First Steps-Even in Death I Will Kill Everyone

The faint light of dawn painted the ruins of Yanjing in muted tones of orange and grey. Zhang Yong sat atop a pile of rubble, clutching the jade scroll given to him by the system. His body still ached from last night's battle, but his mind was sharper than ever.

The scroll had imprinted a cultivation technique into his memory: "Path of the Primordial Spark." It was a Qi Refinement manual designed to awaken spiritual energy within the body and open the first meridian—an essential step to stepping out of mortality.

Zhang Yong closed his eyes, following the instructions burned into his mind. He sat cross-legged, his breathing slow and deliberate. The manual spoke of drawing spiritual energy from the surroundings, but here in the slums, spiritual energy was as scarce as food.

He gritted his teeth. "Even in death, this world refuses to give me an inch." But he wasn't ready to give up. If he had survived this long, it wasn't by waiting for mercy.

The System responded to his determination.

[Tip: Host may use accumulated System Points to enhance spiritual energy absorption.]

A new menu appeared before him:

[100 System Points available]

Enhance Spiritual Root: 50 Points

Unlock First Meridian: 100 Points

Zhang Yong smirked. "The System really knows how to tempt me." Without hesitation, he selected Enhance Spiritual Root. A searing heat surged through his body as if molten lava flowed through his veins. He gritted his teeth, feeling his cells ignite with power.

[Enhancement Complete: Host's Spiritual Root has evolved to Basic Level.]

For the first time, Zhang Yong could sense the faint traces of spiritual energy around him. Like whispers in the wind, it beckoned him. He reached out, pulling the energy into his body. Slowly, it flowed into his dantian, a small reservoir at his core.

Moments turned into hours as he cultivated. Beads of sweat formed on his brow, and his breathing grew ragged. Finally, a soft crack echoed inside his body—the sound of his first meridian opening.

[Congratulations! Host has reached Qi Refinement Stage 1.]

Zhang Yong opened his eyes, a glimmer of light flickering within them. The world seemed sharper, more vibrant. He flexed his fingers, feeling a faint but distinct flow of energy coursing through his body.

"Finally," he whispered, a grin spreading across his face. "The first step toward power."

Just as he was about to relish his progress, the sound of approaching footsteps broke his concentration. He quickly hid behind a pile of debris, peering through a crack. Three figures strode into view—rough-looking men clad in scavenged armor, each exuding a faint aura of Qi Refinement.

"Did you feel that spike in spiritual energy?" one of them asked, his voice gruff.

"Yeah," another replied. "It's fresh. Someone's either cultivating here or hoarding treasures."

The third man, a bald brute with a scar across his face, sneered. "Whatever it is, it belongs to us now."

Zhang Yong's heart raced. His newfound power was far from enough to take on three cultivators at once, but retreating would mean losing this territory and the meager spiritual energy it held.

The System chimed:

**[Mission: Eliminate intruders. Rewards:

150 System Points

Low-Grade Spirit Weapon

Basic Defensive Technique]**

A fiery determination sparked in Zhang Yong's chest. "They want to steal from me? Fine. Let them try."

The three men split up, scouring the area. Zhang Yong clutched the jagged metal pipe he had used the night before, now reinforced by his Qi. He waited, his breath steady, as one of the men approached his hiding spot.

When the man was within striking range, Zhang Yong exploded from the shadows, the pipe swinging toward the man's neck. The intruder barely had time to react before the weapon connected with a sickening crack. The man crumpled to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.

The commotion alerted the other two. "What the hell?!" the scarred leader bellowed, his eyes scanning for the attacker.

Zhang Yong stepped out of the shadows, his pipe dripping with blood. "Looking for me?"

"You're dead!" The two remaining cultivators charged, their auras flaring. Zhang Yong focused, channeling his Qi into his legs. His body moved faster than he thought possible, dodging their strikes with newfound agility.

The scarred leader swung a spiked mace, aiming to crush Zhang Yong's skull. Zhang Yong ducked and countered, driving the pipe into the man's ribs. The leader howled in pain but retaliated with a kick that sent Zhang Yong sprawling.

The third man saw his chance and lunged, a dagger glinting in his hand. Zhang Yong rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade, and grabbed a shard of glass from the ground. With a swift motion, he plunged it into the man's throat. Blood sprayed as the cultivator gurgled and collapsed.

Now it was just Zhang Yong and the scarred leader. The two circled each other, their breaths heavy.

"You think you're some kind of hero?" the leader snarled, spitting blood. "You're nothing but a rat in the gutter."

Zhang Yong smirked, raising his pipe. "A rat that just killed two of your men. Want to see what else I can do?"

The leader roared, swinging his mace with reckless abandon. Zhang Yong ducked under the attack and countered with a strike to the man's knee. The leader faltered, and Zhang Yong didn't hesitate. With a final, brutal swing, he crushed the man's skull.

Panting, Zhang Yong surveyed the carnage. The System chimed:

**[Mission Complete. Rewards:

150 System Points

Low-Grade Spirit Weapon: Iron Fang Dagger

Basic Defensive Technique: Iron Shell Technique]**

A small, ornate dagger and a glowing scroll materialized before him. Zhang Yong picked them up, his hands trembling from the adrenaline. He activated the scroll, feeling its knowledge seep into his mind. His body hardened, a faint metallic sheen covering his skin.

Zhang Yong looked at the corpses around him and grinned. "If this is the world I have to live in, then I'll be the one standing at the top of its corpses."

Far above, a shadowed figure watched the scene unfold, their lips curling into a sinister smile. "Interesting... the last human might not be so helpless after all."