Chapter 1, At the Moment of Ascension, When Dreams Awaken

What! His entire body was boiling with anger, and a feeling of being deceived gripped his heart deeply, giving him a sense of suffocation. After a brief silence, Feng Yunwuji stood up abruptly, fiercely grabbing the old man's neck, and exclaimed in anger: "Why? Why is this happening?"

Do you remember what I just told you? You are the 17,894,564th ascendant, haha, isn't that number quite large? However, I must inform you of a fact: this number is very small, almost negligible. Whether it is the beasts, the demons, or those feathered angels, their populations are almost counted in the hundreds of billions or trillions. Moreover, it must be mentioned that demons and angels are inherently much stronger than humans. Now that you have ascended, do you still feel joy? Do you think I am joking?

You may now ask the third question

The young ascendant seems to have not yet considered the third question, remaining silent. Meanwhile, the elder in front of him does not appear to be in a hurry, quietly waiting for him to speak.

With a long sigh, the elder gazed seriously at the young ascendant and said, "I hope your arrival can improve the situation for humanity a little. As for the third question you mentioned, every species has some powerful beings. For these formidable existences, destroying a space you once inhabited is an effortless task. Undoubtedly, there are such strong individuals among humans as well"

I initially thought this was a simple question, but unexpectedly, I received no response from the old man for quite some time. When I looked up, Feng Yunwuji noticed a strange expression on the old man's face, one that seemed to be a mix of nostalgia, admiration, and longing.

I regret to inform you that this is the reality. In the next three years, you will receive any assistance you desire; do not consider it short. This time has been earned only after we have paid a significant price for recognition. Three years, within three years, if you are unable to become a qualified strong individual, you will be ruthlessly eliminated. The demons are unlikely to mind devouring a true human. If that is the case, it would indeed be a very regrettable matter.

At the age of 3, he began learning sword forging; by 5, he was practicing swordsmanship. At 6, he had already begun to show promise. At 7, he left home to seek masters and learn the art of the sword. However, true masters are not easily encountered, and none of the well-known sword instructors could teach him for even a month. By the age of 8, after numerous betrayals of his masters, he found himself destitute in the wilderness, living a life of foraging and survival. He took nature as his teacher, observing the movements of birds and beasts, and created his own techniques for body movement, footwork, and swordplay. After five years, he finally emerged from the desolate mountains and wilderness, armed with a three-foot-long green blade, challenging martial artists across the land. He fought a hundred battles and won them all, becoming a leading young swordsman. At 16, he challenged the legendary martial arts master, the Sword Demon Dugu Bai Tian, and suffered his first defeat in life. At 17, reflecting on his martial arts knowledge, he created the "Demon Extermination Heart Sutra". In a cave, he observed the green bamboo and comprehended the "Willow Catkins in the Wind" technique, using this skill to challenge the Sword Demon Dugu Bai Tian once more, ultimately defeating him. He was bestowed the title "Wind God" in the martial world. He ascended to the ranks of the top martial artists, and in the following five years, he defeated countless older masters until there were no more rivals left.

--- "Martial Arts History: The Legend of the Sword God Fengyun Wujie"

Looking around, Feng Yunwuji was stunned; this place bore no resemblance to the idyllic paradise of birds singing and flowers blooming that he had imagined. What met his eyes was a scene of devastation, as if it had endured countless terrifying battles.

Feng Yunwuji felt a surge of strength within his body and finally opened his eyes. Before him stood a gaunt old man, his forehead etched with the wrinkles of time. The old man stood quietly with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing indifferently at him amidst the desolate and shattered world.

In the desolate rivers and lakes, one stands alone at the peak, seeking a worthy opponent but finding none. In helplessness, one becomes one's own enemy, mastering the art of mutual combat over three years, achieving remarkable skills and elevating martial arts to a new level. In the following three years, one finally ceased to use a sword; every blade of grass and every tree could serve as a sword. In the subsequent two years, one completely forgot all martial arts learned in life. From then on, one truly stepped into the hall of martial arts. At the age of thirty, one gathered martial artists from around the world with a sword, and none dared to claim victory. At thirty-three, one shattered the void and ascended to the heavens, leaving behind a volume of "Demon-Extinguishing Heart Sutra" and the technique of "Willow Catkin in the Wind" for a fated person. Unexpectedly, after shattering the void, the martial arts left behind triggered a massacre in the rivers and lakes that lasted for thirty years.

I must regrettably inform you of a truth: humanity has never been at the top of the food chain. On the contrary, in this multi-dimensional universe, humans occupy the lowest tier among living beings. When the old man speaks, his words are nothing short of astonishing.

Is this considered the third question? The old man's expression remained remarkably calm, as if he had not noticed the hand gripping his own neck. Upon hearing this, Feng Yunwuji instinctively released his grip as if he had been electrocuted

According to what you said, this world is one of the survival of the fittest, and it seems that the demons feed on humans. If that is the case, please tell me, with only tens of millions of humans, how can they survive in this world

Of course, is there any further question regarding this

A glimmer of admiration flashed in the old man's eyes, followed by a look of solitude and desolation on his face. He let out a long sigh and suddenly asked: "In your impression, is humanity the pinnacle of all beings, with all other creatures existing beneath humanity?"

There has never been any celestial realm; the celestial realm is merely a lie we use to inspire you. A lie meant to help you break free from your cage.

As the first ascendant in ten thousand years, you have three opportunities to ask me the questions you wish to know; you have just used one.

If ascending to the sun is the ultimate goal of martial arts, then I have already stood at this pinnacle. However, upon reaching the peak of martial arts, I realize that everything has only just begun

After a moment of shock, Feng Yunwuji regained his composure. After a brief silence, he seized his second opportunity: "Tell me what I should know"

Welcome to the Age of Antiquity, for 120 trillion years, you are the 17,894,564th ascendant. As your guide, I hope you can survive in this harsh era and truly become one of us. Before opening your eyes, Feng Yun Wujie heard an ancient voice coming from above.

The pen of Bai Xiaosheng.

No, there has never been a fairy realm

The sound of the wind rushed past their ears as the two flew through the air at breakneck speed. Unintentionally, Feng Yunwu's gaze swept over the primitive forests below. What met their eyes were powerful demons engaged in fierce battles with colossal prehistoric beasts, and in groups of threes and twos, some were gathered together, clutching bloody chunks of meat and devouring them.

There are certain individuals in this world who are born extraordinary

The law of the universe is one of the weak being preyed upon by the strong, and survival of the fittest. Humanity is indeed too weak, far too weak. In order to expand the human race, we have reluctantly established this cage. Within it, you are unable to perceive this truth. Do not shake your head; yes, the human population is indeed too small and sparse. In the place you come from, those common people are not truly recognized by us, even though we were once one of them.

In the past, when I learned the truth of the matter, I was just as lost and confused as you are now. I let out a long sigh, gazing into the eyes of the young ascendant, where deep compassion emerged.

The words of Fengyun Wujin

Isn't this the realm of immortals?" With the last glimmer of hope, he asked

The process of crossing the heavenly tribulation had exhausted all the true energy within him, and at this moment, an unprecedented fatigue swept over his entire body. He was even too lazy to get up; all of this was merely due to exhaustion. Feng Yunwuji gasped for breath, a broken aura entering his nostrils, causing him to furrow his brows.

"You have exhausted your three chances. Now, close your mouth. On the way to the Martial Arts Sanctuary, you are strictly forbidden to speak without my permission." After coldly delivering this statement, the old man grasped Fengyun Wujie's arm and directly soared into the air