Huo Tian remained still for a few moments after feeling the changes in his body.
The wind was still blowing gently around him, as if it recognized him now. The sensation was strange, familiar, and new at the same time.
But excessive excitement was dangerous. Especially in a world where people could destroy mountains.
He took a deep breath and turned his attention back to the system screen. There was still something he had not analyzed.
"The storage... I can already imagine what it is." He murmured.
Even so, confirming it was essential. He focused his mind on the remaining option.
Immediately, new words appeared before him.
[Storage: System space where the host can store items, gifts, and objects. Restricted to items that the host can hold. Living beings cannot be stored]
Huo Tian nodded slowly.
"Exactly as I thought."
It was a personal dimensional space. In the novels he read on Earth, items like this were extremely valuable. Even wealthy cultivators did not always possess spatial tools.
And he had received something similar right at the beginning. He picked up the rusty sword lying beside him and, with a thought, tried to store it. The sword disappeared instantly from his hand.
His eyes shone.
"It worked…"
Another thought.
The sword reappeared in his palm. Effortlessly. It was incredibly convenient.
"This alone is already worth a fortune…" He thought.
Then, his expression turned serious. Now came the real problem. He lifted his gaze to the forest around him. He was still in the middle of nowhere.
In the inherited memories of Huo Tian, that place had a feared name.
End Forest.
A gigantic forest located at the edge of the empire's territory.
No one knew its true size. The deeper one ventured, the more dangerous the ferocious beasts that inhabited it became. At least… that was what the townspeople believed.
Huo Tian had absolutely no intention of testing that theory. He still did not possess cultivation. Even with the Wind Spiritual Physique, he was still only a slightly healthier mortal.
Remaining there with his strength would be suicide. And he definitely did not want to die again.
He shoved his hand into the pocket of his torn clothes. The soft metallic sound confirmed what he feared. Only ten bronze coins remained. All that was left of Huo Tian's miserable life.
"… This is literally my entire net worth."
He let out a sigh.
He picked up the rusty sword again and began walking.
The path back was familiar thanks to the inherited memories. Subtle trails, marked trees, and specific stones guided his direction. Even so, he maintained maximum caution. Every sound in the forest made his body stiffen.
Three hours passed quickly like that. The sun was already beginning to descend when something appeared on the horizon.
Walls, and they were immense. Tall enough to make any human seem insignificant. Huo Tian stopped involuntarily. The city finally appeared before him.
Gray Stone City. A small city within the vast Vulcan Empire.
At least... small by the standards of that world. According to the memories, it had around one hundred thousand inhabitants. But for someone coming from Earth, especially someone who had never seen real city walls, it was in a way impressive.
The stone walls rose dozens of meters into the air, thick and sturdy, clearly built to withstand beast attacks. Watchtowers observed the surroundings, and flags fluttered in the wind.
"Wow…"
Even knowing the place through memories, seeing it in person was completely different. His heart sped up slightly. It was real, he was truly in another world.
Determined, Huo Tian walked toward the enormous open gate.
A long line had formed at the entrance. Merchants, peasants, hunters, and travelers waited patiently.
Two armed guards stood beside the gate. Swords hung from their waists. Their presences were firm and intimidating.
Huo Tian immediately remembered. They were there to collect the entrance fee. His face tightened slightly.
"The price is exactly ten copper coins…"
He unconsciously squeezed his pocket.
"…my last savings."
After entering… He would not have money even to eat. Although he felt full of energy now, he knew that would not last forever. Hunger was still hunger.
For a moment, he hesitated. Then, his eyes shone faintly.
"It's fine." He murmured to himself.
"I just need to wait until tomorrow."
The system existed, and that changed everything.
"Tomorrow I'll receive another gift… and it just needs to be something sellable." He let out a small, crooked smile.
"I don't like depending only on luck… but it's the only way right now."
He then stepped into the line. And immediately noticed something uncomfortable. The people around him kept their distance.
Simple clothes were common there, but they were still clean and intact.
And his? They were torn, stained, and covered in dried dirt. He looked exactly like what he was. A beggar. Worse still… a smelly beggar.
Huo Tian wrinkled his nose discreetly.
"I definitely need a bath…"
Huo Tian's previous life of survival had rarely allowed luxuries such as hygiene.
He made a silent decision. As soon as he had money, he would take a proper bath, buy new clothes, and eat a decent meal. Those were his absolute priorities.
The line moved slowly until it was his turn. The guard looked at him. His gaze carried clear disgust. But he said nothing beyond what was necessary.
"It's ten copper coins for entry."
Huo Tian did not argue.
He carefully took out his last coins and handed them over. The guard counted them quickly before allowing passage.
"Next."
It was that simple. Huo Tian crossed the gate and then stopped. Completely still.
The sound hit him first. Conversations. Shouts. Laughter. The rumbling of carriage wheels. Metallic hammering echoed from a nearby forge.
The smell of food, hot iron, and people filled the air. The main street was crowded.
Merchants advertised their products. Armed cultivators walked freely. Children ran between the stalls.
The place was alive, chaotic, and real.
Far more vibrant than the city he had known on Earth. Huo Tian's eyes moved slowly, absorbing everything. A strange sensation grew inside him.
It was excitement and anticipation. Something he had never felt before, at least not as intensely as now.
He smiled, a genuine smile. For some reason… that city excited him more than anything in his past life.
"So… this will be my starting point in this world."
Gray Stone City.
Even being just a small city in that vast world. It would be his initial base, the place where he would grow, where he would survive, where he would begin his rise.
Huo Tian breathed deeply the bustling air of the city. His eyes shone with determination.
"One day… I will leave this place. But only when I am strong enough." His fist slowly clenched. And, for the first time since his death, Huo Tian felt that his future had truly begun.