In Kaito's previous life, just a month before the monsters launched their large-scale attacks on humanity, tragedy had struck the Ren family's ancestral estate. At that time, a group of ten members from the younger generation of the estate had gone on what was supposed to be a routine hunting trip in the Grey Stone Mountains. With them had been the ancestral estate's official hunting team, who were preparing for their longer expedition into the Endless Mountains.
The arrangement had been simple. The younger generation would remain in the Grey Stone Mountains, hunting low-level monsters for training and practice, while the ancestral estate's hunting team would continue forward into the Endless Mountains for their serious hunt. To everyone, this was no different than dozens of similar trips in the past. But none of them had realized that fate had already prepared one of the unluckiest and most dangerous situations for them.
Unbeknownst to all, due to the rising surge of spiritual energy in the world at that time, the Grey Stone Mountains had given birth to a Spirit Stone Mine. On the surface, this should have been a great fortune. Spirit Stone Mines were rare treasures, as spirit stones were crucial resources for cultivation.
And their discovery often sparked wars between powerful families and organizations across the Federation. In Kaito's past life, as the spiritual energy surged higher and higher, more and more Spirit Stone Mines had been discovered on Earth. Each discovery led to bloody clashes between great powers, but those powerful forces didn't fear the dangers that came with the mines.
Every Spirit Stone Mine, however, was born together with its guardian companion spirits that dwelled within the mine itself. These beings, known as Mine Spirits, were tied to the very essence of the mine. In the territories of great families, the existence of such spirits was treated as little more than an inconvenience.
They were strong, yes, but great powers had the strength to subdue or destroy them without much difficulty. For the Ren family's younger generation, however, the situation was completely different.
His ten cousins who had gone to the Grey Stone Mountains that day had no idea of what lay hidden beneath. While hunting low-level monsters, they had caused a minor cave-in during a battle. Stones and rubble tumbled down, and from behind the collapse, a hidden cave was revealed. Curious, and believing they had stumbled onto nothing more than a natural cavern, the group decided to explore.
What they found inside shocked them. The cave's walls glowed faintly, embedded with stones that pulsed with rich spiritual energy. The deeper they went, the stronger the spirit energy became. Not recognizing what they were looking at, the young hunters simply marveled at the glowing walls.
At that time, knowledge of spirit stones was still very limited. Only a handful of top powers truly understood their value, while ordinary families and individuals had no such awareness.
At first, the young Ren family members thought little of it. Then They decided they would return and report the strange discovery to the elders. But before they could retreat, disaster struck.
From the depths of the mine, figures began to emerge. The Mine Spirits had awakened.
If it had been just a single Rank 1 Mine Spirit, the group could have escaped without issue. But this was no ordinary situation. A large number of Mine Spirits appeared, all Rank 1 at the very least. The youths suddenly found themselves overwhelmed. Escape was no longer easy. Every step back was blocked by the advancing spirits.
Fighting desperately, the young hunters tried to hold their ground. At great cost, they managed to carve out a chance for one among them to escape. Using their lives to shield him, nine of them fell, buying enough time for the tenth to flee the mine. That lone survivor staggered out, his body badly wounded, but alive.
He glanced back only to see that the Mine Spirits had not chased him beyond the entrance. This confused him, but he had no time to wonder why. Bloodied and half-conscious, he stumbled toward the boundary between the Grey Stone Mountains and the Endless Mountains.
Though he was tempted to move farther, he dared not. All the younger generation had been strictly warned, never enter the Endless Mountains alone before reaching Rank 2 strength. Now, with his body broken and his strength almost gone, entering was unthinkable.
Luckily, only five minutes later, the ancestral estate's hunting team crossed his path. Seeing his state and hearing his story, they were enraged. Without hesitation, they charged into the cave he had fled from.
The hunters didn't spare a glance at the glowing stones or the dense energy in the air. All their focus was on avenging the fallen youngsters. They cut down Rank 1 Mine Spirits as they advanced, forcing their way deeper and deeper into the mine. But the deeper they went, the more dangerous the enemy became. Rank 2 Mine Spirits appeared, joined by swarms of Rank 1s. Still, driven by anger and grief, the hunters pressed forward.
At last, when they reached the heart of the mine, they encountered something far beyond what they were prepared for a Rank 3 Mine Spirit, freshly born.
The presence of this being was overwhelming. Kaito's eldest grandfather, who was still only a Rank 4 martial artist at that time, personally led the charge against it. Yet even then, his strikes could barely scratch the Mine Spirit's stone-like body. Its defense was extraordinary, far beyond anything he could break through. Back then, the martial arts techniques he had mastered were all basic ones, common skills that could be bought off the streets.
Even the cultivation method practiced in the ancestral estate, though it could reach Rank 5, was a simple and ordinary one. It provided no special attributes or buffs to strengthen his attacks, leaving him unable to inflict real damage to mine spirit.
The battle turned desperate. But with his eldest grandfather's leadership and immense effort, the hunting team managed to retreat, pulling the survivor out with them. They then sealed the entrance of the cave on their way out, hoping to prevent the spirits from emerging further.
At that time, they did not know the truth that Mine Spirits were bound to their mine and could not leave its boundaries. The sealing had been done out of caution, but it came too late to change the losses they had already suffered.
When they returned to the estate, the toll of the day was clear. Not only had they gained nothing, but the price had been devastating. Nine members of the younger generation were gone. Five or six hunters were crippled, their injuries leaving them unable to ever rejoin the hunting teams again.
The ancestral estate mourned heavily. Kaito's eldest grandfather was particularly grief-stricken, blaming himself for what had happened.
When the news reached Kaito, he had listened carefully to the account given by the lone surviving cousin. Rage had burned in him. Though he had not lived at the estate full-time, he had always treated his cousins there with respect and sincerity, reciprocating the way they treated him. To lose nine of them in one blow was unbearable.
At the time, Kaito had sworn to himself that one day, when he became stronger, he would avenge their deaths. It wasn't only his vow. Many of the younger Ren family members had shared the same wish, their hearts united by the tragedy.
But fate had other plans. Not long after, humanity was struck by the Monster-Human War. One disaster followed another. The Ren family, already weakened, suffered even more. Then came the rise of the Orion Syndicate, pressing down on them mercilessly. Under that constant suppression, one calamity after another struck. Kaito himself eventually fell, his vow left unfulfilled.
Now, in this new life, he would not let the same chain of tragedies repeat. He would not let his cousins be lost so senselessly. This time, he had the chance to act early. If the Spirit Stone Mine had already formed in the Grey Stone Mountains, then the Mine Spirits had only just been born. Their strength would be far lower than in his past life. With his experience and knowledge, Kaito was confident he could deal with them alone.
That was why he had arranged this trip. He would go to the Grey Stone Mountains, confirm the existence of the mine, and destroy the Mine Spirits before they could grow stronger.
Bringing Marcus, Elias, Calvin, and Lucas with him was part of his plan. If he went alone and returned claiming to have discovered a Spirit Stone Mine, there might be doubts. But if his cousins witnessed the discovery themselves, everything would appear natural. It would seem like nothing more than another routine hunting trip where they had stumbled upon something extraordinary.
Kaito's mind was set. This time, he would not only protect his family but also ensure that the Spirit Stone Mine became a foundation for their future, instead of the curse it had once been.