1: Chapter 1: Spiritual Energy Revival, Mythical Beasts Attack

Jiangnan City, Third Middle School.

The afternoon sun dappled the sports field through the leaves, where a group of high school seniors were undergoing physical fitness tests. Lin Wu stood at the starting line of the track, took a deep breath, and looked ahead with determined eyes.

"On your marks, get set! Go!"

As soon as the physical education teacher's voice fell, Lin Wu shot out like an arrow from a bowstring. His steps were steady and powerful, his breathing even, and he quickly left the other students behind.

"Three minutes and twelve seconds!"

When Lin Wu crossed the finish line, the physical education teacher looked at his stopwatch in surprise. This result was far beyond the level of an ordinary student, even approaching that of a professional athlete.

"Good job, kid, another broken record!" The physical education teacher patted Lin Wu's shoulder, his eyes full of admiration.

Lin Wu merely smiled faintly, took the water a classmate handed him, and went to rest by the edge of the sports field.

He was eighteen years old this year, 1.8 meters tall, with a well-proportioned figure and delicate features. He was the kind of young man who wouldn't particularly stand out in a crowd, but upon closer inspection, possessed a unique temperament.

"Brother Wu, you're too fierce!" A chubby figure ran over; it was Chen Hao, Lin Wu's best friend.

The plump Chen Hao, always with a simple and honest smile on his face, had been Lin Wu's good friend since middle school.

"It's alright." Lin Wu said indifferently, but his gaze involuntarily drifted towards the sky.

There, a faint blue halo, almost invisible to the naked eye, was slowly spreading. Lin Wu seemed to sense some abnormal fluctuation in the sky.

That was the trace of Spiritual Qi.

Three years ago, Earth experienced an anomaly called the "Heavenly Dao Reopening." Spiritual Qi, dormant for billions of years, surged out from earth veins, the firmament, and the deep sea. "Spirit Eyes"—core nodes where Spiritual Qi erupted—appeared simultaneously across the globe. This event was dubbed the "First Year of the New Era."

From then on, the world completely changed.

Humans experience an "Awakening Period" between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five, with an Awakening probability of about sixty percent. Awakened individuals gain various abilities; some can control fire, some can command lightning, and some can read minds and manipulate objects. Those who Awaken special abilities are called Ability Users.

The talent Rank of Ability Users is set by the International Ability Association, divided into nine Ranks from F-Rank to SSS-Rank. Talent Rank is Innate, unchanging throughout life, and represents an Ability User's potential ceiling. However, actual combat strength is determined by multiple factors, including talent Rank, Cultivation Realm, and combat experience.

And Ability Users, bearing special abilities, naturally also bear special missions.

"Brother Wu, when do you think we'll Awaken?" Chen Hao asked with a look of longing. "I heard that Li Qiang from the next class Awakened last week. He has a Reinforcement Type strength Ability and can now smash stone slabs with one punch. He's been acting all arrogant at school, it's really annoying."

Lin Wu withdrew his gaze and shook his head: "Awakening is not something that can be forced."

He spoke the truth.

Lin Wu was eighteen this year, with seven years left until the upper limit of the Awakening Period. But he knew clearly that Awakening truly depended on luck. Talent Rank, moreover, was Innately determined and unchangeable.

"That's true." Chen Hao sighed. "But Brother Wu, you're so strong, even if you don't Awaken, you could still become a sports star or something."

Lin Wu smiled and didn't respond.

His physical fitness was indeed far superior to ordinary people, thanks to a set of boxing techniques he had been practicing since childhood.

It was taught to him by his grandfather, supposedly an Ancient Martial Arts Boxing Technique passed down through the family. Lin Wu had practiced it for over ten years, and while it didn't have any miraculous effects, it did make his physical fitness far surpass that of his peers.

"Alright, stop daydreaming, let's go back to class." Lin Wu patted Chen Hao's shoulder, and the two walked towards the teaching building together.

The afternoon classes were tedious and long.

Lin Wu sat in the back row of the classroom, his gaze occasionally drifting out the window.

The faint blue halo in the sky was becoming more and more obvious, even faintly visible to ordinary people. This indicated that a Spirit Eye near Jiangnan City was active.

"Class, that's all for today's lesson." The homeroom teacher pushed up his glasses. "Also, an announcement: next week the school will organize an Awakening test, and all students must participate."

The classroom immediately erupted into chatter.

"It's finally our turn!"

"Great, I've been waiting for ages!"

"I hope I can Awaken a powerful Ability!"

Although Lin Wu's expression didn't change much, a ripple stirred in his heart.

The Awakening test was an activity regularly organized by every school after the Spiritual Qi Resurgence. Through professional instruments, it could determine whether a student had Awakened, and what type and Rank of Ability they possessed.

Although he didn't hold much hope for his own Awakening, what if?

"Why don't you look excited at all?" The girl at the same desk turned to Lin Wu and asked curiously.

This girl was Wang Yuxuan, the class's study committee member. She had a sweet appearance and a lively personality, making her very popular among the boys.

"It's alright." Lin Wu said indifferently.

Wang Yuxuan pouted: "If you can Awaken an Ability, you can become a superior person. Don't you want that?"

"Of course I want to, but is wanting enough?" Lin Wu retorted.

Wang Yuxuan was momentarily speechless, unsure how to answer.

The dismissal bell rang, Lin Wu packed his schoolbag, and walked out of the school gate with Chen Hao.

"Come on, Brother Wu, want to eat at my place? My mom's making braised pork today." Chen Hao enthusiastically invited.

"No, I have to go home and help my parents with the shop." Lin Wu shook his head.

Lin Wu's family owned a small restaurant near the school. Every day after school, he would go to the shop to help out.

"Alright, Brother Wu, see you tomorrow!"

After they parted ways, Lin Wu walked home alone.

The setting sun cast his shadow long.

Passing a small alley, Lin Wu suddenly stopped.

His brows furrowed slightly, and his gaze warily swept towards the depths of the alley.

A strange sound emanated from there.

It was like the low growl of some wild beast, yet also like the piercing screech of metal grinding.

As Lin Wu stood stunned, a ferocious monster suddenly darted out of the alley.

It had a wolf-like body, but its size was more than three times that of an ordinary wolf. Its fur was a bizarre dark red, and its eyes were blood-scarlet, emitting a terrifying glow.

Most terrifyingly, its claws and teeth gleamed with a metallic luster, as if capable of tearing steel.

"Beast!"

Lin Wu's pupils contracted sharply, and a strong sense of unease surged in his heart.

Beasts are a new type of creature that appeared after the Spiritual Qi Resurgence. They were originally ordinary animals, but under the erosion of Spiritual Qi, they mutated, gaining powerful strength while also becoming more ferocious.

According to their danger level, Beasts are divided from F-Rank to SSS-Rank. The one before him was at least a D-Rank existence!

How could a Beast of this Rank appear within the city?

Lin Wu had no time to think, because the Beast had already pounced.

"Roar!"

As the Beast pounced on Lin Wu, it let out a deafening roar, its scarlet eyes fixed on Lin Wu, saliva dripping from its sharp teeth.

Its speed was far beyond Lin Wu's imagination!

Lin Wu instinctively dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. The Beast's claws grazed his clothes, leaving three deep claw marks on the wall.

So fast!

Lin Wu's heart pounded, and cold sweat instantly drenched his back.

He knew he was absolutely no match for this Beast.

An ordinary person facing a D-Rank Beast was almost certain to die. Even someone like him, whose physical fitness far exceeded that of ordinary people, had no chance of winning.

Run!

Must run!

Lin Wu turned and ran, using all his strength.

But the Beast was faster than him!

"Roar!"

The Beast roared again, pushing off with its four limbs, chasing after him like a dark red lightning bolt.

Lin Wu felt the Blood Wind from behind him, and a wave of despair surged in his heart.

Was he going to die here today?

Just as the Beast was about to pounce on Lin Wu, a blue light suddenly descended from the sky.

"Ice Sword!"

A clear, cold female voice rang out, followed by countless ice crystals condensing in the air, transforming into sharp long swords that shot towards the Beast.

"Puchi! Puchi!"

The ice swords pierced the Beast's body, bringing forth sprays of blood.

The Beast let out a painful wail, its body recoiling, and fear appeared in its scarlet eyes.

Lin Wu stared blankly at this scene, unable to react for a moment.

He slowly turned his head and saw his rescuer.

It was a young girl in a white dress, seemingly about his age. She had long black hair like a waterfall, skin as fair as snow, and features so delicate she looked like a Fairy stepped out of a painting.

But what was most striking were her eyes.

They were a pair of ice-blue eyes, as if containing ten thousand years of unmelting ice, making one dare not look directly at them.

"Are you alright?" The girl asked indifferently, her voice as clear and cold as an ice spring.

"No... I'm fine." Lin Wu answered subconsciously, but a tempest was raging in his heart.

Ice-type Ability!

And at least a C-Rank or higher powerhouse!

How could an Ability User of this Rank appear here?

The girl no longer paid attention to Lin Wu, but instead turned her gaze to the injured Beast.

"D-Rank Beast, Blood Wolf, actually appeared inside the city." The girl frowned slightly. "It seems there's a problem with Jiangnan City's Spirit Eye Seal."

She raised her right hand, and a bone-chilling cold qi condensed in her palm.

"It's over."

As her voice fell, the cold qi transformed into an ice-blue beam of light, instantly piercing the Blood Wolf's head.

The Blood Wolf didn't even have time to let out a final wail before it was frozen into an ice sculpture.

Then, in the gentle breeze, it turned into countless ice shards and dissipated into the air.

Instant kill!

Lin Wu gasped, his heart utterly shocked.

Is this what a true Ability User is like?

Too strong!

The girl withdrew her Ability and turned to look at Lin Wu.

"The Ability Association people will be here soon." She said, then prepared to leave.

"Wait!" Lin Wu subconsciously called out.

The girl stopped, turned to look at him, her eyes holding a hint of inquiry.

"Thank you for saving me." Lin Wu said sincerely, "My name is Lin Wu, may I know your name?"

The girl was silent for a moment, then finally spoke three words indifferently:

"Su Qingxue."

After speaking, her figure transformed into a beam of ice-blue light and vanished into the horizon.

Lin Wu stood rooted to the spot, unable to recover for a long time.

Su Qingxue...

He silently memorized this name.

At the same time, a flame ignited in his heart.

Is this the power of an Ability User?

If I could also Awaken an Ability, could I also be as powerful as her?

Could I also protect the people I want to protect?

Lin Wu clenched his fists, his gaze becoming more resolute than ever before.

Just then, sirens and noisy human voices could be heard in the distance.

The Ability Association people had finally arrived.

Lin Wu took a few deep breaths, calming his emotions.

What he didn't know was that in that very instant, something long dormant within him was quietly Awakening.

An Awakening that would change his destiny was about to begin.

And at this moment, in a hidden corner of Jiangnan City, an old man in a gray robe was quietly observing everything.

"Finally... it's here."

A complex light flashed in the old man's eyes, containing anticipation, relief, and a hint of worry.

"The spark of martial arts inheritance has finally Awakened in this generation."

"Lin Wu, I hope you won't disappoint me."

"The fate of this era, perhaps, lies in your hands."

After the old man finished speaking, his figure dissipated into the air like smoke, as if he had never appeared.

Night slowly fell, and Jiangnan City was as calm as usual.

But beneath this calm, undercurrents were stirring.

A global storm was quietly brewing.

And Lin Wu, this once ordinary teenager, was about to embark on an extraordinary path.

His legend had just begun.