Shen Yue faced his uncle, Peng Lei, across the dimly lit cave, but an uneasy prickle crawled up his spine. Something was wrong. The way Peng Lei spoke—his voice carried a chilling undertone, a weight that pressed against Shen Yue's chest like a storm cloud. It wasn't the gruff, familiar tone of his uncle. No, this was something ancient, something predatory. Shen Yue's instincts screamed at him to flee, but his feet remained rooted, his mind racing for answers he didn't have time to find.
Before he could dwell on it, a cold, mechanical voice blared in his ears, slicing through his thoughts like a blade.
"[Warning! Warning! Host is in danger!]"
Shen Yue's breath hitched.
"[Immortal presence detected. Possibility of victory: 0.01%. Survival chance: 1 in 10,000. Host must avoid this immortal presence!]"
The words struck him like a hammer. *Immortal?* His heart pounded, each beat echoing in his skull. His widened eyes darted to Peng Lei, whose silhouette seemed to shimmer with an unnatural aura. Moments ago, Shen Yue had clung to the faint hope of outsmarting his uncle, of surviving this encounter. Now, that hope crumbled under the weight of the system's warning. It was like standing before a god—untouchable, unfathomable.
Peng Lei—or whatever inhabited his body—tilted his head, his lips curling into a frown. "Hey, kid," he said, his voice low and mocking. "Ignoring me in the middle of a fight? That's bold."
Shen Yue's body tensed, but before he could react, Peng Lei's foot slammed into his chest with the force of a collapsing mountain.
The cave echoed with a thunderous *boom*. Pain exploded through Shen Yue's ribs as he hurtled backward, blood spraying from his mouth. His body crashed into the stone wall, the impact jarring his bones. He crumpled to the ground, twitching, his vision swimming. Consciousness flickered like a dying flame, but he clung to it, gasping for air.
Peng Lei's eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "Hmph," he muttered, stepping closer. "A normal cultivator—peak Muscle Strengthening, even seventh-stage Qi Absorption—would've died from that. But you…" His lips twisted into a smirk. "You're still breathing."
Shen Yue's chest heaved, each breath a jagged knife in his lungs. He couldn't move, couldn't think. The immortal's presence loomed over him, a predator sizing up its prey. Peng Lei's voice dropped to a murmur, laced with intrigue. "Interesting… truly interesting. How did you survive that?"
Without warning, Peng Lei's hand shot out, seizing Shen Yue by the neck. He lifted the boy effortlessly, like a ragdoll, his grip tightening. Shen Yue choked, his vision darkening as he clawed weakly at the iron-like fingers. A cold, invasive energy surged into his body, slithering through his veins like venom. His limbs went numb, paralyzed by the foreign force.
*Move… damn it, move!* Shen Yue's mind screamed, but his body betrayed him. He could only watch, helpless, as the immortal's energy probed deeper, violating his very essence.
Peng Lei's face remained calm, but inside, his thoughts churned with shock. *This physique…* He traced the contours of Shen Yue's spiritual core, his greed growing. *Perfect Physique? No—only half-complete. But even so…* His eyes gleamed with a manic hunger. *In the Immortal Era, only the Martial God possessed such a body. With this, he ruled the heavens!*
A crazed laugh escaped his lips, echoing in the cave. "Heaven has blessed me!" he roared. "I've decided, boy. I won't kill you… I'll *possess* you. Your body is mine!"
Shen Yue's heart froze. *Possess me?* Panic clawed at his chest, but his voice was trapped, silenced by the crushing grip. *No… I can't die here. Not yet. Not until I've taken my revenge!*
Peng Lei's form shimmered, dissolving into a wisp of soul energy that surged toward Shen Yue's mind. Agony tore through Shen Yue's consciousness, as if his soul were being ripped apart. His body convulsed, his vision fracturing into a kaleidoscope of stars and darkness. Inside his mind, a vast cosmos unfolded—a galaxy of twinkling lights and endless void. The immortal's soul plunged toward his spiritual core, moments from claiming it.
Then, the system's voice cut through the chaos.
"[Warning! Unknown entity detected!]"
Shen Yue's fading awareness clung to those words.
"[Activating System Self-Protection Mode…]"
A blinding light erupted, flooding his mind with searing brilliance. The immortal's soul froze, its form trembling. "What—!?" it hissed, panic lacing its voice for the first time.
"[System has initiated purge.]"
A beam of pure energy lanced through the immortal's soul, shredding it like paper in a storm. The entity's scream was cut short, its essence disintegrating into nothingness.
"[Unknown entity destroyed. Host is now safe.]"
Shen Yue's body went limp. He collapsed to the cave floor, his consciousness slipping into darkness.
---
Time blurred, an endless void of pain and silence. When Shen Yue's eyes fluttered open, a sharp, stabbing ache pulsed through his skull, as if needles were burrowing into his brain. His body screamed with every movement, muscles bruised and torn. But he was alive.
Memories flooded back—the devastating kick, the immortal's attempt to seize his body, and the system's blinding intervention. He groaned, pushing himself up on trembling arms. Each motion was torture, but he gritted his teeth, crawling toward the lifeless body of Peng Lei.
"You're gone," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "I've… taken your revenge."
His fists clenched, nails biting into his palms. Tears blurred his vision, but his resolve burned brighter than ever. He wouldn't falter now. Not after surviving the impossible.
"System," he rasped. "Extract."
"[Extraction complete. 9th Realm Blood Qi extracted. Demonic Heart extracted.]"
A strange warmth pulsed through his body, invigorating yet unsettling. Shen Yue's brow furrowed at the mention of *Demonic Heart*. "Demonic Heart?" he muttered, his voice tinged with unease. The name carried a malevolent weight, an ancient aura that sent a shiver down his spine. "Was this… what drew that immortal here?"
He exhaled, steadying his racing thoughts. *No use worrying now. The system's with me.* With a mental command, he summoned his status interface.
---
**[System Interface]**
**Name:** Shen Yue
**Age:** 14
**Physique:** Unmatched Iron-Copper Frame
**Bloodline:**
- Mid-Level Flame Scorpion
- High-Level Raging Wind Royal Wolf (Rare) – 43%
**Cultivation:**
- Muscle Strengthening – 2nd Grade (23%)
- Beast Qi – 2nd Rank Beast
**Skills:**
- Literacy & Knowledge (Great Success) – 9%
- Calisthenics (Small Success) – 13%
- Hyper Sense – 42%
- Raging Wind Wolf Steps (Beginner) – 0%
**Spiritual Core:**
- Low-Level Fire (Mixed) – 13%
- Mid-Level Ice (Rare) – 0%
**Talents:**
- Mid-Level Sword – 17%
- Low-Level Spear – 9%
- Low-Level Archery – 0%
- Mid-Level Insight – 0%
- **Demonic Heart** – 0%
**Unique Traits:**
- Clones: 0 (Locked)
**Stats:**
- Strength: 46
- Dexterity: 39
- Wisdom: 10.2
- Essence: 4.7
---
Shen Yue's eyes scanned the changes. His cultivation had surged, his stats nearly doubled. His Raging Wind Wolf Steps had reached the beginner stage, a small but welcome improvement. But his gaze lingered on the new entry: *Demonic Heart*. Curiosity and caution warred within him as he selected it.
"[Demonic Heart – Immortal-Level Talent]"
"A rare talent of the ancient Demon Heart species, long extinct. Feared for its boundless potential. Current abilities:
- **Infinity Heal:** As long as the host survives instant death, all injuries regenerate.
- **Heart Control:** The host may implant a Demon Heart in others, using it as a vessel for reincarnation or to control their life and death."
Shen Yue's breath caught. *Immortality… almost.* His mind reeled at the power. If he wasn't killed outright, he'd heal endlessly. And *Heart Control*—the ability to dominate others' lives? It was godlike, a double-edged sword that both thrilled and unnerved him.
"Let's try it," he murmured, focusing on *Infinity Heal*. A warm pulse spread through his body, knitting torn muscles and soothing bruises. In moments, his injuries vanished, his strength restored.
"[Injury recovery complete. Host is now eligible to enter the Qi Realm. Proceed?]"
"Yes!" Shen Yue's voice was resolute. He settled cross-legged, closing his eyes. A gentle energy flowed into him, soft as a river's current, unlike the wild beast energy he'd tamed before. It caressed his spirit, guiding him deeper into cultivation.
An hour later, his eyes snapped open, gleaming with triumph.
"[Congratulations. Host has entered the Qi Realm. Clone creation unlocked.]"
A grin spread across his face. He was stronger now, closer to his goals. But as his gaze drifted back to *Demonic Heart*, a shadow of doubt crept into his heart. The power was immense, but its name whispered of something ancient, something perilous.
"What have I truly awakened?" he murmured, his voice barely audible in the silent cave. The system offered no answer, and the weight of the unknown settled over him like a storm on the horizon.