Inside the shark's stomach—it wasn't just any shark. It was the size of three boats stacked atop one another. Its mouth was truly cavernous, like a massive cave.
"By all things that exist, why am I inside a shark's stomach?" Zhang Yong grumbled, sitting cross-legged, resting his head on his arm.
Surprisingly, he was still alive—and unexpectedly comfortable. Occasionally, the shark opened its mouth and swallowed fish. Some reached him, others passed him by into the deeper stomach.
Even the algae the shark ate had been fashioned into a bed and pillow. If it weren't for the fact he was inside a shark, life would almost be considered luxurious.
He stood up and surveyed the surroundings. "Alright, let's assess this. Three ways out. First: slash my way out. But the problem is what's outside. If there's a nearby pack, I won't be so lucky. Besides, I'm at a disadvantage underwater."
"Second option: wait until I'm digested and passed out… or maybe wait until it opens its mouth. But that's not really a solution—it's the same ending as the first."
"Third option—the one with the highest success rate—I slice my arm and let my blood drop into its stomach. It's still the toxic blood of ice and fire , after all.
While this poison can't compare to the full-physique poison, it should cause enough internal damage.
Then I'll inflict more wounds from the inside to make it feel pain, and it might swim to the surface."
"I really don't know how long I've been in here."
(You've been here for two days.)
"I didn't expect that. Well, let's do it."
Zhang Yong grabbed his sword and sliced into his own arm. Blood flowed like a river into the shark's stomach. Seconds later, everything began to rumble.
"It's already reacting."
Zhang Yong began striking the stomach walls with precise cuts. Not strong enough to slash all the way through, but not too weak either—they caused enough internal damage.
The vibrations grew more intense, then began to slow. At that moment, he knew—it was now or never.
He sprinted forward, and the moment the shark opened its mouth, he shattered its teeth and leaped out into the bloody ocean. At least he hadn't ended up far from the surface.
Within seconds, he burst through the water's surface, gasping for air He scanned the horizon and spotted a nearby shore. He swam toward it.
Reaching land, he walked a few steps and collapsed beneath a small rocky hill, about fifteen meters high.
"What luck I have with monsters. One bit my shoulder, another broke my bones, and now I've been swallowed. What's next, a monster falling on me from the sky?"
Suddenly, a large shadow fell over Zhang Yong. He immediately rolled aside. A massive frog crashed down where he'd been lying.
"Damn my big mouth," Zhang Yong muttered dryly. It felt like a twisted joke.
He drew his sword, but the frog's tongue lashed out, wrapping around the blade, trying to snatch it away.
"You want this? In your dreams."
With his other hand, he summoned the Mountain-Splitting Axe, extending its staff to the length of two spears and shrinking the blade, transforming it into a halberd-like weapon. He swung the axe and sliced off the frog's tongue.
As the frog screamed in pain, Zhang Yong enlarged the axe massively and brought it down, splitting the beast in two.
With the resistance gone, he returned his weapons to the inventory and approached the corpse.
"Damn, I accidentally broke its core. I knew I should've cut horizontally."
He cursed in frustration, then walked a few steps and lay back to rest.
While lying down, a chase unfolded nearby. Five men pursued a fleeing girl. Strangely, they passed near Zhang Yong.
"You won't escape, girl!" one shouted.
"Just hand over the technique and we might spare your life," another threatened.
"As if I'd hand it to you!" she snapped, still running.
Eventually, she reached the shore—the end of the line. The sea was corrosive. Even Zhang Yong wasn't immune. With his body and stamina, he could resist it a while, but not forever.
She stood facing the bloody sea, searching for an escape, but the five men surrounded her.
"Hey, you all!" Zhang Yong barked in irritation. "Take your crap elsewhere—I want to rest."
Everyone turned toward him, immediately trying to gauge his level.
"What's going on? I can't read this guy's level."
"Could he be a powerful martial artist?"
"Maybe I could ask him for help," the girl thought, desperate.
"I said—leave me alone!" Zhang Yong shouted again.
One of the five straightened and bowed politely. "Ah, Senior, forgive us. We'll end it quickly."
"Wait!" the girl cried. "Senior, can you save me from them?"
Zhang Yong lifted his upper body and glanced at her. She looked at him with puppy-dog eyes. Coldly, he spat to the side.
"Not my problem. When You entered the shrine—your life is your own responsibility."
He lay back down, uninterested. Why should her life matter more than his? It didn't
Only fools throw away their lives for a woman they don't even know. Zhang Yong didn't support killing, nor did he oppose it. Just because she was a girl, should he save her? Let her go to hell.
Countless lives die each day, and countless are born. She was just one among millions. What made her special?
Maybe if he knew her , then he will try and help but helping a stranger that can betray any time?
How can you know who's right and who's wrong , every human is greedy , so let him be greedy as well
He heard the sound of battle. Blood sprayed. The five men killed the girl and took what they wanted.
One of them approached Zhang Yong and bowed. "Thank you, Senior, for not interfering. Please accept this small gift."
He placed a pouch on the ground and Zhang Yong already knew why—connections.
Many relied on connections, but in the end, before true strength, connections meant nothing. Even an army of a thousand Master-rank fighters wouldn't equal one person at the King realm.
Still, he took the pouch and watched them leave.
"Alright, let's see..." He opened it. "What the—five hundred spirit stones?!"
He coughed and slowly put them in his inventory
With the stones he now had, he could definitely ascend to the second stage of his Body Technique.
He stored them away and noticed something else—a badge he had obtained earlier. He pulled it out and examined it. No change.
"Maybe I need to infuse it with spiritual energy? Ling Xi, do you know anything about this?"
Ling Xi emerged and examined the badge. "Try bringing it to your forehead and inserting your mental energy."
Zhang Yong did as instructed. A blue light glowed from the badge, and numbers appeared:
"8/10"
Seeing this puzzled him. "Does that mean eight people have obtained badges?"
He thought deeply. If that was the case, it wouldn't be surprising.
He stood for a moment, then heard birds chirping. Turning, he saw something odd—a small bird had fallen from a tree.
Looking up, he saw its nest.
"Fell from its nest, huh?"
He knelt, picked it up gently, and placed it back in its nest.
"Many lives are born each day. Many die as well."
A peaceful smile touched his lips.
"Every being has a chance to live—and a chance to die. Life shows no mercy. Someday, many will die. Someday, many will be born."
He turned away and walked calmly.
"Even I will die one day. I'm no exception, not different. I was just allowed one last glimpse of this world. But the difference is—I'll live what's left my way."
Zhang Yong already knew—his time was running out. His life energy was low. He likely had only ten years left.
His life had been both long and short and he couldn't stop himself from remembering his time with Shrek monsters, in that time , he was trying his best not to change the destiny , but what did that bought him?
"This world taught me something. Just because someone was born a protagonist doesn't mean they'll stay one. Whether you remain a side character or not is your choice. I isolated myself once, but they still treated me as one of them. If we meet again—I'll repay that kindness."
He closed his eyes briefly. "Through the bond between me and Kuro, I can sense her location. I'll follow the signal."
With that, he sprinted at full speed toward the signal.
Trees blurred past as if they'd crash into him, but he weaved through effortlessly, accelerating.
He passed many beasts—some fighting humans, and humans fighting each other. Some of the same species fought—like civil wars.
Conflicts were everywhere. But Zhang Yong didn't even glance.
Wherever you go, there will be battle.
He ran for two hours straight, finally reaching the end of the forest. Before him lay a great mountain valley.
"The signal is here. It can't be far."
Zhang Yong charged in. From a distance, he saw shadows—two versus three.
"That bastard. Every time I disappear, he ends up getting beaten. At least he's not a Heaven's Son."
Upon reaching the scene, Zhang Yong's eyes widened. A sword wound ran across Su Ming's body—from right shoulder to left hip.
But what enraged him most was Kuro—her wing was missing feathers.
A wave of terrifying killing intent exploded from him.
"YOU! Who dared lay a hand on my daughter?!"
Everyone froze.
Su Ming's eyes lit up. "Zhang Yong! You're still—"
Before he could finish, Zhang Yong was beside Kuro, gently holding her wing.
"My sweet daughter, who hurt you?"
Kuro raised her wing and pointed at the man in front 'That one, Dad'
Zhang Yong turned slowly, murderous aura still suffocating them.
"You… will die for touching my daughter."
Cold sweat poured from the three men's backs. Their bodies trembled.
The leader stammered, "W-we didn't mean—"
"DIE!"
Zhang Yong lunged, grabbing the leader's face and tearing it open—flesh, veins, and all.
As he screamed, Zhang Yong's arm pierced his chest and crushed his heart.
The other two pissed themselves, crying in fear.
Zhang Yong tore off the second man's head, then pounced on the third, punching him into the ground until the earth shook.
"NO ONE touches my daughter!"
He pummeled the last man's face until it was unrecognizable mush, then hurled him into a wall.
Without pause, he followed with a relentless barrage of punches.
This wasn't a fight—it was a one-sided massacre.
All three were dead.
Zhang Yong turned to Su Ming and exhaled.
"Su Ming, why is it that every time I leave you, you end up injured or surrounded? Do you like getting beaten? Just tell me—I'll help next time by myself"
Su Ming groaned. "You think I want this? I found a high-grade herb—of course it drew a fight."
Kuro had quietly approached and talked through the bond in their minds
'Dad... His wound was from protecting me'
Zhang Yong gently patted her head. 'I see. Go rest now.'
With that, he returned her to the pet space, then tossed a healing pill to Su Ming.
"Take it."
Su Ming caught it, examined it briefly, then swallowed it. He sat cross-legged and began absorbing its effects.
Ten minutes later, he opened his eyes and smiled.
"This pill… amazing! It healed me like magic. Zhang Yong, where did you get this? Judging by its potency, it must be third or fourth tier. Its healing effect is miraculous."
Zhang Yong tilted his head. "Really? I don't know. I honestly don't even know what its limits are."
(System prompt: Host, please remove the badge from your inventory.)
Upon hearing the alert, Zhang Yong took out the badge and examined it.
"10/10"
The badge began to glow, and suddenly, Zhang Yong was enveloped in blue light.
"What's happening?!" he exclaimed as the light swallowed him.