A chilling killing intent locked onto Lin Xuan like a tangible force. The Unicorn Giant Python seemed to sense it being watched. Its lazily coiled body tightened slightly, and its millstone-sized head slowly turned toward Lin Xuan's hiding place. Its slit pupils glinted with a cruel, icy light.
Run!
The thought had barely surfaced before Lin Xuan crushed it. In front of a demon beast that had clearly gained sentience, turning to flee would expose his most vulnerable side to it. He'd only die faster!
Every muscle in his body tensed, and his heart pounded as if it would burst through his chest. Sweat instantly soaked his fringe and ran down his cheeks. He gripped the sharp-edged stone in his hand—the only thing he could call a "weapon"—but in front of the giant python, it seemed laughable and useless.
The python slowly raised the front half of its body. Its scarlet tongue flicked in and out as it made a teeth-grating hiss. It didn't seem in any hurry to attack, as though it were savoring its prey's terror before death. Its vicious aura, ten or even a hundred times stronger than the Rock Boar's, surged toward Lin Xuan like a tide. It pressed the breath from his lungs and made even circulating the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique difficult.
Am I going to die? A crushing despair seized Lin Xuan's heart. I've only just transmigrated, just gotten my cheat, and I haven't even gotten a proper look at the prehistoric sky. Am I really going to end up as a snake's meal?
He wasn't willing to accept this!
Just as the python arched its neck, about to launch a thunderous strike, countless thoughts flashed through Lin Xuan's mind before coalescing into an almost instinctive action—he focused all his thoughts on the battered Chaos Bead, quietly floating in his sea of consciousness!
"Stop it! You have to stop it!" he screamed inwardly, trying to urge the mysterious bead into action. He had no idea how to use it, so he could only pour his raw desire to survive into it.
Hum—
The damaged Chaos Bead trembled faintly, sending out a ripple of gray so subtle it was almost imperceptible. It swept over Lin Xuan's entire body. At the same time, the Unicorn Giant Python's attack abruptly stopped!
For the first time, clear hesitation—and perhaps even a trace of fear—appeared in its icy slit pupils. From that weak creature, it sensed an extremely indistinct pressure, one that seemed to come from the deepest level of life itself. The sensation was faint, so faint it could almost be ignored, but combined with the unique environment of Buzhou Mountain, the "Heavenly Pillar," it led the intelligent demon beast to a mistaken conclusion. Was the creature before it a descendant of some ancient being? Or did it possess a great treasure?
The python stayed coiled in place, twisting restlessly and letting out threatening growls, but it no longer dared approach so readily. It was weighing its options, testing the waters.
Lin Xuan hardly dared breathe. He remained rigidly tense, facing off against the python from a distance. He knew the Chaos Bead's aura couldn't fool the demon beast for long. The moment it realized he was all bluff, the attack would come.
This brief standoff dragged on, every second lasting an entire century. Lin Xuan's mind and body were rapidly wearing down.
Just as he was about to give out, that familiar mechanical voice sounded deep in his mind again, crackling with static and brimming with a certain reluctance and disdain. This time, however, it was much clearer:
[Energy absorption has reached the critical threshold... System core initiating... Loading basic prehistoric laws... Bzzzt... Correcting errors...] [Warning: Host detected in a high-risk environment (within the threat radius of an immortal-level creature). Survival probability continues to decline. Current estimate: 0.7%... 0.69%...] [Emergency protocol initiated! Forcibly activating main program!]
Lin Xuan first jolted in surprise, then felt an indescribable surge of excitement! This "damn system" was finally being useful at a crucial moment!
[Ding! Great Dao Sign-in System main program loaded! Host soul binding confirmed!] [Hello, host. I'm your personal system (stuck with a host whose starting difficulty is hell—I can practically hear my core code wailing).]
Lin Xuan: "..." He was sure now. This system was absolutely a wisecracker—and one with the resentful spirit of an overworked wage slave!
[First, let's assess your survival status.] [Host: Lin Xuan (soul from another world; body is a prehistoric-born Innate Dao Body Prototype. Quality: barely passable)] [Cultivation: None (on par with a prehistoric ant—no, even ants are a little stronger than you)] [Technique: Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, introductory chapter (acquired, not yet mastered; cultivation progress: crawling at a turtle's pace)] [Treasure: Chaos Bead (damaged) (condition: critically incomplete; functions: Mustard Seed Space (10 cubic meters), weak aura concealment (effective against those below Golden Immortal), occasionally capable of scaring low-intelligence local creatures (such as the little snake in front of you))] [Overall assessment: Candidate for the bottom of the prehistoric food chain. Host is advised to prepare a will at any time.]
Lin Xuan's mouth twitched. Suppressing the urge to argue with the system, he roared in his mind, "Cut the crap! Find a way to help me! I'm about to get eaten by a snake!"
[What's the rush? Can't you see I'm analyzing the data?] The system's voice remained unhurried. [According to Article Three, Chapter One of the New User Protection Regulations, I'm now issuing your first mandatory survival mission to help the host (and this system) avoid the awkward fate of dying before achieving anything.] [Mission name: New here? Start with a check-in.] [Mission objective: Complete a system sign-in at your current location (the valley at the foot of Buzhou Mountain, southeastern region, Nameless Valley).] [Time limit: 10 seconds.] [Mission reward: One beginner gift pack (basic edition). They say there's a surprise inside that can help you temporarily stop being "food."] [Mission failure: The host will become the Unicorn Viper's lunch. This system will initiate the unbinding process and look for another fated person (hopefully one with better luck).]
Ten seconds!
Lin Xuan's scalp prickled. The Unicorn Giant Python—the system called it a Unicorn Viper—seemed to be running out of patience. The vicious light in its slit pupils flared again.
"Sign in! Sign in now! Hurry up and sign in!" Lin Xuan roared inwardly with every bit of strength he had.
[Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations, host, on completing your first sign-in at the foot of Buzhou Mountain (high-risk zone). You've received a regional bonus reward! The beginner gift pack has been delivered to System Space. Would you like to open it now?]
"Open it! Hurry!" Lin Xuan stared at the coiled, ready-to-strike Unicorn Viper, feeling his heart leap into his throat.
[Opening beginner gift pack...] [Congratulations, host. You've received:] 1. [State Refresh]: Instantly clears all of the host's negative conditions (including but not limited to fatigue, minor injuries, and mental fear), restoring the host to peak condition. (Note: A life-saving ability. Long cooldown. Use with caution.) 2. [Divine Ability Fragment · Breath Concealment Technique (beginner)]: Greatly conceals the user's aura and reduces their presence. Works even better when used with the Chaos Bead. (Note: Essential for sneaking around and, ahem, making a strategic retreat.) 3. [Minor Universe Shifting Talisman (single-use)]: Randomly teleports the host to a location a hundred li away. (Note: For escaping only. Direction is random; the host is responsible for whatever landing position they end up in.)
Three streaks of light merged with Lin Xuan's consciousness. The method for using the Breath Concealment Technique became instantly clear to him, while an ancient talisman and a cool sensation appeared in System Space, ready to be used at any moment.
Almost as soon as the rewards arrived, that cool sensation—State Refresh—took effect. Lin Xuan felt his entire body grow lighter. His fatigue and fear vanished in an instant, his mind became sharper than ever, and his body reached its peak condition!
The Unicorn Viper had finally lost its patience, too, deciding that the strange creature before it was just bluffing! It let out a piercing hiss and shot toward Lin Xuan like an arrow loosed from a bow, its enormous body trailing a foul wind. Its gaping maw was wide enough to swallow him whole!
"Now!"
A flash of brilliance crossed Lin Xuan's eyes. Without hesitation, he activated the Breath Concealment Technique and triggered the Minor Universe Shifting Talisman at the same time!
His aura instantly dwindled until it was nearly imperceptible, blending almost completely with the surrounding rocks and plants. At the same time, the talisman in his hand burst into a soft white light that enveloped his entire body.
The Unicorn Viper's sure-to-hit strike clamped down on empty air. Its jaws crashed together with a teeth-grating bang, sending broken stones flying. It shook its head in confusion. That weak creature... had vanished?
A hundred li away, in an unfamiliar mountain forest, space rippled. Lin Xuan stumbled out and landed hard on his rear.
His landing had been anything but graceful, but the joy of surviving washed over him in an instant. He lay on the ground, gazing at the dappled sunlight filtering through the dense branches, gasping for breath before bursting into laughter.
"I survived... Hahaha! I survived!"
His laughter echoed through the forest, startling a few birds into flight.
With the system and these starting rewards, he seemed to have finally glimpsed a sliver of hope for survival in this terrifying prehistoric world. But where had this random teleportation taken him? And what new danger awaited him next?
Before you continue