Pain.
That was the first thing Lin Ye felt.
Not the dull ache of fatigue. Not the sting of a wound.
But a crushing, suffocating pain—as if his entire body had been shattered and crudely stitched back together.
"…Where… am I…"
His voice was hoarse, barely a whisper.
The air smelled strange—earthy, mixed with sweat and something metallic… blood.
Slowly, he forced his eyes open.
A wooden ceiling greeted him. Cracked. Old. Barely holding together.
"This… isn't my room…"
His breathing quickened.
The last thing he remembered—
A car.
Blinding headlights.
Then darkness.
"I… died?"
Before he could process further, a flood of memories slammed into his mind.
"Ah—!"
Lin Ye clutched his head, groaning in agony.
Images flashed rapidly—
A young man kneeling in the dirt.
Mocked. Beaten.
Called "trash."
Denied resources.
Starving.
Outer disciple… Azure Cloud Sect…
Name: Lin Ye.
"Transmigration…"
He lay there, stunned.
"I actually… transmigrated?"
But unlike fantasy dreams of becoming a hero—
This body was garbage.
No talent. No backing. No future.
A laugh escaped his lips.
"Heh… so I went from dying… to dying again, just slower."
Just then—
Footsteps approached outside.
"Oi, trash! Still alive?"
The door slammed open.
Three disciples entered, sneering.
The leader kicked Lin Ye's bed.
"You owe us spirit stones. Today's the deadline."
Lin Ye narrowed his eyes.
His body was weak.
Too weak.
"I don't have any."
The answer was calm—but cold.
The disciple laughed.
"No? Then we'll take it in blood."
He stepped forward, grabbing Lin Ye by the collar—
And punched him.
BAM!
Pain exploded in his chest.
Lin Ye hit the ground, coughing blood.
The other two joined in.
Kicks.
Punches.
Laughter.
"Pathetic."
"Waste of resources."
"Better off dead."
Something inside Lin Ye… snapped.
A strange silence filled his mind.
Then—
[Ding!]
A mechanical voice echoed.
[Blood Slaughter System Activated]
Lin Ye's pupils shrank.
"…System?"
[Host condition detected: Near death]
[Emergency Function Unlocked: First Kill Reward]
Time seemed to slow.
The disciples continued beating him—
But Lin Ye's gaze changed.
From fear…
To something darker.
Colder.
"…First kill…"
A faint smile appeared on his bloodied lips.
As one disciple leaned close—
Lin Ye moved.
Not fast.
Not strong.
But precise.
His hand shot forward—grabbing a broken shard of wood from the floor.
Before the disciple could react—
THRACK!
The shard pierced his throat.
Silence.
The disciple froze.
Eyes wide.
Blood poured out.
He collapsed.
Dead.
The room went still.
The other two stared in horror.
"Y-you… you killed him?!"
Lin Ye sat up slowly.
Blood dripped from his face.
But his eyes—
Were no longer human.
[Ding!]
[First Kill Achieved]
[+100 EXP]
[Level Up: 1 → 2]
[Strength +5 | Speed +5]
A surge of power flooded his body.
The pain vanished.
His wounds… began to close.
Lin Ye clenched his fist.
"So this… is power…"
The remaining disciples trembled.
"Monster…!"
They turned to run.
But Lin Ye stood.
Faster than before.
Much faster.
"You're not leaving."