"I actually transmigrated."
He said excitedly as his mouth curled into the biggest shit-eating grin ever seen, and after all, who wouldn't if they had the chance to do it all over again? His million years in the cold, dark void gave ample time to reflect on himself, and he realized that he had wasted his life wallowing in grief.
"Well, not this time. Since I, the heavens, have granted me another chance, I'll live it to the fullest." He clenched his fist tightly as he resolved himself.
Lin Feng was lost in his thoughts so much so that he did not register when the door behind him opened or when another person entered into the room holding a basin until—
"BANG!!!"
The basin fell to the floor, shattering, which brought him out of his thoughts. He quickly turned around in fright to look at the other person in the room.
A girl who looked no older than fourteen years old, clothed in tattered clothes that were worse than those worn by a beggar. But neither her tattered clothes nor her slightly haggard appearance could hide the fact that she was a beauty embryo. One could easily tell that she would grow up to be a beauty, and not just any beauty, but the kind that brought disaster to nations. Her name was Ye Feifei, and right now she had a stunned expression on her face.
Lin Feng was the first to react.
"Who are you?"
He asked in a guarded tone with a look of distrust.
Ye Feifei reacted after hearing him. She ran to him and hugged him, then burst into tears, a mix of joy and relief on her face.
"Young master, I am so glad you're okay! The doctors said you would never wake up again. Feifei thought she would never see young master again. Feifei missed young master so much!"
Seeing Lin Feng awake, all the grief, the mocking glances, the disdainful words received, and all the grievances she had suffered and suppressed throughout his coma came rushing out uncontrollably.
Lin Feng, on the other hand, was stunned in place.
"Young master? Me..." Lin Feng asked in confusion.
"Ah, young master, you are young master!"
Ye Feifei let go of him, looked at Lin Feng's confused face, and came to a terrifying realization.
"Ah, young master, have you become retarded? Please, young master, you're scaring Feifei! Please don't forget about Feifei!"
Lin Feng felt his mouth twitch at her words calling him a retard.
"Look, little sister, I don't know who you're talking about. I'm not some young mast—"
"BOOM!"
"AHH!!"
Before he could complete his statement, it hit him like a runaway train. Memories were forcefully drilled into his head. He felt as though he was run over by a speeding car, then the car reversed and backed over him again before speeding off. He fell onto the floor on his knees, holding his head and screaming in pain.
"Young master, are you okay? No, no, no! What is happening?!"
Ye Feifei rushed over to him, trying to find out what was wrong with him, but got no reply.
"Ahh, young master, please don't die! I will go and get the Third Elder. He would know what to do. Please hold on, young master!" Ye Feifei said before taking off, running faster than she ever had in her entire life, leaving Lin Feng rolling on the floor in extreme pain.
Meanwhile, inside Lin Feng's head, memories were being forcefully drilled in. He felt pain as well as the sensation of being a third party watching his early life like a movie, but he couldn't interfere. He could only watch.
Old Lin Feng's earliest memories were about playing with his father and his third uncle. His father was always so kind, caring, and patient. Even when he did something wrong, his father would scold him, but one could tell he wasn't doing this to harm Lin Feng, but to teach him the right way.
The next significant memory came at age eight, when all children would undergo the spirit roots testing ceremony at the Martial Pavilion, because that was the only place in the city that had a spirit roots testing crystal. They let the whole city use it free once a year as a special service.
During the testing ceremony, Lin Feng's spirit roots turned out to be high-grade Earth-level spirit roots, and it caused quite the commotion in the city, the empire, and even the surrounding regions of several empires. Everyone in the clan started treating him nicely. All kinds of big clan marriage proposals came flying in. Everyone rushed to curry favor with him. The Lin family sects were fighting to get him to join them. There were even rumors that larger sects outside the Tianwu Empire and beyond the Eastern Region were preparing to offer him earth-shattering conditions.
Everyone thought that he was the favored son of heaven who would ascend to the heavens and reach the peak of martial arts, but no one could have predicted that it would be the start of his downfall.
Even with the scarce resources of the Lin family, Lin Feng still managed to reach the peak of the Martial Apprentice Realm within the first year, and by the second year he broke into the Martial Warrior Realm, making him a ten-year-old Warrior Realm cultivator, which caused another stir in the empire because a ten-year-old Martial Warrior was unheard of in the 1,000 years of the Tianwu Empire's founding
One day, while training in the periphery of the Magic Beast Forest just outside the city, he ran into a bunch of bandits chasing and killing a young girl who looked to be about nine years old with white porcelain skin. Even with her varying degrees of injuries, she couldn't hide her beauty and grace. He ended up sneak-attacking the bandits when they were off guard, killing them and saving the young girl.
She told him her name was Yan Mei Mei, and she was from the imperial capital's Yan family, one of the four great clans of the empire.
He spent days helping her heal her injuries, keeping her safe, hunting and cooking food. He sometimes even stole money from his father to buy healing pills for her if his own cultivation money was exhausted. Although his cultivation stagnated, he was content as long as she was okay. He catered to her as if he was afraid the wind would harm her.
They both quickly fell in love. After two months spent together, her wounds healed. He even used the last money he had been saving to buy a martial technique he needed to hire a carriage and powerful escorts to send her safely to the imperial capital. They had promised to get married.
Sure enough, after another month, Yan Mei Mei arrived from the capital with her family, and they proposed a contract marriage at the age of fifteen. The arrival of the Yan family and the announcement of the engagement to one of the four great clans once again made the Lin family surge to unprecedented heights.
Yan Mei Mei would sometimes stay months in the Lin family cultivating with Lin Feng before going back to the imperial capital.
The years went by in a flash. Four years after their engagement, Lin Feng was fourteen and Yan Mei Mei was thirteen. Lin Feng was at the 9th-layer peak of the Martial Warrior Realm, which was a very big deal, as one has to note that after entering the Martial Warrior Realm, breakthrough becomes slow and arduous for most people. Breaking through one layer per year is a normal process, yet Lin Feng completed what would take most nine years in four years.
One day, Lin Feng, as usual, was cultivating in the back mountains when he received a secret message from Yan Mei Mei via a special Tier-One spirit beast, the Wind Sparrow, used in communication. The message detailed how she was abducted into the forest and managed to escape briefly from her captors to send him a distress message.
Old Lin Feng, as a lovesick fool, immediately got a rush of blood to the head and rushed out of the clan house without telling anyone, running toward the Magic Beast Forest. Had the old Lin Feng been a bit calmer and more levelheaded, he would have been able to spot the inconsistencies in her story and might have prevented his own tragedy, but alas, he was too inexperienced with how sinister the world really is because of the protection of his father.
The old Lin Feng ran deep into the forest and spotted Yan Mei Mei just standing there. Although he was confused, he still ran excitedly to her.
"Xiao Mei Mei, are you alright?"
He said, distressed, checking if she was injured, but she didn't reply. She just stared at him, her usually kind and gentle expression replaced with one of cold indifference and disdain.
"Since you're fine, let's get out of here. It's too quiet. I have a bad feeling about this place," he said, trying to pull her away.
She slapped his hand away.
"Get your hands away from me, worm."
Yan Mei Mei said with a look of disgust and disdain.
"Ehnn—"
Old Lin Feng was left stunned at her words and expression.
"Xiao Mei Mei, this isn't the time to be joking around. Let's go."
He tried to urge her on, but she laughed sinisterly.
"Why should I go? I haven't gotten what I need yet."
"What is it, Mei Mei? I promise I'll help you get it later. For now, let's just leave, please," he said urgently.
She covered her mouth and laughed. A charming, bell-like laughter rang out.
"So you'll give me your life later?"
His face finally changed.
"What do you mean, my life, Mei Mei?"
"Stop calling me Mei Mei as if we are intimate. You're nothing but a means to an end for me."
His face became ashen.
"Yan Mei Mei, have you forgotten our plans? Have you forgotten our promise to each other?" he yelled at her.
She chuckled.
"That was all for this moment, so I could get you here and take what I want."
"What exactly do you want?" he yelled, heartbroken.
"Your spirit roots..."
His face turned pale, and he stumbled, nearly falling.
"The heavens are so unfair. I am the daughter of the Yan clan in the imperial city, while you are just insignificant trash from a lowly city. What is your identity, and what is mine? There is no comparison at all, yet you have Earth spirit roots and high-level Xuan-grade resources, and I barely reached the Warrior Realm. How is that fair? But no worries. When I get your roots, I'll put them to good use."
Her eyes turned red in resentment as she spoke. Then she suddenly smiled at her last sentence.
Lin Feng's eyes reddened in anger, but he took a deep breath.
"You want to steal my spirit roots with just trash like you in the fourth layer of the Martial Warrior Realm?"
He asked in a tone that could freeze hell.
She smiled again.
"Who said it was just me?"
She then took a step back and said,
"I'll have to trouble Brother Yan Feng and Brother Fu Tian."
As soon as she finished speaking, figures stepped out from the shadows of the forest one after another, surrounding Lin Feng in a tight circle. Ten men dressed in dark robes formed the outer ring, their auras steady and oppressive — all at the **7th layer of the Martial Warrior Realm**. Behind them stood two young men.
One wore a proud sneer, his hands clasped behind his back as though he were watching a street performance. The other had sharp brows and narrow eyes filled with contempt.
Yan Feng stepped forward first, cupping his fists respectfully toward the arrogant youth beside him.
"Allow me to introduce you properly, trash," Yan Feng said mockingly. "This is Senior Brother Fu Tian — a core disciple of the Immemorial Misty Sect. A heavenly genius you wouldn't even be qualified to polish the shoes of."
Fu Tian's lips curved upward slightly, but he did not even spare Lin Feng a direct glance.
Yan Feng continued eagerly, almost fawning. "Senior Brother Fu Tian stepped into the Grandmaster Realm before the age of eighteen. His future is limitless. Compared to him, what are you? A frog at the bottom of a well who thinks Qinghe City is the world."
Fu Tian finally looked at Lin Feng, eyes filled with naked disdain.
"So you're the so-called genius with Earth-level spirit roots?" he said lazily. "You look ordinary. Pathetic, even. I thought you would at least have some imposing aura. Instead, you tremble like prey."
Lin Feng's fists clenched.
Fu Tian scoffed. "Listen carefully, country bumpkin. In this world, talent without backing is just a resource waiting to be harvested. You should feel honored. Your spirit roots will serve someone worthy."
Yan Feng laughed loudly. "Did you hear that? You should kneel and thank Senior Brother Fu Tian for taking interest in you!"
Lin Feng exhaled slowly, his eyes turning cold.
"You talk too much," he said flatly.
Fu Tian waved his hand dismissively. "Kill his spirit first. Break his limbs if you must. I want him conscious for the ritual."
The ten Martial Warriors stepped forward simultaneously
The forest floor cracked as the ten men attacked together, blades flashing and fists roaring with spiritual energy. Lin Feng did not retreat.
He moved first.
His body shot forward like an arrow, his fist colliding with the nearest warrior's chest. A sickening crack echoed as ribs shattered and the man flew backward, crashing into two others.
Before the rest could react, Lin Feng twisted his body and swept his leg low, knocking three off balance. He stomped downward, spiritual energy erupting from his heel, crushing one's shoulder.
"Impossible!" someone shouted.
Lin Feng's movements were sharp and efficient — honed by years of genuine combat training. Though surrounded, he used the forest terrain to his advantage, forcing them to obstruct one another.
A blade grazed his arm, drawing blood. He ignored it.
He caught another attacker's wrist, twisted violently, and used the man as a shield against incoming strikes. Bones snapped. Screams echoed.
Within moments, the ground was littered with groaning bodies.
Ten warriors of the 7th layer — defeated.
Lin Feng stood in the center, breathing heavily but upright, his eyes blazing.
Fu Tian stared at the fallen men in sile
Then he clicked his tongue.Ll
"Trash."
The single word felt heavier than any attack.
Fu Tiann stepped forward casually.
The air changed instantly.
A suffocating pressure descended upon the forest. Leaves trembled. The remaining spiritual energy in the air seemed to freeze.
"Third Layer of the Grandmaster Realm…" Lin Feng muttered.
Fu Tian disappeared.
Lin Feng's pupils shrank.
He could not even track the movement.
A single palm descended.
Boom!
Lin Feng felt as though a mountain had crashed onto his chest. His protective spiritual energy shattered instantly. His body slammed into the ground, carving a crater beneath him.
Blood sprayed from his mouth.
Before he could even attempt to rise, Fu Tian's foot pressed down on his back, pinning him effortlessly.
"You fought well," Fu Tian said calmly. "For an ant."
He reached down and sealed Lin Feng's meridians with a casual strike. Lin Feng's spiritual energy dispersed instantly.
Yan Feng walked over, clapping slowly.
"See?" he sneered. "No matter how talented a genius is, he is trash if he doesn't have time to grow up."
Lin Feng struggled, but his body would not respond.
Fu Tian grabbed him by the collar as though lifting a sack of grain.
"Prepare the formation."
Deep within the forest, a circular formation had already been carved into the ground using dark crimson inscriptions. Strange demonic symbols pulsed faintly, exuding an ominous aura.
Lin Feng was thrown into the center.
Yan Mei Mei stepped forward, her expression calm — almost eager.
Fu Tian cut his palm and allowed blood to drip onto the formation's core. The symbols ignited instantly, glowing with sinister light.
"Ancient Demon Spirit Transference Formation," Yan Feng announced proudly.
Black mist rose from the engraved lines. The air filled with a wailing sound — as if countless resentful spirits were screaming.
Lin Feng felt a pulling sensation from deep within his soul.
His spirit roots trembled.
Yan Mei Mei stepped into the outer ring of the formation and began forming hand seals under Fu Tian's guidance.
The demonic inscriptions flared brighter.
Pain exploded inside Lin Feng's body — far worse than any physical wound. It felt as though something fundamental was being ripped from his very existence.
"AHHHH—!"
His scream echoed through the forest as the ancient demon formation began extracting his Earth-level spirit roots, threads of golden light forcibly tearing free from his spiritual foundation and flowing toward Yan Mei Mei.
The ritual had begun.
The golden threads of light tore free completely.
With a final violent tremor, Lin Feng's spiritual foundation shattered. The brilliant Earth-level spirit roots that once shone like a mountain of steady power were ripped from him and drawn into the core of the formation.
The demonic inscriptions flared one last time before dimming.
Yan Mei Mei's body trembled as the golden light entered her dantian. A surge of pure, refined spiritual energy erupted outward, forcing Yan Feng and the others to shield their eyes.
When the light faded, Lin Feng lay motionless in the center of the cracked formation, his aura completely extinguished.
Yan Mei Mei opened her eyes slowly.
Within them flickered a deep, earthen glow.
Fu Tian glanced at Lin Feng's limp body and spoke indifferently.
"Throw him into the forest. Dead or alive, it makes no difference."
Old Lin feng who was barely clinging to life watched as they tossed him in the forest to feed the beasts
"Yan feng, Fu tian, Yan mei mei if I don't die today I will make sure you all suffer ten thousand times worse that me today."
Old Lin feng says just before losing consciousness.
It wasn't long before he was surrounded by magic beasts.
Fortunately, his father had noticed him leaving in a hurry not long after he left the clan and decided to go after him. He arrived just in time to save his son from becoming food for the beasts. Unfortunately, the deed had already been done.
After that, the Lin family fell from heaven to hell. News was deliberately spread by the Yan family that Lin Feng had gone deep into the forest and run into a Tier 4 magic beast, which was equivalent to a Martial Spirit Sea Realm cultivator in the human world. He survived, but his Earth-level spirit roots were crippled, and he became a waste who could no longer practice martial arts.
The news was a devastating blow to the Lin family. Many of their previous allies changed their minds and began distancing themselves from the clan. The many enemies they had inevitably made—when they believed Lin Feng would soon become a peak powerhouse—began to take revenge without worry, both overtly and covertly. Everyone who had given gifts demanded they be returned. The previous praises heaped upon the clan turned into mocking voices of disdain. They became like rats crossing the street, with everyone shouting for them to be killed.
And Lin Feng's father, even as the clan leader, did not hesitate to use all the clan's resources to try to cure his son. He bought all sorts of medical pills and hired every doctor and healer he could find, but nothing worked. They could not even get Lin Feng to wake up. The reckless use of the clan's resources caused a severe depletion of supplies for the other members, allowing the cultivation realms of the other two families to surpass them. If it were not for Lin Feng's father, Lin Batian, whose cultivation was still the highest, they would have already pushed the Lin family out of Qinghe City.
But things took a turn for the worse after Lin Batian heard rumors of a Seventh Grade elixir that would heal him and wake him up.