The night wind blew cold across the plains outside Azure River City.
Behind him, the city walls stood tall and quiet, lanterns flickering along the gates. Few people traveled at night, especially toward Black Wolf Mountain.
But Fan Lin did not hesitate.
His footsteps carried him steadily toward the dark forest ahead.
Inside his mind, the Heaven-Defying System panel floated clearly.
HEAVEN-DEFYING SYSTEM
Host: Fan Lin
Realm: Body Tempering Level 1
Strength: 9
Agility: 8
Spirit: 7
EXP: 0 / 100
SP: 0
Skills
• Basic Sword Technique Lv1
• Basic Archery Technique Lv1
Mission: First Hunt
Kill 3 Demon Beasts
Reward
• 50 SP
• Iron Hunting Bow
Fan Lin smiled.
"So I gain EXP and System Points from killing."
"Just like leveling in games."
His eyes shined with excitement.
For a weak martial artist in this brutal world, training normally would take months or years to break through a single level.
But with the system?
He could grow stronger through battle.
And Fan Lin loved hunting.
Soon the plains ended.
The massive forest of Black Wolf Mountain rose before him like a dark ocean of trees.
Tall ancient trunks towered toward the sky, blocking most of the moonlight.
The deeper parts of the forest looked pitch black.
A cold wind carried the smell of beasts and damp earth.
Fan Lin stepped inside.
The moment he entered, his body instinctively became cautious.
He crouched and examined the ground.
Claw marks.
Large footprints.
Wolf tracks.
Fresh.
"Grey Fang Wolves," he muttered.
He slowly followed the tracks.
Each step was light and silent.
Years of wilderness survival had taught him patience.
The forest was alive with sound.
Leaves rustling.
Insects buzzing.
Occasional distant howls echoing across the mountains.
Then suddenly—
A growl came from the bushes.
Fan Lin stopped.
Two green lights appeared in the darkness.
A massive wolf stepped out.
It was far larger than wolves from Earth.
Its body was muscular, covered in thick grey fur, and its teeth gleamed under the moonlight.
The system panel appeared.
Grey Fang Wolf
Level: Body Tempering Level 2
EXP Reward: 100
SP Reward: 5
Fan Lin's lips curled upward.
"Perfect."
Without warning—
The wolf attacked.
It lunged forward like a grey blur.
Fan Lin reacted instantly.
He sidestepped and grabbed a fallen wooden branch.
CRACK!
The branch smashed into the wolf's skull.
The wolf staggered but quickly recovered.
It growled and attacked again.
Fan Lin ducked under its jaws and thrust the branch upward.
CRUNCH.
The branch pierced the wolf's throat.
The beast collapsed.
Its body twitched violently before becoming still.
Then the system voice rang in his mind.
DING
Grey Fang Wolf killed
EXP +100
SP +5
The system panel flashed brightly.
EXP: 100 / 100
LEVEL UP!
Realm: Body Tempering Level 2
Strength: 12
Agility: 11
Spirit: 9
Fan Lin suddenly felt a surge of strength spread through his body.
His muscles tightened.
His senses sharpened.
He clenched his fists.
"So this is leveling up."
Power filled his limbs.
Compared to before, he felt much stronger.
Fan Lin laughed quietly.
"This system really is heaven-defying."
But suddenly—
A howl echoed through the forest.
Then another.
Then several more.
Fan Lin frowned.
The smell of blood had attracted attention.
Glowing eyes appeared between the trees.
Three wolves.
Then five.
Soon seven wolves surrounded him.
Their bodies were tense.
Their claws scratched the ground.
Fan Lin cracked his neck.
"Good."
"More EXP."
The first wolf attacked.
Fan Lin stepped forward and smashed the branch down.
CRACK.
The wolf collapsed instantly.
DING
Grey Fang Wolf killed
EXP +100
SP +5
EXP: 100 / 200
Another wolf jumped from the side.
Fan Lin spun and kicked it away.
Then he crushed its skull with the branch.
DING
Grey Fang Wolf killed
EXP +100
SP +5
EXP: 200 / 200
LEVEL UP!
Realm: Body Tempering Level 3
Strength: 15
Agility: 14
Spirit: 11
Power surged through Fan Lin again.
His reaction speed increased dramatically.
Now the remaining wolves looked slower.
Much slower.
Fan Lin grinned.
"Now it's my turn."
He rushed forward.
A wolf lunged.
Fan Lin grabbed its neck and smashed it against a tree.
BANG.
DING
Grey Fang Wolf killed
EXP +100
SP +5
Another wolf attacked from behind.
Fan Lin dodged and snapped its neck.
DING
Grey Fang Wolf killed
EXP +100
SP +5
EXP: 200 / 300
The remaining wolves hesitated.
But suddenly the forest became quiet.
Heavy footsteps approached.
The wolves quickly moved aside.
A gigantic figure emerged from the darkness.
A Black Fang Wolf King.
Its body was enormous.
Twice the size of the other wolves.
Its eyes burned crimson.
The system screen flashed urgently.
Black Fang Wolf King
Level: Body Tempering Level 5
EXP Reward: 300
SP Reward: 20
Danger Level: HIGH
Fan Lin wiped sweat from his forehead.
"Now that's a real opponent."
The Wolf King roared.
Then it charged.
The ground shook under its claws.
Fan Lin jumped aside.
The beast smashed into a tree, cracking the trunk.
Fan Lin immediately counterattacked.
He leapt onto the beast's back and slammed the branch into its skull.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
But the Wolf King shook violently and threw him off.
Fan Lin rolled across the ground.
The beast lunged again.
Its jaws aimed straight for his head.
At the last second—
Fan Lin stabbed the branch into its eye.
CRUNCH.
The Wolf King screamed.
Fan Lin didn't stop.
He grabbed a stone and smashed its skull repeatedly.
Finally—
The massive beast collapsed.
The forest became silent.
Then the system voice echoed loudly.
DING
Black Fang Wolf King killed
EXP +300
SP +20
The panel flashed again.
EXP: 500 / 300
LEVEL UP!
Realm: Body Tempering Level 4
Strength: 19
Agility: 18
Spirit: 14
Fan Lin stood up slowly.
His body radiated strength.
Compared to earlier…
He had become several times stronger in a single night.
He checked his system points.
SP: 50
Fan Lin laughed.
"Tonight's harvest is incredible."
Just then—
Another system message appeared.
Mission Completed
First Hunt
Reward:
50 SP
Iron Hunting Bow
SP increased again.
Total SP: 100
A beautiful iron hunting bow appeared in his hands.
Fan Lin pulled the bowstring.
The tension was perfect.
"With this…"
"Hunting demon beasts will be much easier."
Then the system map began flashing again.
TREASURE DETECTED
Distance: 2.8 km
Item: 500-Year Wild Ginseng
Estimated Value: 120 Gold
Fan Lin's eyes shined.
"Looks like my luck is just starting."
He stepped deeper into the dark forest.
Tonight…
The hunter had truly awakened.