The Eternal Glory Kingdom... Azure Cloud Province... Starfall Forest
Boom!
In a corner of Starfall Forest, a deafening explosion erupted into the sky. The sound was so loud it shook the area within dozens of meters, causing small birds to flee in terror. For a brief moment, the silence after the blast was replaced by the flurry of panicked wings.
Dozens of meters away, the massive body of a beast had fallen. This creature, shaped like a gigantic ape, stood nearly 24 feet tall. Its skin was as dark as black iron, but the striking feature wasn't its color—it was the yellow protrusions resembling stone fragments covering its thick back.
If any of the local villagers had stumbled upon this scene, they would have fled in horror. For this enormous creature—standing nearly four times taller than an average human—was known as the Ironback Hunchback Ape. The Ironback Hunchback Ape was a First-Grade Mortal Beast in the Final Class, with power equivalent to a Ninth Layer Meridian Opening expert.
Though First-Grade Mortal Beasts ranked lowest in the beast hierarchy, in remote regions, they were akin to overlords. The Ironback Hunchback Ape, for instance, was a formidable presence not only in nearby villages but even in towns surrounding Starfall Forest.
Yet this terrifying creature had met a miserable end. Its chest was caved in completely by a single blow. Chunks of mangled flesh oozed from between shattered bones, painting a grotesque and sickening scene.
Given the fresh scent of blood and the dust still settling in the air, it was easy to guess that the loud boom just moments ago was related to this beast. In other words, the Ironback Hunchback Ape had been utterly defeated—and fatally so—in a battle that had just taken place. But the identity of the one capable of inflicting such devastation was difficult to imagine.
In the heavy silence following the battle, a gentle breeze whispered through the trembling branches. Atop a nearby stone outcrop near the beast's massive corpse, a slender figure appeared. A boy, seemingly no older than thirteen, but his presence was heavier than the silence of a mountain night.
His long hair flowed like a silver waterfall, with strands of gold shimmering faintly among it—like starlight scattered across the dark of night. His eyes, golden with silver pupils, held no warmth, yet no cruelty either—they were mirrors of silent truth, void of excitement, yet full of meaning. On his smooth forehead, a glowing symbol shimmered—symmetrical, mysterious, resembling Yin and Yang, yet something deeper, lending him an even more profound aura.
His skin was as white as jade—like his face had been carved from the purest divine stone. His delicate eyebrows were like twin bows arched above his enigmatic eyes. A flawless nose at the center of his face, lips tinged with red, closed in perfect symmetry...
His expression was devoid of emotion, yet gave the impression that a god had descended among mortals.
He was Qiantai Wuji—just as his name implied: magnificent, majestic, mysterious, and profound!
Qiantai Wuji moved his slender body and in a blink appeared beside the fallen Ironback Hunchback Ape. In his deep eyes, a glimmer of admiration flickered.
> "Mountain-Shaking Fist is merely a high-level Yellow-grade martial skill. Yet the power it displayed far exceeded its described limit. Perhaps... it's because I've cultivated it to the Unity level," Qiantai Wuji murmured to himself, gazing at the sunken chest of the beast.
Though his tone was calm and composed, his words alone would shock anyone. In the Eternal Glory Kingdom, low-tier martial skills were unpopular. They were often flawed, and at times even harmful. Hence, they were mostly used in remote areas by local bandits. Yellow-grade martial skills, on the other hand, were vastly different—standard and far less flawed.
Above the Yellow-grade were Deep-grade and Earth-grade martial skills. However, even Deep-grade skills were extremely rare, usually possessed only by elite forces in large cities. Each grade was divided into three tiers—low, middle, and high—with higher tiers offering greater power. For example, a middle-tier Yellow-grade skill far outclassed a low-tier one.
But that wasn't the most important point. Martial skills were also categorized by mastery level—Minor Achievement, Proficiency, Mastery, Perfection, Perfected Completion, and Unity. Though the Unity level existed, those who reached it were incredibly rare. It's no exaggeration to call them true martial prodigies.
Considering all this, Qiantai Wuji was not someone to be underestimated.
He raised his gaze to the sky; the sun, like a fiery orb, was sinking into the horizon. Amber and crimson hues, like fading flames, bathed the leaves of Starfall Forest. Yet behind this picturesque view, the scent of fresh blood filled the air. The evening breeze carried it deeper and farther into the forest.
Qiantai Wuji knew well that this was no place to linger. The scent of blood would undoubtedly attract many hungry beasts—perhaps even ones stronger than the Ironback Hunchback Ape. After all, this creature was a peak First-Grade Mortal Beast.
Without hesitation, his slender form glided through the trees like a shadow and soon reached the foothills of a modest mountain. Nestled among the rocky terrain was a small cave, its entrance covered in withered vines—an ideal spot to spend the night.
He entered the cave. Darkness crept slowly inside, but seeing posed no difficulty for him. With a gentle movement, he sat down and crossed his legs. Releasing a slow breath, he prepared to recover his depleted energy.
He had slain many beasts today. Among them were even a few on par with the Ironback Hunchback Ape. Such relentless battles had nearly drained his energy entirely. Yet the gains were worth the fatigue—he had not only improved his combat experience but also deepened his understanding of several martial techniques. In short, it had been a fruitful day. Except... he hadn't found a single treasure.
With symbolic hand gestures, Qi energy surged toward Qiantai Wuji's meridians. His meridians and acupoints functioned flawlessly, absorbing the Qi at an astonishing rate.
Soon, the expected occurred. From deep within—right below his navel where his Dantian was—a subtle disturbance arose. But that small ripple was enough to devour over ninety percent of the Qi coursing through his meridians.
Qiantai Wuji let out a bitter smile. For years, this mysterious presence—apparently residing in his Dantian—had been devouring the Qi he absorbed. Worse still, it only left him a small portion behind.
He had come to understand that this might be the very reason he had been unable to ascend to the next realm. He had previously tried many methods to uncover it, but a powerful barrier seemed to block any form of connection. In the end, he could only leave it alone.
Qiantai Wuji was about to prepare dinner—
But...
Suddenly, a deep tremor surged from the very core of his being. At first, it was a gentle vibration, but a moment later, it felt like a monumental upheaval centered in his Dantian.
> "No... This isn't the Dantian..."