The pain hit Li Yun like a tidal wave. It wasn't a sharp sting or a dull ache—this was far worse. It radiated from the crescent moon mark on his left hand, deep and scorching, as if it was trying to tear him apart from the inside out. He fell to his knees, clutching his hand, struggling to breathe.

"What... is this?" he gasped, his voice shaking. The mark throbbed, each pulse sending fresh waves of agony through his body. It felt endless, unrelenting. Li Yun clenched his teeth and willed himself to endure, even though every second felt like it might break him. Slowly, the pain began to fade, leaving behind a dull ache that still burned under the surface.

When the worst was over, he stayed on the ground, panting. His arms trembled, and sweat dripped down his face. For the first time since waking in this strange world, he lifted his gaze to take in his surroundings.

The forest around him was like nothing he'd ever seen before. The trees rose impossibly high, their jade-like bark shimmering faintly in the soft light that filtered through the canopy. Leaves glowed golden, casting a warm yet surreal illumination. Flowers bloomed in clusters, their colors shifting between shades of red, purple, and blue as if responding to the rhythm of an invisible song. Mist curled lazily around the roots and stones, carrying a scent that was sweet but also sharp, almost metallic.

It was beautiful—and terrifying. The shadows between the trees were unnaturally deep, and Li Yun couldn't shake the feeling that the forest was watching him. Every rustling leaf and distant crack of a branch made him jump. This wasn't just a forest; it was alive in ways he didn't understand, and it felt like it didn't want him there.

The System Speaks

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a chime. A translucent panel appeared in front of him, floating in midair. The system's voice, cold and mechanical, followed.

"Congratulations. Level up achieved."

Li Yun stared at the panel, which now displayed clear and organized text:

Name: ???

Title: None

Level: 2

Health: 100/100

Energy: 25/25

Strength (STR): 3

Agility (AGI): 4

Dexterity (DEX): 4

Intelligence (INT): 6

Vitality (VIT): 3

Bloodline: Dormant

He frowned. "These stats... they're pathetic," he muttered. His strength and vitality were laughably low, barely enough to survive. Even his agility and dexterity weren't anything special, and while his intelligence was a bit better, it still wasn't remarkable. He had no title, no powerful skills—just the promise of a dormant bloodline that he didn't understand.

The word "Dormant" seemed to taunt him. What kind of bloodline was it? Why hadn't it awakened yet? His frustration grew as the system spoke again.

"Bloodline potential detected. Awakening imminent. Conditions required: Survive further trials."

"What does that even mean?" Li Yun said aloud. Of course, the system didn't answer. Its voice was as emotionless as ever, leaving him with more questions than answers.

The mark on his hand pulsed again. This time, it wasn't pain but something else—a faint stirring deep within him. It felt like a whisper, distant yet insistent, calling to him from somewhere he couldn't quite reach. It was both exhilarating and terrifying.

The Scaled Stalker

A rustling sound snapped him out of his thoughts. His body tensed as he turned toward the noise. The leaves ahead shifted, and something stepped out from the shadows. It was smaller than the wolf he'd faced before but just as menacing. The creature resembled a panther, but its body was covered in sleek, black scales that gleamed faintly. Its glowing orange eyes locked onto him, unblinking.

The scaled stalker snarled, baring razor-sharp teeth. Li Yun's first instinct was to run, but he knew it wouldn't work. His stats were too low to outrun or outlast a predator like this. The system chimed in again, its calm tone at odds with the tension in the air.

"Second trial: Overcome the scaled stalker."

"Of course," Li Yun muttered, sarcasm slipping into his voice. His left hand glowed faintly as the crescent moon mark activated again. Warmth spread up his arm, and he felt the strange energy gathering within him.

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The beast pounced. Li Yun barely managed to throw himself to the side, landing hard on the ground. He rolled awkwardly and scrambled to his feet, his chest heaving. The scaled stalker turned with unnerving grace, its fiery eyes fixed on him. It wasn't attacking yet; it was watching, waiting, testing him.

"Come on," Li Yun growled. His voice trembled, but he raised his left hand, willing the energy to manifest. The crescent moon mark flared, and the ethereal blade appeared in his grasp. The weapon's glow was dimmer than before, but it was all he had.

The stalker lunged again. This time, Li Yun stepped forward to meet it. He swung the blade with all his strength. The weapon struck the creature's side, cutting through its scaled hide. The beast let out a screech as silvery blood splattered onto the forest floor, sizzling where it landed.

But it wasn't over. The creature's tail lashed out, catching Li Yun in the chest and sending him flying. He hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the air from his lungs. Gasping, he forced himself to stand, ignoring the pain. The stalker was advancing again, slower but still deadly.

"Focus," the system's voice urged. "Adapt."

Li Yun's mind raced. He couldn't win through brute force. The beast was stronger, faster, and more resilient than him. But maybe he didn't need to overpower it—he just needed to outthink it.

When the stalker lunged again, Li Yun sidestepped at the last moment. The creature crashed into a tree, momentarily stunned. Seizing the opportunity, Li Yun drove the blade into its neck with all his strength. The beast let out a final cry before dissolving into motes of light.

A Forest of Hidden Dangers

Li Yun fell to his knees, panting. The blade in his hand flickered and vanished. The system's voice returned, its tone unchanging.

"Trial complete. Reward: Experience gained. Additional stat points awarded."

The translucent panel reappeared in front of him, now updated:

Level: 3

Health: 110/110

Energy: 30/30

Strength (STR): 5

Agility (AGI): 6

Dexterity (DEX): 6

Intelligence (INT): 7

Vitality (VIT): 4

Bloodline: Dormant (Awakening conditions partially fulfilled)

Li Yun stared at the screen. The improvements were small, but they were still progress. What caught his attention most was the bloodline section. "Partially fulfilled"? What did that mean? And what would happen when it fully awakened?

The ground beneath him trembled. The trees around him began to shift, their roots twisting and bending as though alive. Ahead, a new path opened, glowing faintly with otherworldly light. But this time, there were faint figures moving within the mist—shadowy shapes that seemed to flicker in and out of existence.

Li Yun hesitated. Were these more creatures, or something else entirely? He tightened his grip on his left hand, staring at the faintly glowing crescent moon mark. The system had promised trials, but how many more would come? And what were these shadowy figures waiting for?

With a deep breath, he stepped forward into the unknown, determined to uncover the secrets of this strange, dangerous world—one trial at a time.

As Li Yun walked along the path, he noticed the forest becoming even stranger. The trees grew denser, their trunks twisting into bizarre shapes, and the glowing mist thickened, reducing his visibility to only a few feet ahead. Strange, melodic sounds floated through the air—not quite music, but not random noise either. It felt like the forest itself was humming a tune, one that made his chest tighten with unease.

Occasionally, he spotted movement in the corner of his vision. Creatures darted between the trees, their shapes too quick and blurred to make out. Were they watching him? Hunting him? He couldn't tell, but he felt their presence. His fingers twitched, instinctively wanting to summon the blade again, but the crescent moon mark stayed dim. Whatever energy he had left wasn't enough to call upon the weapon again.

The air grew colder, and the path took a sudden, sharp turn downward, leading him to the edge of a massive ravine. A narrow stone bridge stretched across the gap, shrouded in mist that made it impossible to see the other side. Below the bridge, faint glowing rivers of liquid light flowed, their currents swirling in mesmerizing patterns.

"Cross the bridge," the system's voice intoned. "Third trial initiated: Trial of Resolve."

Li Yun froze. "Trial of Resolve? What's that supposed to mean?" he muttered. But as usual, the system offered no further explanation.

Taking a tentative step onto the bridge, he felt it shift slightly under his weight. It wasn't unstable, but the movement made his heart pound. With each step forward, the mist around him thickened, and the melodic sounds from the forest grew louder, now accompanied by faint whispers. The whispers weren't words—at least not ones he could understand—but they carried an undeniable weight, tugging at his mind and filling him with doubt.

The further he went, the heavier his body seemed to become. His legs felt sluggish, his chest tight. It wasn't exhaustion, but a strange, oppressive force that made every step harder than the last. The whispers grew louder, now accompanied by flashes of light in the mist. Shadows moved closer, their shapes growing more distinct. They were humanoid, but distorted—their limbs too long, their movements unnatural.

"Stay focused," Li Yun muttered to himself. He gripped his left hand tightly, willing the crescent moon mark to activate again. Nothing happened.

The shadows began to close in, their whispering voices overlapping into a chaotic storm of sound. Li Yun's steps faltered. He wanted to run, but his legs refused to move faster. The oppressive force weighed him down, and the whispers gnawed at his thoughts. You don't belong here. Turn back. You'll fail.

Gritting his teeth, Li Yun pushed forward. "I won't fail," he growled, his voice trembling but defiant. "Not here. Not now."

As he reached the center of the bridge, the shadows lunged. Li Yun barely had time to react before they surrounded him, their forms closing in like a tidal wave. Desperate, he raised his left hand, and the crescent moon mark flared to life, casting a brilliant silver light that cut through the mist. The shadows recoiled, their forms dissipating with shrieks of pain.

Panting, Li Yun stumbled forward, the oppressive weight lifting slightly. The whispers faded, replaced by the sound of his own ragged breathing and the faint hum of the glowing rivers below. The other side of the bridge came into view, and with one final push, he crossed it.

The moment his feet touched solid ground, the system's voice echoed again.

"Trial of Resolve complete. Bloodline synchronization: 50%. Additional stat points awarded."

The translucent panel reappeared:

Level: 3

Health: 120/120

Energy: 35/35

Strength (STR): 6

Agility (AGI): 7

Dexterity (DEX): 7

Intelligence (INT): 8

Vitality (VIT): 5

Bloodline: Dormant (Synchronization: 50%)

Li Yun sank to his knees, his body trembling. ''One step at a time," he muttered.