The cold, mechanical chime of the system resonated within the very depths of Su Han's soul. It wasn't just a sound; it was a symphony of power that announced his rebirth to the world.
[DING! Congratulations to the Host for killing a Level 2 Body Refining Realm opponent!]
[DING! Host has gained 20 Experience Points and 10 Silver Coins!]
[DING! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining a Low-Level, Low-Grade Steel Armor!]
[DING! Congratulations to the Host for obtaining a Low-Level, Low-Grade Martial Technique: "Tiger's Claw"!]
As the glowing blue notifications scrolled through his vision, a slow, predatory smile spread across Su Han's bloodied face. His mind, still sharp from his past life on Earth, quickly analyzed the mechanics of this new reality. "So, this is how it works," he thought, his heart racing with a newfound, dark ambition. "The more I defeat, the more I kill, and the more missions I conquer, the faster I will rise. Every fallen enemy is but a stepping stone to my peak."
But the silence that followed his victory was short-lived. A sharp, piercing gasp echoed from behind him. Su Han turned his head to see Chu Yao standing by the doorway. Her once fair and delicate face, which usually reminded him of a blooming lotus in a tranquil pond, was now ghostly pale. She was trembling so violently that she had to lean against the wall for support. Her eyes were wide, filled with a mixture of absolute disbelief and raw terror.
"Young Master... Young Master, you... you actually killed him," she whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of the reality.
In the hierarchy of the Su Clan, Su Han was now a pariah, while Su Xiao was a relative of the powerful Great Elder. Killing him was an act of war. The gravity of the situation hit Chu Yao like a tidal wave. Suddenly, she snapped out of her shock and rushed to his side, her small, cold hands grabbing his arm with frantic energy.
"You can't stay here! Young Master, you must flee right now! Please, go and hide before they find the body. I... I will handle everything here. I'll take the blame, I'll tell them I did it to protect you," she cried, her eyes brimming with a selfless, desperate worry that touched something deep within Su Han.
Seeing her care, a warmth he hadn't felt in years blossomed in his chest. He reached out and gently placed his hand on her head, stroking her hair with a tenderness that contradicted the blood on his hands.
"Do not worry, Chu Yao," he said, his voice surprisingly calm and infused with a heavy sense of authority. "Since I had the courage to kill this piece of filth, I have already considered the consequences. Let them come for their revenge. I am no longer the helpless boy they can kick around like a dog."
As he spoke, his eyes grew cold, like a frozen lake in the dead of winter. He patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry about this trash. Now, go and bring me some food. I am starving, and I need my strength for what comes next."
"But Young Master—"
"I said, don't worry," he interrupted with a faint, knowing smile.
Understanding that her presence would only make the cleanup harder, Su Han dragged Su Xiao's heavy, lifeless form out of the shack. He moved toward the dark, overgrown corridor of the courtyard. Because of his fallen status, his living quarters were tucked away in a desolate corner of the estate—a place so grim, grey, and abandoned that even birds refused to nest in the eaves.
Finding a secluded spot under a withered, blackened tree, Su Han dug a deep hole in the damp earth. He threw the body in and covered it, the physical exertion barely affecting his new Level 1 Body Refining physique. To the rest of the clan, Su Xiao would simply be a missing servant—at least for a while.
Returning to the room, he looked at the still-trembling Chu Yao. "Bring the food now. I have to leave soon, and it might be several days before I return."
Chu Yao's eyes filled with fresh tears. "Young Master, where are you going? Please, take me with you! Wherever you go, I will follow. I can't let you face the world alone in this state."
Su Han sighed softly, his gaze softening. "Chu Yao, if you come with me into the mountains, I won't be able to protect you and train at the same time. But I also know it isn't safe for you here. Come, we will leave together. I will find a safe, temporary place for you outside the estate, and once I am strong enough, I will come back to fetch you."
"But Young Master," Chu Yao whispered urgently, "The Clan Elders have announced a competition. In exactly one month, they will select a new 'Young Master.' Any youth of the Su Clan can enter. Whoever wins will be the official heir."
A chilling, murderous light flashed in Su Han's eyes. "A new Young Master? The title of Young Master belongs to me. No one has the right to strip it away. According to the ancient clan rules, as long as the Clan Head—my father—is alive and hasn't given his formal approval, no one can be replaced. It seems the Great Elder is in a desperate hurry to put his son on my throne."
He let out a short, cold laugh. "Fine. One month is more than enough time for me. They want to slap my face by taking my title? I will return and deliver a slap so hard their faces will turn as red as a monkey's backside."
Chu Yao couldn't help but blush at his blunt words, but her worry returned quickly. "Young Master, the Great Elder's son, Su Chen, has already reached the 9th Level of the Body Refining Realm. But your Dantian... it's still broken. How can you face a monster like him in just a month?"
Su Han looked her in the eyes, a confident, predatory smirk playing on his lips. "Do you not trust me, Chu Yao?"
Looking at his steady gaze, she felt a strange sense of hope. "If the Young Master is confident, then I believe you. You will surely win."
After a quick, hearty meal, Su Han led Chu Yao out through the back paths of the Su estate. They headed toward the outskirts of Lingshan Town, where the population was sparse. Using the 20 silver coins he had received from system—which were worth more than he had imagined—he rented a small, nondescript house.
"Stay here," Su Han instructed, handing her the remaining silver. "Don't go out unless it's necessary. I will be back soon."
Chu Yao watched him leave with a heavy heart, her lips moving in a silent prayer for his safety.
As Su Han walked away, his mind was already sharpening. He had the Invincible Supreme Dragon System, and he needed to exploit it. He couldn't hunt humans in the town, so he set his sights on the Black Wolf Mountain Range.
The name itself was enough to make common men pale. It was a place infested with Black Wolves—beasts known for their savage strength and pack mentality. Even the weakest wolf was at the 5th Level of Body Refining. However, Su Han wasn't going for the wolves yet. He was targeting the outskirts for Rank 1 beasts.
He stopped near a massive grey rock to catch his breath and focus. "System, open status!"
Suddenly, a semi-transparent blue interface appeared before him.
[SYSTEM INTERFACE]
Name: Su Han
Cultivation Level: Level 1 Body Refining Realm
Experience Points: 80 / 100 (Need 20 more to Level Up)
Martial Techniques: * Tear Apart with Teeth (Low-Level, Low-Grade)
Tiger's Claw (Low-Level, Low-Grade)
Equipment: Steel Armor (Low-Grade)
Divine Artifact: Supreme Golden Dragon Sword (Fragment: 1/5)
Sub-Professions: Alchemy (Lv 0), Smithing (Lv 0), Puppet Mastery (Lv 0), Talisman (Lv 0)
Su Han's eyes lingered on the fragment of the Supreme Golden Dragon Sword. He could feel a faint, divine hum coming from the system space—a remnant of a power that could cleave mountains. He only needed 20 more points to reach Level 2.
He gripped his knife and disappeared into the thick, dark foliage. Two hours later, a wild boar let out a final wheeze as his knife sank into its throat.
[DING! Congratulations to the Host for killing a Level 0 Wild Boar! Gained 2 Experience Points!]
Su Han froze. "What? System, you've got to be kidding. An ant gave me 10 points, but a whole boar only gives me 2? And where are the silver coins?"
He felt a surge of frustration, but he knew the rules of the game were shifting. As he grew stronger, the "easy" experience would vanish.
"Fine," he whispered, looking deeper into the dark, whispering forest. "Nine more of these, and I reach Level 2. One step at a time, I will become the Sovereign of this world."