Chapter 5: A Choice Between Paths
The mountain path was steeper than it looked from a distance.
Loose stones shifted underfoot, dry grass brushed against his legs, and the air grew noticeably cooler the higher Lin Yuan climbed. By the time he reached halfway up, his breathing had already become uneven, not because of the terrain alone, but because his body simply wasn't used to this kind of strain.
Still, he didn't stop.
He couldn't.
Every step forward carried a quiet urgency. Three days—that was all Zhao Feng had given him. And the system's mission sat silently in his mind, like a ticking clock he couldn't ignore.
A Body Tempering Herb.
It sounded simple.
But in a place like this, nothing was ever simple.
Lin Yuan paused briefly, resting one hand against a rough stone as he scanned his surroundings. The mountain was quiet, almost too quiet. There were no disciples nearby, which meant one thing—either the resources here were already taken… or something else was guarding them.
"…So it won't be easy," he murmured.
For a moment, he considered turning back and looking for an easier target. But that thought disappeared as quickly as it came.
If he avoided difficulty now, he would only face something worse later.
With a steady breath, he continued upward.
---
It didn't take long before he found what he was looking for.
Near a cluster of jagged rocks, a small plant grew stubbornly from the cracks. Its leaves were dark green with faint red veins running through them, and a subtle fragrance lingered in the air around it.
Lin Yuan's eyes sharpened.
"That should be it…"
Even without the system confirming it, the memories in his mind recognized it immediately—a low-grade Body Tempering Herb. Not rare, but not something that would be left unguarded either.
He stepped closer, careful, cautious.
And then—
A low growl echoed from behind the rocks.
Lin Yuan froze.
"…Of course."
A shadow shifted.
Then a beast emerged.
It was roughly the size of a large dog, its body lean but muscular, with coarse grey fur and sharp, alert eyes that locked onto him instantly. Its presence wasn't overwhelming, but compared to Lin Yuan's current state…
It was dangerous.
Very dangerous.
For a brief moment, neither moved.
The wind passed between them, carrying tension with it.
Then the beast lunged.
---
Lin Yuan barely had time to react.
His body moved instinctively, twisting to the side as the creature's claws tore through the space where he had been standing a moment ago. The force of the attack sent him stumbling, his foot slipping on loose gravel as he nearly lost his balance.
"Too fast…"
His heart pounded violently as he forced himself to focus.
Running wasn't an option.
Not here.
Not now.
The beast turned, its movements quick and precise, preparing for another attack. This time, Lin Yuan didn't wait. He stepped forward instead, forcing his body to follow the rhythm of the technique he had practiced.
It wasn't perfect.
Not even close.
But it was enough.
He dodged the second strike by a narrow margin, his arm shooting forward in a clumsy but determined counterattack. His fist struck the beast's side—not with great strength, but with enough force to make it stagger slightly.
The reaction was immediate.
The beast snarled, anger flashing in its eyes.
Lin Yuan felt it too—the difference between them. His attack had barely done anything, while a single mistake on his part could end everything.
"…So this is what real fighting feels like," he thought.
No safety.
No second chances.
Just life and death decided in an instant.
---
The next exchange was worse.
The beast adapted quickly, its attacks becoming sharper, more aggressive. Lin Yuan was forced into defense almost immediately, his movements growing slower as exhaustion crept in.
A claw grazed his shoulder.
Another tore through his sleeve, leaving a shallow cut beneath.
Pain flared, but he ignored it.
Instead, he watched.
Observed.
Learned.
Each movement. Each pattern.
Something inside him began to change.
---
It was subtle at first.
A shift in awareness.
A clarity he hadn't felt before.
The chaotic movements of the beast… started to make sense.
---
Without realizing it, Lin Yuan adjusted.
His breathing stabilized.
His steps became more deliberate.
When the beast lunged again—
He moved before it fully committed.
This time, he didn't dodge blindly.
He sidestepped with purpose, his body turning just enough to let the attack pass, his hand striking downward toward the creature's neck.
The impact wasn't powerful.
But it was precise.
The beast staggered.
And for the first time—
An opening appeared.
Lin Yuan didn't hesitate.
He stepped forward and struck again.
And again.
Until finally—
The beast collapsed.
---
Silence returned to the mountain.
Lin Yuan stood there, breathing heavily, his entire body trembling—not from fear, but from exhaustion.
"…I did it…"
It hadn't been clean.
It hadn't been easy.
But he had survived.
---
After a moment, he forced himself to move and approached the herb. Carefully, he knelt down and plucked it from the ground, making sure not to damage its roots.
The moment he held it in his hand—
The system responded.
---
[Side Mission Completed]
Reward: 20 Sect Points
---
Before he could relax, another notification appeared.
---
[Hidden Condition Met]
[Reward Unlocked: Innate Talent — Boundless Comprehension]
---
Lin Yuan froze.
"Innate… talent?"
A wave of warmth spread through his mind, different from before. It wasn't forceful or overwhelming. Instead, it felt like something had quietly… opened.
The world around him seemed clearer.
Sharper.
His thoughts flowed more smoothly, connections forming where there had been none before.
"…What is this feeling?"
---
The system answered.
---
[Boundless Comprehension Activated]
Effect:
Greatly enhanced understanding
Accelerated learning speed
Ability to analyze and reconstruct techniques
---
Lin Yuan stood still for a long time.
Then he slowly looked at his own hands.
"…So this is what talent feels like."
There was no excitement in his voice.
Only quiet realization.
---
The system interface flickered again.
---
[Suggestion Detected]
Host is advised to reconsider cultivation path
---
Lin Yuan frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
---
[Current Path: Standard Martial Dao (Heavenly Path)]
Evaluation:
Easy to progress
Widely practiced
Highly dependent on external energy and resources
---
The text paused briefly before continuing.
---
[Alternative Path Recommended: Boundless Martial Dao]
---
Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Boundless…?"
---
[Analysis:]
The words appeared one by one, as if carefully chosen.
---
Does not rely on Heaven and Earth energy
Develops self-generated power
Cannot be suppressed by world will
Foundation cannot be destroyed
---
Lin Yuan's breathing slowed.
Something about this path…
Felt right.
---
[Warning:]
---
Extremely difficult to cultivate
Slow initial progress
Requires high comprehension
---
Silence followed.
The mountain wind passed quietly around him.
---
Lin Yuan closed his eyes for a moment.
The easier path… or the harder one?
Most people wouldn't hesitate.
But he wasn't most people.
He had already lived a life where he was left behind.
Where he followed what was "normal."
And where had that led him?
Nowhere.
---
He opened his eyes again.
This time, they were calm.
Clear.
"…I'll take the Boundless path."
---
The system paused.
Then—
---
[Decision Confirmed]
---
At that moment, something subtle changed.
Not in the world.
But within him.
---
Lin Yuan looked down at the herb in his hand.
Then toward the distant direction of the martial family.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"If I'm going to walk this path…"
His voice was quiet, but steady.
"Then I'll do it properly."
---
He turned and began walking back.
This time—
Not as someone struggling to survive.
But as someone who had chosen his own road.