The mountain forest was silent.
Too silent.
Lin Xuan moved carefully between ancient trees, his breath steady as Dragon Breathing Art circulated within his body. Each inhale drew spiritual energy into his lungs; each exhale refined it into strength.
His senses were sharper than ever.
Leaves rustling from hundreds of meters away.
The faint metallic scent of blood.
A hostile intent—hidden, waiting.
Dragon Sense activated.
A whisper echoed in his mind.
Two hundred steps to the east.
A predator lies in ambush.
Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed.
"So this is what it feels like…" he murmured.
Before awakening the Ancient Dragon bloodline, he would have walked straight into death.
Now—he smiled faintly.
The First Beast
A shadow burst from the undergrowth.
A massive Ironfang Wolf lunged forward, its fangs glowing silver, claws tearing through the earth.
A Spirit Beast.
In the past, even a single strike from such a creature would have crushed Lin Xuan.
But now—
He stepped forward.
"Dragon Breathing—First Form."
Golden-black energy surged into his arms.
BOOM!
His fist collided with the wolf's head.
The impact echoed like thunder.
The Ironfang Wolf was sent flying, crashing into a tree with a bone-shattering sound. It howled in pain but quickly struggled back to its feet, eyes burning with rage.
Lin Xuan's heart pounded.
It worked.
But he knew—
This wasn't over.
Xuánlóng Moves
Inside his spiritual sea, the small dragon stirred.
Your movement is inefficient.
Allow me.
A surge of power flowed through Lin Xuan's spine.
His pupils flashed gold.
For a brief moment, a faint dragon-shaped shadow wrapped around his body.
Skill Synced: Dragon Claw (Incomplete)
Lin Xuan leapt.
His hand transformed—fingers hardened like scales, nails glowing sharp as blades.
He slashed.
SHRRRK!
Blood sprayed into the air.
The Ironfang Wolf collapsed, its chest torn open, life fading from its eyes.
Silence returned to the forest.
Lin Xuan stood frozen, breathing heavily.
He stared at his trembling hands.
"I… killed it."
This was his first kill.
No cultivation duel.
No mercy.
Only survival.
『Spirit Beast defeated』
『Essence absorbed』
『Body Tempering Stage stabilized』
Warmth spread through his body, strengthening muscles and bones.
Xuánlóng's voice echoed softly.
This is the path of cultivation.
Those who hesitate… die.
Lin Xuan clenched his fist.
"I won't hesitate again."
Eyes Watching From Afar
Unbeknownst to him—
From the edge of the forest, a group of cultivators watched silently.
One of them sneered.
"A body-tempering trash killed an Ironfang Wolf?"
Another narrowed his eyes.
"That aura… it's strange."
At the center stood a young man in white robes, his expression cold and proud.
Outer Disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect — Zhao Chen.
"So that's him," Zhao Chen said calmly.
"The one the elders marked."
His lips curled into a faint smile.
"Interesting."
A Step Into the Cultivation World
As Lin Xuan wiped the blood from his face, Xuánlóng spoke again.
More will come.
Beasts.
Cultivators.
Enemies far stronger than you.
Lin Xuan looked toward the distant mountains, where sect banners fluttered in the wind.
"Good," he said quietly.
"I'll climb over them all."
The weakest child had taken his first step—
Not into peace,
But into war.