The first light of dawn spilled through the cracked window, painting Lin Chen's dilapidated room in a pale golden hue.
He sat cross-legged on the wooden bed, his eyes closed, and the warm current of the **Divine Body of Primordial Chaos (Fragment)** surged through his meridians, mending the old injuries left by years of bullying.
[Ding! Host's physical condition has been fully restored. Current cultivation: 1st level of Qi Refining (peak).]
The system's cold voice echoed in his mind.
Lin Chen opened his eyes, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
In his previous life, he had been stuck at the 1st level of Qi Refining for ten years, mocked as a "permanent trash" by the entire Lin Family. But now, with the system's reward, he had not only healed all his wounds but also reached the peak of the 1st level in just one night.
And this was only the beginning.
He tucked the **Frost Edge** sword into his waist and stuffed the 10,000 Spirit Stones into his storage pouch—a tattered cloth bag he had kept since childhood. Then he pushed open the door and walked toward the Lin Family's outer courtyard training ground.
Today was the monthly assessment for the outer disciples, and it was also the day his cousin Lin Hao would come to humiliate him in front of everyone.
As he stepped into the training ground, the noisy chatter immediately fell silent.
Dozens of young disciples turned to look at him, their eyes filled with contempt, mockery, and surprise.
"Look! It's that trash Lin Chen! He actually dared to show up after being beaten half to death yesterday!"
"Did he hit his head? He's walking so straight, like he's a different person."
"Hmph, probably just putting on a show. He'll still be the first to fall in the assessment."
Lin Chen ignored the whispers, his gaze sweeping across the crowd until it landed on a tall young man in a luxurious blue robe.
Lin Hao.
The man who had betrayed him, crippled his cultivation, and finally driven a sword through his heart in his previous life.
Lin Hao was surrounded by a group of flatterers, laughing loudly. When he saw Lin Chen, his eyes narrowed into slits, and a cruel smile appeared on his face.
"Oh? The trash is finally awake? I thought you'd be hiding in your room crying, too afraid to face the assessment."
He walked over, his boots thudding on the stone ground, and stood in front of Lin Chen, looking down at him with disdain.
"Let me guess—you're still at the 1st level of Qi Refining, right? How many times have I told you? Some people are born to be trash, no matter how hard they try."
A boy next to him chimed in, "Young Master Hao is right! Last month, this trash couldn't even lift a wooden sword! He's a disgrace to the Lin Family!"
The crowd burst into laughter, their voices sharp and mocking.
In his previous life, Lin Chen would have lowered his head, his face burning with shame, and said nothing. But now, he looked up at Lin Hao, his eyes cold and sharp, like a blade.
"Lin Hao," he said, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight, "you talk so much. Why don't we have a spar?"
The laughter died in an instant.
Everyone stared at Lin Chen in shock, as if they had heard a ghost.
Lin Hao was at the **3rd level of Qi Refining**, one of the top geniuses of the outer courtyard. Lin Chen, a 1st-level trash, was actually challenging him to a spar?
"You… you dare to challenge me?" Lin Hao stared at Lin Chen, his face twisted with disbelief and rage, "Are you tired of living?!"
"I'm just tired of listening to your nonsense," Lin Chen said, his voice rising slightly, "If you're so confident, why not prove it with your fists? Or are you all talk, just like the coward you are?"
The word "coward" hit Lin Hao like a slap in the face. His face turned red with anger, and he roared, "Fine! I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget! I'll cripple you again!"
The disciples quickly stepped back, forming a circle around the two. The elders in charge of the assessment also came over, their faces curious but disapproving.
"Lin Chen, this is a formal assessment, not a place for brawls!" an elder said sternly.
"Elder, this is a spar between disciples," Lin Chen said calmly, "If I lose, I'll accept any punishment. If he loses, he has to kneel before me and apologize for all the insults he's thrown my way."
Lin Hao laughed loudly, "Apologize? You're delusional! I'll beat you so hard your own mother won't recognize you!"
The elder hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Very well. The spar will last three minutes. No killing."
The two stepped into the center of the circle.
Lin Hao assumed a fighting stance, his aura flaring, "Trash, I'll let you make the first move! Don't say I bullied you!"
Lin Chen stood still, his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed on Lin Hao, "No need. I don't hit dogs first."
"YOU DARE?!"
Lin Hao's rage exploded. He charged forward, his fist wrapped in a faint yellow qi, aiming straight for Lin Chen's face.
In the eyes of everyone, this was a one-sided beatdown. Lin Chen would be knocked to the ground in seconds.
But the next moment, something incredible happened.
Lin Chen moved.
In a flash, he sidestepped Lin Hao's punch, his right hand shooting out like a viper, grabbing Lin Hao's wrist.
"Ah!"
Lin Hao let out a scream of pain. His wrist was twisted at an impossible angle, and the qi in his body dissipated instantly.
Before he could react, Lin Chen's left leg swept out, hitting Lin Hao's knee.
Crack!
A clear bone-breaking sound echoed through the training ground.
"AAAAAHHHH!"
Lin Hao fell to his knees, his face pale as a sheet, tears streaming down his face. He looked at his broken knee, his eyes filled with terror and disbelief.
"How… how is this possible?!"
The entire training ground was dead silent.
Everyone stared at Lin Chen, their mouths hanging open, their eyes filled with shock and fear.
The 1st-level trash had just defeated the 3rd-level genius Lin Hao in one move?
Lin Chen looked down at Lin Hao, his voice cold and emotionless, "You said I was trash. Now who's the one kneeling on the ground?"
He kicked Lin Hao's shoulder, sending him sprawling to the stone floor.
"Remember this," Lin Chen said, his gaze sweeping over the entire crowd, "from today onward, no one dares to call me trash again. Otherwise, Lin Hao is your example."
The disciples shrank back, their eyes filled with fear. No one dared to make a sound.
The elder stared at Lin Chen, his eyes filled with shock and a hint of excitement.
This boy… was no longer the trash they knew.
[Ding! Host has defeated Lin Hao and established his prestige. Reward: 5,000 Spirit Stones, and the cultivation technique — *Thunder Fist*!]
Lin Chen's eyes lit up.
Another reward.
His path to supremacy had only just begun.
And the Lin Family, the entire world, would soon tremble at the name of Lin Chen.