A World of Strength

The air was thick with the scent of blood.

Xu Liang stood motionless, his breathing steady despite the rush of adrenaline still coursing through his veins. The lifeless body of the Scarlet Fang Wolf lay before him, crimson pooling beneath its head. His hands, which had moments ago driven a branch through the beast's skull, were trembling slightly.

Not from fear—but from exhilaration.

It was his first real fight in this world.

And he had won.

Not because of overwhelming power. Not because of raw strength. But because of the system.

His heart pounded in his chest as he recalled the moment he dodged the wolf's lunge—how his body had moved perfectly, as if guided by instinct. The system had enhanced his reaction speed, giving him battle instincts that a normal sixteen-year-old boy could never possess.

A notification blinked in his vision.

—

[Host has defeated a Low-Tier Spirit Beast: Scarlet Fang Wolf.]

[Award: +5 Strength, +2 Agility.]

—

Xu Liang clenched his fists, feeling the faint difference in his body. His muscles felt firmer, his movements slightly sharper. It wasn't much, but it was real.

Killing gives me direct stat boosts?

His mind raced. That meant that with enough battles, he could rapidly grow stronger. In a world where strength dictated survival, this was a game-changer.

But first, he needed to assess everything properly.

"System," he said, his voice calm, "show me my current status."

The translucent screen flickered before him.

—

[Host: Xu Liang]

[Cultivation Realm: None]

[Physique: Weak (Strengthened by System)]

[Lifespan: Normalized]

[Attributes:]

Strength: 10 (+5)

Agility: 8 (+2)

Endurance: 7

Intelligence: 14

[Abilities:]

Combat Assistance Mode (Passive) – Enhances battle instincts, reaction speed, and strategic decision-making in fights.

Emergency Restoration (One-Time Use Per Month) – Restores the host's body from critical injuries.

—

Xu Liang narrowed his eyes. His stats were still far below that of a real martial artist. A normal sect disciple would have a strength of at least 30, and an elite disciple could be in the hundreds. Right now, he was barely above an ordinary human.

But that was fine.

He had something no one else had—the system.

He took a deep breath and looked around. The forest was dense, filled with towering trees and thick undergrowth. He had no idea where he was exactly, but he knew one thing:

He couldn't stay here.

Even a Scarlet Fang Wolf was enough to threaten his life. If a higher-ranked beast appeared, he wouldn't stand a chance.

'I need a weapon… and a place to plan my next move.'

He crouched down and examined the wolf's body. In the martial world, beast materials were valuable. Their hides, claws, and cores were used to craft weapons, armor, and pills.

His eyes sharpened.

He reached for a jagged stone nearby and, using it like a crude knife, skinned the beast with steady hands. Though the process was messy, he had seen enough survival videos in his past life to know the basics.

Within minutes, he had stripped away the wolf's sharpest fangs and part of its hide, fashioning them into makeshift tools.

He held up the largest fang.

"This will do for now."

It wasn't much, but a weapon—even a primitive one—was better than nothing.

Just as he finished, another rustling sound came from the bushes.

His body tensed.

Was it another beast?

Xu Liang gripped the wolf's fang tightly and lowered his stance, his instincts on high alert.

A figure emerged from the undergrowth—a man in dark gray robes, his face partially hidden beneath a hood. His eyes gleamed with a sharp, predatory light as he looked at Xu Liang, then at the dead wolf beside him.

"Hoh… didn't expect to find a brat out here," the man said, his voice rough. "And you actually killed a Scarlet Fang Wolf?"

Xu Liang's eyes narrowed.

He wasn't an ordinary traveler. His robes were tattered but bore faint traces of a martial sect's insignia. His stance was relaxed, but the way he moved… it was too controlled. Too fluid.

This man was a cultivator.

And Xu Liang could tell immediately—he was dangerous.

The man smirked, stepping closer. "A crippled kid, all alone in the wild? Either you've got some skill, or you're just lucky."

Xu Liang didn't respond. He subtly adjusted his grip on the fang, preparing for a fight.

The man's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Oh? You're smart enough to be cautious. That's good. But tell me, boy… are you from a sect?"

Xu Liang remained silent.

The man's smirk widened.

"No? That's even better."

In a flash, he moved—faster than any normal human.

Xu Liang barely had time to react before a hand gripped his throat and slammed him against a tree.

His breath caught.

He's fast!

The man's grip tightened slightly, just enough to cut off a bit of air. His smirk never wavered.

"You've got decent instincts," he said. "But let me guess… you were abandoned by your sect, weren't you?"

Xu Liang's mind raced. Why was this guy so confident? Did he think I was weak?

The answer was obvious. Because I have no cultivation.

To cultivators, a mortal was no different from an insect.

Xu Liang gritted his teeth. He wasn't strong enough to fight back. But that didn't mean he was powerless.

"...If you were going to kill me, you'd have done it already," he said, his voice steady despite the pressure on his throat.

The man raised an eyebrow.

"Smart and fearless? I like that," he chuckled. "Relax, kid. I'm not some random bandit."

His grip loosened, and Xu Liang coughed as he was released.

"I'm Zhao Wei," the man said, dusting off his robe. "You're lucky I found you. You won't survive long out here alone."

Xu Liang's gaze remained cautious.

"What do you want?"

Zhao Wei grinned. "Simple. I'm putting together a small group. Talented strays like you. No sects, no restrictions—just strength."

He leaned in slightly.

"If you follow me, I can promise you one thing… you'll never be weak again."

Xu Liang's expression remained unreadable.

But inside, he was thinking.

An invitation?

This was unexpected. But perhaps… useful.

After all, he had no allies. No resources. But he had the system.

And if this Zhao Wei was offering power…

Then Xu Liang would take everything he could—until he had no use for him anymore.

A slow smile spread across his lips.

"Fine," he said. "I'll listen."