prepared to march toward the Ruin. Lin Feng could only sneer at their arrogance. Entry required a genetic crest—a mark every human was born with, representing their compatibility with Heaven's energy. With it, one could awaken powers, inherit ancient arts, or fuse with beasts inside the Ruin.
But Lin Feng had none.
His genetic crest was broken at birth.
Because of that, the Azure Dragon Sect had abandoned him, his father's clan had disowned him, and his peers called him "cripple." No sect would take him, no master would teach him, and no one believed he would live past thirty without a crest.
Yet, as he looked at the shimmering rift in the sky, something strange happened. The fragments of light falling from the crack—the Stardust Veins—descended like rain, and one thread of it curved unnaturally, as though pulled by an invisible string.
It landed on him.
Lin Feng's eyes widened. His chest burned as something ancient awakened inside his broken body. For the first time in seventeen years, he heard a voice.
[System of Null Genesis initialized. Binding complete. Genetic Crest: Null-Origin.]
He froze. The nobles around him didn't notice, too busy boasting about their sects' glory. But Lin Feng's heart pounded, faster than drums at war.
"Null-Origin…?" he whispered.
[Unique condition detected. All crests rejected. Initiating alternative evolution.]
[Warning: Survival probability < 0.01%. Recommendation: Enter Heaven's Ruin immediately.]
Lin Feng's lips curled into a grin. For years, the world had spat on him, and now, Heaven itself had given him a path no one else possessed.
"Fine," he said, pushing himself up despite the hunger gnawing at his bones. "If fate says I die, then I'll use my death to carve a legend that the heavens can never erase."
And with that, the cripple who had nothing walked toward the Ruin.
The story of Null Genesis had begun.