The sun had barely risen, yet Yunlai Village was nothing but smoldering ruins. Liang Ze walked among the ashes, each step heavy with grief, but his heart burned with a new fire—a fire that demanded action.
The system's soft voice pulsed in his mind, constant and unwavering.
"User status: Level 2. Current attributes: Vitality 47, Strength 40, Agility 51, Intelligence 64. Skills available for upgrade: Shadow Step, Shadow Strike. Suggested action: Training for survival and revenge."
Liang Ze clenched his fists. "Fine. Then training it is."
---
He didn't know where to start, but instinct guided him. He needed speed, reflexes, control over his newfound shadows. Every movement now had a purpose. Every breath, a reminder that he had survived what no ordinary youth could.
He knelt on the ground, eyes closed, focusing on the pulsing warmth of the system inside him. The shadows around him responded, coiling and writhing like living entities.
"Skill upgrade available: Shadow Step. Upgrade to Level 2?"
"Yes!" Liang Ze's voice was fierce. "I want more power!"
"Upgrade confirmed. Shadow Step Level 2: now allows instantaneous multiple-position teleportation within 20 meters. Cooldown reduced by 50%."
Liang Ze leapt. Shadows swallowed him. He reappeared behind a ruined pillar, then another, then another. The sensation thrilled him. For the first time, he wasn't weak. For the first time, he could fight—not just survive.
---
He spent the day moving through the ruins, practicing teleportation, dodging imaginary attacks, and striking at shadow-formed dummies that the system conjured. Time blurred, but his body adapted rapidly. Muscles, reflexes, and even his mind sharpened.
By the afternoon, Liang Ze had unlocked Shadow Strike Level 2, allowing him to strike with shadow blades extending from his hands—slicing steel and stone with ease.
"User progression: Level 3. XP gained from training: 72. Health restored."
Liang Ze smiled grimly. "One step closer to revenge."
---
Just as he was catching his breath, a figure emerged from the smoke. Human, tall, cloaked in black and gold, with piercing eyes that glinted like a predator's.
"You… survived?" the figure said, voice sharp, yet laced with amusement. "I didn't expect the little orphan to still be breathing after the massacre."
Liang Ze tensed. "Who are you?"
The man smirked. "The name's Feng Jian. I'm… interested in potential. And I never leave a promising opponent behind."
Liang Ze narrowed his eyes. "You mean… I'm a target?"
Feng Jian laughed. "Perhaps. Or perhaps a chance. Let's see if the weak orphan is as pathetic as they say."
Liang Ze's fists clenched. "I'm not pathetic. Not anymore."
The air around them thickened. Feng Jian's body radiated a faint aura—strong, disciplined, and threatening. Liang Ze realized immediately: this wasn't a normal human. He had cultivation. Martial arts mastery. And he was testing Liang Ze.
"Then show me," Feng Jian said, and in the blink of an eye, he lunged.
---
Liang Ze's system screamed instinctively:
"Threat detected: High-level cultivator. Use Shadow Step for evasion!"
He vanished into shadows, reappearing behind a shattered wall. Feng Jian's strike smashed through the stone where he had been standing. Liang Ze's heart raced—not with fear, but with exhilaration.
He countered, unleashing Shadow Strike, and the blades tore into Feng Jian's cloak. The man grunted, more impressed than hurt.
"Not bad," Feng Jian said, smirk widening. "But skill without experience is useless."
Liang Ze smirked in return. "Experience comes from living. And I'm not dead yet."
---
The battle escalated. They moved faster than human eyes could follow, shadows and martial energy clashing in bursts of sound and light. Liang Ze felt himself being pushed to his limits. Every strike, every dodge, every teleportation move was a test.
"XP +32," the system announced with each successful action. "Level 4 achieved. Attribute points available: 5."
Liang Ze felt stronger. Faster. Smarter. He realized the system was not just a tool—it was a teacher, a guide, a mentor, and maybe… a weapon.
Feng Jian grinned, clearly enjoying the challenge. "You've got spirit, orphan. But spirit alone doesn't win battles."
Liang Ze's eyes narrowed. "Then I'll combine spirit with skill."
---
Minutes—or maybe hours—passed. Liang Ze was exhausted, sweat mixing with soot and blood, but he refused to back down. The system urged him, pulsing energy through his veins, guiding his movements.
Finally, Liang Ze saw an opening. Feng Jian had overextended his stance, leaving a brief gap near his side. Liang Ze concentrated, shadows forming razor-sharp extensions around his fists, and struck.
Slash!
Feng Jian staggered, stumbling back. A small cut appeared along his side. Liang Ze gasped—he had actually landed a blow on someone clearly stronger than him.
Feng Jian's eyes widened—not with fear, but respect. "Interesting," he muttered. "You're faster than you look… clever too."
Liang Ze wiped blood from his lip. "You're not unbeatable."
Feng Jian laughed, though it lacked malice this time. "Perhaps not. Perhaps you will survive. Perhaps one day, you will be someone worth remembering."
Liang Ze's system chimed:
"Quest update: First Rival Survived. XP +50. Main quest progress: 12%."
Liang Ze's heart raced. This was just the beginning. He was learning, growing, fighting—not for glory, not for fame, but for revenge. And every battle, every challenge, every rival pushed him closer to becoming someone no one could underestimate.
---
After the fight, Liang Ze collapsed behind a pile of rubble. He barely had the strength to stand. The system's soft glow pulsed in his mind:
"Warning: Critical fatigue detected. Immediate rest recommended."
Liang Ze shook his head. "No… I can't stop. I have to keep going. I have to get stronger."
"User stubbornness noted. Recommended action: Find allies, locate training grounds, hunt enemies."
Liang Ze's eyes hardened. "Then that's exactly what I'll do. First… I need to survive today. Tomorrow… I train. And the next day… I strike back."
---
As night fell over the ruined village, Liang Ze moved silently among the shadows. The once quiet streets were empty now, only the distant howls of wild beasts echoing. Yet he felt… alive. Powerful, even.
He whispered to himself, almost a vow:
"I will not be weak. I will rise. And when I do… every sect, every monster, every person who thinks they can destroy me will pay."
Shadows curled around him, alive, protective, hungry. The system hummed in approval, guiding him, empowering him, and promising… more.
"Tomorrow," Liang Ze muttered, "the real journey begins."
---
In the distance, under the light of the rising moon, a pair of eyes watched him. Hidden in the trees, cloaked in black, a figure murmured, voice low and cold:
"So, the orphan survived. Interesting… very interesting. Let's see how far he can go before the world crushes him."
Liang Ze didn't notice. But the game had begun. And from this night forward, nothing would ever be the same.