The forest did not welcome Shen Yuan.
It simply existed.
Towering trees cast long shadows across the ground, and the spiritual energy here was no longer muffled by the cave's invisible protection. It pressed against his senses—wild, uneven, tinged with beast presence and faint demonic residue.
Shen Yuan stood still for a long moment, breathing evenly.
He felt no threat.
Only information.
So this is the world as it is, he thought.
Behind him, the cave was already fading into insignificance—not physically, but in purpose. It had done what it was meant to do.
Now, it was time to move forward.
But not blindly.
Shen Yuan lowered himself onto a flat stone beneath the trees and closed his eyes.
"System," he said calmly. "Before I take another step, I want a complete assessment."
There was no delay.
"Primordial Edict acknowledged.""Comprehensive evaluation initiated."
The sensation that followed was not invasive.
It felt like standing still while the world aligned itself around him.
"Host: Shen Yuan.""Cultivation Realm: Core Formation.""Foundation Integrity: Exceptional."
Shen Yuan listened without interrupting.
"Body Status: Fully purified.""Meridians: Perfectly stabilized.""Soul Condition: Unified, resilient.""Dao Heart: Stable."
As expected.
But the system continued.
"Cultivation Talent: Unrestricted."
Shen Yuan's eyelids flickered.
"So the seal didn't just limit me," he said quietly. "It prevented categorization."
"Correct.""Your talent does not fall within standard grading."
Interesting.
"And my bloodline?"
"Bloodline awakened.""Classification: Ancient—Origin-aligned."
Shen Yuan absorbed that in silence.
Ancient bloodline. Origin-aligned.
No wonder it had been sealed so thoroughly.
"Bloodline traits detected:""High vitality.""Exceptional adaptability.""Resonance with multiple energy systems."
Spiritual energy.Beast essence.Refined demonic power.
All compatible.
Shen Yuan exhaled slowly.
"So I wasn't meant to walk a single path."
"Confirmed."
He opened his eyes.
"Then let's talk about how I cultivate."
At that, the system's presence sharpened slightly.
"Cultivation method registered."
Shen Yuan felt something unfold within his consciousness—not new knowledge, but a structure that had already been forming since the moment his seals began to break.
"Designation: All-Domain Origin Codex."
The name settled naturally.
"This method…" Shen Yuan said, following the flow instinctively, "it doesn't focus on just Qi."
"Correct."
It cultivated everything.
Body.Soul.Spirit.Bloodline.Perception.Existence itself.
Every action refined the whole. Cultivation was no longer limited to meditation—it occurred through understanding, through refinement, through alignment.
No rigid stages.No single Dao.
Only continuous integration.
So this is why nothing conflicted, Shen Yuan realized.It was never meant to.
He sat quietly for several breaths.
Then asked the question that mattered most.
"What can't I do?"
The system paused.
"Clarification required."
"What are my limits," Shen Yuan said evenly. "Not theoretical ones. Real ones."
This time, the response was precise.
"Current limitations:""Insufficient experience.""Lack of worldly interaction.""No established influence."
In other words—
Power without context.
Shen Yuan nodded.
"That's fair."
The forest rustled softly.
Somewhere far away, a beast roared.
Shen Yuan rose to his feet.
"I'm ready to move," he said. "So what's first?"
The answer came immediately.
"Primary Task Issued.""Task: Enter the Cultivation World."
Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.
"Straightforward."
"Objective: Establish foothold.""Constraints: Avoid unnecessary exposure."
Makes sense.
"Subtask One: Acquire knowledge of local territories.""Subtask Two: Obtain basic resources.""Subtask Three: Observe sect structures."
No grand destiny.
No divine command.
Just… steps.
Shen Yuan smiled faintly.
"I can work with that."
"Task accepted."
The system fell silent, its role complete—for now.
Shen Yuan adjusted his robes and took his first real step forward, deeper into the forest and toward the world beyond it.
He did not rush.
He did not hesitate.
The journey had finally begun—not as a gamble, but as a calculated path walked by someone who knew exactly what he was capable of.