Morning came like a blade to the throat—sharp, sudden, and unforgiving.
Lin Ze rose before the sun, his body aching from the strain of yesterday's awakening. His muscles felt stiff, almost foreign, as if he wore a new skin. Yet underneath the soreness thrummed a raw, restless energy. It was the Flesh Refinement Method stirring within him, demanding nourishment.
Beast blood. Life essence.
He grabbed his worn cloak, slung a hunting knife at his waist, and slipped into the gray light of dawn. The village was silent, save for the occasional bark of a stray dog and the rhythmic thumping of an old woman's pestle. No one noticed Lin Ze as he slipped away toward the woods.
He retraced his steps to where the dire wolf's corpse lay. The scene was grotesque; the beast's body had begun to stiffen, its once-glossy fur now dull. Blood pooled beneath it, thick and blackened. Flies buzzed eagerly over the carcass, but Lin Ze barely noticed. His mind was laser-focused on the task ahead.
The Flesh Refinement Method's instructions burned in his mind. First, he needed to draw the blood while it still retained vitality. Then, he needed to extract the beast's essence—a dangerous process that, if performed incorrectly, could backfire and corrupt his body permanently.
Lin Ze knelt by the wolf's side, pulled out his knife, and set to work.
He carved deep, methodical lines along the beast's torso, exposing the thick arteries underneath. Warm blood still oozed from the wounds, sticky and pungent. With trembling hands, he retrieved a small wooden gourd and began collecting the blood. It took longer than he expected—the gourd was old, and the blood congealed quickly—but finally, he had enough.
Then came the hard part.
Sitting cross-legged before the carcass, Lin Ze placed the gourd before him. He took a deep breath, steadying his mind as the system guided him through the complex ritual.
[Flesh Refinement Ritual: Commence.]
Glowing runes shimmered into existence in the air around him, forming a circle etched in light. Lin Ze felt the blood inside the gourd respond, vibrating with invisible energy. The wolf's essence—its lingering life force—was drawn out, condensing into a swirling red mist above the gourd.
The mist pulsed like a heartbeat.
"Steady..." Lin Ze whispered, focusing on the pattern the system had imprinted into his consciousness.
He extended his hands into the mist. Instantly, a searing pain lanced through his arms, as if he were plunging them into molten iron. He gritted his teeth and pressed on, willing the beast's essence into his body.
The transformation began immediately.
His muscles tightened, fibers tearing and rebuilding stronger. His bones creaked ominously, reshaping under the pressure. His senses exploded outward—he could hear the ants scuttling under the forest floor, smell the sour rot of nearby mushrooms, feel the faint tremors of distant footsteps.
But with the power came the agony.
Lin Ze felt like he was being flayed alive and rebuilt piece by piece. Sweat poured from his body. Blood trickled from his nose and ears. He wanted to scream, to thrash and claw at the sky, but he forced himself to endure.
Pain is the proof of growth, he reminded himself. Only through suffering comes strength.
Minutes dragged into what felt like hours. Finally, the ritual's climax arrived: the blood mist surged into him all at once, a tidal wave of feral power slamming into his core.
The world spun.
Darkness threatened to consume him.
But when Lin Ze opened his eyes, he was different.
He was different.
[Flesh Refinement - First Stage Completed.]
Strength +10
Agility +5
Endurance +10
New Passive: Predatory Instincts (+10% reaction speed in combat.)
Lin Ze rose to his feet, marveling at his body. His muscles felt denser, his breathing easier, his heartbeat stronger. His vision was sharper—every leaf, every mote of dust in the air seemed vivid and alive.
He flexed his fingers, feeling the immense power coiled beneath his skin. It wasn't overwhelming, but it was there—a solid foundation upon which he could build.
The system's voice chimed again.
[New Quest Available: Hunt and refine three Class-1 Beasts.]
Reward: Advancement to Flesh Refinement Second Stage. Bonus Reward: Blood Forging Technique.]
Lin Ze's mouth curled into a grin.
It seemed the system had no intention of letting him rest.
◇ ◇ ◇
By the time Lin Ze returned to the village, the sun was high overhead. Villagers milled about, casting furtive glances his way. The news had spread like wildfire: Lin Ze had slain a dire wolf, alone.
Some looked at him with admiration.
Others, with suspicion.
A few, with naked fear.
He ignored them all.
He had more important matters to deal with now.
At the village square, Old Man Wu was waiting for him. The elder's face was stern, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening as Lin Ze approached.
"Come," Wu said, gesturing toward the council hall—a simple stone building rarely used except for emergencies. "We need to talk."
Lin Ze followed without protest. Inside, the hall was cool and dimly lit by flickering torches. A few other village elders sat in a semicircle, their expressions serious.
Wu wasted no time.
"We know you're hiding something, boy."
The bluntness of the statement caught Lin Ze off guard. He remained silent, schooling his face into a neutral mask.
"No ordinary man kills a dire wolf," Wu continued. "Especially not with a pitchfork and peasant skills. Either you stumbled upon a great treasure..."—his eyes narrowed—"or something else."
Lin Ze felt the weight of their scrutiny, the unspoken threat behind their words. In a small village like Dusk Hollow, anything too powerful—and too dangerous—was often dealt with quickly. Fear bred violence.
He made a choice.
"I was blessed by the spirits," he said calmly. "During the battle, a miracle happened. I don't know how or why. But I swear on my life, I mean no harm to Dusk Hollow."
A half-truth.Not a complete lie.
The elders exchanged glances, murmuring among themselves.
Finally, Wu nodded slowly. "Fine. We'll accept that… for now. But mark my words, Lin Ze—power attracts trouble. If you bring calamity upon this village, we'll have no choice but to deal with it."
"I understand," Lin Ze said, bowing respectfully.
Inside, his mind burned with urgency.
I have to get stronger—faster. If they ever turn on me... I must be ready.
The council dismissed him, and Lin Ze left the hall, the weight of their suspicion pressing against his back like a blade.
◇ ◇ ◇
That evening, as the first stars appeared in the sky, Lin Ze sat alone atop the hill overlooking Dusk Hollow.
The wind was cool against his skin, carrying the scent of pine and distant rain.
He opened the system interface in his mind, reviewing his status.
[Lin Ze]
Cultivation: Flesh Refinement - First Stage
Strength: 28
Agility: 22
Endurance: 30
Spirit: 15
Abilities:
Strength of the Beast (Passive)
Beast's Endurance (Passive)
Predatory Instincts (Passive)
Flesh Refinement Method (Active)
A solid start. But nowhere near enough.
Not when the system warned of celestial beings.Not when the village itself might turn hostile at any moment.
He needed to hunt the three Class-1 Beasts. Advance. Grow.And eventually… leave Dusk Hollow behind.
Lin Ze's fists clenched tightly. His path was clear.
Before him lay blood, battles, and betrayals.
But behind him?
There was nothing left.
As the moon rose high, casting its pale light over the wild, untamed world, Lin Ze whispered into the night:
"I will rise... no matter the cost."
The wind swallowed his vow and carried it to the far corners of the land—where powers unseen began to stir.