Chapter 2

Lin was shocked to discover a spirit weapon. His smile nearly split his face with excitement.

He stepped forward and grabbed the scythe.

The moment his grip tightened around it, the scythe began glowing with a brilliant red light. Lin tried to let go, but it had become fused to his hand.

A strange energy flowed out of the blade and entered Lin's body.

He felt an unusual sensation. His soul began to fade away, while another soul started forming in its place.

When the energy finally stopped flowing from the blade, Lin collapsed to the ground unconscious.

Half an hour later, he opened his eyes and stood up.

A sinister smile appeared on his face, and he burst into loud laughter.

"It worked! I have returned once again in the body of this weak young man. How much time has passed since my original body died?"

Suddenly, Lin fell to his knees, clutching his head.

"What is this terrible pain?!"

The memories of the body's previous owner began flooding into his mind.

After five minutes of intense agony, he finally managed to stand.

"So the owner of this body was called Wang Lin. A worthless nobody who couldn't even open the Energy Pathway in his body."

He took the ring from the former owner's hand and retrieved a Fifth-Grade Body Tempering Pill from it.

After consuming it, he sat down to meditate.

Five minutes later, he opened his eyes.

He had successfully opened the Energy Pathway within his body and reached the First Realm of Body Tempering.

Fortunately, there were still some useful items inside the ring.

He took out a jar.

"Good. There is still some Seventh-Level Spirit Beast Blood left."

He drank the blood and threw the empty jar aside.

Removing his clothes, he began training.

His muscles and tendons started tearing apart. The pain was so intense that he nearly fainted.

"What nonsense is this? Why is this body so weak?"

He took out a Fifth-Grade Healing Pill from the ring, swallowed it, and continued training.

The healing pill accelerated the recovery of his muscles and tendons, but the pain remained unbearable.

Finally, after half an hour, the training was complete.

His muscles had become stronger and more defined, while his tendons had grown tougher.

He put his clothes back on and prepared to leave.

Picking up the scythe from the ground, he stored it inside his Void Ring.

He stepped out of the crevice and looked at the bright sunlight with a smile.

"Here we are again. I have returned from nothingness to pursue everything."

His gaze shifted southward, toward the Spirit Beast Forest.

"I should head to the Spirit Beast Forest to meet the Black Dragon. But with this weak body, I would probably die before reaching him. For now, I should return to the village."

He descended the mountain and headed toward the village.

This time, however, he was not returning as the weak and timid Lin who always walked with his head lowered.

No.

This Lin was completely different—stronger, smarter, and walking proudly with his head held high.

After entering the village, he looked at the familiar faces around him.

He made his way to the Wang family residence, opened the door, and headed toward his room.

As he passed by his father, Wang Kai noticed something different about him.

He examined his son carefully.

"What am I seeing? He has opened the Energy Pathway in his body and reached the First Realm of Body Tempering."

Wang Kai called out to him.

"Wait, Lin."

Lin stopped and turned around to find his father approaching him.

Wang Kai placed a hand on his shoulder.

"This is incredible, my son. How did you manage to open your Energy Pathway after being unable to do so for so long?"

Lin looked at his father with a strange smile.

"There is nothing remarkable about it, Father. I simply trained harder this time, and it seems fate finally smiled upon me."

Wang Kai felt something unusual about his son's smile, but his attention remained focused on Lin's breakthrough.

Lin entered his room and closed the door.

"I need to be more careful with my training. This old man asks too many questions."

He took a crystal sphere from his ring.

"For now, I should remain patient before carrying out my plan."

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

He returned the sphere to the ring and said,

"Come in."

The door opened, and Ming stepped inside.

"This is wonderful. You've finally managed to take a single step forward."

Lin responded with the same strange smile.

"Thank you for your concern, little brother. But I'm very tired and need some rest."

"I see. Sorry for disturbing you."

Ming left the room and closed the door behind him.

As he walked away, he thought to himself:

"There's something different about Lin. It's as if I'm speaking to a completely different person."

---

The next day, the Village Chief arrived accompanied by ten examiners, all of whom had reached the Fifth Realm of Peak Body Tempering.

The Village Chief prepared to deliver a speech to the novice cultivators.

Lin arrived late and saw numerous trainees gathered around the Village Chief.

The Village Chief began speaking:

"Talented youths of Luochun Village, you are the future of the Western Lands. You are the ones who will elevate this small village to greater heights.

I have brought with me these distinguished seniors, who will select the best among you and train you so that you may be prepared for the Immortal Dragon Gathering Youth Trials.

The trials will take place three months from now.

I know we have started late, but arriving late is better than never arriving at all."

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