Inside the shabby wooden hut, Ling Feng slowly opened his eyes.
He had not slept all night.
Yet he was brimming with vitality. His level-twenty Innate Soul Power surged and circulated within him, not only leaving him without a trace of fatigue but sharpening his five senses to an extraordinary degree. The faint wind outside, the distant murmurs of villagers, even the wriggling of insects beneath the soil-all were clearly discernible.
The Clear Sky Hammer's heavy, domineering presence had begun to merge into his flesh and bones, making him as steady as a boulder even as he sat motionless.
He opened his palm and stirred his thoughts.
The little pitch-black hammer appeared soundlessly, its dark-gold patterns flowing slowly in the faint light seeping through the crack in the door.
Its weight traveled straight from his palm to his heart, bringing an incomparably reassuring sense of strength.
System, he called silently.
A translucent panel appeared in response, its information clear and concise.
[Host: Ling Feng] [Martial Soul: Clear Sky Hammer] [Soul Power: Level 20 (MAX)] [Soul Ring: None] [Soul Skill: None] [Items: Spirit Hall Certificate (Nuoding City) x1] [Check-in Location: None currently (unlocked at new locations)]
Looking at the two entries, "Soul Ring: None" and "Soul Skill: None," Ling Feng frowned slightly.
He possessed level-twenty Soul Power but had neither a Soul Ring nor a Soul Skill, like someone with a mountain of treasure who could not find a way inside.
According to the overall outline, the system would directly award him his first Soul Ring in the Soul Hunting Forest. But exactly when it would trigger remained unknown.
He had to set out as soon as possible, head to Nuoding City, unlock check-ins, and obtain resources.
He rose and surveyed the bare walls of the hut.
Apart from a broken wooden bed, a table with a crooked leg, and a few chipped earthenware jars, there was nothing else.
In the fragments of memory his body's previous owner had left behind, his impressions of his parents had long since blurred. They seemed to have gone hunting in the mountains once and never returned.
There was nothing to pack.
He carefully tucked the Spirit Hall certificate, light as paper yet heavy with significance, securely against his chest.
This was all his luggage and his starting capital.
He pushed open the creaking wooden door.
The slightly chilly morning air flooded in, along with the sight of a dense crowd outside.
Village Chief Old Jack stood at the front. Behind him, nearly every villager, young and old, had come, packing the small clearing before the hut so tightly that not even water could pass through.
The moment Ling Feng emerged, every gaze focused on him. The noisy discussions stopped abruptly, and the atmosphere grew somewhat awkward and quiet.
Wearing an unprecedentedly enthusiastic smile, Old Jack hurried forward with a coarse cloth bundle in his hands.
"Little... Ling Feng, I heard you're going to Nuoding City?" Old Jack's tone held cautious eagerness to please. "Everyone in the village pooled together some travel money and dry rations for you. It isn't much, just a little token from us. You'll have use for it on the road."
Behind him, several women who were usually the worst gossips were also forcing smiles, holding things in their hands-a few white-flour steamed buns, a parcel of smoked meat, and even a small bag of Copper Soul Coins.
"Yes, yes, Ling Feng, take these to eat on the road." "Nuoding City is a big place. There's plenty to spend money on..." "Before... we were blind before. Please don't take it to heart..."
Their voices carried obvious flattery and apprehension, as though afraid Ling Feng still remembered their mockery at yesterday's awakening ceremony.
The other villagers chimed in as well, their eyes filled with awe and a barely perceptible trace of fear.
Ling Feng's gaze swept over the rough bundle. The dry rations inside and the mere few dozen Copper Soul Coins no longer meant much to him.
But he did not refuse.
With a calm expression, he accepted the bundle. It felt heavier than he had expected; apparently, the villagers really had "done their best."
"Thank you, Chief. Thank you, everyone." His tone remained flat, revealing little emotion-neither resentment over his earlier treatment nor delight at their present flattery.
Instead, this composure, unmoved by favor or humiliation, made the villagers feel he was even more unfathomable.
Seeing him accept it, Old Jack visibly relaxed. His smile broadened, even smoothing out some of his wrinkles. "Of course, of course! You're a genius from our Holy Soul Village! Once you've made something of yourself, just don't forget the village..."
Ling Feng nodded without committing himself.
He casually tied the bundle behind his back, looking past the crowd toward the winding dirt road outside the village that led to distant Nuoding City.
He said nothing more.
He began walking toward the village entrance.
The crowd parted on its own to form a wider passage. Everyone involuntarily bowed slightly as they watched him leave.
No one spoke. There were only footsteps and faint sounds of breathing.
The sunlight stretched his shadow long.
The boy's frame was still slight, but his steps were exceptionally steady and firm. With a small bundle on his back, he walked step by step out of the village and toward a wider world.
He passed the distinctive old scholar tree at the village entrance.
Ling Feng did not look back.
Holy Soul Village was already a thing of the past.
The road ahead had only just begun.
He stepped onto the yellow-earth road, with lush green fields on either side and the morning dew not yet fully gone.
After walking about a li, the outline of the village behind him gradually blurred.
Ling Feng stirred his thoughts.
System, scan my current location. Can I check in here?
[Ding! Host detected on the "country road from Holy Soul Village to Nuoding City," which is not a special check-in location. Check-in rewards will be greatly reduced. Check in?]
Sure enough, he could not fleece rewards just anywhere.
Check in.
Even a mosquito's leg is meat.
[Ding! Check-in successful! Rewards: slight stamina recovery, minor increase in vigor.]
An almost imperceptible warm current swept through his body, dispelling the last trace of morning chill. His mind seemed a little clearer as well.
The rewards really were paltry.
Ling Feng was not surprised. Instead, his resolve to reach Nuoding City as soon as possible grew firmer.
Only at those important "plot locations" could he gain generous returns from checking in.
He quickened his pace a little.
The Soul Power within him circulated on its own. Though he had no Soul Skills, his physical abilities far surpassed those of ordinary people. His steps were light, and his speed was by no means slow.
According to his memories and the road signs, he could reach Nuoding City by following the dirt road straight ahead for a little over half a day.
Occasionally, a carriage or pedestrian passed him on the road. Most cast a curious glance at Ling Feng traveling alone, but nothing unusual happened.
The sun gradually climbed higher.
After what he estimated to be nearly four hours of walking, a small fork appeared ahead. Beside it stood a crude tea stall, offering coarse tea and flatbreads to passing travelers stopping to rest.
Ling Feng did not feel tired, but after a moment's thought, he walked over anyway, intending to drink some water and ask for directions to confirm his route.
The tea stall was very basic, with two or three old wooden tables.
Only one table was occupied, by three men in coarse cloth clothes with somewhat fierce faces. Several empty bowls sat on their table, and they seemed about to get up and leave.
The stall was run by an honest-looking old man.
Ling Feng walked over and set down a Copper Soul Coin. "Sir, a bowl of tea."
The old man answered and poured him a bowl of murky tea.
The three men glanced at Ling Feng. Seeing his young age, ordinary clothes (though the villagers had given him new clothes, they were still coarse cloth), and the small bundle on his back, they exchanged looks, a glint of ill intent flashing in their eyes.
Ling Feng keenly caught that trace of malice, but made no fuss, simply lifting his bowl and drinking in silence.
One of the men, who had a scar on his face, stood up and sauntered over to Ling Feng's table. He sat down with brazen ease and grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "Little brother, traveling alone? Where are you headed?"
The other two men approached as well, forming a loose encirclement.
At the sight, the old man's face went pale. He shrank into a corner of the stall, not daring to speak.
Ling Feng set down his tea bowl without even raising his eyelids. "Nuoding City."
"Nuoding City? A fine place!" The scarred man chuckled and reached out to pat Ling Feng's shoulder. "We're headed that way too. Why don't we travel together? We can look out for each other on the road, heh heh..."
Just as his filthy hand was about to touch Ling Feng's shoulder-
Ling Feng moved.
He did not even stand. He merely gave a slight flick of his right wrist, which held the tea bowl.
As though drawn by an invisible force, the remaining murky tea in the bowl turned into several swift water arrows that shot straight at the scarred man's face!
They were not fast, but they packed considerable force!
"Ow!"
Caught off guard, the scarred man took the splash squarely. Tea mixed with leaf dregs plastered his face and blinded his eyes. He let out a strange cry of pain and lurched backward.
The other two men froze, then flew into a rage.
"You little bastard! You dare attack us!" "Cripple him!"
Both growled and lunged at him from opposite sides, swinging their fists. Their movements made it clear they were thugs accustomed to brawling, their punches aimed straight at Ling Feng's head and chest.
Ling Feng remained seated on the stool, his gaze suddenly turning cold.
His immense Soul Power surged instantly. Though he had no Soul Skills, his strength, speed, and reflexes far surpassed those of ordinary people!
Facing the punch from his left, he shot out his left hand like lightning. Moving second but arriving first, he caught the man's wrist with precision and twisted hard!
Crack!
A sharp snap rang out, enough to set one's teeth on edge!
The man immediately screamed like a pig being slaughtered. His wrist bent at a grotesque angle, and tremendous force dragged him stumbling down onto his knees.
Almost simultaneously, the fist of the man on his right reached his face.
Ling Feng neither ducked nor dodged. He thrust the coarse earthenware tea bowl in his right hand forward, smashing it squarely into the incoming fist!
Bang!
The bowl shattered instantly!
Shards flew everywhere!
The man felt as though his fist had struck a solid lump of iron. Agony shot through his finger bones. He screamed and staggered backward, clutching his hand as blood seeped between his fingers.
It all happened in a flash of lightning!
Of the three grown men with ill intentions, one had been splashed in the face and blinded by tea, one knelt screaming with a broken wrist, and one had a smashed fist that would not stop bleeding!
Ling Feng slowly stood.
He brushed off the small amount of dust and water that had landed on him.
From beginning to end, he had not even used his Martial Soul. Relying solely on his far-superior physical abilities and the strength and reflexes granted by his level-twenty Soul Power, he had easily dealt with three thugs.
He swept an indifferent glance over the three men screaming and rolling on the ground.
His gaze was icy, carrying a faint, elusive trace of killing intent.
The moment the three thugs met his eyes, they felt as though they had plunged into an ice cellar. Their screams caught in their throats, leaving only terrified whimpers and trembling. They finally understood that this seemingly ordinary boy before them was someone they could never afford to provoke!
Ling Feng did not look at them again. He turned and walked over to the old tea-stall owner, who was stupefied with fright, and set down another Copper Soul Coin as compensation for the bowl.
Then, under the three thugs' terrified gazes and the old man's awed stare, he secured his bundle and continued along the dirt road toward Nuoding City at an unhurried pace.
It was as though he had merely swatted away a few annoying flies.
After that little incident, the rest of the journey went exceptionally smoothly.
As the sun slanted westward, the outline of a magnificent city finally appeared at the far end of the horizon.
Tall city walls rose and wound into the distance, their oppressive presence palpable even from afar. Carriages streamed through the city gates and pedestrians thronged around them. It was a hundred times more bustling than Holy Soul Village.
Nuoding City!
Ling Feng stopped and gazed at the city that would soon become the starting point of his new journey. Deep within his eyes, a sharp gleam flashed and vanished.
He drew a light breath and murmured, so quietly that only he could hear:
"Nuoding City, Tang San, Xiao Wu, here I come."