Chapter 3: Stepping into a Changed World

Jiang Chen emerged from the ruins, stepping onto unfamiliar soil for the first time in thousands of years.

The morning sun bathed the land in golden light, casting long shadows over rolling hills and dense forests. The air was crisp, filled with the scent of pine and damp earth. Birds chirped in the distance, a stark contrast to the eerie silence of the chamber he had just left.

"So this is the world now…"

He stood at the edge of a worn dirt path, overlooking a valley where a small town nestled between two rivers. From this vantage point, he could see smoke rising from chimneys, the sound of merchants shouting in the distance.

Jiang Chen's expression remained calm, but inside, a storm brewed.

Thousands of years had passed. His clan, his enemies, the world he once knew… all gone.

But his revenge had only just begun.

For now, he needed to gather information and find a way to restore his cultivation. His body was weak, his Qi almost nonexistent, and he had no weapons or resources. If he wanted to survive and grow stronger, he would have to start from nothing.

His eyes narrowed as he looked toward the town.

"Let's see what this new world has to offer."

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A Small Town, A New Beginning

Jiang Chen walked down the dusty path leading into Azure River Town, a small settlement at the kingdom's border. Compared to the grand cities of his past, this place was nothing more than a village, but to the locals, it was a bustling hub.

As he entered, merchants called out, hawking their wares. Farmers carried sacks of rice, and warriors clad in basic leather armor haggled over low-grade spirit weapons. The cultivation level here was pathetically weak—most were Qi Refinement, with a handful at Foundation Establishment.

Even in his current state, Jiang Chen was stronger than most.

"This place is barely a speck on the map. But that makes it the perfect place to rebuild my strength."

His first priority was finding a place to rest and gather resources. He walked toward the town square, where a large notice board stood. Several parchment sheets were nailed to it, detailing local events, job requests, and bounty postings.

His gaze landed on one particular notice.

[WANTED: The Black Fang Bandits – 500 Silver Spirit Coins Reward]

Location: Lurking near the Azure River Valley. Preying on merchants and travelers.

Jiang Chen's eyes flickered with interest.

"A group of bandits? That means easy resources. Weapons, supplies… maybe even low-level artifacts."

More importantly—it would be a perfect first battle in this new world.

Just as he was considering his next move, a loud commotion erupted from the marketplace.

"You dare steal from the Blazing Cloud Sect?!"

Jiang Chen turned his head slightly.

A young boy, no older than thirteen, was on the ground, clutching a small pouch to his chest. Before him stood three Blazing Cloud Sect disciples, dressed in fiery red robes. The leader, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, sneered as he raised his hand.

Slap!

The boy cried out as he was sent sprawling, blood dripping from his lip.

Jiang Chen's expression remained unreadable, but inside, he was analyzing the situation.

The Blazing Cloud Sect—one of the three ruling sects in this kingdom. Arrogant, territorial, and known for their cruelty.

He glanced at the boy. Malnourished, dressed in rags, yet there was a trace of unawakened Qi within him.

"A poor orphan with the potential to cultivate? A common story."

The Blazing Cloud disciple raised his leg, preparing to stomp the boy's ribs.

Jiang Chen moved.

In a blink, he appeared beside them, grabbing the disciple's wrist mid-motion.

The surrounding crowd gasped.

The disciple's expression turned from amusement to anger. "Who the hell are you?!"

Jiang Chen met his gaze, his voice calm but laced with an undeniable sharpness.

"A passerby."

The disciple sneered. "Then keep walking, unless you want to—"

CRACK!

Jiang Chen twisted the disciple's wrist sharply, dislocating it in one motion. The man screamed, staggering backward.

The other two disciples drew their weapons, their eyes blazing with fury.

Jiang Chen exhaled slowly. His body was still weak, but against these small-time bullies, he didn't need full strength.

"A good warm-up before I take on those bandits."

He lowered his stance, his sharp eyes locked onto the incoming enemies.

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End of Chapter 3