The First Spark of Vengeance

The Desolate Mountains stretched endlessly before Lin Fan, their jagged peaks silhouetted against the fading sunlight. The confrontation with the Lin family and Su Xue Rou still lingered in his mind, fueling the fire in his heart.

"Su Xue Rou..." Lin Fan muttered her name under his breath. For years, he had admired her, even loved her. But now, she was nothing more than a symbol of betrayal—a reminder of the humiliation he endured.

"They all think I'm still the same useless waste," Lin Fan said, his voice cold and resolute. "But soon, they'll see. I'll make them regret everything."

The faint glow of his cultivation flickered around him as he clenched his fists. Though he had defeated the guards and held his ground against the elder, Lin Fan knew he was far from strong enough. The Lin family wouldn't stop at this. They would come again—stronger, more ruthless—and next time, they wouldn't merely threaten him.

If he wanted to survive, if he wanted to exact his revenge, he needed more power.

As night fell, Lin Fan pressed onward, his senses on high alert. The Blazing Sun Ascension Art had already begun to show its potential in battle, but it was only the beginning. The scroll spoke of techniques that could unleash devastating fire-based attacks, but mastering them would require not just strength but opportunities to refine and grow his cultivation.

The path ahead led to a dense forest, its towering trees casting deep shadows over the ground. The air was thick with spiritual energy, but Lin Fan could also sense danger lurking within.

"This place feels different..." Lin Fan murmured, stepping cautiously into the forest.

The moment he entered, a chilling roar echoed from the depths of the woods. The sound was sharp and piercing, sending shivers down his spine. Lin Fan's expression hardened as he scanned the darkness, his body tensing in preparation for battle.

From the shadows emerged a beast unlike anything Lin Fan had encountered before. It was a Crimson-Scaled Leopard, its sleek body covered in glowing red scales that shimmered like molten metal. Its golden eyes locked onto Lin Fan, and a low growl rumbled in its throat.

"Another spirit beast," Lin Fan muttered, his lips curling into a small smile. "Perfect. Let's see how strong the flames of the Blazing Sun truly are."

The leopard moved like a streak of lightning, its claws slicing through the air as it lunged at Lin Fan with terrifying speed.

Lin Fan dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. The ground where the leopard landed cracked beneath its weight, sending shards of earth flying.

Without hesitation, Lin Fan countered, channeling the fiery energy of his cultivation into his fists. Flames erupted as he struck toward the leopard, but the beast twisted its body mid-air, avoiding the attack with ease.

"Fast," Lin Fan muttered, his eyes narrowing. The leopard's speed was its greatest weapon, and its crimson scales seemed to deflect the heat of his flames.

The beast roared again, leaping forward with renewed ferocity. Lin Fan dodged and countered, his strikes growing sharper and more precise as he adapted to the leopard's movements.

But the battle was taking its toll. Beads of sweat dripped down Lin Fan's face as he pushed his body to its limits. His cultivation was still in its infancy, and the Blazing Sun Ascension Art demanded a significant amount of spiritual energy to sustain.

"I can't keep this up," Lin Fan thought, his breathing heavy. "I need to end this quickly."

As the leopard lunged again, Lin Fan's mind raced. He needed a plan—something to exploit the beast's speed and turn it against itself.

Then, an idea struck him.

"The Blazing Sun Ascension Art doesn't just burn," Lin Fan murmured. "It can ignite."

He closed his eyes for a brief moment, focusing his energy inward. The flame in his core burned brightly, and Lin Fan began to channel it into his surroundings. The air grew hotter, the faint glow of his cultivation spreading outward like a ripple.

When the leopard attacked again, Lin Fan didn't dodge. Instead, he stood his ground, his fists clenched as he released a burst of fiery energy from his body.

"Blazing Sun Burst!"

The explosion of flames engulfed the leopard mid-lunge, the intense heat forcing it to retreat with a pained roar. Its crimson scales glowed brighter, cracks forming along its surface as the flames continued to burn.

Lin Fan didn't stop. He charged forward, his fists blazing as he delivered a series of rapid strikes to the beast's weakened body. Each blow landed with precision, the flames searing through its defenses.

With one final punch, Lin Fan struck the leopard's chest, shattering its scales and piercing its heart. The beast let out a final, agonized roar before collapsing to the ground, its massive body lying still.

Lin Fan staggered back, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. Blood dripped from a shallow wound on his arm, but he paid it no mind.

He had won.

As Lin Fan knelt beside the leopard's body, he noticed a faint glow emanating from its chest. His eyes widened as he realized what it was—a Beast Core, a crystallized form of spiritual energy found only in powerful spirit beasts.

"This..." Lin Fan muttered, carefully extracting the core. The Beast Core radiated a fiery energy, perfectly compatible with the Blazing Sun Ascension Art.

Holding the core in his hand, Lin Fan felt the flames within him stir, as if the core was calling to his cultivation.

"With this, I can strengthen my foundation," Lin Fan said, a small smile forming on his lips. "Maybe even break through to the next stage."

The battle had been grueling, but the reward was worth it. Lin Fan tucked the core into his robe and stood, his gaze turning toward the deeper parts of the forest.

"If there are beasts like this here, then there must be other treasures as well," Lin Fan thought.

The fire in his heart burned brighter as he continued his journey, his resolve growing with every step.

As dawn broke over the Desolate Mountains, Lin Fan stood at the edge of a cliff, gazing out at the endless expanse of rugged peaks and shadowed valleys.

"The Lin family, Su Xue Rou, this entire world..." Lin Fan murmured, his voice steady and filled with determination. "I'll rise above it all. And when I do, no one will ever look down on me again."

With the Beast Core in hand and the flames of the Blazing Sun Ascension Art burning brighter within him, Lin Fan pressed onward, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.