The system's voice still echoed in Li Feng's mind.
[Hidden Quest: Survive the Hunter. Time Remaining: 7 Days.]
Seven days.
Li Feng lay awake on the hard bunk in his dormitory, staring at the cracked ceiling. His fellow students were fast asleep, snoring lightly after a long day of training. But his mind raced, refusing to find rest.
Seven days was nothing. Even geniuses with decades of clan resources would need months to advance their cultivation. Yet the system had given him no choice. He had to grow—fast—or die.
He clenched his fists. "If I can't be stronger than the Hunter… then I'll make sure I'm smart enough to survive him."
The following morning, Li Feng moved carefully, avoiding notice as usual. He wasn't a genius; to most of the academy he was still "that useless outer disciple." All the better. No one paid attention when he lingered near the sparring fields or meditation chambers.
And as the fights broke out, as students released their Qi, as blades clashed—
Ding! Strength Attribute +2.
Ding! Movement Attribute +1.
Ding! Sword Dao Fragment +3.
Li Feng stooped to tie his bootlace, fingers brushing the invisible fragments only he could see. The warm pulse surged through his meridians, invisible to the world.
For the next three days, he repeated this pattern. While others sweated to push their bottlenecks, he quietly collected the fruits of their efforts. His stats grew steadily. Not monstrous yet, but enough that when he clenched his fists, his bones cracked with new power.
Still, doubt gnawed at him. Would it be enough?
On the fourth night, he took a risk. The system whispered of fragments hidden in the nearby Spiritwood Grove, where low-ranked beasts roamed. Dangerous for most outer disciples, but perfect for him.
Li Feng slipped past the academy gates under the cover of mist. The forest air was thick with damp moss and the faint glow of spirit herbs. He crouched, watching a pair of Ironfang Wolves prowl.
When one lunged at a rabbit, its aura flared—
Ding! Beast Bloodline Fragment +7.
His eyes widened. Beast attributes. Not just martial skills, but bloodline fragments he could absorb into his body. His veins burned as if infused with raw vitality, muscles thrumming with predatory strength.
But the wolves noticed him.
Li Feng drew the rusty dagger at his waist, heart hammering. He wasn't ready for a head-on fight… until a sudden arrow pierced the first wolf's skull.
The second beast snarled, only to fall as another arrow struck.
From the shadows stepped a girl in light green robes, her bow gleaming under moonlight. Her expression was calm, but her eyes were sharp—like she had been watching him for some time.
"You're bold," she said softly, lowering the bow. "Most outer disciples wouldn't dare come here alone."
Li Feng stiffened. Was she friend or foe?
Her name was Yu Qingxue, daughter of a minor clan. Not quite a genius, but skilled with the bow, her aim precise as lightning. She studied Li Feng with open curiosity.
"I've seen you at the academy," she said while retrieving her arrows. "You always linger at the edges, yet your aura is… strange. Almost like it shifts when no one is looking."
Li Feng forced a smile. "Strange? I'm just trying not to get killed."
"Mm." She didn't press further, but there was a glimmer in her gaze that told him she wasn't fooled. Still, instead of exposing him, she offered a hand.
"There's a joint hunt tomorrow. Teams will be formed to cull beasts near the Rift Gate. Alone, you'll die. With me, you might live."
Li Feng hesitated. Trust was dangerous. If she discovered his secret, it could ruin him. But the Hunter's shadow loomed closer each day. He needed allies, even temporary ones.
At last, he nodded. "Fine. But if you betray me, I'll make sure we fall together."
To his surprise, she smiled faintly. "Good. Then at least you're not completely spineless."
The days blurred into tense preparation. Li Feng followed Qingxue's team on the beast hunt, carefully placing himself where fragments fell most heavily. Each clash, each beast slain, fed his system.
Ding! Strength +4.
Ding! Sword Intent Fragment +10.
Ding! Beast Bloodline +5.
Slowly, his stats rose into a realm he had never dared imagine. His strikes grew sharper, his stamina deeper. Even Qingxue glanced at him occasionally, eyes narrowing as if she sensed the change.
By the sixth day, whispers spread through the academy. A shadow moved near the Rift Gates—something killing lone disciples in the night, leaving no trace but claw marks and empty husks. Fear spread like wildfire.
Li Feng's chest tightened every time he heard the rumors. He didn't need confirmation. He already knew.
The Hunter had arrived.
On the seventh evening, the system's cold voice rang in his mind:
[Final Warning: The Hunter approaches.]
The academy bells tolled midnight. Outside, the mist grew unnaturally thick, shrouding the courtyards. Li Feng sat cross-legged in his room, absorbing every last fragment he had collected. Sweat dripped down his face as his meridians roared.
For the first time, power surged through him like a true cultivator. Not a genius. Not yet. But no longer trash.
A faint knock came at his door.
He tensed. "Who is it?"
"It's me," came Qingxue's voice. Steady, but quieter than usual. "Don't open it. Just listen. Something is moving in the mist. I can feel it watching the dorms."
Li Feng's blood ran cold. He rose slowly, gripping the dagger at his waist.
But before he could answer, the system's voice cut through the silence, colder than ever:
[Hunter has locked onto your presence.]
[Survival Protocol Engaged.]
And then—
the lanterns outside flickered out, plunging everything into darkness.