Birdsong and the hum of insects accompanied the majestic rise of the sun behind the endless mountains. A single ray of light slipped through the crack of a small cabin and cut diagonally across the interior.
"Fuuuu…"
A long, heavy breath broke the silence.
A boy of thirteen or fourteen held the horse stance with trembling legs. His serious face and eyes—sharp like those of a young dragon—were tight with effort. Sweat slid down his forehead as he forced his body to endure a few seconds more. Finally, after several minutes, he straightened his back and exhaled with difficulty.
It was Jin Yuchen.
Since arriving in this world, he hadn't trained with discipline, but now he had three days of waiting and had no intention of wasting them.
"Damn! Doing the horse stance with this new body hurts like hell… It feels like every muscle and bone is screaming."
Massaging his numb legs, he returned to the cabin. When he stepped out again, he was already wearing the yellow robe given to him the day before.
He began wandering aimlessly, observing his surroundings. He had nothing better to do until the next day. From nearby huts, several children glanced at him nervously before quickly looking away.
If they're really just kids, it's normal they're scared… Now that I think about it, I haven't seen any of those rich brats or clan heirs.
From the start, it had seemed strange that they had been separated. He shook his head and let the thought go.
His gaze drifted toward the forest.
It stretched wide and deep, ancient trees rising as if holding up the sky.
That forest looks huge… Now that I'm inside the sect, why not explore it? I've got nothing better to do anyway.
An eager smile curved his lips.
Time to explore, just like in those novels. Who knows? Maybe I'll find an inheritance.
He ventured among the endless trees, talking to himself with almost childish optimism. Yet after walking for quite a while, the excitement began to fade. The paths looked too similar, the trees indistinguishable, and the light shifted subtly as the hours passed.
When he tried to head back, he realized he had no idea which direction he had come from.
What followed were hours of aimless wandering. He ended up in an unfamiliar meadow, then another wooded area he didn't remember seeing. Hunger began to gnaw at him, and the accumulated soreness in his body intensified.
"Great…" he muttered dryly. "Getting lost inside the sect on the second day. Excellent start."
The sun was already descending when, grumbling, he reached a small valley hidden within the forest. There he was greeted by a crystal-clear lake reflecting the orange glow of sunset.
His eyes lit up.
"Perfect! That lake has carp! Finally, something to eat!"
He ran to some bushes and snapped off several branches. With nimble movements, he sharpened one into a makeshift spear, already savoring the imagined taste of fish.
"Sorry, fish, but in this world the fittest survive. When I become immortal, I'll build you an altar."
Without ceremony, he jumped into the water. The cold made him shiver, but his movements were swift and precise. In one thrust, he speared a carp. Then another. And a third.
He climbed out of the lake soaked and satisfied. Only then did he notice he was still fully dressed.
As the cold began to seep in, he gathered dry branches to start a fire. He needed warmth—needed to cook and dry his clothes.
Night fell as he struggled to produce a spark.
"This is the fourth try already… Damn it! In those documentaries they make it look so easy!"
He rubbed the stick furiously until his hands burned. At last, a spark caught the dry grass and a small flame flickered to life. His eyes shone as he carefully fed the fire until it grew steady and strong.
"Ha! I knew I could do it."
With a satisfied air, he undressed and laid his damp robe and shoes near the fire. Sitting naked beside the flames, he began roasting one of the carp.
The valley sank into silence. Only the crackling wood and the sizzle of fish broke the night's stillness.
Even though I'm in a strange world, lost like an idiot in the forest, hungry and sore… I feel more alive than ever.
He stared into the flames thoughtfully.
For the first time, I feel like I'm truly living my own life.
So absorbed was he that he failed to notice the enormous eye opening in the depths of the lake. From beneath earth and water, the creature observed him with perfect clarity.
"How curious… How did those blind old fools of the sect fail to notice this child?"
The voice resonated with majesty, and for an instant time itself seemed to slow.
The creature's laughter was deep, like the distant collapse of a star.
Not even my eyes, which have witnessed entire eras, can fully grasp the magnitude of the energy and blood burning within him. After thousands of years… to find someone like this.
An invisible energy emanated from its body, piercing through earth and water before striking Jin.
Good, boy. The force that suppressed your talent has been crushed by this sovereign. I await the day you are worthy to stand before me.
The eye closed.
Everything returned to normal.
Jin scratched the back of his neck.
"That's weird… Did a mosquito bite me? I haven't seen a single one since I got here."
He looked at his hand. Nothing. He shrugged and focused on what truly mattered.
Food.
He took a generous bite of roasted carp and his eyes widened in surprise.
"How can it taste this good without seasoning? The meat alone is incredible!"
He devoured it mercilessly. Soon only bones remained. Using one as a toothpick, he leaned back beside the fire, satisfied.
Guess I'll sleep and wait for my clothes to dry.
He looked up at the star-filled sky. The forest felt strangely empty—no beasts, no threatening sounds. Just stillness.
Sleep came gradually.
The next morning he awoke with the first rays of dawn. Still drowsy, he remembered how he had gotten lost and couldn't help but sigh. He bathed in the lake, dressed, and tied up his hair.
Before leaving, he glanced at the water with a faint smile.
"When I get the chance, I'll come back here."
He resumed walking.
Two hours later, he still hadn't found the way.
Today was the Jade Body Peak trial. And missing it was not an option.
Anxiety began pressing down on him. He quickened his pace. Then he started running.
"Damn it! If I miss the trial because of a forest—"
He tripped.
"Who leaves a branch in the middle of such a wide meadow…?"
The ground gave way beneath his feet.
His scream was swallowed as he plunged into darkness, dragged by an underground current.
Meanwhile, at the foot of one of the eight main peaks, several children dressed in yellow robes gathered on a broad platform. Among them stood youths in black robes adorned with subtle mountain motifs—disciples of Jade Body Peak.
Large basins of water were arranged in neat order, while others carried sacks of herbs and strange powders.
An older man with broad shoulders watched the preparations.
"The arrangements are nearly complete. Once everything is ready, we can begin. But it is necessary for you to be present, Peak Master."
The man beside him stood over two meters tall. He was not a brute mass of muscle, but a figure sculpted with precision. He wore a black-and-gold robe embroidered with dragons and mountains, and a wide, lively smile rested on his face.
"Of course it's necessary," he replied enthusiastically. "You never know when jade might appear in the river."
His gaze swept over the children.
"When the trial begins, you will oversee it."
"Yes, Master," replied a young woman of about twenty, tall and fierce-eyed. Her body reflected relentless training, yet her strength did not overshadow her beauty; honey-colored eyes and long blue hair intensified her presence.
The Peak Master nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. It won't be long before we test this new generation."
And as preparations continued beneath the rising sun, in a valley not far away, a boy was being dragged helplessly by an underground river toward an unknown fate.