On the Official Road, the first light of dawn broke.
A massive crimson figure trod the dew-damp Stone Slab Road, heading toward the distant mountains. Yan Kui had left Tianwu City three days ago.
The city behind him had vanished at the edge of his sight, replaced by endless mountains and rivers. He didn't look back, and had no intention of doing so. He had no interest in that city's future.
"Lone wolf."
Yan Kui murmured to himself, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Everything in Tianwu City was now in the past. The martial arts schools, the manuals, the Origin Power—they were all stepping stones on the road ahead. All the wealth he had plundered was packed into the Storage Bag he'd taken from Chen Bantian. The Mysterious Yin Iron Mother glimmered faintly within, and the book Records of the Cultivation World: Body Cultivator Edition was safely stored there too.
His Origin Power was now 28.0, his constitution 12.0, and his strength 10.5. Those numbers made him invincible in the Mortal Realm, but in the vast world of cultivation, they were only a beginning.
"Cultivators..."
A burning light flashed in Yan Kui's eyes.
The cultivation world mentioned in that ancient book was an entirely different place. There were spells, Spirit Artifacts, and systems of power at higher levels. According to the book, cultivators' physical bodies were often their weakest link. Like porcelain dolls, they looked ornate, but shattered at the slightest touch.
For Yan Kui, it was practically a hunting ground made just for him.
"Mortal Martial Arts have reached their end. Next, it's time to steal those Cultivation Techniques."
His voice held a certain cold rationality. No goals, no organization, no ties of any kind. Only himself, and his fists. Trust? That was for the weak. In this world, only absolute power could be relied upon.
As he passed through a desolate stretch of mountains, evening fell. Yan Kui didn't look for an inn. He simply sat beneath an overhanging rock and began to meditate, letting his body recover in the heat.
The passive ability of [Crimson Extreme Golden Body] meant he didn't need to eat. He could keep going as long as he had Origin Power to sustain him. That was yet another overwhelming advantage over Mortal Warriors.
Around midnight, the sound of hoofbeats came from the distance.
Yan Kui opened his eyes. The pupils blazing with Dark Red Flames pierced the darkness.
A band of bandits appeared, some thirty strong, riding skinny horses and brandishing cleavers. They had stopped a merchant caravan's carriage on the Official Road. Clearly, they were a band of robbers who lived by looting.
An ordinary merchant caravan stood no chance in such a situation. The leading shopkeeper knelt and begged for mercy, offering up all his gold and silver. But the Bandit Leader had no intention of letting them go. He was preparing to kill them all.
Yan Kui hadn't planned to get involved. A squabble among ordinary people had nothing to do with him.
But just then, a young girl's scream split the night sky.
A bandit had grabbed a five- or six-year-old girl by the hair, preparing to...
Forget it.
Yan Kui didn't think any further. He rose and strode toward the bandits.
He moved so fast that they didn't even have time to react.
"Who?!"
The Bandit Leader had barely registered what was happening when a massive crimson figure emerged from the darkness.
Yan Kui made no fancy moves. He simply charged forward and threw a punch.
The thirty-strong bandit gang was split in two in an instant. Those in front were smashed into a bloody pulp; those behind had no time to flee and were crushed beneath his feet.
The whole thing took less than three breaths.
"W-we didn't offend you, sir..." The shopkeeper trembled as he knelt and kowtowed.
Yan Kui ignored him. He stripped a blood-soaked pouch from the dead Bandit Leader and opened it for a glance. It was full of gold, silver, and jewels.
"Not bad."
He kicked the pouch apart, sending coins scattering across the ground. But he didn't pick them up. Instead, he turned and left.
He had little interest in such mundane wealth anymore. Gold and silver couldn't help him increase his Origin Power.
The little girl he'd rescued watched him timidly. "S-sir..."
Yan Kui didn't stop. With his back to them, he walked into the darkness.
"Survive. Get stronger. Only the strong deserve to live in this world."
That was the only advice he gave the caravan.
[Killed Bandit Leader (Body Refinement Early Stage), plundered Life Essence.] [Origin Power: +0.5] [Killed thirty bandits (ordinary people), plundered Life Essence.] [Origin Power: +3.0]
Yan Kui glanced at the System Panel. His Origin Power had risen to 36.5. The gains were negligible; enemies in the Mortal Realm could no longer provide much Origin Power.
Next, he would have to face the world of cultivators.
Three days later, Yan Kui drew near the site of the Ascension Gathering.
In the distance, a vast valley came into view. Cultivation Sects from all over had gathered there. Above the valley, cultivators could occasionally be seen using Sword Flight, soaring through the clouds on glittering Flying Swords.
It was the first time Yan Kui had ever seen such a sight.
Flying Swords... Spirit Artifacts... So this was the world of cultivators.
A burning light gleamed in Yan Kui's eyes. His fist clenched unconsciously, knuckles cracking.
"Interesting."
"Cultivators... Good. Let's see how strong you are."
A dangerous smile curled across his lips.
The Ascension Gathering was his new hunting ground. And this time, he was no longer prey. He was the hunter.
[Crimson Modifier] Host: Yan Kui Status: Crimson Extreme Golden Body (First Stage) Origin Power: 31.5 Strength: 10.5 Agility: 3.0 Constitution: 12.0 Notice: You are about to enter the world of cultivators.
Before you continue