Chapter 1: Chen Mu

【PRE-READ NOTE: This novel is not mindless trash; it is a legitimate cultivation and power-up story. Those who dislike such content, please do not enter.】

……

"Sun the bandit, I'll kill you!"

Chen Mu suddenly sprang upright from the ground, fists clenched and slammed forward with ferocity, teeth gritted as if ready to devour flesh.

But the next moment, he stared blankly at the scene before him.

A narrow alleyway, dark red blood splattered across the blue-brick walls, over a dozen men sprawled haphazardly on the ground—some groaning, some motionless.

Where is this?

Chen Mu was stunned.

Suddenly, a flood of unfamiliar memories surged into his mind…

"Er Er Huzi's still alive!"

A rough voice came from the right; Chen Mu, clutching his head as he absorbed the memories, turned to see a burly man with a face full of fat and a scar across his left eye grinning at him.

The brute's waist bore a gleaming short knife, its tip still dripping blood.

Ssshh~

Rapid footsteps drew near.

"How are you, Huizi?" A man in his twenties, skin dark as soot, features sharp as carved stone, tall yet lean, stepped forward and crouched before Chen Mu, his piercing eyes beneath thick brows filled with concern.

"Brother!"

Chen Mu blurted out, "I'm fine."

"You'd better worry about yourself, Dahu," the scar-faced brute walked over, staring at the gruesome wounds on Huang Feiyang's shoulder and arm, blood still oozing, and spat on the ground. "If you don't treat those wounds, you'll lose the whole arm."

"Yes, Brother, go treat your wound quickly," Chen Mu urged.

"It's nothing," Huang Feiyang exhaled, standing up.

"What were you just yelling, Er Er Huzi?"

A tall, thin thug nearby leaned in, face alight with excitement. "'Sun the bandit, I'll kill you!' Bold as hell—you directly challenged Sun Kui! Sun Kui's the infamous madman of the Blood Wolf Gang. Er Er Huzi, you're aiming to kill him? That's impressive!"

The other gang members, hearing this, also looked at Chen Mu with admiration; a few even raised their thumbs toward him.

"Hehe~"

Chen Mu gave a dry laugh.

Inside, however, a storm raged.

He hadn't shouted "Sun Kui"—he'd shouted "Sun Jindong!"

Sun Jindong was his…

No!

More accurately, the original body's enemy.

Yes, after absorbing the unfamiliar memories, Chen Mu realized he had been reincarnated!

One moment asleep, the next, a new world.

This was an ancient, martial-arts world where martial cultivation flourished—the strong could fly and vanish, the weak were as insignificant as ants.

The body he had inherited also bore the surname Chen, named Mu.

The Chen family had once been a prominent household in Wulong Fucheng, traveling in carriages, attended by servants.

Ten years ago, the master of the Four Directions Martial Arts Hall, Sun Jindong, suddenly attacked the Chen household, slaughtering all thirty-seven members.

Only the five-year-old original body, who had been playing outside, escaped death.

He was saved by Huang Feiyang, who was then only thirteen.

For ten years, whenever the original body awoke from nightmares, he would cry out "Kill Sun the bandit!"

But in reality, Sun Jindong hadn't died—he had grown stronger, and today, ten years later, he had become a Primordial Expert, his name echoing throughout the entire city as master of the Four Directions Martial Arts Hall.

The original body, however, was a lowly gang thug~

A bottom-rung member of the Great Knife Gang!

Today, the original body followed the gang's leader, Xing Yong, to ambush members of the Blood Wolf Gang in the alley. A fierce battle erupted; due to charging too far forward, he was struck squarely by a staff swing from Sun Kui, the Blood Wolf Gang's leader, nicknamed "Mad Demon Staff."

He died on the spot!

Dying was fine.

Whether Sun Kui or Sun Jindong, neither had anything to do with Chen Mu.

But the original body's obsession had remained.

Kill Sun the bandit!

Did this mean that even if Chen Mu didn't kill Sun Jindong, he'd still be jolted awake by sudden screams?

The problem was, Sun Jindong was a famed Primordial Expert of the entire city, and Chen Mu was just a tiny shrimp—how could he possibly kill him?

……

"Er Er Huzi did well!"

A low voice sounded; a short man, barely over one meter seventy, with thick, muscular limbs, bulging arm muscles, and a powerfully built frame, walked over.

A grotesque scar ran from his forehead down to his chin, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.

"Big Brother!"

The surrounding gang members immediately bowed in unison.

The man was none other than the leader, Xing Yong.

"That line you shouted just now—very bold."

Xing Yong glanced at Chen Mu, then swept his gaze over the group and declared loudly, "Today's battle cost us three brothers, but Sun the Madman lost six. All of you did well!"

"Especially Er Er Huzi—daring to declare war on Sun Kui! That courage deserves praise. All of you should learn from him. Only by working together can we kill Sun the Madman and take Longle Street!"

"Once we take Changle Street, everyone can drink and eat to their heart's content — as many women as we want!"

"Hahaha~" The crowd burst into laughter.

Then, in unison once more, they shouted, "Kill the Madman Sun! Take Changle Street!"

"..." Xing Yong nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave.

That's it?

That big-picture promise is way too empty, isn't it?

Chen Mu climbed up from the ground, watched Xing Yong's retreating back, and grumbled inwardly.

"Be more careful next time."

Huang Feiyang beside him patted Chen Mu's shoulder, said nothing else, and turned to go tend to his wounds.

"..." Chen Mu had been about to reply "you too," but Huang Feiyang fought even harder than him — he was Xing Yong's number one thug!

But remembering the original body's taciturn personality, Chen Mu immediately slammed the brakes.

A change of person meant a change of personality was inevitable.

But this couldn't be rushed — it had to come gradually.

The other gang members around began cleaning up the battlefield, and Chen Mu, acting as he always had, lent a hand.

When passing by a corpse—

【Corpse detected. Pick up?】

Hm?

Chen Mu froze, glanced around, and saw everyone busy with their own tasks.

This prompt that had suddenly popped up before his eyes — could it be visible only to him?

Pick up a corpse?

Or pick up something from the corpse?

Chen Mu looked around behind and beside him, confirmed no one was watching him, and responded in his heart.

"Yes!"

"..."

The prompt vanished. All was quiet. Nothing happened.

'Did I just see things?'

Chen Mu was puzzled.

The next instant, feeling something, he reached into his clothes.

Sure enough, his fingertips touched a thin, hard object.

At the same time, a piece of information surfaced in his mind.

Energy Card!

The thin sheet in his pocket was a function card.

Silently will "use," and Chen Mu could obtain a burst of energy; silently will "dismantle," and the card would automatically dissipate.

'Is this the golden finger? The must-have cheat for transmigrators?'

Chen Mu was overjoyed.

Suppressing his excitement, he withdrew his hand, left the card untouched for now, and helped the others clean up the scene.

During this, when passing by two other corpses—

【Corpse detected. Pick up?】

【Corpse detected. Pick up?】

As long as he got within one meter of a corpse, he'd receive the prompt.

Chen Mu responded yes, and picked up two more function cards.

One was still an Energy Card, the other a Stamina Card.

Two cards with different functions!

With energy and stamina covered, what about other abilities?

Like, a Divine Power Card?

Energy Cards and Stamina Cards, once used, could instantly restore his energy and stamina — but no matter how vigorous his energy or abundant his stamina, he still couldn't grow stronger.

Divine Power was different.

If he picked up a Divine Power Card, could he obtain divine power too?