Chapter 1: Chapter 1: The First Step in Murim
The cool mountain air carried the scent of ancient pine as Lu Feng stood on a narrow dirt road, his golden gaze scanning the unfamiliar landscape. The sky stretched infinitely above him, its deep azure hue broken only by drifting clouds.
He remained calm, unfazed by the sudden shift in reality. His unparalleled comprehension had already analyzed everything—he was no longer on Earth.
His body, his very existence, had adapted the moment he arrived. The flow of qi in the air, the density of spiritual energy, and the fundamental laws of this new world had all been absorbed into his understanding.
"Murim..." he muttered.
A world where martial artists sought power, where sects ruled, and where cultivation determined one's fate.
He had read about such places in stories, but now—he stood within one.
And unlike the warriors of this land, who spent decades mastering techniques, he required no training. Every breath, every step, every movement granted him insight beyond what even the greatest grandmasters could attain.
His fingers traced the fabric of his own clothes—modern, out of place in this ancient world. But even that did not matter.
Knowledge was his greatest weapon.
And knowledge was infinite.
A Chance Encounter
The sound of approaching footsteps pulled Lu Feng from his thoughts.
A group of figures emerged from the forest path—a small group of warriors clad in flowing robes, each carrying a blade at their waist. Their faces were wary, their gazes sharp as they took in his unfamiliar appearance.
One of them, a young man with a confident stance, stepped forward.
"You there. Who are you?" His voice carried authority, but his qi was weak—only at the level of a low-ranked martial artist.
Lu Feng remained silent. His mind had already processed everything—the structure of their bodies, the way qi flowed within them, the imperfections in their stances. If he wished, he could defeat them all instantly.
But there was no need.
He had no interest in pointless conflict.
"Are you mute?" the young warrior frowned, drawing his sword an inch from its sheath. "Or do you not understand our language?"
Lu Feng tilted his head slightly. Language?
A moment later, he understood it.
The vibrations in the air, the way words formed in their mouths—his mind instantly deciphered the entire language just from hearing it once.
"I understand," he finally spoke, his voice calm and composed.
The young warrior narrowed his eyes. "Then answer. Who are you?"
"...A traveler," Lu Feng replied.
That was the easiest explanation.
A moment of silence passed before one of the warriors, an older man with a long beard, stepped forward. Unlike the others, his gaze held wisdom.
"Your qi is strange," he muttered. "I cannot sense your cultivation."
Lu Feng simply observed. The man's meridians were well-developed, his qi refined—he was a veteran martial artist. But compared to what Lu Feng had already grasped, the old warrior's understanding was like a drop of water in an endless ocean.
He had no cultivation because he had surpassed the need for conventional training the moment he arrived.
The young warrior scoffed. "Hmph, if you have no qi, then you are just a commoner. You shouldn't be on this path alone."
Lu Feng ignored him. His golden eyes drifted toward the horizon.
"I am leaving," he stated.
The warriors looked at one another in confusion. His presence was unusual—his clothes, his demeanor, the unfathomable depth in his gaze. And yet, his words carried a weight that made them hesitate.
Before they could react, Lu Feng stepped forward.
And in that single step—
The earth trembled.
It was subtle, almost imperceptible. But the warriors felt it—an invisible force that sent a shiver down their spines.
What was that movement?
It was flawless. Absolute. As if the entire universe had bent to accommodate his motion.
The old warrior's breath hitched. He had seen countless martial artists, even grandmasters, but never before had he witnessed something so perfect.
Lu Feng continued walking, leaving them behind without another word.
None dared to stop him.
They had felt it, even if they didn't understand it.
This was not a man they could comprehend.
This was an existence beyond their reach.
And soon, the entire world would know it.