Within the main hall of the manor outside Tianji City, Starlight State, a faint woody fragrance lingered in the air of the Emerald Aura Confederacy.
Leonard stood upright before his father, his luxurious robe embroidered with the family crest. "Father, in a few days it will be my academy mentor's birthday," he said respectfully, though ambition flickered in his eyes. "I wish to prepare a proper gift. Gaining his favor could greatly advance my cultivation path."
The manor lord tapped his fingers thoughtfully on the carved armchair's armrest. "Spirit fish from Misty Hidden Lake are ideal gifts—their flesh is tender and rich in pure ESSENCE."
"But they hunt in packs," Leonard protested. "Capturing them is no easy feat."
A cold glint flashed in the older man's eyes. "The manor's weaker slaves are expendable. Let them serve as bait."
Word spread quickly among the slaves. "The manor lord shows mercy!" the steward announced, his voice booming across the courtyard. "Selected workers will transfer to the southern farm for easier duties with guaranteed meals!"
Silas frowned from his place in the crowd. Such "opportunities" never came to the lowest caste. Yet as a recent arrival, he had no choice but to step forward when his name was called.
Emma tugged his sleeve. "This feels wrong," she whispered. "Don't go."
Silas forced a smile. "The stewards are watching. I'll be careful." He squeezed her hand before joining the departing group.
After hours of travel, they arrived at Misty Hidden Lake—a vast expanse of dark green water ringed by jagged cliffs, its surface swirling with mist and the faint metallic tang of blood.
"Wait—this isn't a farm!" a slave cried, paling.
The steward unsheathed his blade with a sinister grin. "You're here to attract spirit fish."
Chaos erupted. An old slave charged forward. "This is murder!"
The steward moved in a blur—the aura of the Wildness Initial Bloom Realm surrounding him as his blade fell. The old man's head rolled into the lake, crimson spreading like ink.
"Resistance means death," the steward declared, kicking the corpse into the water. "Let your blood summon the fish."
Silas's heart sank. He noted the stewards' strange lack of beast transformation—though their arms bore claw-like protrusions, their faces remained human. Could they practice a different technique? he wondered, recalling the incomplete Beast Shifting Art from his predecessor's memories.
"Next!" the steward barked.
Silas struggled as burly men bound him to a hook. The cold metal bit into his back before he was abruptly cast into the lake.
Frigid water closed over him. Chains dragged him downward as panic set in—until a shadow emerged. A two-meter spirit fish with serrated scales and dagger-like teeth lunged, tearing off his left leg.
Agony flared before abruptly receding. Silas watched in disbelief as green light knitted muscle and bone, regenerating his limb stronger than before. Even more miraculously, he could now breathe underwater.
But the scent of blood drew more fish—First Realm predators whose combined might could overwhelm Second Realm cultivators. Silas snapped his chains and buried himself in the lakebed mud.
Hours passed as the feeding frenzy raged above. When a wounded spirit fish sought refuge nearby, Silas seized his chance. He emerged from the mud, clamping his arms around the creature's torso. Bones cracked under his enhanced strength, and the fish went limp.
Dragging the carcass ashore, Silas marveled at its weight. He retreated to a forest cave where he roasted the flesh over a fire. As he ate, he experimented with the Beast Shifting Art.
Pain erupted as scales sprouted from his legs—but green light from his bones abruptly halted the transformation. Silas discovered he could now sense ESSENCE particles in the air, flowing into him as he meditated.
"Unrestricted cultivation..." he whispered, eyes alight. With this power, he could break free from slavery and carve his own destiny.
Gazing into the night, Silas vowed to survive—and thrive—in this harsh new world.