The arrogant gaze of the young cultivator, Lục Viễn, swept over Mộc Phàm, lingering on his sturdy hands and powerful build. He couldn't sense any spiritual energy from Mộc Phàm, but a cultivator's intuition told him that this mortal was far from ordinary.
"Do you... wish to join a sect for cultivation?" Lục Viễn suddenly asked, a calculating glint in his eyes. "With this strength, even without spirit roots, you could be an outer disciple assigned to heavy tasks, or join the sect's army. You might even be granted some body-strengthening pills."
The villagers murmured. For mortals, entering a sect, even just as a handyman, was a distant dream, an opportunity to escape a life of poverty. Mộc Phàm's parents also looked at him with hopeful anticipation.
But Mộc Phàm knew better. His path was different. He didn't need ordinary body-strengthening pills, and he didn't want to be bound to a system he didn't belong to. More importantly, he didn't want the secret of the nameless stone and his "Qi Sea" to be discovered.
"Thank you for the immortal's kind offer, but Mộc Phàm is only accustomed to village life; I dare not dream of the immortal gate," Mộc Phàm replied, his voice calm and unwavering.
Lục Viễn frowned. He hadn't expected a mortal to dare refuse. "Are you a fool? This is a once-in-a-thousand-year opportunity!"
Just then, another middle-aged cultivator, seemingly the leader of the group, stepped forward. He had a more imposing demeanor, his sharp gaze sweeping over Mộc Phàm and Lục Viễn. "Lục Viễn, that's enough. What use is a mortal without spirit roots? Our goal is to inspect the earth veins here, not to seek out miscellaneous items."
He looked at Mộc Phàm with cold eyes. "Even if you possess unusual strength, in this world, without spirit roots, you will forever be a weak mortal. Do not try to stand out, or you will invite disaster upon yourself."
That warning was like a sharp knife piercing Mộc Phàm's mind. He understood. No matter how strong he became, he was still not a cultivator. His "blood qi" strength, though extraordinary in the eyes of mortals, would it be anything against a Core Formation cultivator, or a Nascent Soul Grand Ancestor?
After the group of cultivators departed, life in Mộc Loan returned to its usual tranquility, but in Mộc Phàm's heart, a seed of unease had sprouted. The words of the middle-aged cultivator felt like a prophecy. He had become too prominent.
A few days later, a horrifying event occurred.
That night, a pack of demonic wolves suddenly attacked Mộc Loan village. They weren't the small demonic beasts Mộc Phàm usually dealt with, but adult demonic wolves, their eyes glowing red, their fangs sharp, emitting a ferocious aura. Clearly, they had been controlled by someone or agitated by something.
The villagers screamed, fleeing in disarray. Mộc Phàm immediately charged forward, his "Qi Sea" churning wildly, transforming him into a whirlwind of power. He punched, kicked, and grappled with the demonic wolves. Growls and the sound of breaking bones echoed throughout the village. Mộc Phàm was much stronger, but the demonic wolves were too numerous and incredibly fierce.
He protected his parents and the villagers, but he couldn't prevent the entire tragedy. A few villagers had fallen. In a critical moment, a large, black-furred alpha wolf lunged at his father. Mộc Phàm roared, pouring all his strength into a "Blood Qi Burst" punch that instantly killed the wolf.
But at that very moment, a black-robed cultivator appeared in mid-air, his gaze coldly fixed on the chaos below. He showed no expression, merely a gentle wave of his hand. Instantly, a surge of swirling black energy shot down, entwining Mộc Phàm. He felt his entire body bound, his strength dissipating, unable to move.
"A mere mortal dares to defy me?" The black-robed cultivator spoke with disdain. "You've caused too much trouble."
Mộc Phàm didn't understand. Why was he being targeted? Was his extraordinary strength a crime?
Just then, Lục Viễn and the group of cultivators from before reappeared, their faces filled with surprise at the sight of the black-robed cultivator. "Senior Black Wind! What are you doing here?"
"Hmph, Lục Viễn. I'm just here to clean up a little mess caused by this mortal. He's drawing too much attention to this area," the Black Wind cultivator replied coldly, his hand tightening the black energy binding Mộc Phàm.
Mộc Phàm realized. It wasn't a random wolf attack; it was a conspiracy. He was being targeted. He was a thorn in the side of those who didn't want mortals to possess strength.
In that life-or-death moment, a flash of light streaked through Mộc Phàm's mind. The stone in his pouch suddenly heated up, emitting an incredibly strong burst of cold energy that pierced through the black energy binding him. That familiar sensation caused his "Qi Sea" to suddenly erupt, an invisible force breaking the shackles.
Mộc Phàm tumbled to the ground, coughing violently. He looked up at the Black Wind cultivator with hatred. "You...!"
The Black Wind cultivator was startled. "Interesting! A mortal can escape my Black Spirit Lock? It seems you do possess some secrets."
He didn't hesitate further; a stronger surge of black energy swirled down, this time carrying clear killing intent.
In that moment of desperation, Mộc Phàm's parents rushed forward, shielding him with their bodies. "Phàm'er! Run!"
The image of his parents collapsing under the black-robed cultivator's cruel attack was etched into Mộc Phàm's mind. A furious roar, not of a human but of a wild beast, erupted from his throat. The "blood qi" within him exploded, devoid of control or reason.
However, Mộc Phàm knew he couldn't fight back. He turned, flying towards the edge of the forest, clutching the nameless stone, carrying immense pain and deep hatred.
Mộc Loan village was engulfed in flames. Mộc Phàm was no longer a mortal bound by his homeland. He had been pushed out of his safe cocoon, forced to confront the brutal cultivation world, with a single goal: revenge and to find a path to become stronger, so strong that no one could oppress him again.