By dawn, the battlefield was empty. Crows pecked at corpses, and wolves circled the edges, their eyes gleaming in hunger.
The MC moved carefully through the carnage, his new body steadier now. He scavenged what little he could—broken weapons, scraps of food, a half-shattered waterskin. Anything useful.
He knew this world from memory—at least, from stories. The world of Gu was not kind. Power was everything. Without Gu worms, one was nothing but cattle. Clans ruled regions with iron laws, raising mortals as fodder and Gu Masters as their blades. Demonic cultivators lurked in the shadows, preying on the weak.
And somewhere in this vast land, Fang Yuan himself was plotting, scheming, and devouring the path of fate.
But he was not Fang Yuan. His path was his own.
The abyss slithered inside him, content after its feast. He flexed his hand, watching faint traces of black liquid retreat beneath his skin. The living blade was gone, but the memory of it remained.
"Gu Masters need primeval essence to feed their Gu," he muttered, recalling what he knew. "Each worm has a weakness, a need—food, energy, conditions. Their strength is limited by what they can sustain."
He looked down at his hand. His skin pulsed faintly black.
"I don't need essence. I don't need worms. The abyss just… eats. Anything. Everything."
For a moment, he almost laughed. Wasn't that an advantage? A Gu system without Gu? A power without chains?
But the abyss was not without cost.
His chest burned faintly, hunger gnawing once more. Already, the strength it gave him was fading, demanding more fuel. The corpses from last night were gone, devoured or abandoned. He felt weak again, as if the abyss itself was punishing him for idleness.
Feed, it whispered softly. Always feed.
He clenched his fists. It was power, yes—but power that demanded blood. That made him no different from the demonic cultivators of this world.
As he wandered, he reached the edge of the battlefield and spotted a cluster of mortals herding survivors. Clan banners fluttered in the wind—a local force, gathering corpses and stripping Gu worms for their treasury.
The mortals walked in chains of fear, their eyes hollow. The Gu Masters barked orders, their authority absolute.
"Separate the intact bodies. Strip valuables. Leave the rest to rot."
The MC watched from the treeline. His chest tightened—not with pity, but with recognition. He was no different from them, another piece on the board.
But unlike them, he had no clan. No backing. No safety net.
You are alone, the abyss whispered. And alone, you will be hunted. But you are stronger. Devour them, and you will rule.
His eyes narrowed.
Not yet. To reveal himself here would mean death. He needed to learn, to grow, to adapt. Fang Yuan survived not through power alone, but through schemes and patience.
Still, as he turned to leave, something in the air shifted.
The sky darkened for an instant. A cold weight pressed on his shoulders, invisible and crushing. His breath caught as the abyss hissed angrily.
Heaven watches.
The pressure vanished as quickly as it came, leaving him trembling. He knew then—he was not simply reborn here. He was an anomaly, and Heaven itself sought to erase him.
His path would never be easy.
But he smiled bitterly, a thin curve of defiance.
"I cursed fate once already," he murmured. "If Heaven wants me gone, it will have to try harder."
The abyss coiled tighter, purring in agreement.
And so, in a world where Gu ruled and fate chained all living beings, a foreign demon began his walk through shadows—silent, patient, and hungry.
...
Just for your information (specifically to anyone that read this fanfic and starting to love it), this book is created (yes, created, not translation) to test my writing skills and I wasn't expecting even a single view. Meaning this book is just a draft/test dummy and I originally planned to abandon it after reaching chapter 10.
BUT! Because I noticed that it has 2.8K views (quite a surprise with just three chapters) and even a comment, I'll consider to continue it. Meanwhile, please add this book in your library, comment and give me your power stones! Motivate me to continue this book!