In a desolate and uncharted region of the Western Continent, deep within one of its untamed jungles, lay a cave shrouded in moss and dampness. The humid air clung heavily, and the ancient stones seemed to exhale with the weight of centuries. Tonight, the full moon hung brighter than ever, casting its silver glow across the jungle unimpeded by even the faintest cloud. Its radiance pierced the dense canopy, bathing the cave entrance in a pale, otherworldly light.
Inside the cave, a young woman sat alone. Her skin, once smooth and unblemished, now bore the scars of battle, the most jarring being the hollow void where her left eye had once been. The empty socket was a stark, haunting contrast to the rest of her face. The faint moonlight highlighted her features, deepening the shadows around her body. At the same time, her remaining eye gleamed with a quiet, determined resolve.
Four stars…
Five stars…
Six stars…
Ye An could feel her cultivation surging as the moon's light reached her, even in the cave's depths. The cold Yin energy permeating the cave seeped into her. Still, the Yang energy within her swiftly consumed the Yin, transforming it into nourishment.
It had been over a week since she had consumed the Yang fruit, yet the searing Yang energy within her had barely diminished. Anyone else would have endured immense pain, struggling to prevent their body from being torn apart by the rampant energy. But for Ye An, it was like bathing in cool spring water on a hot day, the sensation soothing and pleasurable.
The process was nearly enjoyable, except for the occasional hunger and thirst pangs from not having eaten for days. But these were minor distractions compared to the intoxicating sensation of power coursing through her.
As she gradually acclimated to the raging energy, Ye An opened her lone eye wider and exhaled in relief. Unlike her usual cold breath, this one came out in a steamy rush, so hot it nearly scorched her lips.
Rising to her feet, she reached for a white medical eye patch and carefully fitted it over her empty socket. Her movements were deliberate, though her trembling fingers betrayed her excitement as she struggled to loop the string over her ear.
Her gaze drifted to the far corner of the cave, where a mangled, naked corpse lay in a twisted heap. "Corpse" seemed almost too generous a term—it was more like a grotesque pile of mutilated flesh. The limbs had been savagely ripped from the torso, lying in scattered pieces, and the decapitated head rested ominously at her feet. A gaping, ragged hole in the chest where the heart once beat was now teeming with writhing maggots, their pale bodies squirming as they feasted on rotten flesh.
The cave reeked of death and decay.
She crouched down, her fingers tangling in the severed head's matted, crimson-stained hair. With a casual flick of her wrist, she rolled the head in her hand like it was nothing more than a ball. The face was barely human now—a grotesque, mutilated mask. The eyes had been gouged out, leaving hollow, bloodied sockets, and the teeth were jagged, most of them torn away from the gums. The tongue, too, had been severed, leaving only a ragged stump behind.
Ye An sent the head hurtling through the air with a swift, brutal kick. It struck the cave wall with a sickening crunch, exploding in a burst of blood and decayed tissue. The red smear oozed down the wall, mingling with the putrid remains of the brains and flesh, like a rotten fruit smashed to pieces.
It was a shame, Ye An mused, that despite all the butchering she had done to Hu Jin’s corpse, most of the injuries had been inflicted after his death. She had vented all her pent-up frustrations on his corpse. However, she’d taken care to inflict as much pain as possible during the surprisingly long half-hour he remained alive.
His vitality had been unnaturally strong, and she could only hope he had been conscious through the worst of it. Perhaps he survived so long due to the Yang Fruit he had stolen from her. That would be a nice revenge.
In the past, the mere thought of Hu Jin taking the Yang Fruit from her would have ignited her fury. But now, after desecrating his corpse, she felt only calm—almost a fondness toward the situation.
Was it because she had ultimately consumed the Yang Fruit, or simply that the target of her rage was dead? Ye An couldn’t say, but the relief she felt was undeniable, like a bird freed from its cage.
With a casual swipe of her hand, the remaining pieces of the corpse froze instantly. Then, with a clenched fist, she reduced the frozen body to fine snow mixed with crimson and shards of bone. Even his clothes were torn to shreds.
Curiously, amid the destruction, the only thing left behind was a bronze coin. It looked so dull and worn that it could have been mistaken for a mere rock at first glance.
An artifact, perhaps? Ye An wondered.
She walked closer and picked up the coin, turning it over in her hand. Spreading her senses toward it, she found no trace of Qi. By all appearances, it was just an ordinary coin.
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She tried to bend it between her fingers, but to her surprise, it didn’t budge.
“Huh? Still trying to curse me after death, are you?” Ye An muttered, eyes narrowing. She knew Hu Jin well—he was a vindictive bastard. He had taken her Yang Fruit without warning, without provocation. The last thing she needed was some parting curse he’d left behind.
Hu Jin had always been dumber than a rock, but he had a talent for being a thorn in her side.
Any other day, she would have taken this strange thing with her. But she had much longer to live now, and was not going to risk her life so easily anymore.
Maybe the coin held some secret, but Ye An didn’t care. She had the Yang Fruit now, and she was confident that she would reach the Nascent Soul Realm within four years.
There was a reason why those with Extreme Physiques rarely lived long. If they survived too long, they could easily dominate the world. Still, even with her cultivation advancing, Ye An knew that unlike others, she wouldn’t enjoy the benefit of an extended lifespan unless she became immortal. And even that was purely hypothetical—that becoming an immortal would save her—it was just a theory spun by some book-loving scholar.
But Ye An refused to dwell on the idea that even immortality might not fix her. That road led only to despair, and she would not walk it. Nothing good would come of doubting that road.
Ye An moved toward the cave’s entrance with deliberate steps, where the vines clung tightly to the rock, filtering the moonlight. A familiar tingling sensation washed over her as the soft silver light touched her skin. Despite herself, she shuddered, the phantom pain of years spent under the oppressive moonlight rising unbidden within her.
And yet, it made her smile. Because while her body was instinctively reacting, there was no pain.
Pushing aside the vines, she stepped fully into the moonlight. It cascaded over her like water, bathing her in its glow. Her feet sank into the muddy earth of the jungle, and she closed her eyes, expecting to feel some pain.
But all she felt was a harmless tingle.
A smirk tugged at her lips. Amused by the moonlight’s lack of effect, Ye An chuckled. That chuckle quickly spiraled into a wild cackle, then erupted into full-blown laughter.
The once-silent jungle stirred at the sound of her laughter. Startled bats, owls, and other nocturnal creatures took flight, scattering into the night in a frantic rush. This only fueled her amusement, and her laughter swelled, echoing through the trees, wild and untamed like the wilderness around her. In that moment, Ye An cared for nothing. Her joy was as untamed as the wilderness around her.
Without a second thought, she flung the coin into the distance, watching it disappear into the shadows. She didn’t spare it another glance. Running her hands along her bare arms, she began humming a light, cheerful tune.
For the first time in what felt like forever, the weight of her past tortures no longer hung over her like a sword poised to strike. The darkness and pain that had haunted her seemed distant now, irrelevant. Ye An was overwhelmed with joy so pure and effervescent that no room remained in her heart for hate or sorrow—not at this moment.
Pure, bubbling joy swelled in her chest. She had never felt so happy, so unburdened.
*********
With autumn slowly creeping in, the once vibrant, lush forests outside the Sect had begun to lose their vitality. The leaves, tinged with the first signs of decay, no longer danced as freely in the wind. A faint chill clung to the air, and the season’s dampness seeped into the earth, turning the once solid paths into slick, muddy trails. Each step squelched underfoot. The world had grown quieter as if nature itself was preparing for the long sleep ahead.
As I walked, I couldn’t help but compare the Blazing Sun Sect to Goldwatch City. Sure, the Sect didn’t need roads much—most cultivators came and went on flying swords. But it was hard to ignore that Goldwatch City had better infrastructure for travelers and clearly a larger budget to splurge on such luxuries.
When I left the Sect, I chose to forgo using a flying sword once I was out of sight. Flying swords were far too conspicuous, and anyone who spotted me could easily report which direction I had gone.
Of course, the big-ass jade platform with Speedy on it was also quite the spectacle. Still, I was sticking to the uninhabited parts of the forest. For now, Speedy would have to stay behind. My footprints could blend in with the many outer disciples traveling in and out of the Sect on missions, but Speedy’s giant prints were a different story. Even with the rain and mud, those tracks would take a while to disappear.
For a moment, I considered leaving Speedy temporarily in the forest and visiting Greengrass Town, which was close to the Blazing Sun Sect. Maybe I could meet up with Mao Zhi, an old friend of mine and a guard there. But I quickly dismissed the thought. It would only expose him to any assassins Song Song’s granny might have sent after me.
Despite the less-than-ideal situation, I felt oddly okay with it. For the first time, I was truly free to do as I pleased. I had plenty of books stored in my ring, enough to last me months.
I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the crisp morning air.
The question of the day was: where should I go first? Obviously, I wasn’t planning to visit most of the places I had mentioned to the Sect as excuses. For instance, if I didn’t use a flying sword, visiting my fiancée would take around six months.
I didn’t hate Fu Yating, but… it wasn’t like I was madly in love with her either. Aside from the fact that she was a schemer, I hardly knew her at all.
After mulling it over, I still couldn’t decide on a specific destination, so I shrugged.
Whatever. I’d just pick a direction and see where the road led me. There were plenty of places to explore—the Flaming Sea, Haunted Forest, Sleeping Dragon Mountains, and many more!
With excitement bubbling in my chest, I walked along, humming the tune to Jingle Bells.
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End of Book 3