The First Lesson of the Primordial Era: Only the Living Can Deal Damage

The beastly roars and insect chirps outside the tree hollow gradually subsided, replaced by a deeper silence belonging to the Primordial Era's ancient lands. Only the wind's mournful cry through the sea of trees remained, like the breathing of a sleeping earth. Lin Xuan dared not fall into a deep sleep, maintaining the basic breathing technique of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique. He refined the meager Innate Spiritual Energy while remaining vigilant of the outside world.

This night was surprisingly calm. Perhaps the location he chose was hidden enough, or perhaps it was the effect of the dual action of the Breath Concealment Technique and the Chaos Bead.

When the first ray of dawn pierced the darkness through the gaps in the leaves like a sharp sword, Lin Xuan immediately opened his eyes. After a night of rest and continuous, subtle cultivation, he felt his condition was much better than yesterday, and his tolerance for spiritual energy seemed to have increased slightly.

"A new day, a new struggle for survival." He stretched his somewhat stiff body and crawled out of the tree hollow.

The primary tasks were still food and water. There weren't many wild fruits left in the Chaos Bead's space, so he needed to replenish them quickly. He cautiously moved towards the stream he had discovered earlier, following the direction he remembered. This time, he fully activated the Breath Concealment Technique, his steps light, making as little noise as possible.

He successfully returned to the stream, drank his fill, and then filled several large leaves with water to store in his space. Next, he set his sights on those alert "squirrel" beasts again. With yesterday's failed experience, he no longer chased them fruitlessly. Instead, he used the soft mud by the stream to dig a simple pit trap, disguised it with twigs and fallen leaves, and placed a few tempting wild fruits inside.

After setting the trap, he retreated behind a large rock some distance away and waited patiently. At the same time, he attempted to cultivate the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique again. The intense stinging sensation remained, but he had grown somewhat accustomed to it, managing to maintain the cultivation posture for the duration of an incense stick. He could clearly feel that every trace of refined spiritual energy was subtly strengthening his muscle fibers and bone density.

About half an hour later, a faint sound of a twig snapping and a panicked squeak came from the direction of the trap. Lin Xuan's heart leaped with joy. He approached stealthily, holding his breath, and saw a "squirrel" beast, even fatter than yesterday's, frantically jumping around at the bottom of the pit.

"Success!" Lin Xuan easily picked it up, solving his breakfast problem. He roasted and stored most of the meat, leaving only a small portion to eat on the spot. The spirit-rich meat he consumed turned into a warm current, and his cultivation seemed to be even more effective.

After the satisfying meal, Lin Xuan looked up at the still unattainable main peak of Buzhou Mountain, exuding endless majesty. The system's quest [Climb Buzhou Mountain] was still there.

"I must go up," he decided. Staying at the foot of the mountain was relatively "safe," but resources were limited, and the system's sign-in rewards clearly depended on location. He had already obtained the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique and the Chaos Bead (incomplete) at the foot of the mountain. What about higher up? Opportunity always came with risk.

He oriented himself and began to climb the steep mountain. The higher he went, the heavier Pangu's pressure became, as if the air had turned viscous, requiring more effort for every step. But correspondingly, the Innate Spiritual Energy in the air grew more concentrated and pure. Occasionally, he could see plants emitting a faint glow in the cracks of the rocks, their quality clearly better than those at the foot of the mountain.

He remembered his lesson and dared not rashly pick those spiritual herbs that looked extraordinary. Who knew if a more terrifying guardian beast was hiding nearby? His current frail body couldn't withstand the ordeal of a second Minor Universe Shifting Talisman – he only had one.

Relying on the Breath Concealment Technique, he moved like a ghost, carefully navigating through the dense forests and strange rocks. During this time, he sensed several powerful auras lurking in the distance and wisely chose to detour.

However, the dangers of the Primordial Era were always present. Just as he was climbing a steep slope covered in slippery moss, something unexpected happened!

A vine, perfectly camouflaged and indistinguishable from the rock, shot out like a venomous snake, wrapping around his ankle with a sudden lunge! The vine was covered in sharp barbs, shimmering with a dark blue luster, clearly imbued with potent poison!

Lin Xuan had remained vigilant and reacted with incredible speed. He pushed off with his foot, narrowly dodging the attack. But the vine, missing its target, twisted and lashed out again like a living creature, bringing with it a sharp whistling sound!

"What the hell is this!" Lin Xuan cursed inwardly, rolling to the side, and simultaneously grabbed a rock from the ground, smashing it fiercely at the base of the vine.

Thwack! The rock hit, and the vine recoiled slightly as if in pain, but more vines swarmed out from behind the rocks, lunging at him like grasping claws! This was actually a Demonic Vine that had gained sentience!

Lin Xuan's heart tightened. The speed and strength of this Demonic Vine were far more troublesome than the rock pig from before! While dodging frantically, he circulated the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, channeling his meager strength into his arms to block the whipping vines.

Crack! The vine struck his arm, instantly tearing his clothes. A burning pain shot through him, leaving a red, swollen mark. Fortunately, the barbs failed to penetrate the skin that had undergone initial tempering. However, the immense impact still sent him staggering backward.

"I can't get entangled!" Lin Xuan realized how troublesome the Demonic Vine was, and the commotion might attract something even more terrifying. He seized an opening, no longer hesitating, and turned to flee down the slope!

The Demonic Vine pursued him relentlessly, like a series of green venomous snakes.

Lin Xuan pushed the Breath Concealment Technique to its limit, running desperately downwards. Only after fleeing for several miles and feeling the Demonic Vine's aura disappear did he lean against an ancient tree, gasping for breath.

He looked at the red, swollen whip marks on his arm, his heart filled with lingering fear. If he had been entangled just now, or if his skin had been broken by the barbs, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Living... is truly hard." He wiped the sweat from his brow with a bitter smile. In this Primordial Era, danger lurked at every step. Even a seemingly harmless vine could kill you.

After resting for a moment, he changed direction and continued upwards. This time, he was even more cautious, observing almost every step carefully.

As evening approached, he found a narrow crevice beneath a cliff, barely wide enough for one person to squeeze through. Inside, it was quite dry, making it an ideal place to spend the night. He carefully blocked the entrance with stones.

He lit a small campfire and ate roasted beast meat, reflecting on the perilous day. Although he had encountered danger, he had managed to escape unharmed. Moreover, he could feel that in this high-pressure environment, the cultivation speed of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique seemed faster than on flat ground, and his physical strength and resilience were steadily improving.

"Only by living can you output," he quietly repeated a term from his past life's games, which now held a deeper meaning. Only by surviving first, by preserving his life, could he talk about cultivation, about becoming stronger, about the future.

He sat down cross-legged, enduring the intense pain, and began to cultivate the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique again. The spiritual energy felt like needles, stinging every inch of his flesh, but he gritted his teeth and persevered. Because he knew that every bit of accumulated pain was the capital he needed to survive in this Primordial World.

Outside the crevice, the night of the Primordial Era descended once more, fraught with danger. Inside the crevice, the young man endured the pain of cultivation, his gaze growing ever more determined. To survive, to become stronger – this was his only belief at this moment.