The road to Blackstone City was anything but peaceful.
Dust rose with every step Lin Feng took, the dry earth crunching beneath his boots as he walked along the wide, winding path that cut through the wilderness. The once calm and structured life within the Iron Spine Sect already felt distant—like a past version of himself he had outgrown.
Here…
There were no rules.
No elders watching.
No safety net.
Only strength.
And survival.
The First Sign of the Outside World
Ahead, a group of travelers approached.
Three men, all armed.
Their robes were worn, their eyes sharp.
Not disciples.
Not sect members.
Independent cultivators.
The moment their gazes landed on Lin Feng, the atmosphere shifted.
They sized him up instantly.
Young.
Alone.
New.
Easy prey.
One of them smirked.
"Well, well… looks like someone just left the nest."
Lin Feng didn't stop walking.
"Move."
The man's smile widened.
"Or what?"
A Lesson Begins
Lin Feng sighed.
"…I just got here."
"I'm not in the mood."
The second man stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.
"Too bad."
That was all the warning they gave.
They attacked.
Fast.
Coordinated.
But—
To Lin Feng—
They were slow.
First Fight Outside the Sect
The first man lunged with a blade.
Lin Feng tilted his head slightly.
The blade passed harmlessly by.
Before the man could react—
Lin Feng's fist moved.
A simple punch.
No fancy technique.
No build-up.
Just pure force.
BOOM!
The man flew backward, crashing into the ground and rolling several meters before going still.
The other two froze.
"…What?"
Lin Feng looked at his fist.
"…Still got it."
Fear Sets In
The second man stepped back instinctively.
"You—who are you?"
Lin Feng shrugged.
"Just passing through."
The third man grabbed his companion.
"Let's go!"
They didn't hesitate.
They ran.
Fast.
Lin Feng didn't chase.
"Good choice."
System Reaction (Natural Integration)
A faint warmth pulsed in his chest—the Titan Core reacting slightly, as if satisfied.
A quiet awareness surfaced in his mind:
Minor victory registered.
Combat efficiency increased.
Lin Feng smirked.
"Guess even small fights count."
Arrival at Blackstone City
By sunset—
He saw it.
Blackstone City.
Massive.
Rough.
Alive.
High dark walls surrounded it, built from thick black stone that gave the city its name. Guards stood at the entrance, their expressions indifferent as countless people moved in and out.
Merchants.
Mercenaries.
Cultivators.
Killers.
The air itself felt heavier.
Denser.
More dangerous.
Lin Feng grinned.
"…Now this is more like it."
Inside the City
The moment he stepped inside—
Noise exploded around him.
Shouting.
Bargaining.
Laughter.
Arguments.
The streets were packed.
Stalls lined both sides, selling everything from weapons to pills to strange, unknown artifacts.
A man dragged a bloodied opponent through the street like it was nothing.
Two cultivators argued loudly over a deal that almost turned into a fight.
No one cared.
This place ran on strength.
Information Gathering
Lin Feng walked calmly through the chaos, observing everything.
He needed information.
Targets.
Strong opponents.
He stopped at a nearby stall.
The owner was a middle-aged man with sharp eyes.
"New here?" the man asked immediately.
Lin Feng nodded.
"Looking for fights."
The man chuckled.
"Then you're in the right place."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Try the Underground Arena."
Lin Feng's interest piqued.
"Where?"
The man pointed deeper into the city.
"Follow the main road. You'll hear it before you see it."
The Underground Arena
Lin Feng didn't waste time.
He followed the direction.
And soon—
He heard it.
Roars.
Cheers.
The sound of impact.
Heavy.
Violent.
Exciting.
His lips curved into a grin.
The Entrance
The arena entrance was massive, carved into the ground like a giant beast's mouth.
Guards stood outside.
Not weak.
Not at all.
Each one radiated strength far beyond the disciples he had faced before.
One of them stopped him.
"Fighter or spectator?"
Lin Feng didn't hesitate.
"Fighter."
The guard looked him up and down.
Then smirked.
"Bold."
He stepped aside.
"Go in."
Inside the Arena
The moment Lin Feng stepped in—
The atmosphere hit him like a wave.
The arena was huge.
A massive circular pit sat at the center, surrounded by rising stone seats packed with people shouting, cheering, betting.
In the pit—
Two cultivators clashed violently.
Blood.
Sweat.
Power.
Everything was raw.
Unfiltered.
Lin Feng's Reaction
His blood stirred instantly.
This—
This was what he needed.
A place where strength decided everything.
No restrictions.
No holding back.
He exhaled slowly.
"…Perfect."
Registration
A woman sat at a desk near the entrance to the fighter's area.
She didn't even look up.
"Name."
Lin Feng paused.
Then smiled slightly.
"Just write… Lin Feng."
She scribbled it down.
"First fight?"
"Yeah."
She finally glanced at him.
"…Try not to die."
Lin Feng chuckled.
"I'll do my best."
The First Opponent
A voice echoed across the arena:
"Next match!"
"New challenger entering!"
"Lin Feng!"
The crowd reacted instantly.
"Fresh meat!"
"Another one?!"
"Place your bets!"
Lin Feng stepped forward.
Calm.
Relaxed.
Excited.
Across the arena—
His opponent stepped out.
Tall.
Muscular.
Scar across his face.
Aura—
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Core Condensation.
Lin Feng's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…That didn't take long."
Cliffhanger
The man cracked his neck and grinned.
"Kid… you're in the wrong place."
Lin Feng rolled his shoulders.
"Nah."
"I think I'm exactly where I need to be."
The arena roared.
The fight—
Was about to begin.