While he stood in the middle of the street, lost in thoughts about his uncertain future, something struck his back violently.
'BAM!'
The force was enough to make him completely lose his balance. His thin body shot forward, and, before he could react, his face met the stone ground of the street.
Pain exploded in his nose as dust rose around him.
Some nearby people glanced quickly, only to look away shortly after. As if that were something common. As if he didn't matter.
"Get out of the way, beggar."
The voice came laden with contempt.
Huo Tian clenched his teeth as he placed his hands on the ground and slowly stood up. His heart pounded, not because of the pain… but because of the humiliation.
Inside, a wave of anger surged instantly. He turned his face.
The one responsible for pushing him was a young man apparently the same age as him. Tall, upright posture, refined features, and hair tied back with a jade ornament.
His clothes were clearly expensive, made of light spiritual fabric, and a sword rested calmly at his waist.
Even someone ignorant would recognize it. That was a rich young man.
Huo Tian's eyes narrowed for a brief moment. Hatred burned in his chest, but only internally.
Externally, he slightly lowered his head. He knew very well his current situation. Provoking someone in that state would be equivalent to seeking death.
Taking a deep breath, Huo Tian forced a timid smile.
"Sorry… I got distracted."
The young man looked at him for a second.
His gaze ran over the dirty body, the torn clothes, the unpleasant smell, and Huo Tian's miserable appearance.
Then immediate disinterest appeared. To him, arguing with someone like that would be like arguing with an insect.
"Hm."
Without saying anything else, the young man simply walked past him and continued on his way, as if nothing had happened. He didn't even look back again.
Huo Tian remained standing still for a few moments. His fists trembled.
"Tsc…" He turned his face discreetly, making sure no one was paying attention.
"If I were strong, I swear I would have punched that arrogant guy." His teeth ground together.
Who did he think he was? Pushing someone like that, for no reason?
But soon the anger gave way to reality. Huo Tian let out a long sigh. He knew exactly who that young man thought he was.
Someone strong, at least compared to Huo Tian, and in that world, strength was reason enough for everything.
There was no justice there, no morality, there was only power and strength. And he… at the moment was just a miserable mortal.
A beggar at the absolute bottom of the food chain. Someone who could die in the street without anyone even asking his name.
His eyes, however, slowly gained firmness.
"But that will change…" His voice came out low.
In the coming days, everything would change. He possessed something none of those arrogant geniuses had. A system.
Huo Tian took a deep breath and began walking again.
"Alright. I need to find somewhere to spend the rest of the day. At least until tomorrow arrives."
The city was much larger than he could imagine. The main streets were filled with merchants, carriages, and cultivators coming and going. Stalls sold spiritual meats, medicinal pills, and common weapons.
Everything seemed vibrant, everything seemed alive, and above all, everything seemed distant from him.
As he walked, Huo Tian instinctively began heading toward less crowded areas.
The buildings gradually became simpler. Then older, and then even more dilapidated.
The smell of fresh food disappeared, replaced by accumulated garbage and dirty water running along the sides of the streets. There, finally, no one would pay attention to him.
It was a perfect place.
He had previously considered, for a moment, going directly to one of the great families of the city. If he revealed that he possessed a spiritual physique, he would certainly be accepted as a disciple. But he soon shook his head.
It was impossible, at least the way he was now, smelly, thin, and dressed in rags, the guards wouldn't even allow him to approach the gates of those families.
He would probably be beaten before even finishing a sentence.
"First I must take care of my appearance. Then, on other opportunities."
It was the most logical course. Besides, he still didn't even know how to cultivate.
Possessing a powerful physique without any technique was like possessing a legendary sword and not having the strength to lift it. But Huo Tian knew that soon he would obtain some technique, even if it was the most basic one, perhaps he could get it from the system or from one of the families. But he decided to leave that for later.
Continuing his search, Huo Tian eventually reached the outskirts of the city.
There was almost no movement there.
Between crooked trees and abandoned structures, he found what seemed to be a small ancient temple.
Half of the roof had collapsed, and the walls were cracked. Weeds grew between the broken stones.
But there was something precious there, silence.
Huo Tian entered cautiously. His steps echoed softly. No presence was there, no sound. Only the wind passing through the gaps of the structure.
He slowly let out the air.
"Good. This place will do to spend the night."
Leaning against a cold wall, his body finally relaxed. The fatigue of walking for hours hit him all at once. Along with a slight hunger and pain throughout his body.
The awakening of his physique had left him well momentarily, but he still needed to truly take care of his body. His stomach growled loudly as the moon began to rise in the sky.
"Tomorrow, I just have to endure this hunger until tomorrow."
Even in that situation, there was a smile on Huo Tian's face, because for the first time he truly wanted to live.