Chapter 1: The Weakest… Awakens
Cold.
It wasn't the kind of cold that touched the skin and faded away.
No… this was something deeper.
A suffocating, bone-piercing chill that wrapped around Ye Chen's entire body like invisible chains, tightening slowly… as if trying to drag him back into the darkness he had just escaped.
For a long time—
he didn't move.
Didn't breathe.
Didn't even think.
It felt as though he was still suspended somewhere between life and death… unable to fully cross either side.
---
"…So I really came back."
The voice that broke the silence was low. Hoarse. Yet strangely calm.
---
His eyelids twitched slightly… before slowly opening.
At first, everything was blurry.
Shadows.
Faint light.
Unclear shapes.
---
Then… clarity.
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A ceiling.
Old.
Cracked.
Barely holding together.
Wooden beams stretched above him like a prison, their surfaces rotting from age and neglect. Dust floated through the air, illuminated by weak rays of sunlight slipping through broken gaps.
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"…What a miserable place to wake up in."
Ye Chen exhaled slowly, his chest rising and falling with controlled rhythm.
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Then—
it began.
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Memories.
Not his.
Yet now… they belonged to him.
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A boy kneeling on the ground.
His body trembling.
His clothes torn.
Blood dripping from his lips onto the cold stone beneath him.
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Laughter surrounded him.
Cruel.
Mocking.
Relentless.
---
"Look at him."
"He's still alive?"
"What a joke."
---
A kick landed on his back.
Hard.
Brutal.
---
The boy collapsed forward.
No resistance.
No strength.
---
More laughter.
More insults.
More humiliation.
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"Trash."
"Why are you even part of the Ye Clan?"
"You should've died long ago."
---
Ye Chen's eyes slowly darkened.
---
"…So that was your life."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
---
He closed his eyes for a brief moment.
Then opened them again.
---
Colder.
Sharper.
More dangerous.
---
"…You endured all of that… without ever fighting back."
A faint pause.
---
"…Pathetic."
---
But then—
his expression softened slightly.
---
"…Or maybe…"
He raised his hand slowly, staring at it.
---
"…you simply didn't have the strength to fight."
---
His fingers curled into a fist.
---
"…That's fine."
His voice dropped.
Lower.
Colder.
---
"I'll fix that."
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Silence returned.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
---
Then—
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[System Activated]
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A faint glow appeared before his eyes.
---
A translucent screen materialized.
Floating silently in the air.
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[Name: Ye Chen]
[Realm: Mortal Realm – Beginner]
[Physique: Enhanced (Initial Stage)]
[Technique: Heavenly Body Refining Technique]
[Points: 1000]
---
Ye Chen stared at it without surprise.
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"…A system."
He whispered quietly.
---
"In my previous life… this would've been impossible."
---
He leaned slightly against the wall, his gaze deep in thought.
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"…Which means this world operates under different rules."
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A slow smile appeared on his lips.
---
"…Good."
---
His eyes gleamed faintly.
---
"If the rules are different…"
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"…then I don't have to play fair."
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He closed his eyes.
---
"Activate the technique."
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[Heavenly Body Refining Technique Activated]
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Pain.
---
Instant.
Explosive.
Unforgiving.
---
"GH—!"
---
His entire body shook violently.
---
It felt as if something was tearing him apart from the inside… breaking every bone, every muscle, every fiber of his being—
only to rebuild it again.
Stronger.
Denser.
More refined.
---
His blood burned like molten lava.
His veins bulged.
His muscles tightened uncontrollably.
---
"…So this is the price…"
His voice trembled slightly… but not from fear.
---
From excitement.
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"If power was easy to obtain…"
He clenched his teeth harder.
---
"…then everyone would have it."
---
Time lost meaning.
---
Seconds stretched endlessly.
Pain came in waves.
Each one worse than the last.
---
But Ye Chen endured.
---
Not a scream.
Not a cry.
---
Only silence.
And unshakable determination.
---
Finally—
after what felt like an eternity—
---
it stopped.
---
His body relaxed.
---
"…Ha…"
A long breath escaped his lips.
---
Sweat covered his entire body.
His clothes clung to him tightly.
---
But his eyes—
remained calm.
---
"…Worth it."
---
He slowly stood up.
---
This time—
his movements were smooth.
Precise.
Controlled.
---
He clenched his fist lightly.
---
WHOOSH
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The air shifted faintly.
---
"…Better."
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Then—
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BANG!!!
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The door exploded open.
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Wood shattered.
Dust filled the air instantly.
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"Still alive, trash?"
---
The voice was filled with arrogance.
Mockery.
Confidence.
---
Ye Chen didn't turn immediately.
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"…You're late."
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Silence.
---
Zhao Lin froze for a moment.
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"…What did you just say?"
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Ye Chen slowly turned his head.
---
Their eyes met.
---
Zhao Lin's gaze was sharp.
Dominating.
Used to looking down on others.
---
Ye Chen's gaze—
was calm.
Cold.
Unmoved.
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"I said… you're late."
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Zhao Lin frowned deeply.
---
"…Looks like you've completely lost your mind."
He stepped forward slowly.
Each step heavy with pressure.
---
"You were crawling on the ground yesterday…"
His voice turned mocking.
---
"…begging for mercy like a dog."
---
A faint smile appeared on his face.
---
"And now you're acting like this?"
---
He stopped right in front of Ye Chen.
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"…Do you think you've suddenly become strong?"
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Ye Chen looked at him quietly.
---
Then spoke.
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"Let me ask you something."
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Zhao Lin narrowed his eyes.
"…What?"
---
Ye Chen took a small step forward.
---
"Why do you keep coming here?"
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Silence.
---
Zhao Lin frowned.
"…What kind of question is that?"
---
Ye Chen continued calmly.
---
"Is it because you're strong?"
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A pause.
---
"Or…"
His eyes sharpened slightly.
---
"…because you can only feel strong when you're bullying someone weaker?"
---
The atmosphere froze.
---
Zhao Lin's face twisted instantly.
---
"You—!"
---
He attacked.
---
Fast.
Violent.
---
But—
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GRAB
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His wrist stopped mid-air.
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"…?!"
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Zhao Lin's eyes widened.
---
Ye Chen held his arm effortlessly.
---
"…Too slow."
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BAM!!!
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A punch slammed into his chest.
---
Zhao Lin flew backward.
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He crashed into the wall.
Hard.
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"…UGHH!!"
---
The room shook.
---
The two followers froze in shock.
---
"…What just happened?!"
"…That's impossible!!"
---
"ATTACK HIM!!"
Zhao Lin roared.
---
They rushed forward.
---
Ye Chen moved.
---
One step.
---
He disappeared.
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The first one collapsed instantly.
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The second tried to react—
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Too late.
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THUD
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Silence.
---
Zhao Lin stood there.
Shaking.
---
"…Who… are you…?"
---
Ye Chen walked toward him slowly.
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"…You really don't recognize me?"
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He stopped in front of him.
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"…I'm Ye Chen."
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A pause.
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"…Just not the same one you used to bully."
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Zhao Lin's face turned pale.
---
"…Monster…"
---
He attacked again.
Desperately.
---
But—
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[Shadow Devouring Activated]
---
Everything slowed.
---
"…Too obvious."
---
Ye Chen stepped aside.
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Then—
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BOOM!!!
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Zhao Lin crashed into the wall again.
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This time—
he didn't get up.
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Silence filled the room.
---
A notification appeared.
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[Mission Completed]
[Reward: Bloodline Awakening]
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Power surged through Ye Chen's body.
---
Warm.
Ancient.
Terrifying.
---
He closed his eyes briefly.
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"…This is just the beginning."
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Far away—
something awakened.
---
Ancient eyes opened.
---
"…A forbidden existence…"
---
"…has appeared…"
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Back in the room—
Ye Chen stood alone.
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Calm.
Silent.
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But from this moment on—
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Nothing would ever be the same.
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*[End of Chapter 1]