CHAPTER 1: THE PURPOSE
In the humble confines of the Chen Clan's territory lived a young boy named Ajin. Branded a slave, he was constantly bullied for two things: his supposed lack of talent, and his broken meridians that left him unable to cultivate qi like others his age.
SCENE 1
One quiet morning, Ajin was sweeping the training arena when a group of four children approached—led by Chen Su, the clan's arrogant young master.
"Hey! Look who it is—Ajin the loser!" Chen Su sneered.
"Yeah, and he's all alone again," his first lackey chimed in.
"Let's go teach that slave his place," the second lackey growled.
SCENE 2
They descended on him, kicking his broom aside before raining punches on his face and stomach. When they finally pulled back, the third lackey leaned down, tapping Ajin's bruised cheek with his finger.
"Remember this, slave—next time you see the young master, you'll bow so low your forehead touches the ground. HA HA HA HA!"
With mocking laughter, they left him curled on the dusty ground.
That cold night, in his tiny, dirty room, Ajin sat huddled in the corner, clutching a small piece of bread to his aching stomach. Bruises covered his face and body as questions swirled in his mind.
"Why am I always the one they hurt?"
"Why was I born like this?"
Tears welled in his eyes.
"Where are my parents? Is it my fault I live like this… or should I blame them for leaving me here?"
His voice cracked as he screamed into the darkness:
"WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF MY EXISTENCE?!"
DING!!!
A mysterious voice echoed through the room—clear and powerful:
"SYSTEM SUCCESSFULLY FOUND HOST! 'EXISTENCE SYSTEM' INITIATED."
Ajin scrambled to his feet, fear pricking at his skin. He scanned every corner of his small room.
"Who's there? Is someone hiding here?!"
In an instant, a glowing crimson hologram materialized before his eyes:
[EXISTENCE SYSTEM]
(Deep Majestic Voice)
Name: Ajin (Slave)
Title: N/A
INNATE TRAITS:
- (Evolution Martial Physique) (Passive) – Your body adapts to all techniques and situations. All stats grow +1 daily (except Aura). Each +1 to Qi equals one month of meditation. Activates upon grasping the essence of Qi or reaching Qi Condensation Realm.
- (2x Comprehension) (Active) – Master martial arts and techniques twice as fast; comprehend skills simply by observing them.
UNIQUE SKILL:
- (Nullification) (Active) – Nullify any single attack once per day.
STATS:
- Strength: 10 (Increase via intense training)
- Speed: 10 (Increase via running ≥10km daily)
- Stamina: 10 (Increase via intense pressure)
- Aura: 0 (Activates at Godhood level)
- Qi: 0 (Increase via meditation upon reaching Qi Condensation Stage)
Puzzled but forcing himself to stay calm, Ajin felt a surge of power in his limbs. Testing it, he threw a punch at his room's wooden wall—and watched it crack down the middle. Overjoyed, he checked his status again, noting that his basic stats could rise with training. Without hesitation, he began practicing punches and stances in his cramped room, working until the first light of dawn seeped through a hole in his roof.
"What?! It's morning already?" He rubbed his tired eyes, muscles aching. "I'm exhausted… but if I skip work, the young master will kill me."
After eating a meager breakfast, he grabbed his broom and headed out. On the way, he spotted a group of clan disciples cornering a young girl.
"HEY! STOP THAT!" Ajin shouted, rushing forward. "She's defenseless—have you no shame?!"
"Look who's talking!" One disciple laughed. "The broken-meridian slave thinks he can stand up to us?"
The group's leader stepped forward, raising his fist. "You got a problem with us? Or do you want us to beat you instead?"
Before the punch could land, Ajin's body moved on its own—catching the disciple's fist in his palm without flinching.
"Impossible! A slave with broken meridians stopping a Body Refining disciple?!" another disciple gasped.
Shocked by his own reflexes, Ajin turned and ran for the outskirts of the clan lands—to a quiet spot in the mountains where he often went to escape his pain. There, he called out: "System, open!"
His status window appeared. His Strength had risen by 2 points from the previous night's training.
"Only 2 points? I thought I'd be stronger already… but it's a start." He clenched his fist, a spark of hope in his eyes. "Now I have a way to get strong and leave this place for good."
Back at the clan, Chen Su waited at the training ground with his lackeys, face twisted in anger.
"Where is that slave?! How dare he skip his work when we feed and shelter him!"
"Young Master, maybe he's still hurting from yesterday's beating—you did hit him hard," his second lackey chuckled.
"Hmph. Let's go to his hovel and see what he's up to."
They marched to Ajin's room, only to find it empty. As they prepared to leave, they spotted him walking back from the mountains.
"There he is! Where do you think that trash has been?" the first lackey hissed.
"Hide," Chen Su ordered quietly. "We'll give him a surprise he won't forget."
Ajin noticed his door was ajar—he was certain he'd closed it before leaving. Suspicious, he crept inside. The moment he crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut behind him. The three lackeys surrounded him.
"You worthless dog—skipping work is a serious offense in the Chen Clan!" Chen Su snarled, jabbing his finger at Ajin's forehead.
"I'm sorry, Young Master. It won't happen again," Ajin said, head bowed—but his hands were clenched at his sides.
"Boys—teach him to never disobey me again!"
The first lackey charged, unleashing a Tiger Punch. Ajin caught his fist with ease, then sent him flying two meters back with a casual kick. The other two attacked in unison—one with Eagle's Claw, the other with Dragon's Kick—but Ajin dodged both and knocked them out with quick punches to their stomachs.
"How?!" Chen Su stumbled backward, face pale with terror. "You're supposed to be a useless slave with broken meridians—how did you defeat Body Refining disciples?!"
Ajin lifted his head, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"I may have been born with no talent and broken meridians… but from today onward, no one will bully me again."
He picked up his broom and walked to the training arena. Minutes later, Kesha—his only friend and one of the clan's top disciples—ran up to him, breathless.
"Hah… hah… Jin! I heard you beat Chen Su's lackeys—good for you! But how? You're just a mortal, and they're Body Refining stage!"
"I don't know," Ajin lied, playing dumb. "I just suddenly felt stronger—like I could lift a boulder with one hand. Even with my broken meridians."
"Alright, if you say so," Kesha said, worry etched on her face. "But be careful—Chen Su won't let this go."
When Ajin finished his work and returned home, he ate his dinner and checked his status—his Strength had risen by 1, likely from the fight. As he lay down to sleep, a chime rang out:
DING! Strength +1, Speed +1, Stamina +1
Ajin sat up, feeling his body thrumming with new power. He punched the air a few times, amazed at how light and strong he felt. Then came a frantic knock at his door.
"JIN! Wake up! Wake up already!" Kesha shouted through the wood.
Ajin pulled on his pants and stumbled to the door, shirtless and still drowsy.
"Calm down—it's way too early for work. I said I'd never be late again."
"It's not work!" Kesha's voice was filled with excitement. "You said you felt stronger, right? Today's the Outer Disciple Selection for the Sky Sect! All participants just need to be at or below Body Refining Realm—you have a shot!"
"But the clan will never let me leave," Ajin frowned. "If they catch me, I'll be punished severely."
"That's why we're leaving now—before the gatekeepers are awake. We'll use the backdoor only we know about. You just have to perform well—win first place if you can—so the Sky Sect masters notice you and give you a disciple token. If not… we'll be in big trouble when we get back."
Before the sun fully rose, the two slipped out of the clan grounds and set off toward the Sky Sect—where Ajin's journey to find his purpose would truly begin.
(END OF CHAPTER 1)