Chapter 1 : Exile and Awakening

Chapter 1: Exile and Awakening

The sky above the Bai Clan's ancestral estate was painted in hues of twilight, a deep crimson bleeding into violet as the sun dipped beyond the distant mountains. A young man stood at the threshold of the grand courtyard, his expression calm, yet his fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Bai Yuan.

Once the promising scion of the prestigious Bai Clan, now nothing more than an exile. His so-called crime? Mediocre talent. A disgrace to a family that prided itself on producing geniuses.

"From this day forward, you are no longer a member of the Bai Clan." The voice of the clan's grand elder, Bai Feng, was cold and resolute. His words carried an unshakable finality, and the elders surrounding him wore indifferent expressions, their gazes filled with either disappointment or relief.

Bai Yuan exhaled slowly, forcing himself to remain composed. The memories of his past life swirled in his mind, reminding him that fate was never absolute. His previous life had taught him that circumstances could be overturned with wit, determination, and most importantly—power.

But for now, he had none.

Turning on his heel, Bai Yuan strode out of the Bai Clan's gates, not once looking back. If they wished to discard him, then he would rise on his own.

The Black Sun Ridge.

A vast, perilous mountain range known for its treacherous terrain and the deadly spirit beasts that roamed its depths. Few dared to enter without formidable strength, yet Bai Yuan had little choice. He needed to put distance between himself and the Bai Clan, lest they decided his exile was too lenient of a punishment.

Hours passed as he navigated through the dense foliage, his body worn from exhaustion, yet his mind remained sharp. He had no weapons, no supplies—only the clothes on his back and the indomitable will that burned within him.

Then, as if the heavens themselves wished to test him further, a killing intent surged from the shadows.

"Damn it!" Bai Yuan reacted instinctively, rolling to the side just as a blade sliced through the air where his neck had been moments ago.

Three figures emerged from the darkness, their faces obscured by masks, their auras pulsing with malice. Assassins. And judging by their cultivation, all were at least at the Harmonization Realm—several levels above his own fragile state.

"A crippled Bai Clan exile isn't even worth the effort," one of them sneered. "But orders are orders."

Bai Yuan's eyes narrowed. He wasn't naive enough to believe his exile was the end of it. The Bai Clan had likely sent these men to ensure he never returned.

Tch. So predictable.

Without warning, the assassins lunged. Bai Yuan barely dodged the first strike, but the second came too quickly. A blade sliced across his side, searing pain flaring through his body as blood soaked his robes.

He was too weak.

Another strike. His vision blurred, his limbs growing heavy. His body hit the forest floor with a dull thud, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. Was this how it ended? Banished, hunted, and left to die like a dog in the wilderness?

No.

His mind refused to accept such an ending.

But his body no longer obeyed.

His consciousness wavered, the world around him turning hazy.

And then…

Ding!

A mechanical chime echoed in his mind, clear and sharp, cutting through the fog of pain and despair.

[Foreign nanite integration commencing…]

Bai Yuan's eyes shot open, a surge of electricity coursing through his veins. What?!

Before he could process what was happening, his body convulsed, and countless microscopic constructs spread through his bloodstream, repairing torn flesh, enhancing muscle fibers, reinforcing bone structure. The pain faded, replaced by an overwhelming sensation of power.

[Host vitality stabilized. Nanobot synchronization: 23%... 41%... 67%...]

The assassins hesitated. The man they had left for dead was now standing again. Not only that, but his aura—previously weak and unremarkable—had begun to surge.

Bai Yuan flexed his fingers, feeling strength unlike anything he had ever known. His lips curled into a smirk.

"Let's try this again, shall we?"

continue