Dao Bone Shatters, System Awakens with a Concealed Edge Heart

In the Northern Wasteland, during the twelfth lunar month, the wind and snow cut like knives.

At the bottom of Dragon-Severing Cliff, three feet of snow lay accumulated, the cold piercing to the bone. I lay between rock crevices, my clothes tattered, my left arm twisted, my chest caved in, my breathing so faint it was almost imperceptible. Nineteen years of wealth and glory had vanished like smoke. I was Ji Wuchen, the legitimate young master of the Ji Family, born with a Dao Bone, once hailed as a once-in-a-century prodigy. Now, my Dao Bone was shattered, my cultivation completely destroyed, and even moving a finger felt like climbing to heaven.

Three hours ago, my cousin Ji Hantian invited me for a spar. He stood at the edge of the cliff, smiling as he said, "Wuchen, your talent is high, but ultimately, it's no match for mine." Before he finished speaking, he struck my chest with a palm. That palm, imbued with Spiritual Energy, struck directly at my vital point. I fell from Dragon-Severing Cliff, plummeting from the heavens, landing here. The moment my Dao Bone cracked, the pain was like ten thousand needles piercing my brain, my Sea of Consciousness nearly exploding. I thought I would die.

But just as my consciousness was about to dissipate, a silent voice echoed in my mind—"Great Dao Heaven-Slaying System binding successful."

There was no light screen, no notification, only a cold and clear stream of information flooding into my Sea of Consciousness. As long as I didn't reveal my strength, Concealing my Edge and Guarding Simplicity, I could automatically absorb the remnants of the world's Dao, karmic energy, and fragments of battle intent, converting them into "Heaven-Slaying Origin." The longer I suppressed my cultivation, the more dangerous my situation, and the faster I would accumulate. If I didn't act, I wouldn't act at all. But when I did, it would shake the heavens and earth.

I understood. Survival was the only path.

I mustered the last shred of my consciousness and silently recited in my mind, "Conceal Edge, Guard Simplicity." The meridians in my body slowly closed, my aura sank deep into my Dantian, and even the rhythm of my heartbeat was suppressed as much as possible. My body temperature was continuously draining, but I couldn't move. There were pursuers above; if they discovered I was alive, they would surely finish me off.

Through the wind and snow, the sound of ropes scraping against the rock face could be heard.

Two servants in black clothes descended along the cliff face, holding Spirit-Seeking Compasses. They moved with light steps, clearly ordered to search for the body. They were no more than ten steps away from my hiding place. One of them squatted down, using a wooden stick to push aside the snow, his gaze sweeping over my face.

I held my breath, relaxed my entire body, and let myself go limp like a corpse.

"Still a bit warm, but no Spiritual Energy. I'm afraid he won't make it," the man said in a low voice.

The other sneered, "Young Master Ji Hantian said that no one, not even an immortal, could save someone who fell from Dragon-Severing Cliff. Once the Dao Bone shatters, they're a cripple and won't last half an hour."

They took a few more steps closer, and one of them kicked my shoulder. I let my body roll over, blood seeping from the corner of my mouth, not even blinking an eye. The blood was real, but I didn't care. As long as they thought I was dead, it was enough.

"The compass shows no reaction, confirming no spiritual energy fluctuations." The one holding the compass put away his artifact. "Report back, Ji Wuchen is dead."

The two climbed back up the ropes, their figures disappearing into the wind and snow.

I remained lying there, unmoving, my eyes closed. Only when I confirmed they had completely left did I breathe a sigh of relief in my heart. The System was still operating, a faint, warm current flowing deep within my Sea of Consciousness—the first trace of Heaven-Slaying Origin. It was weak, but it was real.

I was still alive. And I would become stronger.

The night deepened, and the wind and snow did not cease. My body temperature had dropped to its limit, my limbs were numb, and my consciousness began to blur. If no medicine came to prolong my life, I would surely die tonight. Just as I was about to fall into a stupor, a faint sliding sound came from the top of the cliff.

A round-faced boy slid down the rope, wearing a plain gray tunic, a abacus and a wine gourd hanging from his waist. It was my servant, Afu. His movements were clumsy, and he almost missed his footing, but fortunately, he grabbed the edge of the rock. He stumbled to my side, pulling out a small porcelain bottle and half a cold pancake from his embrace, his hands shaking violently.

Afu, eighteen years old, was the lowest-ranking servant in the Ji mansion. He was usually greedy and cowardly, with a glib tongue, but he was the most loyal to me. Three years ago, I gave him five spirit coins, and he remembered it to this day, telling everyone, "My young master is the best person in the world."

"Young Master... Young Master, are you still awake?" His voice choked, and he gently patted my cheek. "I stole a bottle of Life-Extending Pills, low-grade ones, but they can keep you alive... Eat them quickly..."

I didn't move, nor did I open my eyes. I didn't want him to know that I had regained some consciousness. If Afu knew I could still hear, he would surely try even harder, which would only bring trouble upon himself.

Seeing that I didn't respond, he was so anxious he almost cried. He pried open my mouth and stuffed two pills inside, then gave me some water. After doing so, he knelt in the snow, clasping his hands together. "Heaven above, please let my young master live. I'm willing to take his punishment..."

Just as he was about to climb back up, a sharp shout came from the top of the cliff: "Who's there!"

The night patrol guards had discovered the spiritual energy fluctuations left by the medicine bottle.

Afu's face turned pale. He turned to run, but a beam of spiritual light pinned his feet. Three people with swords surrounded him. One of them recognized him and sneered, "So it's Ji Wuchen's servant, secretly delivering medicine in the middle of the night, intending to shield a useless master. The crime is compounded!"

"I didn't! I just..." Afu tried to argue.

"Drag him back, make him kneel in the front courtyard's snow, and he's not allowed to get up all night. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

They dragged him away. The rope snapped, leaving only the empty medicine bottle, which rolled a few times on the snow and stopped at the edge of my vision.

I kept my eyes closed, my face as pale as paper. Inside my body, that wisp of Heaven-Slaying Origin trembled slightly, as if responding to some suppressed rage. But I couldn't move. I couldn't be angry. I couldn't show the slightest emotion.

The System's only command: Conceal Edge, Guard Simplicity. The weaker I am, the stronger I become.

I heard the howling wind and snow, heard the sound of whips lashing in the distance, heard Afu's muffled groans. He knew he would be punished, yet he still came. He knew I would die, yet he risked delivering the pills.

But there was nothing I could do now.

I could only lie there, like a corpse, letting the wind and snow cover me, letting the cold erode me. But deep within my Sea of Consciousness, a light quietly ignited. It wasn't hope, nor was it passion, but something cold, slowly burning—it was hatred, and it was obsession.

Ji Hantian, you shattered my Dao Bone and treated me like dirt.

But you don't know that true strength is never gained through ostentation.

You pushed me into the abyss, unaware that beneath the abyss, a power beyond the heavens and earth is awakening.

I felt the flow of Heaven-Slaying Origin, one wisp, then another. It did not manifest outwardly, nor did it take form, but it quietly accumulated within me. Every moment of forbearance, every instance of suppression, was paving the way for that future strike.

One day, I will stand back in the Ji Family's main hall, standing before you.

At that time, I will not need to cry injustice or offer a defense.

One punch will be enough.

The wind and snow grew stronger. My breathing almost stopped, and my body temperature dropped to its limit. But just as my consciousness was about to sink, the System transmitted new information: The first wisp of Heaven-Slaying Origin had been successfully condensed.

The embryo of a Pseudo-Primordial Body had begun to sprout within my mortal flesh.

I still lay there, unmoving, silent. The faint red scar on my face seemed to burn faintly in the snow light.

The night was not yet over, and the road ahead was long.

But I had survived.