Chapter One
In a village called the Village of Purification lived a boy who always mocked this place in his mind. His name was Ares. He was an orphan: his father had been a hunter, and his mother died during childbirth. Later, his father also died — he was killed by a bear. At that time, Ares was only five years old.
It was then that something inside his mind snapped.
After that incident, Ares shut himself off from the world.
During the first few years, Ares survived on what he could grow himself. Fortunately, his father had left behind enough supplies to last him for a while. After that, Ares carefully stored and rationed everything he managed to grow.
In his free time, Ares trained with a bow and an axe. However, he dreamed of wielding a greater weapon — but where could a mere orphan obtain something like that?
In addition, Ares practiced wood carving, and surprisingly, he became quite skilled at it. After two years of living alone, he began selling his carved figurines to a caravan that visited the village and nearby settlements every few months.
Why did Ares mock this village?
The reason was simple: all the villagers clung to the past. Hundreds of years ago, one of their own had joined an immortal sect and reached the stage of Qi Purification.
Ares found it ridiculous.
How could anyone live clinging to someone else's past?
One should strive to achieve greatness on their own.
That was Ares's belief.
That was why he trained relentlessly from the age of five.
Now, at just ten years old, Ares was already very tall for his age — about 165 centimeters.
On this day, he sat calmly on a bench, sharpening wooden arrows. Today, he planned to go on his first real hunt. After an hour, Ares had prepared thirty-two arrows and sharpened his axe.
"Everything is ready," he said quietly, adjusting his quiver.
With a faint smile, he headed toward the forest.
As Ares walked through the noisy village streets, some people glanced at him, but no one said a word.
After all, this world was cruel. Who would care about a child they barely even knew?
Ares didn't care. Thirty minutes later, he arrived at the forest.
The moment he stepped inside, he immediately began moving as silently as possible.
My goal is to catch a rabbit or something similar.
He clearly understood that hunting anything larger could cost him his life.
Ares moved cautiously through the forest until he noticed fresh rabbit tracks. Without hesitation, he followed them.
After half an hour, he found a burrow.
Without hesitation, Ares drew his bowstring.
He felt a slight thrill.
The next moment, the arrow flew — and a sharp, unpleasant squeal echoed through the forest.
Ares quickly approached, pulled out the rabbit, and slit its throat with his axe.
Warm blood poured over his hands.
But Ares did not feel fear.
On the contrary — he felt excitement.
He had never experienced anything more pleasurable.
Having achieved his goal, he began heading home. However, after about ten minutes, relaxed and satisfied, Ares lost his vigilance.
Suddenly, a wild boar burst out of the bushes.
The only thing Ares managed to do was cross his arms in front of him.
The impact was devastating.
He was thrown against a tree.
A sharp, piercing pain shot through his body.
But Ares instantly assessed the situation. The boar had knocked him toward a tree — which meant he had a chance.
Ignoring the pain in his left arm, he quickly climbed up the tree.
His bow, arrows, and axe were tightly secured to his body — he hadn't lost anything.
Even now, he felt no fear.
Only excitement.
He had two choices: wait for the boar to leave… or kill it.
Ares chose the second.
Ignoring the pain, he began shooting.
But his weapons were too weak — the arrows barely scratched the beast's thick hide.
He quickly reconsidered.
And chose madness.
Only one arrow remained.
He aimed for the eye.
All his previous attempts had failed.
Ares took a deep breath, focused—
He released the arrow.
And it struck straight into the boar's eye.
The beast let out a furious scream.
Without hesitation, Ares grabbed his axe and leaped down, striking mid-fall.
But he missed slightly — the blow hit the front leg.
The leg wasn't severed, but the boar became noticeably slower.
Ares immediately got up and leaped onto its back.
It was difficult to hold on.
The beast thrashed violently, trying to throw him off.
But Ares tightened his grip with his legs and began striking its head repeatedly with the axe.
He only stopped when he saw that the skull had been reduced to a bloody mess.
"Ha… ha… ha…"
Ares laughed madly.
He felt overwhelming pleasure.
At that moment, he realized what he wanted from life.
To fight.
To fight…
And to fight again.
After catching his breath, he gathered his strength and, ignoring the pain — especially in his left arm — dragged the boar home.
It took him over two hours.
The villagers looked at him with shock and disbelief.
But no one asked if he was alright.
In any case, Ares didn't need that.
After washing up, he took some money and went to the only doctor in the village.
A few minutes later, he arrived. After waiting briefly, he entered.
The doctor looked like an ordinary middle-aged man: short black hair with hints of gray and a thin build.
After examining Ares, the first thing he asked was:
"Do you have money?"
Without a word, Ares tossed a pouch of copper coins onto the table.
The doctor ignored the rudeness, carefully counted the coins, and nodded.
"That's enough. Let's begin."
He set the bone in Ares's arm, which had shifted during the fight.
The pain was intense, but Ares didn't even flinch.
Some time later, he returned home with his arm in a cast.
Once home, he began butchering his prey — the boar and the rabbit.
Doing it with one hand was difficult, but by nightfall, he managed.
He stored the meat in the cellar and hung the hides to dry.
After finishing everything, Ares, exhausted but satisfied, lay down to sleep.