The autumn wind howled through Qingyang Town, kicking up dust along the cracked stone paths of the Lin Family's courtyard. Once a symbol of glory, the Lin Clan's ancestral hall now sagged under the weight of time, its faded banners whispering of a legend long gone—Lin Dong, the Martial Ancestor who ascended to the Great Thousand World 40,000 years ago. Today, the Lin Family was a shadow of its past, mocked as a third-rate clan in this lower realm of Qingyang Continent.
In the courtyard's center, a lanky youth knelt on the cold stone, his tattered robes stained with dirt and blood. Lin Fan, 16 years old, clenched his fists as laughter echoed around him. His dark eyes burned with defiance, though his body trembled from the beating he'd just endured.
"Trash! You dare show your face at the clan's sparring day?" A sneering voice cut through the air. Chu Hao, the young master of the Chu Clan, stood with arms crossed, his fiery aura at Core Manifestation Tier 2 casting a faint glow. Behind him, a crowd of Chu and Lin Clan disciples jeered, their faces twisted with mockery.
Lin Fan spat blood onto the stone, his Qi Condensation Layer 1 cultivation too weak to resist Chu Hao's earlier punch. "Keep barking, Chu Hao," he muttered, voice low but sharp. "One day, you'll kneel before me."
The crowd roared with laughter. Chu Hao's face twisted in disdain. "A cripple like you? Your Lin Family's been trash since Lin Dong left! Even your father's stuck at Core Manifestation Tier 1, and your mother's a useless invalid. Know your place!"
Lin Fan's nails dug into his palms, drawing blood. His parents, Lin Xiao and Su Mei, were his only warmth in this cruel world. His father toiled daily to keep the Lin Family afloat, while his mother, once a talented cultivator, had been crippled protecting him as a child. Chu Hao's words were a blade to his heart.
Before he could retort, a cold voice sliced through the noise. "Enough, Chu Hao. Bullying the weak is beneath the Chu Clan." Chu Xue, dressed in flowing white robes, stepped forward. Her ice-blue eyes glinted, and her Core Manifestation Tier 3 aura chilled the air. The crowd parted, awed by Qingyang Town's top genius.
Chu Hao's smirk faltered, but he scoffed. "Cousin, why defend this trash? He's an insult to our town's reputation."
Chu Xue's gaze flicked to Lin Fan, unreadable. "Leave. Now."
Chu Hao snorted but backed off, leading his lackeys away. The crowd dispersed, whispering about Lin Fan's humiliation. Alone in the courtyard, Lin Fan struggled to his feet, his body aching. "One day," he growled, "I'll make you all choke on your words."
As he limped toward the Lin Family's rundown quarters, a sharp pain stabbed his mind. He collapsed against a wall, vision blurring. A mechanical voice, cold yet commanding, echoed in his head:
"Host detected. Binding Heaven-Defying Comprehension System… Complete. Born without talent? Abandoned by the heavens? I am the system that defies the heavens. Observe it once—and you shall learn it. Comprehend the Dao. Turn humiliation into strength. Host, are you ready to become a legend?"
Lin Fan's eyes widened. "What… is this?" He glanced around, but no one else reacted. The system was invisible, its voice resonating only in his soul.
"System activated. Initial abilities unlocked: Dao Enlightenment (Lv.1), Skill Copying (Lv.1). Current Comprehension Points (CP): 0. Earn CP through observation, humiliation, or battles. First task: Survive the Lin Family's Ancestral Trial in three days."
Lin Fan's heart raced. A system? He'd read about such things in novels back on Earth, before his death in that car accident. Reborn into this cruel world, he'd been mocked as talentless. But now… "If you can make me strong, I'll defy the heavens themselves."
"Humiliation detected. CP +10."
Lin Fan blinked. "I get points for being mocked? Fine by me." He smirked, a spark of hope igniting in his chest.
That night, in the dim glow of an oil lamp, Lin Fan sat cross-legged in his cramped room. His parents slept nearby, their weary faces etched with worry. The Lin Family's Ancestral Trial, held every three years, was a chance for disciples to prove their worth. Failure meant expulsion—or worse, death in the trial's dangers. With his Qi Condensation Layer 1 cultivation, Lin Fan was doomed.
He closed his eyes, following the system's prompt to activate Dao Enlightenment. His mind tingled, and faint wisps of spiritual Qi swirled around him. He sensed… something. A rhythm in the air, like the pulse of the world. "Is this the Dao?" he whispered.
"Dao Enlightenment active. Observing natural Qi flow. CP +5."
Lin Fan grinned. "Keep it coming."
Three days later, the Lin Family's ancestral grounds buzzed with tension. A crumbling stone arena, etched with ancient runes, stood before a misty forest—the trial's entrance. Lin Xiao, Lin Fan's father, watched from the sidelines, his weathered face tight with worry. Su Mei, in a wheelchair, gripped his hand, her eyes fixed on their son.
Chu Xue, representing the Chu Clan as a guest, observed from a raised platform. Beside her stood a cloaked figure, aura hidden but oppressive—Venerable Shadow Fang, disguised as a merchant. His soul scanned the arena, seeking the "Lin Ancestor's Relic" rumored to lie within the trial grounds.
Lin Fan stood among 20 Lin Clan disciples, his tattered robes stark against their polished armor. The trial's rules were simple: enter the forest, slay a Rank 1 Demonic Beast, and return with its core. Most disciples were at Qi Condensation Layer 5 or higher. Lin Fan, at Layer 1, was a laughingstock.
Elder Lin Wei, a Foundation Forging Stage 3 cultivator, sneered at Lin Fan. "Don't drag the clan's name through the mud, trash."
"Humiliation detected. CP +10. Current CP: 25."
Lin Fan ignored the taunts, his mind racing. Over three days, he'd earned 15 CP meditating and observing sparring matches. He'd copied a basic Iron Fist Technique from a Lin disciple, boosting his combat power slightly.
As the trial began, disciples charged into the forest. Lin Fan trailed behind, senses sharp. The system's Dao Enlightenment guided him, highlighting faint Qi traces in the air. He dodged a spiked vine, earning 5 CP for "environmental observation."
Deep in the forest, he found a Rank 1 Iron-Claw Wolf, its Qi Condensation Layer 3 aura menacing. Lin Fan's heart pounded. "Time to test this system."
The wolf lunged, claws gleaming. Lin Fan rolled aside, activating Skill Copying. His eyes locked onto the wolf's movements, and the system's voice chimed:
"Observed: Iron-Claw Slash. Copied as Iron-Claw Fist (Basic). CP +10. Current CP: 40."
Lin Fan's fists glowed faintly as he mimicked the wolf's claw strike. His Iron Fist Technique merged with Iron-Claw Fist, doubling his power. He ducked another swipe, countering with a punch that cracked the wolf's ribs. The beast howled, but Lin Fan pressed on, landing blow after blow. Blood sprayed as the wolf collapsed, its core glinting in its chest.
"Battle survived. CP +20. Current CP: 60."
Lin Fan panted, exhilarated. "This system… it's insane."
Before he could celebrate, a mocking clap echoed. Chu Hao emerged from the shadows, flanked by two Chu disciples at Qi Condensation Layer 6. "Not bad for trash," Chu Hao sneered. "But that core's mine. Hand it over, or die."
Lin Fan's eyes narrowed. "Come take it."
Chu Hao laughed, flames erupting around his fists—Blazing Tiger Fist, a Core Manifestation Tier 2 technique. He charged, fist blazing. Lin Fan activated Dao Enlightenment, sensing the Qi flow in Chu Hao's attack. The system's voice rang:
"Observed: Blazing Tiger Fist. Copied as Blazing Palm (Basic). CP +15. Current CP: 75."
Lin Fan sidestepped, his palm igniting with weak flames. He struck Chu Hao's arm, scorching it slightly. Chu Hao roared, stunned. "How do you know my technique?!"
"Guess I'm a fast learner," Lin Fan taunted, dodging another punch. The two Chu disciples attacked, their swords slashing. Lin Fan weaved through their strikes, copying their Swift Wind Sword into a makeshift Swift Step movement art (CP +10, Total: 85).
The fight raged, Lin Fan's copied skills keeping him alive despite his weak cultivation. Chu Xue, watching from a distance, frowned. "He's… not ordinary."
Chu Hao, enraged, unleashed a full-power Blazing Tiger Roar, a fiery shockwave. Lin Fan couldn't dodge. The blast sent him crashing into a tree, blood trickling from his mouth. Chu Hao smirked, advancing. "Die, trash!"
"Critical injury detected. Insight Surge unlocked. Temporary super-comprehension active. CP -50. Current CP: 35."
Lin Fan's mind blazed with clarity. The world slowed, and he saw the Dao of fire in Chu Hao's technique. His Blazing Palm evolved into Blazing Lotus Palm, a mid-grade art. He staggered to his feet, palm glowing with a lotus-shaped flame.
"Impossible!" Chu Hao roared, charging. Lin Fan met him head-on, their fists clashing. The lotus flame exploded, sending Chu Hao flying, his arm charred. The Chu disciples froze, terrified.
Lin Fan stood tall, aura surging. "Who's trash now?"
The crowd outside the forest gasped. Chu Xue's eyes widened. Venerable Shadow Fang, hidden, smirked. "This boy… he's interesting."
"Victory achieved. CP +30. Current CP: 65. First task complete. Reward: System Store unlocked."
Lin Fan clutched the wolf core, his journey to defy the heavens just beginning.