Suddenly, and without warning

Bai Zongnan stood alone in a desolate wilderness, surrounded by nothing but a few solitary, towering trees. "How did it come to this..." he murmured to himself.

He had been in this world for more than two years now, yet the scene before him was utterly different from what he remembered. The kind and learned teacher he once knew was long dead, replaced by a group of men clad in black.

Despair surged in Bai Zongnan’s heart as he gazed at these black-clad figures. Their strength was formidable—two among them were even supreme martial artists. Had he encountered them in his normal state, he might have managed to cope, but after the ordeal he had just endured in his dream, he was gravely wounded, forced to flee, and his spiritual energy was completely depleted, leaving him utterly defenseless.

"Bai Zongnan, you’re awake!" Suddenly, a clear, melodious voice rang in his ears.

He jerked his head toward the source and saw, to his astonishment, a girl dressed in gaudy, colorful clothes standing some distance away. Judging by her attire, she was likely only in the second year of middle school.

"Little sister, who are you calling?" Bai Zongnan asked warily.

"Why, you, of course!" The girl walked up to him with a bright smile. She reached out and gently patted his cheek, saying, "Bai Zongnan, you’re so funny, hehe~"

Bai Zongnan felt bewildered. Was this girl simple-minded?

Seeing his confusion, the girl tilted her head and blinked her bright, watery eyes. "Why are you looking at me like that, Bai Zongnan?" she asked. Bai Zongnan frowned. "Little girl, can you tell me where this is and why I’m here?"

"Why should I tell you?" the girl teased, sticking out her tongue playfully. She pointed to a clump of grass by his feet. "Because you kicked it while you were sleeping!"

Bai Zongnan looked down and inspected the ground, discovering a green-leafed plant at his feet. Its leaves were crisscrossed with five or six red lines forming a grid, each square etched with intricate runes.

"So this is what people mean by fate’s opportunity?" he mused. He didn’t know the true significance, but since it had brought this girl to him, it must be extraordinary. Bai Zongnan tried to muster the last traces of his spiritual power to approach the grass.

"What are you doing, Bai Zongnan?" The girl dashed over to stop him.

He paused and looked at her, puzzled. "What’s wrong, little one?"

She shook her head, pouting. "I don’t like anyone touching this grass, especially boys!"

"Oh? Why not?" Bai Zongnan was curious, for he didn’t understand the plant’s purpose.

"Because my father cultivated it especially for me as a medicinal herb. If it gets damaged, it would be such a waste!"

"I see!" Enlightened, Bai Zongnan smiled kindly at her. The girl looked surprised. "Aren’t you afraid of me, Bai Zongnan?"

He chuckled. "Why should I be afraid of you?"

Relieved, the girl grew serious. "Bai Zongnan, you must never touch this grass, or else—"

"Or else what?"

"My father will kill you!" she replied solemnly.

Bai Zongnan couldn’t help but laugh. The thought of a father threatening his child’s friend over a plant was amusing.

Instead of mocking her, he reassured her. "Don’t worry, I won’t touch it."

He squatted to pick up a few seeds from the ground. "Little one, can these be eaten?"

"Of course! Try them if you don’t believe me," she said.

He handed her the seeds, and she promptly began chewing with relish. After a while, she looked up at him with sparkling eyes. "Go on, taste it, Bai Zongnan! It’s delicious!"

He smiled and tasted the seeds himself. As she had said, they were filled with dense spiritual energy—not as pure as an elixir, but enough to restore some of his strength.

A true treasure in the cultivation world, even more effective than pills. No wonder so many in this realm coveted rare treasures!

Seeing his silence, the girl giggled. "Why aren’t you saying anything, Bai Zongnan? Don’t you like eating grass?"

He shook his head. "It’s not that I don’t like it, there’s just too little."

"Ah? You want more?" she asked, wide-eyed. Then, as if understanding, she said, "You must be hungry! Wait here!" And with that, she ran off into the depths of the forest.

Bai Zongnan watched her disappear, then closed his eyes to meditate and recover his energy.

Half an hour later, he sensed he had regained about thirty or forty percent of his spiritual power. He opened his eyes and saw the girl returning, arms full of withered grass.

"Bai Zongnan, here you go. I picked these for you," she said eagerly.

He took the grass and ate it all, immediately feeling reinvigorated. As the juice ran down his throat, it settled in his stomach, transforming into a warm current that gathered in his core.

He realized this was a kind of energy he had never encountered before. "What is this?"

The girl beamed. "It’s the essence of plants!"

Bai Zongnan was amazed. "The essence of plants? Is this the essence from that tree?"

She nodded gravely. "Yes! Do you know why it’s called that? Because this grass is special!"

"What’s so special about it?" he asked.

"It has powerful healing properties," she said proudly. "No matter the wound, illness, or injury, it can cure anything!"

His eyes widened in disbelief. If this was true, its efficacy would rival that of celestial-grade pills!

He swallowed hard, uncertain. "Are you saying this is a celestial-grade elixir?"

She shook her head. "I’ve never seen one, but my father says this is of the sacred grade!"

"Sacred grade?" he echoed in shock.

She nodded seriously. "Sacred grade pills are said to bring the dead back to life and regrow flesh and bone!"

His heart pounded. With such a treasure, he had to take it home immediately.

"Let’s go!" Without hesitation, he took the girl’s hand, ready to leave.

But she pulled away, looking aggrieved. "Bai Zongnan, are you abandoning me?"

"Uh..." Flustered by her pitiful expression, he waved his hands. "Of course not! Why would I?"

She brightened. "Then will you take me with you?"

"Of course!" he replied resolutely.

She giggled, then tiptoed and planted a shy kiss on his cheek. "Let’s go, then!" She grabbed his hand and led him forward.

Stunned for a moment, Bai Zongnan followed, a smile of happiness spreading across his face.

They navigated the forest until they reached a cave. Outside, a stone stele bore five bold words: "Training Ground of Heavenly Spring Sect Disciples!"

Looking inside, Bai Zongnan saw scattered corpses through the gaps.

"These are our companions. Every time we come here to train, this happens," the girl said quietly, her voice tinged with sadness.

Her words stabbed at his heart, a wave of sorrow rising within him.

"We’ve faced many dangers over the years, but most never survived. Very few make it out alive," she continued, despair seeping into her tone.

Seeing her grief, Bai Zongnan hastened to comfort her. "Don’t worry, your father will take care of you all."

She pouted. "I don’t need his care. He’s not fit to be my father!"

"Uh..." Bai Zongnan laughed awkwardly, at a loss for words.

Suddenly the girl changed the subject, asking cheerfully, "Bai Zongnan, which sect do you belong to?"

He hesitated, then shook his head. "I don’t know..."

He had once lived in Huaxia, joined the Kunlun Sect, studied at Dragon Soaring Academy, and later became part of the Blood Butchers. Beyond that, he had no other affiliations and knew little of the sects’ power.

Her eyes sparkled. "Then would you like to join my Heavenly Sword Sect? My father is an elder there! If you follow me, you’ll achieve great things!"

At the mention of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Bai Zongnan’s eyes narrowed. He had read of it in an ancient text—a sect founded by a King of Martial Arts, steeped in heritage.

There were three great sects in the martial world: the Celestial Stronghold, the Supreme Heaven Sect, and the Demon Palace. The Celestial Stronghold was the weakest, focused on forging weapons and poison, hence its blunt name.

All three sects were wealthy beyond measure.

The Demon Palace specialized in dark arts, its disciples notorious for evil deeds.

Only the Heavenly Sword Sect stood for justice, famed for its chivalry, defending the weak, and helping the poor.

Although most disciples were men, and women were few, the sect’s reputation remained unmatched among the three.

What shocked Bai Zongnan even more was the beauty of the female disciples—thousands of them, each as graceful as a painting, with fair skin and peerless charm.

He marveled, "So many people live here?"

The girl noticed his gaze. "They’re all outer disciples. We can only stay in treehouses outside the valley."

She pointed to the treehouses nearby. "It’s peaceful here, perfect for cultivation."

She paused, then asked, "Bai Zongnan, is there a technique you wish to cultivate?"

His mind stirred. "Can you teach me your technique?"

She smiled sweetly, handing him a jade talisman. "Here, this is the Nine Yin Scripture, it can speed up your cultivation!"

He examined it. The scripture detailed many techniques, but what caught his eye was the art of Soaring Through the Air.

"Soaring Through the Air!" he murmured, picturing himself flying with a sword through the sky—unfettered and free.

This was a coveted skill, reserved for the most gifted. But it was only suitable for cultivators at the Golden Core stage.

"It seems there are already Nascent Soul experts in this world," Bai Zongnan thought, dismissing the idea of exploring the cave further. He was too weak now, unable even to protect himself. If he encountered a Nascent Soul master, escape would be his only hope.

He pocketed the jade and told the girl, "Let’s keep going."

"Yes, Bai Zongnan, there seem to be many treasures here. We’re so lucky!" she replied, skipping deeper into the cave. Bai Zongnan followed, scanning the lush plants around them. The vegetation flourished, brimming with spiritual energy, their essences wrapped in mysterious power.

With his strong spiritual sense, he could see the abundance of crystallized essence within the plants. Cultivating here was sure to yield twice the result with half the effort; he grew excited at the prospect.

They walked about a kilometer before the cave opened into a vast plaza filled with people. At its center, a silver spear stood upright, emitting a cold, sharp gleam, as if unearthed from a frozen abyss.

At the sight of the spear, Bai Zongnan’s eyes widened. "That... that’s a divine weapon!"

He drew a sharp breath. Such a weapon was beyond price—even Golden Core masters would be tempted.

"Do you recognize it?" the girl asked, eyes wide.

"Of course I do," he replied, unable to hide his greed.

At that moment, a young man on the platform announced, "This is my master’s legacy. Whoever claims it will become a top expert in the Southern Wastelands!"

The crowd burst into heated discussion.

"What was his cultivation? Was he Golden Core stage?"

"I think he was Nascent Soul! Such power could level mountains with a gesture!"

"I agree. This valley, so rich in energy, must have been his training ground."

"This assessment will not only eliminate most contestants but also select a hundred inner disciples. Only those who pass can join the Heavenly Sword Sect!"

Hearing this, Bai Zongnan’s feelings were mixed. So, this was a selection for inner disciples. Both he and the girl were among the candidates, but their cultivation was too low—only at the initial stage of Qi Refinement. Bai Zongnan, at the peak of Foundation Establishment in combat, and the girl, at the beginning stage, hardly qualified.

Still, he was undaunted; there were other paths—perhaps apprenticing under the sect leader or training in the Sword Pavilion.

"If this is the domain of a mighty cultivator, there must be more treasures. We must search thoroughly!"

With this thought, Bai Zongnan hurried into the cave’s depths in search of a mysterious martial art.

A narrow tunnel led to a spacious chamber. On a stone platform lay sixteen skeletons in tragic disarray, their bones black and red, pitted and incomplete—clearly not human.

"Are these... the bones of spirit beasts?" Bai Zongnan exclaimed, shaken.

He recognized the unique aura of spirit beasts. Their presence here meant the cave had seen such creatures.

He noticed a stout wooden stake beside the platform, three feet tall, with the word "Forbidden" carved into it.

"Forbidden? What does that mean? Was it a cage for some beast?" he wondered.

As he examined the stake, a tall, broad-shouldered young man with a sword on his back approached.

"Another Qi Refinement rookie," the man sneered, drawing laughter from the others.

"Is he here for comic relief?"

"Poor thing—does he really think he can join our sect?"

"He doesn’t deserve the name Li."

"Let’s call him Worthless Bastard instead! Hahaha!"

The crowd jeered at Bai Zongnan, deeming him unworthy.

"Hey, rookie, I’ll spare your life if you leave now. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless!" the man threatened.

He was a ninth-level innate cultivator, clearly dismissing Bai Zongnan.

"Oh? What if I don’t leave?" Bai Zongnan shot back.

"You’ve got a death wish!" The man’s eyes flashed coldly as he lunged.

Bai Zongnan didn’t move, eyes closed, standing firm.

"Scared stiff? Beg for mercy!" the crowd laughed.

Ignoring them, Bai Zongnan let the punch land on his shoulder—it did nothing.

"You... doesn’t that hurt?" the man stared, baffled.

"Is that all you’ve got?" Bai Zongnan grinned, gripping the man’s fist and squeezing.

Crack! The man’s arm broke, blood gushing out.

"My arm! What have you done?" he shrieked in pain, staggering back, terror in his eyes.

"I warned you. You brought this on yourself," Bai Zongnan said and delivered a flying kick to the man’s chest.

The man spat blood and collapsed, bleeding from every orifice.

"He’s that strong?" The crowd fell silent, trembling.

Even the boldest among them was no match for Bai Zongnan.

"Run!"

They scattered in panic. Bai Zongnan ignored them, focusing on the stake.

"There’s a formation here..." He sensed a subtle energy and guessed it required a blood sacrifice.

He bit his finger, letting blood drip onto the stake. At once, ancient runes glowed green on the stone.

"Is this the aura of the Five Venoms Divine Art manuscript?" Excitement surged through him. This was no ordinary stake—it bore the remnant of the Five Venoms Divine Art!

Even a fragment excited him.

He sat cross-legged and began cultivating as described.

As his spiritual power coursed, the stake flashed with green light and an ominous, evil energy swept out. The crowd fell to the ground, convulsing and unconscious.

Only Bai Zongnan remained calm, deep in cultivation. The energy grew, turning the stake emerald.

His spiritual spring reacted, resonating with the new power.

Suddenly, a sinister presence slipped into his body.

He opened his eyes, now cold and menacing, filled with murderous intent.

"Finally, you’ve arrived," he grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.

Bai Zongnan’s transformation was terrifying. His eyes were shrouded in purple-black mist, his pupils deep as a stagnant pool. He exuded a hellish, demonic air.

This was the third layer of the Five Venoms Divine Art—Soul Seizure!

Soul Seizure was a forbidden, evil art, allowing one’s soul to inhabit objects or corpses, risking permanent erasure of one’s self.

Bai Zongnan practiced this art to seek vengeance—for those who had wronged his mother.

"Soul Seizure!" he cried, forming seals with his hands.

A wisp of black mist emerged from his brow, coalescing into a thumb-sized orb—the source of his soul.

Soul Seizure was perilous; one mistake meant total annihilation. He proceeded with utmost caution.

He enveloped the orb in spiritual power, merging it slowly. It warped, forming a fearsome visage the size of an infant’s face.

Bai Zongnan glanced around at the unconscious bodies, exhaled in relief, and prepared to leave.

Just then, he sensed a familiar aura.

"Wait!"

His eyes flashed gold. "That’s... the Supreme Sword Finger of Dragon Tiger Sect!"

"Could it be him?" Bai Zongnan frowned.

"Hmph! Whatever the case, he’s a threat—I can’t let him live."

Bai Zongnan’s father was a top figure in the Huaxia military and had taught him the Supreme Sword Finger, but his own energy was different and less powerful.

"If so, I’ll cripple him today. Let’s see how he causes trouble then."

He approached the young man.

"You dare steal my technique, you ignorant fool!" the young man shouted as he woke to find everyone unconscious.

Bai Zongnan ignored him, raising his leg and kicking him hard.

"Scoundrel!" the young man cried, sent flying, coughing blood.

He staggered to his feet, glaring. "Who are you?"

"Never mind who I am. Kneel and kowtow ten times, or I’ll smash your teeth in."

Furious but cowed by Bai Zongnan’s strength, the young man stammered, "We have no quarrel. Why push me so far?"

"I said, get lost!"

"You—" The young man trembled with rage. "Fine! Just wait. I’ll get someone to kill you!"

He pulled out his phone and called for help.

Bai Zongnan ignored him, resuming his meditation.

Ten minutes later, a squad of police arrived, led by a lieutenant colonel.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here?" the officer demanded.

"Sir, this man tried to harm civilians. Please deal with him!" the young man cried.

"Is that so?" the officer eyed both men, skeptical that such a young man could be a martial grandmaster, especially one who manipulated wood energy.

After a moment, the officer waved. "Take him away."

The police escorted the young man out. The officer turned to Bai Zongnan. "You are suspected of endangering public safety and causing bodily harm. Come with us."

Bai Zongnan complied without resistance. He was not worried for himself, but for Tang Rou’s safety. Though he was loath to admit it, his father had been captured, and his mother was defenseless. He could not stand by.

He left with the police.

His suspicions were correct. After he was gone, two masked men in black emerged from a BMW—they were spies from Dragon Tiger Sect.

Bai Zongnan’s father, Bai Zongnanxiong, was an elder in Dragon Tiger Sect, responsible for guarding Leaf Village. He was a martial artist at the yellow rank, early stage.

Under sect rules, he had to pay thirty thousand a month for protection, or face punishment. As a poor farmer, he had no such money and eventually became the sect’s assigned enforcer.

Because of his presence, Leaf Village had been peaceful. But that night, while on patrol, he encountered sect members who sensed his hidden strength and forced him to submit. Refusing to pay, he was subdued by their dirty tricks.

"A mere commoner dares call himself a martial artist? He’s not even an initiate—what a disgrace!"

"Let my father go!" cried Tang Rou, chasing on her scooter.

Seeing her, Bai Zongnanxiong exclaimed, "Rou Rou, how did you end up like this?"

Tang Rou glanced at Bai Zongnan, then at the groaning Li Ming on the ground, her face pale—she knew disaster had struck.

"You little beast, I won’t spare you!" Li Ming roared, struggling.

Tang Rou tried to untie him and heal him.

"Rou Rou, don’t touch him!"

But she underestimated the kidnappers’ cruelty. They tightened the ropes and dragged her close.

"You little tramp! Flirting with my girlfriend, I’ll strip you and beat you till you’re my slave forever!" Li Ming spat venomously.

"Let her go, you bastards!" Bai Zongnanxiong struggled, but injured, he was helpless.

"Shut up!" Li Ming barked. "Say another word, and I’ll cut out your tongue!"

Tang Rou’s anguished scream echoed through the night.

"Don’t touch my sister, you mongrels!"

Tang Hao rushed over, striking at the kidnapper. He was thin and shorter than Li Ming, with far less strength, and was swiftly beaten.

"You dare hit me?" Li Ming snarled, slapping Tang Hao hard.

Tang Hao fell, his face swelling. He clutched his throbbing cheek, tears streaming. "Dad! Mom! What should I do? Where are you? I’ll avenge you! Waaaah..."

"Enough! Stop sniveling!"