The Lone Walker

On the official road, the first light of dawn was breaking.

A massive crimson figure strode across the dew-dampened stone slab road, heading towards the distant mountains. Yan Kui had already been away from Tianwu City for three days.

The city behind him had vanished from sight, replaced by endless mountains and rivers. He didn't look back, nor did he intend to. He had no interest in the city's future.

"Lone Wolf."

Yan Kui muttered to himself, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Everything in Tianwu City was now in the past. Those martial arts schools, those manuals, that Origin Power—they were merely stepping stones on his path forward. All the wealth he had plundered was packed into the storage bag he'd snatched from Chen Bantian. The Mysterious Yin Iron Mother pulsed with a faint, ethereal glow within it, and the book "Records of the Cultivation World: Body Cultivation Chapter" was also carefully stored.

His current Origin Power was 28.0, Constitution 12.0, and Strength 10.5. These numbers represented an invincible existence in the Mortal Realm, but in the vaster world of cultivation, they were merely a beginning.

"Cultivator..."

A flicker of fervent light flashed in Yan Kui's eyes.

The cultivation world mentioned in that ancient book was an entirely different realm. It had spells, Spirit Artifacts, and a higher-tier power system. And those cultivators, according to the book, often had the most fragile physical bodies. Like porcelain dolls, they looked magnificent but shattered at the slightest touch.

To Yan Kui, this was practically a tailor-made hunting ground.

"Mortal martial arts have reached their limit. Next, it's time to learn those cultivation techniques."

His tone carried a certain cold rationality. No goals, no organization, no attachments. Only himself and his fists. Trust? That was for the weak. In this world, only absolute power was truly reliable.

As he passed through a desolate mountainous area, the sky began to darken. Yan Kui didn't look for an inn. He simply sat down beneath an overhanging rock and began to meditate, allowing his body to recover in the high temperature.

The passive ability of [Crimson Extreme Golden Body] meant he didn't need to eat, only requiring Origin Power to sustain his continuous operation. This was another absolute advantage over Mortal Warriors.

In the dead of night, the sound of hoofbeats echoed from afar.

Yan Kui opened his eyes, his pupils, burning with dark red flames, piercing the darkness.

A group of bandits appeared, about thirty of them, riding lean horses and wielding sabres. They were intercepting a caravan's carriage on the official road. Clearly, they were a band of robbers who lived by plunder.

An ordinary caravan would have no power to resist in such a situation. The shopkeeper leading them knelt and begged for mercy, offering all his gold and silver. But the Bandit Leader had no intention of letting them go and was preparing to silence them.

Yan Kui originally had no intention of intervening. Such disputes at the mortal level had nothing to do with him.

But just then, the piercing scream of a young female child cut through the night sky.

A little girl, about five or six years old, had her hair grabbed by a bandit who was about to...

Never mind.

Yan Kui didn't think any further. He stood up and strode towards the bandit group.

His speed was so great that the bandits didn't even have time to react.

"Who?!"

The bandit leader at the front had just reacted when he saw a giant crimson figure emerge from the darkness.

Yan Kui made no fancy moves, simply charging forward and throwing a punch.

The bandit group of thirty was instantly split in half. Those in front were smashed into pulp, and those behind, unable to escape in time, were crushed directly under his feet.

The entire process took less than three breaths.

"We... we didn't offend you, sir..." the caravan's shopkeeper trembled, kneeling and kowtowing.

Yan Kui ignored him. He simply stripped a bloody leather pouch from the dead bandit leader, opened it, and found it filled with gold and silver jewelry.

"Not bad."

He kicked the leather pouch, scattering gold coins across the ground. But he didn't pick them up, turning to leave instead.

He no longer had much interest in these mortal treasures. That gold and silver offered no help in improving his Origin Power.

The little girl who had been saved looked at him timidly, "S-sir..."

Yan Kui didn't stop, walking into the darkness with his back to them.

"Live on, and grow stronger. Only the strong are worthy of living in this world."

This was his only advice to the caravan.

[Killed Bandit Leader (Body Refinement Early Stage), plundered Life Essence.]

[Origin Power: +0.5]

[Killed thirty bandits (Ordinary Person), plundered Life Essence.]

[Origin Power: +3.0]

Yan Kui glanced at the System Panel. His Origin Power was now 36.5. This meager gain was insignificant; enemies at the mortal level could no longer provide enough Origin Power to support him.

Next, he needed to face the world of cultivators.

Three days later, Yan Kui approached the venue for the Ascension Gathering.

In the distance, a massive valley appeared before his eyes. The valley was filled with cultivators from all directions, representing various Cultivation Sects. Above the valley, cultivators could occasionally be seen using Sword Flight, piloting shining Flying Swords as they soared through the clouds.

This was the first time Yan Kui had witnessed such a sight.

Flying Swords... Spirit Artifacts... This was the world of cultivators.

Yan Kui's eyes flickered with a fervent light. His fists clenched unconsciously, making a "crackling" sound.

"Interesting."

"Cultivators... good, let me see how strong you are."

A dangerous smile played on the corners of his lips.

The Ascension Gathering, this was his new hunting ground. And this time, he was no longer the prey, but the hunter.

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[Crimson Modifier]

Host: Yan Kui

Status: Crimson Extreme Golden Body (First Tier)

Origin Power: 31.5

Strength: 10.5

Agility: 3.0

Constitution: 12.0

Hint: About to step into the world of cultivators.

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If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.