"Enemy attack! Retreat!"
The desperate cries echoed across the battlefield.
Shen Yue's heart sank. Panic surged through his veins as he looked at his uncle, lying unconscious and severely wounded. His mind blanked for a moment—he didn't know what to do. The chaos around him blurred. More cries rang out in the background.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
His eyes suddenly caught sight of a distant dust cloud—Barbarian cavalry. They were charging straight toward them, their warhorses thundering across the plain. At most, they had ten minutes before being trampled.
He gritted his teeth.
"I can't leave Uncle behind… I have to do something!"
His hand flew to the bag tied tightly around his waist. He tore it open, eyes scanning inside. There—a dark green herbal paste, a few unknown pills, and some sealed scrolls. The medicine looked like mashed tree leaves, rough and pungent. A memory flashed in his mind—he had once seen soldiers use this on open wounds, and their injuries began to heal rapidly.
Without hesitation, Shen Yue ripped a piece of cloth from his sleeve, knelt beside his uncle's rough, unmoving body, and wiped away the blood. The wound wasn't wide, but it was dangerously deep—at least five centimeters. He scooped out the medicine and applied it gently but firmly into the gash.
Seconds passed like hours.
His uncle's bleeding began to slow… then stopped. Moments later, a low growl came from the wounded man.
Shen Yue exhaled sharply.
"Uncle's breathing… it's stabilizing."
His uncle's eyes fluttered open weakly. Recognizing Shen Yue, he gave a faint nod and whispered hoarsely, "Pill… bag…"
Shen Yue scrambled for the pills and quickly fed one to his uncle. The older man swallowed with effort.
Relief flooded Shen Yue's chest—but it didn't last.
He glanced up toward the battlefield.
The cavalry would be here in five minutes.
He turned to check on his squad—only a few injured soldiers remained. The rest had already retreated. In their eyes, he saw quiet acceptance—death.
"I'm no saint," Shen Yue muttered to himself. "I'm not dying for strangers..."
His gaze returned to his uncle—who was now slowly sitting up, strength already returning to his limbs.
Seeing the approaching cavalry, his uncle said nothing. He simply grabbed Shen Yue's hand and stood up with a grunt.
"Move."
Without wasting a second, they began to run toward the nearby forest.
Shen Yue panted as they dashed. He clenched his jaw and whispered silently in his mind:
"System… extract."
Ding!
> System has extracted.
>
He didn't check the rewards. Now wasn't the time.
The forest was dangerous. Wild beasts roamed freely. But it was still safer than staying and facing certain death.
Deeper and deeper they ran, until they finally found a dark, empty cave. His uncle knocked some loose stones over the entrance, sealing it partially. Only then did they allow themselves a breath.
"Sigh..."
His uncle, without a word, searched the cave for dry sticks. Soon, a small fire crackled to life, casting dim shadows across the stone walls.
A long silence passed.
"You stubborn brat," his uncle finally said, his voice rough but filled with emotion.
Shen Yue looked at him. "What else was I supposed to do? Let you die out there?"
"You should have saved yourself," the older man muttered. "You had the chance…"
Shen Yue shook his head. "Uncle, don't. You supported our family through everything. You saved me more times than I can count. If I had abandoned you… how could I face my mother?"
His uncle opened his mouth, then closed it again. Deep down, he knew Shen Yue was right.
A faint smile appeared on his weathered face. "Thank you, my dear nephew."
Shen Yue smiled back.
But their moment of warmth didn't last. Hunger clawed at their stomachs.
His uncle dug into his bag and took out two pieces of dried meat jerky. They chewed slowly, silently, each bite easing the emptiness in their bellies.
"You sleep first," Shen Yue said.
His uncle frowned. "No. I'll watch. You rest."
"Uncle, you're still recovering. This cave is safe enough for now. Please—sleep. I'll keep watch."
After a pause, his uncle nodded. "Wake me in six hours. And if anything happens—don't play hero. Just wake me."
He applied more medicine, swallowed another pill, and lay down on the cold cave floor. Within minutes, his heavy breathing echoed gently.
Shen Yue waited, making sure his uncle had truly fallen asleep.
Then, mentally, he summoned the system.
[System Extracted]
9th Grade Blood Qi Realm ×1
8th Grade Blood Qi Realm ×4
5th Grade Blood Qi Realm ×10
4th Grade Blood Qi Realm ×14
2nd Grade Blood Qi Realm ×20
Low-Grade Sword Talent ×12
Low-Grade Spear Talent ×9
Mid-Grade Ice Spiritual Root (Rare)
His eyes narrowed.
"Hmm… not bad."
Most soldiers were commoners, so high-tier bloodlines or physiques were rare. Still, when his eyes landed on the Mid-Grade Ice Spiritual Root, his jaw clenched in surprise.
"One in ten thousand... and it's mid-grade too? That's extremely rare!"
He quickly opened his system panel.
[System Interface]
Name: Shen Yue
Age: 14
Physique: High-Level Iron-Copper Molting Physique
Bloodline: Mid-Level Flame Scorpion Bloodline
Cultivation: Blood Qi Realm – 9th Grade (89%) (Uninitiated)
Skills:
• Literacy and Knowledge (Great Success) – 9%
• Calisthenics (Small Success) – 2%
• Hyper Sense (Entry) – 5%
Spiritual Root:
• Low-Level Fire Spiritual Root (Mixed) – 0%
• Mid-Grade Ice Spiritual Root (Rare) – 0%
Talent: Extraction
- Mid-Level Sword Talent – 13%
• Low-Level Spear Talent – 9%
• Low-Level Archery Talent – 0%
• Mid-Level Comprehension – 0%
Unique Traits:
• Clones: 0 (Locked)
Stats:
• Strength: 10
• Dexterity: 8.3
• Wisdom: 2.7
• Spirit: 0.9
---
His cultivation was listed as Uninitiated, even though he was at the 9th grade of the Blood Qi Realm.
"System, can I initiate blood qi absorption?" he asked mentally.
No reply.
He tried again:
"Start blood qi absorption."
Suddenly, heat flooded his veins. His blood surged wildly. Shen Yue immediately sat cross-legged and focused. The boiling sensation intensified as his body drew in energy from deep within.
Time passed swiftly.
When he finally opened his eyes, dawn light faintly seeped through cracks in the cave wall. His clothes were drenched in sweat, but his body felt renewed. Stronger. Vital.
"My strength… it feels five times higher!"
But his joy was short-lived.
BOOM!
The cave trembled violently.
Howl!!!
A fierce, soul-shaking howl erupted from the forest outside. The air turned cold.
His uncle jolted awake. "What was that?!"
Shen Yue's face was pale. He pointed to the cave entrance.
There—looming in the misty light—stood a shadows they had never expected to see here. A beast beyond their comprehension.