The creature that emerged from the shadows was like nothing I had ever imagined—a towering, fire-blazing ape, its eyes glowing with malevolent intelligence. It roared, the sound a primal, bone-shaking cry that sent waves of terror through me. Every fiber of my being screamed to run, to escape into the sanctuary of the mountain or the forest, but deep down I knew I couldn't outrun it.

I had to face it.

I knew now, this wasn't a test. There would be no second chances. If I didn't fight, I would be consumed.

As our eyes locked, it let out a bone-chilling roar.

ROAR!

Every fiber of my being screamed to flee, and I didn't hesitate. I turned and sprinted toward the cave, my heart hammering in my chest. The cave was narrow, its ceiling only 6 feet high, but it was my only chance. It might just slow the beast down.

As I rushed deeper into the cave, the full weight of my situation crashed down on me. This was no simulation, no game. The creature chasing me was a Demon Beast. I had to think fast. In a desperate flash, I activated Appraisal to learn more about it.

Appraisal

[RACE: APE]

[BLOODLINE: FIRE DEMON APE BLOODLINE]

[CULTIVATION: BODY STRENGTHENING (LOW)]

A low-level Body Strengthening Demon Ape. Despite its relatively weak cultivation, its fiery elemental power made it a fearsome opponent, capable of facing a mid-level Body Strengthening cultivator. I was completely unprepared. I had saved my points, thinking of using it, when i need it , but now, I realized my life was in jeopardy. I quickly called out to the system.

"System, how many points would I need to upgrade my cultivation to low Body Strengthening?"

"600 points," the system responded.

I opened my status window as I ran, panic clawing at my throat.

[HOST: YI LIAN]

[CULTIVATION: NULL]

[PASSIVE ABILITIES: APPRAISAL, MENTAL LOCK]

[CREATION POINTS: 750]

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

I had saved 750 creation points by crafting weapons and a boat for travel. There was no time for hesitation. I used every single point to upgrade my cultivation.

"System, upgrade my cultivation to low Body Strengthening."

As soon as I spoke, an overwhelming surge of power coursed through my veins. It felt like my very essence was being rewritten. My strength tripled in an instant, and with it, a sharp clarity sharpened my senses. My body was now strong enough to at least hold my ground.

I glanced over my shoulder. The ape was only 10 meters behind me, charging forward with the fury of a storm, and I knew it would overtake me if I didn't act.

Without thinking, I turned and charged straight toward it. The ape, seeing me approach, roared in rage.

ROAR!

The ground quaked beneath us as it closed the gap, its monstrous form barreling toward me. When it came within range, I threw a punch, my fist rocketing toward its face. It responded in kind, its massive arm crashing toward me. The moment our fists collided, the world seemed to explode with sound.

CRACK! CRACK!

Pain flared in my arm as my bone fractured. I gritted my teeth, fighting against the agony, and pushed forward with every ounce of willpower. The ape, momentarily stunned by the force of my strike, hesitated for a split second.

That was all I needed. I moved in like a predator, I plunged my arm into the ape's stomach and tore it open. It howled in pain, clutching its wound, but I wasn't finished. Without mercy, I drove my hand into its face, gouging its eyes out with brutal precision.

Blinded, the ape thrashed wildly, its body slamming against the cave walls as it desperately tried to throw me off. But I refused to relinquish my hold. With ruthless determination, I pushed my hands deeper into its skull, unwilling to let go.

When the hand found its brain, I pressed it in with all my strength, ignoring the searing heat pouring from the ape's fiery body.

In the blink of an eye, the beast never stood a chance. It crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

Breathing heavily, I leaned against the cold, jagged wall of the cave, my chest heaving. Slowly, cautiously, I approached the fallen ape, praying to find a core—a crystallized energy source that could form inside cultivators or demon beasts. Only a rare few possessed one, so I searched the body with trembling hands.

I felt no core in its brain or stomach. Not in its lungs or legs. Just as despair began to creep in, my hand brushed against its right arm—and there it was.

With trembling hands, I pulled out the core. It was about the size of a ping-pong ball, glowing with an intense, fiery red light. Demon beast cores had immense power. Consuming one could elevate a cultivator's strength, but they had to be used with extreme caution. If consumed recklessly, they could cause a cultivator's energy to spiral out of control. In rare cases, they could even grant the bloodline abilities of the creature it came from.

I didn't hesitate. In this perilous situation, surrounded by unknown dangers, I knew I couldn't afford to be weak. If I wanted to survive, if I wanted to face whatever else this world had in store, I needed to grow stronger. Without a second thought, I swallowed the core whole, feeling my resolve harden with every heartbeat.

The moment the core hit my stomach, an explosive wave of energy surged through my body. My fractured bones healed, the burns from the ape's fiery body began to fade, and I felt my strength swell with each passing second. But then… the heat within me spiraled out of control. I tried to reign it in, but my body refused to obey. The heat spread, roaring through my veins like wildfire, burning my very soul. My skin seared, as though my body was being consumed from within.

My vision blurred, and my consciousness began to slip away. One thought echoed in my mind, louder than any other:

What went wrong?