Jin Ryu gasped, his lungs burning like forge coals as foul black sludge erupted from his mouth. The dim cave flickered with a single oil lamp, casting jagged shadows on damp stone walls etched with faded runes. His body—frail, malnourished, clad in tattered gray robes—convulsed on a straw pallet. Memories flooded in: not his, but another's. A peak Immortal Emperor, slain by treacherous dao companions in the Nine Heavens War, soul hurled into the mortal realm's void.
This trash body, he snarled inwardly. Jin Ryu, outer disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect, poisoned by jealous rivals and left to rot in the Punishment Cave. In his past life, he'd commanded legions, shattered realms with a finger. Now? Qi veins clogged like rusted pipes, meridians twisted from years of abuse. Dantian empty as a beggar's purse.
He forced himself upright, bones creaking. The cave reeked of mold and despair—perfect for forgotten wretches. Footsteps echoed outside: guards changing shift. No time. Drawing on fragmented soul memories, he circulated the Eternal Void Scripture, his signature art from eons past. Invisible qi threads pierced his skin, probing the poison—a vicious Heartrot Venom, laced with soul-shackling curses.
Amateurs. Ryu smirked, channeling void essence. Black veins pulsed across his arms, then burst open. Pus and tarry blood sprayed the floor, sizzling like acid. Agony ripped through him, but pain was an old friend. He bit his tongue, tasting copper, and pushed harder. The venom coalesced into a writhing orb in his palm, shrieking silently before crumbling to ash.
Meridians cleared. Dantian stirred—a spark ignited. Foundation Establishment, first layer. Laughable for an emperor, but a miracle for this husk. He stood, testing limbs. Muscles knit, vision sharpened; he spotted a rat in the corner, its heartbeat thundering.
First test: survive the night.
The cave door groaned open. Two burly guards lumbered in, reeking of cheap rice wine. "Oi, trash! Still breathing?" The taller one, scarred face twisted in a grin, kicked the pallet. "Boss said drag the corpse out at dawn."
Ryu feigned weakness, slumping. "Mercy... elders will reward..."
The shorter guard laughed, drawing a rusty saber. "Elders? You're meat for the dogs. Junior Brother Kai paid good silver to end you." He lunged.
Perfect. Ryu exploded upward, void qi cloaking his hand like shadow gloves. He seized the saber's flat, twisted—metal snapped. The guard's wrist shattered with a wet crunch. Before shock registered, Ryu's palm struck his chest. Void Finger—compressed qi pierced ribs, pulverizing the heart.
One down. The tall guard bellowed, swinging a spiked mace. Ryu sidestepped, fluid as wind, and countered with Iron Mountain Palm. His strike landed on the knee, buckling it backward. The man howled, swinging wild. Ryu ducked, swept the legs, then mounted. Elbows rained down—crack, crack—until the face caved like rotten melon.
Silence. Ryu stripped their pouches: 50 low-grade spirit stones, identification tokens, a minor healing pill. Useful. He donned the tall guard's robe—loose but concealing—and slipped out.
The Punishment Cave nestled in Azure Cloud Sect's outer hills, a sprawling mountain fortress veiled in perpetual mist. Dawn painted peaks gold, disciples milling toward training grounds. Ryu blended in, head low, aiming for the outer disciple barracks. His trash reputation preceded him: once promising, crippled by "mysterious illness," shunned.
But whispers followed. "That's Jin Ryu? Thought he was dead." "Guards missing—probably beast fodder."He reached his shack, a lean-to shared with five others. Snores rattled inside. Perfect. Slipping in, he claimed his corner pallet, swallowed the pill—sweet qi mended residual damage—and entered meditation. Void Scripture spun, devouring ambient qi. Hours blurred; by noon, he'd hit Foundation 2nd layer. Bones densified, skin glowed faintly.
Hunger gnawed. He ventured to the communal hall, lining for gruel. A sneer cut through the din: "Look, the cripple lives!" Kang Wei, peak Foundation bully, flanked by three cronies. Kai's lapdog, no doubt.
Wei shoved forward, spilling bowls. "Line's for real disciples. Crawl back to your cave, worm."
Ryu met his eyes, void qi subtly probing. Wei's cultivation solid but sloppy—drunk on pills, no foundation. "Move," Ryu said calmly.
Laughter. Wei cracked knuckles. "Or what? Die again?" He swung a haymaker.
Ryu shifted an inch, fist grazing air. Counter: Void Step, ethereal glide. He tapped Wei's elbow—nerve cluster exploded in pain. Wei yelped, arm dangling limp. Cronies charged.
Chaos erupted. Ryu flowed like water, palms blurring. One crony took a knee to groin, crumpled vomiting. Another caught throat chop, gagging. The third swung a staff; Ryu caught it mid-air, yanked—staff wielder impaled his own ally.
Wei paled, drawing a spirit dagger glowing green. "You... monster!" Poison again. He slashed wildly.
Ryu laughed, first real mirth since rebirth. He snatched the dagger, snapped the blade, and drove the hilt into Wei's dantian. Qi burst outward, crippling the meridians. Wei screamed, collapsing in a twitching heap.
Hall froze. Elders rushed in. Leading: Elder Huo, grizzled Foundation Peak, overseer of outers.
"What's this?" Huo barked, scanning bodies. Disciples pointed: "Jin Ryu—he killed them!"
Ryu bowed crisply. "Self-defense, Elder. They attacked first. Witnesses abound."
Huo's qi swept over—Ryu's cultivation shocked him. "You... broke through? Impossible."
"Fortune favors the prepared," Ryu replied smoothly.
Huo grunted, probing Wei's dantian. "Poison dagger. Sect crime. Take him to cells." Guards dragged Wei. Huo eyed Ryu. "Report to my hall at dusk. Talent test."
Opportunity. Ryu nodded, retreating. Word spread like wildfire: Trash Jin Ryu, reborn prodigy.
Dusk fell. Elder Huo's hall loomed, incense thick. Ryu knelt. Huo paced, a jade slip in hand. "Your meridians pure now. How?"
"Will of heavens," Ryu lied.
Huo snorted. "Show me your art."
Ryu obliged: Void Palm demonstration. Qi coalesced into a black orb, humming with annihilation power. He shattered a boulder outside—boom echoed.
Huo's eyes widened. "Genius! Join my branch. Monthly 20 spirit stones, access to basic pavilion."
Core offer. But Ryu saw greed flicker. Testing me. "Grateful, Elder. One request: investigate my poisoning."Huo paused. "Done. Rest now."
Night deepened. Ryu returned to barracks, now empty—rumors cleared it out. He cultivated, hitting Foundation 3rd layer by midnight. Memories surfaced: Azure Cloud Sect, minor power in Eastern Murim. Internal rot: factions warring, Crimson Fist Clan encroaching.
Sleep came, dreams of past glories. But dawn brought trouble.
A shadow slipped through the door: lithe girl in disciple robes, dagger drawn. "For Senior Brother Kai!"
Assassin. Ryu didn't stir, feigning sleep. She lunged—Ryu rolled, pinning her wrist. Dagger clattered. She gasped: pretty face, Foundation 1st layer, fear in emerald eyes.
"Who sent you?" he hissed.
"Kai... promised promotion," she whimpered. "Please, mercy!"
Ryu probed her qi—loyalty shallow. "Swear oath on soul jade."
She did, trembling. "I'm Li Mei. Outer herb picker."
"Useful. Serve me, live." He released. She nodded frantically.
First subordinate. Dawn broke; Ryu dressed, Li Mei trailing. To the training fields.
Crowds parted. Whispers: "Prodigy!" Rivals glared—Kai among them, arm bandaged, venomous stare.Kai sneered. "Luck won't save you, cripple."
Ryu ignored, warming up. Elder Huo arrived with disciples. "Sparring trials today. Winners get pavilion access."
Pairings drawn. Ryu vs. a beefy 4th layer brute, Han Tao.
Tao charged, fists like hammers. Ryu danced, void steps evading. Counters landed: palm to ribs, crack; knee to thigh, buckle. Tao roared, qi flaring—Earth Shatter Fist.
Ryu met it head-on. Void Palm absorbed, reversed—energy imploded in Tao's arm. Shattered bone. Tao fell.
Crowd gasped. Huo nodded approval. "Next!"
Trials blurred: five wins, unbroken. By noon, Ryu claimed top spot. Rewards: 50 stones, mid-tier manual.
But Kai cornered him post-trial. "You stole my glory. Die slow."
Ryu smiled coldly. "Try."
Night fell. Sect bells tolled—emergency. Crimson Fist scouts spotted. But that's tomorrow's war.
Ryu meditated, Li Mei guarding. Foundation 4th layer beckoned. Rebirth complete. Rise begins.
End of chapter 1.