What was cultivation actually like? Was it an enjoyable process of constantly accumulating strength and reaching new heights you never once imagined before. Was it the euphoria of feeling your existence uplifting higher and higher, looking down on the world you were once part of?

No, cultivation wasn't such a beautiful thing.

In reality, cultivation was brutal and unforgiving. There was no such thing as a Buddha among cultivators. Every one of those beings who practiced cultivation did so with blood on their hands—the blood of their enemies and even innocents.

They said success was built upon the failure of others. Cultivation took it to another level.

Cultivators were murderers—it was an irrefutable fact. And so was Rihan.

He did not care for the lives of others. Though he was never the one to kill innocents on a whim, he also did not hesitate to swing his sword at them if he had to.

He lived his life carefreely without any restraints. Though he had his own principles he followed, he rarely acknowledged others'. He was like a beast in a jungle—proud and bloodthirsty.

He never acknowledged the Saha World as his home. In his mind, there was only one place he ever called home, and that was Earth. He viewed Saha World as a prison and nothing more.

But even such a being did not live his life without regrets. Life was just that sort of thing—unpredictable and uncontrollable.

How so? Some might ask:.

Wasn't he so carefree and aloof? Didn't he always do what he wanted? How wonderful. His life was like that of a protagonist—living every second with passion and facing challenges.

"I don't want to live like this anymore."

–I am tired of this.

–What is life?

–I don't remember...

What he ever wanted in his life was just simple happiness and peace. But what he got were unwanted struggles and a lonely life ahead that couldn't be described as living anymore.

Cultivation was lonely and bitter.

And, before he knew it, it was all that remained in him. Loneliness and bitterness.

"I want to change."

–I want warmth filling me again.

–What is life?

–To me, it was the warmth of my family that once used to embrace me...

And to him of the past, his mother was all that remained in his memories. The time he played with her. The time he once farmed with her on the dirt-filled land, with the sun shining on their backs. The time they went to the beach, the rising waves hit them and knocked them back, drenching their clothes and them completely.

The time when they were strangled inside a jungle for a week and lived among nature while being annoyed with its inconveniences but also fascinated by its beauty and diversity.

"I miss her."

–I miss you...

–I miss you, mother.

–I miss Earth...

The air in the Saha World was so pure, without any fine dust or pollution. It was fresh and fulfilling. There was no science or technology to pollute the environment, and everyone lived a healthy life here. But...

"It's heavy."

It was as if the world itself was rejecting him. Pressing down on him, making him remind time and time again that it was not his home. No one welcomed him here, and he was only a thief stealing from 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 world.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

–This is not my home, nor will it ever be.

–The world rejects me? I never acknowledged it.

–Only Earth... It is the only world which embraces me...

"I miss Earth."

So, I am coming... My dear Earth. Please welcome me when I return after a long stay away. Please don't abandon me, because I will always reach out for you.

My Mother Earth.

*****

"I will change your mind; I bet my existence on it!"

[You have declared an Existential Oath!]

𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬! 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬!

[The chains of Existential Law bind your existence!]

[Breaking the oath may damage your existence permanently.]

|Foolish child... How much do you want to suffer by clinging on to things that are bound to disappear.|

"I... don't accept it. I don't! If I can so easily let you go, what was the point of my struggles? What is the point of my life?"

[Skill 'Calm Mind' activates.]

[Failed.]

|...|

"I don't have anyone I can call my family anymore. My mother died. You are dying. And my sister, who I thought was dead now, is in the tower, unaware that she has a family... which she does not require anymore. Tell me, is there any meaning to my life now?"

|Hah... Do you want to still trouble me after all this? It's like I am your actual mother or something.|

"..."

Rihan just hung his head low and did not utter a thing. It seemed as if he was crying.

|You are so insensible. You don't have a family? That's just because you have forgotten what it means to have one.|

"I..."

|Your sister does not need you? Do you really think you are the only one who is lonely in this world?|

"What...?"

|Go child. I can't become your family, but you still have a family waiting for you to share their loneliness.|

"What do you mean by that?"

|Farewell. And consider your meaningless oath as a punishment from me for leaving for so long.|

"Wait!"

But there was no sound that answered his desperate call.

Again, he felt lost. He felt... lonely. And he felt disgusted with himself.

"What should I do now..."

He was insecure inside. What if his sister did not remember him? What if she did not require a 'brother' in her life anymore?

He was scared... of losing anymore.

"What is..."

What was it that he could do?

Go find your sister.

A voice came from inside of him.

Go save your mother.

It was a voice desperately telling him to still cling on to things and never lose them.

And... go find your happiness. Be what you always wanted to be.

They were his inner yearnings.

They were his reasons for living.

They were his... remaining feelings that still connected him with this world.

His remaining reasoning was telling him to change—from the beast he was—to a human again.

[Skill 'Calm Mind' activates.]

[You have maintained your reasoning.]

[You have a new resolve in your life.]

[Your mind grows.]

Now, he could see. The path was still unclear as to where it led; nonetheless, it was enough for him to at least walk slowly without stopping.

"...Lets do it. I will see if my resolve is greater or your will to die. I will first start with..."

...the pests seeping away at this world.

"It's time for the hunt."

He came out of the cave and looked down. All he could see was white. The freezing wind and the uncaringly cold snow looked so hurtless in his eyes, as if they wanted to swallow the warmth of this world, which he considers his own.

𝘛𝘶𝘳𝘯.

Past the mountains and in a secluded cave kilometers away.

"You will be the first."

[The King of the Himalayas, Yeti King of Cold Slaughter(LV154), looks at you!]

𝘙𝘰𝘰𝘰𝘰𝘰𝘢𝘢𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘳𝘳!!!

[The roar of a king overwhelms you!]

[You are unaffected.]

[You show the dignity of a Ruler of the Battlefield to your opponent!]

[Intense Bloodlust overwhelms the surroundings!]

"Come. You will be the first sacrifice."

"Grrraaah!"

"I will stain these mountains with your blood."

*****

𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨!

The hard claws of the Yeti King struck with the sword of Rihan. There was a loud clanging sound that reverberated throughout the mountains.

"Graaahhh!" The Yeti King roared loudly at how the tiny human blocked his claws so easily.

"Shut up, you damn insect!"

[The information of the enemy reveals itself before your eyes.]

[Yeti King(LV154)]

Title: Cold Slaughterer

Danger Level: Dangerous

The King of Snow Yetis and the Ruler of the Himalayan Mountains. It is the reigning monster of the Himalayan Mountains who has massacred countless humans and monsters alike to stand where it is now.

Skills and Abilities: [Kingly Roar] [Icy Hide] [Snow Regeneration] [Super Strength] [Snow Walking] [Avalanche] [Ice Beam] [Cold Affinity(High)] [Snow Camouflage] [Reinforced Claws]

—––

𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘳!!!

[The roar of a king overwhelms you.]

[You are unaffected.]

"It doesn't work on me, you dumbass."

Rihan leaned down and dashed at the Yeti King, who was still confused about the situation. It's muscled brain couldn't understand how his [Kingly Roar], who always worked against lower beings, couldn't affect the tiny human in front of it.

'Yetis are dumb. Since they live in a cold environment where they rarely meet their matches, they fight against each other and cannibalize the loser. They have no need for intelligence, but only pure strength. The Yeti King is no different.'

It was the analysis of the [Eye of Essence(Incomplete)] Trait, coupled with his prior knowledge.

'Take advantage of it's confusion and dive right towards it.'

𝘚𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩!

He slashed at its thighs, and like an agile gazelle throwing off a cheetah, he avoided hitting the Yeti King and landed behind it. But as expected, its hide was tough; he couldn't cut it.

'Since it's like this, should I use a treasure? No, I should train my body properly this time.'

Since he decided to cultivate all four aspects, training the body's foundation should come first.

"Graahhh."

"Ughh. You are too damn loud."

Right now, his body was strong—quite strong for his cultivation level. But it had no substance. He had strong and flexible muscles, but they were just that. Nobody would call him a swordsman if they were to look at his body right now.

On the other hand, the Yeti King was strong—abnormally so. This monster jumped from the top of a mountain to his location like it was nothing.

'I have to be careful.'

𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩.

The Yeti King swung his hand toward him ferociously, which he nimbly dogded and swiftly followed with a pierce attack at its side.

𝘚𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘴𝘴.

It was like he struck solid ice. Only a white line was left behind where he tried to attack.

"Grrr? Grr, gre, grrhh."

The Yeti King laughed erratically, seeing the futile attempts of the lower being. It had met many such beings who tried to usurp his position, but all of them died mercilessly by its hand, without any exception.

"Stupid beast." Rihan expressionlessly mocked the monster.

"Grr? Grrrraaahhh!" And the monster felt offended. It couldn't understand the words uttered by Rihan, but the intentions were relayed properly. It's 'pride' as a 'king' was hurt.

'That's why monsters without proper intelligence are so easy to play with.'

Blue spots of light gathered in it's mouth as the icy cold energy of the mountains concentrated near it.

'Ice Beam, what an inefficient ability. The majority of the energy isn't even used properly.'

Most of the mana formed a hazy ice cover around the monster, which could freeze anyone who tried to enter it, but in Rihan's eyes, this type of tactic could only work on inexperienced Players.

It would be better if it only used weak but fast Ice Beams attacks to freeze him slowly, or at least not let him approach it closer.

'Well, it will not have worked on me either way.'

'Shall I play with it more?'

It was a precious battle after a thousand years of seclusion, after all. His previous bout could not even be counted as warming up, and the Yeti King at least had a physical body that could let him work up a sweat.

"Let's play a little longer together, shall we?"

𝘍𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘩!

The Yeti King flinched suddenly as a cold sweat ran down his forehead.