The sky was clear, but Ye Xue Han's thoughts were a storm.
He sat alone in the small wooden house his parents had left behind — one of the only things they had left him. The awakening ceremony was over, but its bitter aftertaste still lingered like iron on his tongue.
C-rank… just C-rank.
Fifteen years of surviving, waiting, enduring — and this was the path fate had given him?
He stared blankly at the wooden floor. The silence pressed in like fog. He had once thought, maybe, just maybe, there was something different about him. After all, he had memories from another world. He had always believed his golden finger — his cheat, his advantage — would come eventually.
But it never had.
Fifteen years in this cold, pragmatic world where strength ruled everything… and now that his talent had awakened, it was barely passable. C-grade. Just 57% aperture capacity. Nothing special. Nothing enviable.
No one's going to invest in someone like me. At best, I can become a Rank 2 Gu Master… maybe.Rank 3? That might as well be a dream.
He rubbed his face and let out a quiet sigh. "So this is it, huh?"
No miracles. No systems. No divine guidance.
Fine, he thought bitterly. If there's no help coming, then I'll just have to survive. Even if I crawl, even if I'm forgotten.
His gaze shifted to the small wooden box beside his bedding. Inside were the remnants of what his parents had left him — their entire legacy.
Forty-two primeval stones. Not a lot. Barely enough to buy a low-tier Gu worm and afford his daily cultivation expenses for a few months. But it was better than nothing.
His house was small, a single room with a thatched roof and creaking doors, but it was his, and no one could take it from him.
His father, Ye Xue Heng, had been a middle stage Rank 2 Gu Master. His mother, Xue Ruo, was a Rank 1 Peak cultivator. Six years ago, during the last great beast tide, both had perished defending a commoner village on the outskirts.
The image of that time was still vivid — how the Lion-Maned Hippopotamus had crashed through their ranks, its bloated, armored body carrying terrifying momentum, its roaring maw snapping Gu Masters in half. Semi-aquatic beasts like that were native to the thick jungles at the center of Twin Fang Island and would occasionally migrate, causing the infamous beast tides that forced both clans to mobilize.
The name "Twin Fang Island" was no metaphor. The landmass was shaped by two massive crescent cuts, like jaws cleaved into the island's sides. On the eastern fang sat the Ye Clan's village, where Ye Xue Han lived. The surrounding region housed scattered commoner villages, supplying the clan with resources and manpower.
In the center, the untamed jungle reigned, full of wild Gu, beasts, and natural treasures — and dangers.
On the opposite fang, to the west, lay the Zhi Clan's territory. The ancient rivals of the Ye Clan.
Both clans claimed they were the original settlers of Twin Fang Island. Each side told its own version of history, painting the other as invaders and usurpers. The truth had long been buried beneath blood and grudges.
There hadn't been open war between the clans in decades — not since the last generation's leaders died. But lately, tension had been building.
Rumors were spreading: the current Zhi Clan Leader, Zhi Bing Xuan, had advanced to Middle Rank 4. A dangerous stage — one that tilted the power balance of the island. In contrast, Ye Shui Jin, the Ye Clan's current leader, was still at Initial Rank 4, with no signs of further breakthrough.
Everyone in the clan was on edge. Even a single small-scale conflict could spiral into a war neither side wanted.
Ye Xue Han's hand dropped to his lap.
The academy opened tomorrow, and with it came the first major decision in his cultivation journey: choosing his vital Gu.
He already knew the answer.
Water Path.
It wasn't his preference, but it was the Ye Clan's main path — their foundation, their tradition, their best-resourced branch. Techniques, Gu recipes, elder guidance — all leaned heavily into Water Path cultivation. Anything else would be more expensive, more difficult, and draw more attention than he could afford.
Play it safe, he told himself. Stay within the system. Hide your teeth until they're sharp enough to bite.
He looked out the window as the evening sun turned the sea red. The world was cruel. But he would endure it.
Even if it killed him.
—
The next morning came swiftly.
The village's small academy sat at the edge of a stone terrace overlooking the sea, mist rising from the crashing waves below. The worn building was old, its wooden beams etched with decades of names, memories, and forgotten dreams.
Today, nearly thirty youths stood in formation, their new Gu Master robes still stiff and unfamiliar. Ye Xue Han stood near the back, hands clasped behind his back, listening.
At the front of the crowd, a thin, gray-robed elder stood on a raised stone platform. His voice was clear, and though his figure was stooped, his gaze swept over the crowd with sharp awareness.
This was Elder Ye Rong Shui, headmaster of the clan's academy and a Rank 3 Middle stage Gu Master. He had no children of his own and was not connected to the B-rank talents — making him one of the few elders without personal stakes in the current generation.
"From this day forward," Ye Rong Shui spoke, his voice firm but not unkind, "you are no longer just children of the Ye Clan. You are Gu Masters. You now stand on the first step of the path toward power — the ability to protect your kin, to guard your homes, and perhaps, to shape the fate of this island."
A soft breeze rustled the ceremonial banners, carrying his words through the courtyard.
"Do not forget," he continued, "this is not a game. The world outside our walls is cold and cruel. The Zhi Clan watches us from across the fang. The jungle hungers, and the tides rise when they please. You have earned your awakening — now earn your future."
Ye Xue Han listened quietly, eyes lowered, expression unreadable. Around him, a few children stood a little straighter. Most didn't understand the true weight of the world yet.
But he did.
"The first step of cultivation begins with your vital Gu," Ye Rong Shui said. "These are your companions, your tools, your weapons. Today, each of you will step into the Gu Hall and choose your beginning. Remember: some paths are easier than others, but none are without cost."
The selection began.
As expected, the three B-rank youths were called first. They each stepped forward proudly — sons and nieces of three of the clan's five elders. A few envious glances followed, but no one protested. It was the way of the world.
Ten minutes passed. Then twenty.
Finally, after nearly thirty-five minutes, Ye Xue Han heard his name.
"Ye Xue Han," Elder Ye Rong Shui called calmly. "You may enter."
He looked up.
His legs felt heavier than they should have. His heart beat once — hard — then settled. This is it. The first real decision of his new life.
He stepped forward slowly, steadying his breath.
No matter what's ahead… I'll walk it.
And with that, he walked toward the Gu Hall, leaving the crowd behind him.