Qualification Test and Bloody Beginning

Lin Xiao felt as if an invisible giant hand had gripped his heart, almost stopping it from beating.

The air around him was filled with a strange smell, a mix of sweat, dust, and cheap incense. The faces of the young men and women showed varying degrees of nervousness, longing, and, for most, the same bewilderment and apprehension as his own.

This was Qingyang City, a city on the border of the Skywind Kingdom. And today was the day that would decide the fate of all youths in the city who had reached the age of sixteen – the annual cultivation aptitude test.

It had been three months since he transmigrated into this world called the Xuan Yuan Continent, and Lin Xiao still felt like he was living in a bizarre dream. He had been an ordinary university student on Earth, but an accident had caused his soul to cross over into the body of an orphan who also happened to be named "Lin Xiao." The Lin Xiao of this world had parents who were low-level pioneers. They had both died during a beast tide, leaving him only a dilapidated shack in the slums.

"Next, Lin Xiao!"

A stern-faced middle-aged man in a gray robe shouted loudly, his voice devoid of any emotion.

Lin Xiao took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and stepped onto the high platform in the center of the square.

On the platform stood a crystal pillar over three meters tall. Its surface was as smooth as a mirror, but within it, streams of light seemed to flow slowly. This was the "Spirit Measuring Pillar," capable of detecting whether a person possessed cultivation aptitude and its level.

"Place your hand on it and pour all your spirit into it," the gray-robed man commanded concisely.

Lin Xiao did as he was told. A cold sensation spread from his palm. He closed his eyes, concentrating his spiritual power on his hand.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

The Spirit Measuring Pillar remained unresponsive.

Whispers began to spread from the crowd below.

"Hey, look, that guy's Spirit Measuring Pillar isn't lighting up at all." "Another waste? What a waste of time." "I knew it, what good aptitude could an orphan from the slums have?"

The mocking and sarcastic voices pierced Lin Xiao's ears like needles. He gritted his teeth, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He poured in all the strength he could muster.

Finally, as his spiritual power was almost depleted, a faint white light slowly flickered at the base of the Spirit Measuring Pillar. The light was as dim as a candle in the wind, extending less than a finger's length upwards before it could go no further. It flickered twice and then completely extinguished.

"Pfft..." Someone in the crowd couldn't help but laugh out loud.

A look of undisguised disgust and impatience flashed across the gray-robed man's face. He waved his hand as if shooing away a fly, "Aptitude: Mortal-Grade Inferior. No cultivation value. Next!"

"Mortal-Grade Inferior..."

These four words struck Lin Xiao's heart like a heavy hammer. He knew that in this world where strength reigned supreme, these four words were equivalent to a social death sentence. He would be assigned to the most grueling mines or farmlands, struggling at the very bottom of society his entire life, until he died in obscurity.

He walked off the platform in a daze. The surrounding crowd parted for him as if he were a plague carrier, their gazes filled with contempt and schadenfreude.

Just then, a faint blue, semi-transparent panel, visible only to him, abruptly appeared on his retina.

[Name: Lin Xiao]
[Realm: None]
[Level: 0 (0/10)]
[Strength: 4 (Mortal Limit: 10)]
[Agility: 5 (Mortal Limit: 10)]
[Spirit: 6 (Mortal Limit: 10)]
[Talent: Unawakened]
[Cultivation Method: None]
[Skills: None]

This was the "game panel" that had come with him when he transmigrated. For three months, no matter how he studied it, the data on this panel had never changed. It was like a cold observer, merely recording his weakness objectively.

"Yo, isn't this the great genius from our slums, Lin Xiao? How did the test go?"

A sarcastic voice came from the side.

Lin Xiao looked up and saw three youths around his age blocking his path. The one in the lead was tall and burly, with a face full of rough flesh, scrutinizing him with a playful gaze.

Wang Hu.

A notorious bully in the slums, he often bullied other orphans with his strong physique.

Lin Xiao didn't want trouble; he just wanted to leave this suffocating place as quickly as possible. He lowered his head, intending to slip past them.

"Stop!" Wang Hu grabbed his shoulder, his grip as strong as an iron clamp. "I'm talking to you, are you deaf? I asked how the test went!"

"Mortal-Grade Inferior," Lin Xiao said in a low voice, feeling the malice emanating from Wang Hu's hand.

"Hahahaha!" Wang Hu burst into exaggerated laughter as if he had heard the greatest joke. "Mortal-Grade Inferior? I thought it was something else! You, a trash, are worthy of taking the test with us?"

The two followers behind him joined in with echoing laughter.

"Brother Hu, you tested for Mortal-Grade Superior aptitude! You'll be a high-and-mighty cultivator soon. Why bother with this trash?" "Exactly, Brother Hu, don't let this garbage dirty your hands."

Wang Hu's smile grew more triumphant. He patted Lin Xiao's face, not gently, with a hint of insult. "Did you hear that, trash? From now on, you'd better walk around me, or I'll beat you every time I see you!"

With that, he shoved Lin Xiao heavily. Lin Xiao stumbled, almost falling to the ground.

Everyone around watched with the attitude of spectators; no one intervened. In this world, weakness was a sin.

Lin Xiao clenched his fists, his nails digging deeply into his flesh. He stared intently at Wang Hu's retreating back, his eyes burning with the flames of humiliation and anger. He knew this was just the beginning. Without strength, he would forever be trampled underfoot.

He dragged his heavy feet away from the square, not returning to the dilapidated hut, but heading aimlessly towards the desolate mountains outside the city. He needed a place, a place where he could lick his wounds in solitude.

The setting sun stretched his shadow long, making him appear exceptionally lonely.

In the dense woods of the desolate mountains, the light was dim, and the chirping of insects rose and fell. Lin Xiao found a relatively clean rock and sat down, his mind in chaos. Was his life really going to end like this?

Just as he was losing hope, three figures emerged from the depths of the forest, blocking his path down the mountain.

It was Wang Hu and his two lackeys again.

"Kid, I didn't expect you to dare come to a place like this alone. You've got some nerve," Wang Hu said, cracking his knuckles with a crisp "snap" and a sinister grin on his face.

Lin Xiao's heart sank. He stood up, warily watching them. "What do you want?"

"What do we want?" Wang Hu sneered. "What was that look you gave me in the plaza today? Are you not convinced? I hate people like you, scum, with that unconvinced look!"

Another lackey chimed in, "Brother Hu, stop wasting your breath on him! That dilapidated shack his parents left behind has a good location. If we cripple him and throw him into the mountains to feed the wolves, won't the house become ours?"

"Exactly! He's an orphan scum anyway, no one will know if he dies!"

Killing intent!

Lin Xiao clearly felt the undisguised killing intent from their words and gazes! They didn't just want to teach him a lesson; they genuinely wanted to kill him and steal his only shelter!

A chill shot up from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. He never imagined that a mere look or a brief argument could lead to a death sentence. The cruelty of this world far exceeded his imagination.

"You... you wouldn't dare!" Lin Xiao's voice trembled, unsure if it was from anger or fear.

"See if we dare!"

Wang Hu roared, his massive fist whistling through the air as it hurtled directly towards Lin Xiao's face!

The punch was powerful. With Lin Xiao's Strength stat of only 4, if it landed, he would likely be knocked unconscious on the spot.

At the brink of life and death, Lin Xiao's mind went blank.

In that instant, the blue panel before his eyes flashed wildly, and lines of blood-red text popped up one after another.

[Warning! Fatal attack incoming!]

[Scanning target: Wang Hu]

[Realm: Body Refinement First Level (Strength, Agility have surpassed mortal limits)]

[Weakness Analysis: Unstable stance, old injury in left knee joint, slight delay in left leg when exerting force!]

[Optimal Response: Immediately roll to the right to evade the frontal attack, then strike his left knee with full force!]

In a flash, Lin Xiao didn't even have time to think. His body instinctively followed the prompts for survival!

He rolled awkwardly to the right, narrowly dodging Wang Hu's punch. The wind from the punch grazed his cheek, stinging his skin.

"Huh?" Wang Hu was surprised his punch missed. His body swayed slightly from the excessive force.

Now!

A fierce glint flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes. He didn't bother getting up, scrambling forward on all fours and slamming his shoulder with all his might into Wang Hu's left knee!

"Crack!"

A sickening bone-cracking sound echoed.

"Ah--!"

Wang Hu let out a pig-like scream, clutching his left leg and falling to his knees. Cold sweat instantly covered his face, his expression contorted in agony.

The two lackeys were stunned. They never expected Lin Xiao, whom they viewed as an ant, to instantly cripple Wang Hu.

Lin Xiao's heart pounded, adrenaline surging. Without a moment's hesitation, he leaped up from the ground and, before the other two could react, turned and ran!

He knew his meager strength could only rely on surprise. Once they reacted, he was as good as dead.

"Trying to run? Catch him! I'll tear him to shreds!" Wang Hu roared hysterically, enduring the excruciating pain.

The two lackeys snapped out of their stupor and immediately gave chase in the direction Lin Xiao had fled.

Lin Xiao sprinted desperately ahead, the cold wind tearing into his throat like knives. He could hear the footsteps and curses getting closer behind him. His stamina was rapidly depleting, his legs feeling heavy as lead.

No, if this continues, they'll catch me sooner or later!

His gaze quickly scanned his surroundings, his mind racing.

[System Prompt: Thirty meters ahead, behind the bushes on the right, there is a steep slope covered in gravel at the bottom.]

The panel's prompt appeared again.

Lin Xiao gritted his teeth and made a decision. He abruptly changed direction and plunged into the bushes.

The two chasing him didn't expect him to suddenly turn and followed him in.

"Ah!"

"Help!"

Two screams rang out consecutively. After rushing into the bushes, the two men stepped on air and tumbled down the steep slope. The gravel at the bottom immediately left bloody gashes on their bodies. One of them, his head hitting a sharp rock, fell silent on the spot.

Lin Xiao hid on the other side of the bushes, gasping for breath. Listening to the groans from the bottom of the slope and the eventual silence, his face was deathly pale.

Before he could recover, a fierce wind suddenly came from behind him.

It was Wang Hu!

He had actually chased after him, dragging a broken leg and enduring the agonizing pain! His eyes were bloodshot, his face ferocious, like a beast ready to devour him.

"You little bastard, I'll kill you!"

Wang Hu used his remaining right leg to propel himself forward, tackling Lin Xiao and pinning him down. He raised his fist and began smashing it down towards Lin Xiao's head.

Lin Xiao was pinned, unable to move, and could only use his arms to protect his vital head.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Each punch felt like a hammer blow. Lin Xiao felt his arm bones were about to shatter, the intense pain making his vision go black.

If this continues, I'll be beaten to death!

A fierce survival instinct erupted, giving him a burst of his final strength. He struggled, his hands blindly fumbling on the ground.

Suddenly, he touched something cold and hard with a sharp edge.

It's a rock!

[System Notification: Target has lost reason due to rage, defenses are completely open. Temples are a fatal weak point!]

A crazed glint flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes.

He no longer hesitated, using his last ounce of strength to grip the stone in his hand, aiming for Wang Hu's temple and smashing down with all his might!

"Thump!"

A dull thud, like the sound of a watermelon being smashed.

Wang Hu's movements instantly froze. The madness and ferocity on his face solidified, and the light in his eyes rapidly faded.

Warm, viscous liquid splashed all over Lin Xiao's face.

Wang Hu's massive body went limp, collapsing heavily onto Lin Xiao.

He was dead.

Lin Xiao lay on the ground, motionless, letting the still-warm corpse press down on him. He stared blankly at the dim sky, seeing a few pale stars through the gaps in the leaves.

After a long while, he suddenly pushed Wang Hu's corpse away, rolled over, and collapsed onto the ground, vomiting violently.

Sour fluids, bile—he wished he could purge his entire insides.

He had killed someone.

Even though it was in self-defense, the warm blood, the sensation of bone shattering, the moment a life ended in his hands—all of it transformed into nightmares, swirling madly in his mind.

His hands trembled uncontrollably, a fear and disgust originating from the depths of his soul threatening to consume him.

Just as his spirit was about to break, that familiar blue panel reappeared.

[Successfully killed Body Refinement First Level cultivator: Wang Hu]

[Gained Experience: 10 points]

[Level Up! Current Level: 1 (0/20)]

[Strength +1, Agility +1, Spirit +1]

[Achievement Unlocked: First Kill]

[Achievement Reward: Novice Gift Pack x 1]

The cold, emotionless mechanical voice created an incredibly bizarre contrast with the bloody, brutal scene.

Looking at the data flickering on the panel, Lin Xiao's vomiting and trembling miraculously began to subside.

He looked at his improved stats, at the "Novice Gift Pack" lying quietly in his virtual item inventory, and then at the now-cold corpse beside him. A thought uncontrollably welled up from the bottom of his heart.

In this world, killing... could grant experience, allow one to level up, and become stronger.

He struggled to get up, wiping the blood and vomit from his face. He glanced with complex emotions at Wang Hu's corpse, then at the two unconscious followers down the slope.

He didn't bother with the bodies. He knew he had to leave immediately.

He stumbled towards Qingyang City.

The moonlight cast the forest behind him in a light that made it look like a ghostly realm.

Back in the dilapidated shack in the slums, Lin Xiao slid the bolt on the door and sat down against the cold wooden door, sliding to the floor.

In the darkness, he slowly opened his palm. It seemed to still retain the sensation and warmth of killing.

Fear, guilt, relief—various emotions still churned within him. But he knew there was no turning back now.

Everything that happened today had taught him the most real, and the most brutal, lesson in this other world.

To survive, I must resort to any means necessary. I must become stronger than anyone else!

His gaze finally settled on the faintly glowing gift pack icon on his retinal panel.

This was his only hope.

He extended a trembling hand and gently tapped the [Novice Gift Pack] in his consciousness.