The gigantic snake lunged from the branches.
Its massive body tore through leaves and air, scales scraping bark as it fell. A living shadow swallowed Lin Feng whole—jaws snapping shut where his head had been a heartbeat earlier.
Lin Feng jumped.
The stone beneath his feet cracked as energy surged through his legs—raw, violent, barely contained. He landed hard on the islet just as the snake smashed down beside him, the impact shaking the cave to its bones.
Water exploded upward, crashing against the stone walls.
"Damn—!" Lin Feng cursed, barely keeping his footing as cold spray rained down.
The tail came first.
It struck like a falling pillar—a blunt promise of death. Lin Feng raised his arms on instinct alone. The impact drove him to one knee. Bones screamed as the air was punched clean out of his lungs.
Before he could recover, the snake coiled.
The pressure was immediate.
Merciless.
Ribs groaned. His spine shrieked. Breath vanished from his chest as scales ground against flesh, each tightening movement stealing another gasp. His vision blurred at the edges.
"So heavy…"
Cold fear crawled up his throat, sharp and suffocating. Lin Feng clenched his teeth, refusing to break.
"Not like this."
Cold gathered in his palm—thin, unstable, but real.
A fragile layer of ice bloomed against his skin and spread onto the snake's scales. Frost crept along its body, slowing the tightening coils.
Just enough.
Just a sliver of mercy.
Lin Feng roared.
Muscles bulged. Veins stood out like cords as he forced space where none should exist. He shoved his forearm beneath the serpent's jaw and wrenched with everything he had left.
With his final strength, he smashed the snake's head into the water below.
The pool erupted.
The massive body thrashed wildly, coils loosening, tail striking stone in blind fury. A long, broken hiss escaped its mouth—ragged and defeated.
Then the snake sank.
Dark water closed over it. Ripples spread outward… until even they faded.
Silence returned to the cave.
Lin Feng dropped to one knee. His chest heaved. His hands shook. Sweat dripped from his chin onto the stone.
A light laugh echoed around him.
"Well done, kiddo."
Not praise.
Amusement.
Lin Feng froze, scanning the shadows.
"Tch… what now?" he muttered through ragged breaths. "What's the use of this cave except its looks?"
The voice snorted. "You muddle-headed brat. Can't you feel it? The density of spiritual energy here is thick enough to suffocate mortals. This place can help you build your foundation."
Lin Feng paused and closed his eyes.
The air pressed back against him—heavy, tangible.
"…Oh," he muttered. "…yeah. Shit."
The demon laughed softly. "Sit. I'll instruct you."
Lin Feng followed the guidance, slowly drawing energy inward, shaping it for the first time. The cave seemed to hum in response.
Then—silence.
"…Strange," the demon muttered.
Lin Feng frowned. "What is it now?"
"With your background…" the voice said slowly, "…I don't think you have a cultivator in your family. Do you?"
Lin Feng scoffed weakly. "A middle-class family like mine? Where would a cultivator come from?"
The demon paused.
"…Yet you have a seal."
Lin Feng stiffened.
"A powerful one," the demon continued. "Hidden so deep even I couldn't sense it. The moment you tried to form your foundation, it reacted. Mana flow destabilized."
Something was wrong.
Sweat poured down Lin Feng's back.
"Don't joke with me," he said tightly.
Pain sparked in his chest—small at first, then sharper.
The demon laughed again, low and unsettling. "Human… there is more in you than meets the eye. That seal is Supreme Grade. Someone had intentions."
The pressure exploded outward.
"AAAH!"
His scream slammed against the cave walls.
"Don't resist!" the demon snapped as foreign energy surged into Lin Feng's body.
Then it froze.
"…Pure demonic essence."
Dark.
Heavy.
Absolute.
Any normal child would have been erased instantly.
Lin Feng absorbed it.
For the first time, the demon fell silent.
"…Hah," it said softly, something sharp beneath the amusement. "So even my energy doesn't get to choose."
The demon twisted its power.
BOOM.
Something detonated inside Lin Feng.
"What—this—?" he gasped as red drowned his vision.
The gathered energy shattered violently, tearing apart his senses.
Darkness swallowed him whole.
—
"…Ah… what is this…"
Lin Feng awoke later.
His body felt hollow, as if something vital had been scooped out and discarded.
Black smoke gathered before him.
The demon emerged. "Human… you are special indeed. You freed me after a thousand years—that alone was absurd. But now I see it clearly."
It leaned closer, voice edged with certainty. "You possess a Supreme Grade Seal. The highest. If I say it's rare, the heavens agree."
Lin Feng clenched his fists. "Tell me clearly. What is this nuisance?"
The demon's tone turned grave. "Someone placed a curse on you disguised as a seal. It blocks cultivation forever. It can only be done to an infant under eight days old."
Someone wanted you broken before choice existed.
Lin Feng swallowed hard. "Then… what should I do?"
"Be grateful," the demon said. "You met me. My energy suppressed the curse. You can cultivate."
Lin Feng scoffed weakly. "Then why does my body feel like it's tearing itself apart? Hot and cold at once?"
The demon sighed. "Because you do not possess a high-grade water root."
"…Then what do I have?"
"A rarity," it replied after a pause. "A Primordial Fire Elemental Spiritual Root."
Silence followed.
"Now what?" Lin Feng asked.
"Wait," the demon said calmly. "Let me think."
—
Night fell.
Lin Feng sat alone in his room, attempting to meditate.
"What time is it…" he muttered.
The door opened.
His mother entered. "What are you doing sitting like that?"
"Meditating," he replied quietly.
She stared at him—long, sharp, uneasy—then left without a word.
The moment the door closed, Lin Feng spat blood.
Black smoke wrapped around him as the demon's voice thundered in his mind.
"Do it. Sacrifice it. Destroy your spiritual root. Trust me—for once."
"Hrk—!"
Blood spilled again as his hand trembled.
Five fingers pressed against his lower abdomen.
He forced everything—every shred of power—into that point as his body shook violently.
His Primordial Spiritual Root shattered.
His dantian sealed shut.
Meridians collapsed.
Mana scattered into nothingness.
When he tried to sense energy again—
Nothing answered.
Nothing existed.
At that moment, a wooden box fell from the shelf above.
It shattered open.
A white jade engraved with golden patterns rolled toward him.
Blood touched it.
For a heartbeat—nothing happened.
Then the jade cracked like an eggshell.
White light burst forth… then shattered into seven colors that pierced straight into Lin Feng's chest.
His body arched and Lin Feng swayed.
"What… is this…"
Darkness claimed him.