The wind blew quietly through the Beast Valley
Three disciples from the Iron Flame Sect stood on the ridge overlooking the enormous corpse of the Ironhorn Tyrant
Their expressions were filled with disbelief
The tyrant had ruled this valley for years. Even trained cultivators avoided fighting it directly
Yet now the beast lay dead
And standing beside it was a lone young man wearing simple village clothing
Kael Veyron
The tallest disciple stepped forward
His name was Rylan, an outer disciple of the sect
His cultivation had already reached Energy Awakening Stage 2
He narrowed his eyes as he studied Kael
"You there," Rylan said coldly. "Answer the question."
"Did you kill this beast?"
Kael remained silent for a moment
Inside his mind, the Primordial System flickered
Warning
Multiple cultivators detected.
Combat risk: Moderate
Recommended action: Avoid revealing full strength
Kael slowly nodded toward the corpse
"I fought it."
The other two disciples exchanged surprised glances
"That's impossible," one of them muttered
The Ironhorn Tyrant was strong enough to threaten even Energy Awakening cultivators
How could a random village youth defeat it?
Rylan's eyes narrowed further
"Step forward."
Kael calmly walked closer
Rylan extended a hand and released a faint pulse of Aether energy, scanning Kael's body
His brows immediately furrowed
"No Aether?"
The other disciples looked confused
"What?"
Rylan checked again
But the result didn't change
Kael had no Aether presence whatsoever
That meant something unbelievable
"You're… Aetherless," Rylan said slowly
The disciples stared at Kael in disbelief
An Aetherless human defeating the Ironhorn Tyrant was completely absurd
Rylan crossed his arms
"Explain."
Kael shrugged lightly
"I got lucky."
The disciples looked unconvinced
One of them pointed toward the battlefield
"Those impact marks are from direct combat."
"And the tyrant's horn was shattered by a punch."
His eyes returned to Kael
"That's not luck."
Rylan stepped closer
His gaze turned sharp
"You're hiding something."
The air grew tense
Kael could feel the difference between them clearly
Rylan's aura was stronger than his
Much stronger
But Kael also knew something else
If he had to fight…
He wouldn't lose easily
The system quietly displayed his current status
Host: Kael Veyron
Realm: Mortal Body Stage 9 (Peak)
Abilities
• Origin Sense
• Origin Strike
• Origin Rush
• Origin Body
Rylan suddenly spoke again
"Where are you from?"
"Veyron Village."
The disciples recognized the name immediately
A small settlement at the edge of the forest
Nothing special
Nothing important
Rylan studied Kael carefully
Then he smiled faintly
"Interesting."
He turned toward the other disciples
"We're taking him back to the sect."
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly
"To the sect?"
Rylan nodded
"If you really defeated the Ironhorn Tyrant…"
"Then Elder Taron will want to see you."
Kael remembered that name
Elder Taron was the cultivator who had judged the Aether Awakening Ceremony in the village
The same man who had declared him Aetherless
The same man who had looked at him with disappointment
Kael slowly looked at the corpse of the tyrant again
His journey had just taken a sudden turn
Perhaps…
This was the chance he needed to enter the world of cultivators.