Chapter 1: Chen Feng

Chapter 1: Chen Feng

Eastern Wasteland, Great Xia Kingdom.

It was noon, and the scorching sun blazed overhead.

Within the Huntian Dao Academy, Chen Feng clutched an octagonal black sandalwood box as he hurried along the path leading to Mirror Lake.

"This birthday gift will surely surprise Xuening. She’d never expect it to contain a Foundation Establishment Pill."

In the distance, a sweet-faced girl in a white dress stood by the lakeside woods. Spotting her, Chen Feng quickened his pace.

"Xuening, today is your birthday. I’ve prepared—"

Chen Feng wore faded gray cloth clothes, his short hair slightly disheveled past his ears. Bruises lingered on his handsome face, and sweat dripped from him, making him look somewhat disheveled. Yet, his expression was filled with genuine joy as he extended the octagonal black sandalwood box.

"Chen Feng!" The girl didn’t even glance at the box before cutting him off, her cold and unfamiliar tone leaving him stunned.

"Six years, and you’re still only at the third level of the Body Forging Realm. Meanwhile, I’ve reached the peak of the sixth level and am about to break through to the seventh. In a month, I’ll pass the examination and become a disciple of the Huntian Sect, soaring to new heights. And you? You’re just a crawling insect. How could you possibly deserve me?"

"And this trashy jade pendant—who knows where you picked up this worthless scrap? You claimed it was a family heirloom. Take it back. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. You and I are destined for different worlds—I’ll be in the heavens, while you’ll remain in the dirt."

Her words grew increasingly disdainful as she pulled out a black crescent-shaped jade pendant and hurled it at Chen Feng with force. Her once pure and sweet face twisted into an expression of unprecedented coldness and disgust.

The pendant struck Chen Feng’s face before bouncing off and landing among the fallen leaves beneath a tree.

The pain on his face snapped Chen Feng out of his daze.

Staring at the girl just meters away—still beautiful but now icy and heartless—he felt an unfamiliarity he had never known before. For six years, he had given her every single Body Forging Pill he earned, all to support her cultivation. Yet now, that very devotion had become her reason to despise him.

A wave of dizziness washed over him. Unconsciously, he staggered back, his back hitting the tree trunk. The octagonal sandalwood box slipped from his grip and rolled into the pile of leaves.

After staring blankly at Yang Xuening for a few breaths, Chen Feng finally regained his senses.

"Why? You aimed for the Huntian Sect, so I gave you all my Body Forging Pills. I endured beatings as a sparring partner for a month just to earn enough silver to buy you a Foundation Establishment Pill to help you break through to the seventh level. When you said you liked the pendant my mother left me, I gave it to you without hesitation. I willingly gave you everything. Tell me… what more could I have done?" Chen Feng stepped forward, his voice low and suppressed.

His eyes burned with grief and fury, an expression Yang Xuening had never seen before. Unsettled, she averted her gaze, offering no reply.

"Because you’re a worthless waste. And since you’re a waste, how could you possibly deserve a beauty like Xuening?"

A mocking voice suddenly rang out. A Knife-Bearing Youth in dark green martial attire emerged from behind the tree beside Yang Xuening, his hand resting familiarly on her waist, roaming and caressing without restraint. His arrogant face bore a look of deep ridicule and scorn.

"And who are you?"

So blatant and obvious, even if Chen Feng were a fool, he would understand what was happening. He roared in furious questioning. "Chen Feng, listen well. He is Ye Yunqi, ranked fourth among the top ten strongest in the Body Forging Realm at the Dao Academy, with tens of thousands of disciples," Yang Xuening declared, leaning against the young man in the dark green martial robe, her face alight with pride as if the glory belonged to her.

"Yunqi is only eighteen, yet he’s already at the peak of the eighth level of the Body Forging Realm, and he’s the young master of the Great Xia Kingdom’s first family." Yang Xuening lifted her chin arrogantly, her gaze toward Chen Feng growing increasingly disdainful. "In terms of background, talent, or wealth, what can you possibly compare to Yunqi? That mother of yours who ran off with another man? You’re nothing but a worthless waste, a motherless bastard!"

"Bitch!"

The last shred of Chen Feng’s rationality shattered. He lunged forward in a rage, swinging his palm fiercely toward Yang Xuening.

"Scram!"

Ye Yunqi kicked out, sending Chen Feng flying backward several meters at an even faster speed. He crashed against a tree, glaring hatefully at Yang Xuening and Ye Yunqi.

"Fine… fine! The world changes in thirty years! The humiliation I suffer today, I will repay tenfold in the future!" Chen Feng struggled to his feet, his voice sharp with fury.

"Pathetic!" Yang Xuening sneered, her face full of contempt. "Chen Feng, stop daydreaming. A wretch like you will never amount to anything. Accept your fate. Out of respect for coming from the same city, kneel and kowtow three times, and I’ll ask Yunqi to spare you—"

"Kneel to your mother, bitch… dog…" Chen Feng cursed wildly.

"Seeking death!"

A cold shout accompanied a gust of wind. From the corner of his eye, Chen Feng caught sight of a dark green figure rushing toward him. He barely had time to dodge and raise his arms in defense, but he was a fraction too slow. A tremendous force struck his forehead as if it had exploded. His eardrums ruptured, and one of his eyes felt like it was being crushed. His body was sent flying through the air before slamming into the tree. Agony wracked his entire body, and he couldn’t hold back a mouthful of blood that sprayed onto his hands.

Collapsed beneath the tree, half of Chen Feng’s head went numb, his consciousness fading.

"A worthless fool who overestimates himself!" Ye Yunqi’s voice dripped with disdain, as if echoing from the distant heavens.

"Yunqi, if this trash dies, will the Dao Academy punish you?" Yang Xuening’s voice carried a hint of unease.

"It doesn’t matter. An ant like him—dead or alive, who cares? The Dao Academy knows what’s important." Ye Yunqi scoffed, his cold words sending a chill through Chen Feng’s entire body. "Let’s go. Today just happens to be your eighteenth birthday. I’ve prepared a Great Foundation Establishment Pill, unique to my Ye family. It’ll help you break through to the seventh level of the Body Forging Realm in no time and solidify your foundation. Then, you can join me in the Huntian Sect’s entrance examination."

"Yunqi, you’re so good to me." Yang Xuening’s voice was filled with delight.

"And how will you repay me?" Ye Yunqi raised an eyebrow, his tone suggestive.

"You’re so bad." Yang Xuening blushed, her eyes brimming with coyness as she whispered.

"There’s worse… hahaha!" Ye Yunqi immediately swept Yang Xuening into his arms, his wild laughter lingering in Chen Feng’s ears as they walked away.

With blurred vision, Chen Feng stared at the two rapidly retreating figures. Struggling, he stretched out a bloodstained hand and grasped the Black Crescent-Shaped Jade Pendant lying among the fallen leaves.

A sudden mutation occurred—the jade pendant instantly devoured the blood like a parched sponge, erupting with a thick black light that shot straight into Chen Feng’s forehead in an instant. Ye Yunqi and Yang Xuening, already walking away, remained completely unaware.

Chen Feng’s head felt as if struck by lightning, his vision darkened, and his consciousness seemed dragged into a bottomless abyss.