Li Yan allowed himself a quiet nod of approval before moving toward the three doors at the back.

  He opened the first—revealing a modest yet well-equipped kitchen. Everything was in order: utensils neatly arranged, a Qi-powered stove, and a shelf stocked with basic ingredients suitable for cultivators.

  The layout was simple but deliberate—clearly designed for efficiency rather than indulgence.

  Satisfied, Li Yan moved to the second door on the left and pushed it open. A cozy bedroom awaited him. The centerpiece was a large bed covered with crisp white sheets, calling to him after days of relentless hunting.

  Beside it stood a sturdy study table with a matching wooden chair, an attached bathroom, and a wide clothing shelf. The craftsmanship spoke of quiet luxury—fine woodwork, balanced design, and care in every detail.

  "Good," he nodded in approval, then closed the door and turned to the final one.

  Opening it revealed an empty room—bare walls lined with empty shelves. It didn’t take long for him to realize its purpose. The room was meant for private training or specialized arts—alchemy, inscription, array mastery, or anything else he might study in the future.

  Li Yan rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Perfect for future use."

  Yet, despite the luxury surrounding him, Li Yan felt no awe. In his past life as a business tycoon on Earth, he had lived in mansions far grander than this. Comfort and wealth were nothing new to him.

  But that was another world. Here, power ruled all. Comfort and wealth meant nothing without the strength to protect them. Power decided everything. And Li Yan understood that clearly. If he wished to stand tall in a realm where the weak were trampled, he would have to remain focused and relentless.

  The memory of betrayal lingered—not as pain, but as proof. Success without power was an illusion.

  Satisfied with his new quarters, he returned to the bedroom and removed his robes, stepping into the attached bath. Warm water flowed from the Qi-powered faucet, wrapping him in soothing heat.

  The tension of three sleepless days melted away, and he let out a long breath, feeling the fatigue dissolve from his body.

  As he soaked, his mind drifted into reflection.

  Even though he was only at the first realm—the beginning of cultivation—he had already felt the profound differences between mortals and cultivators.

  "I barely needed sleep now. On Earth, a sleepless night would have left me sluggish, but here, even after three days of hunting, my mind remained sharp, my body ready to fight." Li Yan muttered.

  "If this is what a beginner can endure," he mused, "then what about those at the peak? Could they go months—or years—without rest?"

  "Food was no longer a necessity either."

  Cultivators lived off Qi itself, drawing sustenance from the world’s energy. He hadn’t tested his limits yet, but the concept fascinated him—a life untied from mortal weakness.

  "And yet, none of these advantages compares to the true marvel: power itself." He muttered. "Techniques, Qi, elemental arts—things I once thought belonged only to fiction were now real, within my reach."

  His fist tightened, "I died on Earth too suddenly and unfairly. I’d had no chance to resist, no power to fight for my life as much as I wanted."

  "But in this world," he vowed, "things would be different. No one would ever decide my fate again."

  That vow settled deep within him like tempered steel.

  He stepped out of the bath, dried himself, and changed into fresh robes. The bed greeted him like an old friend. He lay down, sinking into the soft mattress. The warmth of the room faded into the background as his eyes closed.

  Sleep came swiftly, but his mind did not rest. Even in dreams, only one thought lingered—Power. Absolute power.

  *****

  Meanwhile, within the highest chamber of the Shadow Haven Sect (Yǐng Xū Zōng), the air carried a calm stillness—one that hid a subtle tension beneath.

  The sect leader’s room, perched atop the highest mountain, radiated both power and refinement.

  Exquisite scroll paintings told the story of the sect’s rise through blood and shadow, while furniture crafted from ancient spiritwood released a faint fragrance—an earthy scent that seemed to carry the weight of time itself.

  Sect Leader Ji Hong sat behind an ornate blackwood desk, his posture steady, his eyes half-closed as if lost in meditation.

  Yet his attention was wholly fixed on the man standing before him—Elder Yu Long, who had just finished escorting Li Yan to his quarters.

  Ji Hong’s calm voice held a thread of curiosity. "Yu Long, you’re certain you sensed it correctly? He’s only been in the Tier-1 Hunting Ground for three days, and yet you claim he already possesses a Killing Aura?"

  Yu Long’s reply came without hesitation. "Yes, Sect Leader. I’m certain. The aura was faint, but unmistakable."

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  Ji Hong’s brows furrowed slightly, his voice dipping into thought. "Unbelievable indeed."

  Yu Long continued, his tone careful but steady. "When I asked him directly about the number of beasts he hunted, he avoided the question with a vague answer. That alone made me curious."

  "So, after escorting him, I personally visited the Tier-1 Hunting Ground to check the White Rank Leaderboard."

  At that, Ji Hong’s eyes opened fully, sharp and attentive. "And what did you find?"

  Yu Long allowed himself a faint smile. "His name was listed as Li Yan Tian. Third place on the leaderboard—Five hundred and fifty-eight confirmed kills."

  The chamber fell silent for a moment.

  "The formation’s records never go wrong," Yu Long added softly. "There’s no doubt."

  Ji Hong leaned back, his fingers tapping lightly against the armrest as the number echoed in his mind. "Over the five hundred beasts… in just three days?" he murmured. "For a newcomer, that’s beyond ordinary."

  Yu Long nodded. "As you know, Sect Leader, killing aura only forms after taking many lives within a short time."

  Silence filled the chamber, broken only by the whisper of the mountain wind against the windows. Ji Hong finally exhaled, his decision made.

  "Yu Long," he said evenly, "gather a team tomorrow and replenish the Tier-1 Hunting Ground. Draw from the valley or the outer regions if you must. Make sure there’s no shortage of beasts—let him hunt as much as he wishes. As for the killing aura, I will handle it myself."

  Yu Long inclined his head. "Understood, Sect Leader. With that boy’s speed and resolve… the task entrusted by the goddess may be completed far sooner than we anticipated."

  Ji Hong gave a slow nod, his expression unreadable. "Indeed. For now, let us observe. I wish to see just how far his talent—and his will—can reach."

  Yu Long clasped his hands, then quietly withdrew from the chamber, leaving the sect leader alone.

  The silence returned, heavy and still.

  Ji Hong remained seated, his gaze shifting to the window that framed the crimson horizon. Beyond the mountain peaks, twilight bled into night, and his reflection in the glass seemed darker than before.

  "Li Yan…" he murmured under his breath, eyes narrowing with a mixture of intrigue and caution. "Just who exactly are you?"

  *****

  The soft light of dawn crept over the horizon, spreading golden hues across the sprawling mountain peaks of the Shadow Haven Sect (Yǐng Xū Zōng).

  A thin veil of morning mist drifted through the air, curling along the cobblestone pathways that wound across the sect like veins of life through its mighty form.

  Inside his room, Li Yan stirred awake. The tranquil stillness of early morning mirrored the calm rhythm of his breathing.

  Rising from his bed, he stretched slightly, feeling the dull ache of muscles tempered by battle. After washing up, he donned the white robes of the sect—crisp, clean, and fitting him perfectly, radiating quiet composure and restraint.

  Stepping outside, he descended from his mountain quarter into the main assembly area below. The sect stretched before him like a living tapestry of motion and sound. A cool morning breeze swept through, carrying the mingled scents of dew, pine, and the faint fragrance of mountain blossoms.

  Above, the sky had already deepened into a brilliant blue. The sun’s rays cascaded over the sect’s courtyards, illuminating hundreds of disciples at work.

  From fresh entrants to seasoned cultivators, everyone was immersed in their morning routines—the ringing clash of swords, the steady hum of Qi techniques, the still focus of those seated in meditation. The very air seemed alive with energy.

  Li Yan, however, had simpler intentions for the morning. His first destination was the sect’s small food stalls area on the right side of the mountain.

  The food stall area was lively even at this early hour, its narrow stone lanes lined with food stalls. Steam rose from pots and grills, carrying the savory aroma of meats, rice, and medicinal broths.

  Li Yan approached one stall, exchanging twenty Shadow Points for a warm meal—steamed buns, grilled meat, and a bowl of herb-infused tea that eased the fatigue lingering in his body.

  Sitting at a nearby wooden table, he ate in silence, the light murmur of morning chatter surrounding him.

  "Only twenty Shadow Points left…" he mused between bites.

  The food he bought from the hundred Shadow Points he had received from Sect Leader Ji Hong upon his arrival.

  The thought came quietly, but with weight. He knew he’d need to replenish his resources soon—and the best way was to sell the bodies of the beasts he’d slain during his time in the Hunting Ground.

  Once his meal was finished, Li Yan rose and began walking toward the sect’s core hall, where all trades and major affairs were handled.

  As he passed through the training fields, the crisp sounds of wooden swords clashing drew his attention.

  Turning his head, he spotted a group of young disciples in white robes practicing under the supervision of an older disciple dressed in black. Their movements were clumsy but determined.

  It didn’t take long for him to recognize them, "Zhong Li and the other…"

  There were eleven of them—the same children who had arrived at the sect alongside him four days ago. Memories stirred within him, not his own but Yan Tian’s—fleeting images of that group standing together under the moonlight, bound by shared fear and faint hope after having gathered by the elite team when their darkness affinity awakened.

  Li Yan’s steps slowed. For a brief moment, he almost changed direction, intending to approach them. But then, Yao Fuhuo’s words echoed in his mind—the purifying process had erased fragments of their memories.

  "Would they even remember Yan Tian at all?" He stood still for a moment, conflicted.

  A soft sigh escaped him. The thought weighed more heavily than he expected. Even if they had forgotten, even if the bond they once shared had been wiped away, it didn’t change the truth: they had once been part of Yan Tian’s life—a life now intertwined with his own.

  But sentiment would have to wait. There were more pressing matters ahead.

  He turned away, resuming his path toward the core hall. The faint echoes of wooden swords and laughter faded behind him, carried away by the mountain wind.

  Li Yan entered the core area of the hall, where a middle-aged man in black robes managed the sect’s administrative matters behind a long reception counter. A young disciple wearing azure robes stood ahead of him, discussing something.

  The senior handed the young man a silver disciple badge. "Take this. Your new task has been updated."

  The disciple accepted it with both hands. "Thank you, Senior Dan Jian."

  As the young disciple left, Li Yan stepped forward, his posture calm and respectful. "Senior, I’m new here," he said evenly. "May I know where I can sell the beast bodies I’ve hunted?"

  Dan Jian’s eyes flickered with recognition. It had only been four days since Li Yan had arrived with the Sect Leader, and the man remembered him well. Instead of asking questions, he pointed toward the corridor on the left.

  "Of course. Third door down," he said. "That’s where you can sell your spoils."

  Li Yan cupped his hands. "Thank you, Senior."