The morning fog clung to the mountain path as Sol Jin stepped out of the cavern, his body humming with faint cosmic resonance. His newly strengthened bones felt heavier, denser—yet his movements were sharper than ever. Every step produced a subtle vibration, like a hidden beast breathing beneath his skin.
The world already felt different.
Or maybe he was the one who had changed.
Sol Jin rolled his shoulders, testing the flow of his joints. Each movement was smoother than silk, yet grounded with weight. A grin pulled at his lips.
"So this is the Primordial Heaven-Breaking Skeleton… The heavens really want me to bully geniuses, huh?"
He stretched his neck until it cracked with a muted thunderclap.
"Perfect."
He walked along the mountain trail—calm, composed, but inwardly savoring the changes. Even at his weak cultivation, he felt as though he could shatter boulders with a casual strike. That alone was hilarious considering he was still technically low realm.
But good things never lasted long.
As he descended the path, he felt three presences lying in wait.
He sighed dramatically.
"Already? At least let me enjoy my skeleton for one hour."
Branches rustled.
Three youths stepped out—each wearing the crest of the Silver Crest Outer Sect. Rumored to be a rising elite sect whose disciples had strong backgrounds, ambitious minds, and egos larger than mountains.
The tallest one smirked. "Sol Jin. Rumor says you crawled out of that cursed cave alive."
Another added with disdain, "Impossible. That place kills anyone under the Core Vein Realm. You must've hidden or begged."
Sol Jin blinked. "Ah yes, because begging saves people from ancient death caverns. Wonderful logic."
The trio stiffened.
The leader stepped forward, folding his arms. "We're not here to talk. Our elders detected a sudden burst of ancient energy last night. That power emanated from the cavern you crawled out of." His eyes narrowed. "You found something… didn't you?"
Sol Jin's lips curled.
Perfect.
Geniuses, suspicion, entitlement—his favorite combination.
He scratched his neck lazily. "You think if I had some treasure or inheritance, I'd still be standing here listening to you three squeak?"
"Watch your mouth!" the second shouted.
But the leader raised a hand, stopping him. "Attack him."
The air tensed.
The second disciple lunged. He moved with the fluid confidence of someone who had trained since childhood, his palm wreathed in silver Qi.
Sol Jin didn't move.
At the last instant, the disciple's palm struck Sol Jin's chest—
KLANG.
He screamed in agony, stumbling backward and clutching his wrist.
His hand felt like it had collided with reinforced steel.
Sol Jin sighed with pity. "Apologies. My bones are a bit… firm."
"You monster!" the disciple growled through gritted teeth.
"No," Sol Jin corrected. "Just better built."
The leader narrowed his eyes. "You've changed… Your physique. It isn't normal." Then he smirked. "Good. That means defeating you will be even more satisfying."
His aura erupted.
Silver Qi spiraled, forming the shape of a wolf behind him.
Sol Jin raised a brow. "Silver Wolf Manifestation? Impressive for an outer disciple. Shame I don't care."
The leader struck.
His fist shot forward like a falling star. Sol Jin tilted his head slightly, letting the blow pass with barely an inch between them.
Sol Jin flicked a single finger at the disciple's forehead.
THWAP.
The leader froze.
His eyes rolled.
He collapsed flat onto the ground.
Silence.
The two remaining disciples stared in disbelief. Their "strongest among them," defeated by a flick.
Sol Jin dusted his hand. "Next time, bring someone entertaining. I almost yawned."
The disciples grabbed their leader and fled down the mountain path, shouting curses mixed with fear.
Sol Jin watched them go, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"News will spread quickly now…"
He knew what would come next:
Young prodigies wanting to test him.
Sects wanting to recruit or eliminate him.
Monsters sensing new prey.
Ancient beings stirring.
Perfect chaos.
Exactly the type of environment for him to rise.
---
That night, Sol Jin rested beneath a large tree at the mountain's base. The moon hung low, silver and haunting. His eyes remained open, thinking.
The Cosmic Observer's last words echoed in his mind:
"A hooded genius who commands the Forbidden Corpse Formula has already sensed the shift in fate."
Sol Jin exhaled slowly.
"Seems like trouble incoming."
He wasn't afraid.
He was curious.
Forbidden corpse arts meant manipulating bodies, spiritual marrow, and soul residue. Anyone using that path was either terrifyingly talented, deranged, or both.
And Sol Jin… enjoyed foes like that.
"They make life interesting."
He turned to the night sky, letting moonlight reflect in his eyes.
But he wasn't the only one awake.
Far away, atop another mountain, a figure cloaked in a tattered hood stood silently. His eyes glowed faintly from within the darkness.
Corpses knelt around him—perfectly still, perfectly preserved, neither alive nor dead.
The hooded genius murmured:
"So… the heir of that remnant consciousness finally awakens."
His voice was cold, emotionless, yet eerily calm.
He lifted a hand, and the corpses rose in perfect synchronization.
"Sol Jin," he whispered. "We will meet soon."
The moonlight flickered.
The night grew colder.
And from the shadows of the world, ancient forces began to stir—monsters in human form opening their eyes after centuries, elders emerging from seclusion, sects whispering of treasures awakening, holy grounds preparing to open.
All because a single orphan stepped out of a cave with heaven-breaking bones.
Sol Jin smiled in the darkness.
"Let them come."