C1 His Life Was in Danger

What is fate? Fate is the pattern of life, a predetermined constant that no one can control.

What defines destiny? To be born a king, to live with honor, to be revered for eternity—such things are inescapable.

While fate cannot be defied, fortune can be changed.

On the magnificent Initial Continent, where hundreds of sects and thousands of clans have risen to power, there lies a story.

Zhang Hao was born in a humble village on the outskirts of Conriston, destined for obscurity.

This village, where everyone bore the surname Zhao, was aptly named Hillfar.

Three years ago, a woman arrived in Hillfar clutching her newborn baby. The villagers, moved by her plight, welcomed her into their community.

Within three years, the woman succumbed to illness, leaving behind her three-year-old child, who drew the villagers' compassion.

Zhang Hao grew up nourished by the generosity of many, wearing clothes and eating meals provided by the entire village, and he learned the value of gratitude from a young age.

Whether it was helping Aunt Zhao move items or assisting with farm work, Zhang Hao was always eager to lend a hand.

His fate may have been ordinary, but his luck was anything but.

At the age of seven, Zhang Hao accompanied Uncle Zhao on a herb-picking expedition in the mountains and unexpectedly tumbled off a cliff.

The entire Hillfar community mobilized, scouring the deep forest in search of the boy.

After five fruitless days, hope waned. The forest was known for its dangerous beasts, and survival seemed impossible for a child, let alone an adult.

Yet, against all odds, on the seventh day, Zhang Hao returned to Hillfar unscathed, to everyone's astonishment.

When questioned, Zhang Hao explained that he hadn't fallen all the way down the cliff; instead, he was caught by a tree branch. After climbing up, he tried to find Grandpa Zhao but got lost. For seven days and nights, he survived on wild fruits and spring water until he found his way back.

The people of Hillfar marveled at Zhang Hao's fortune. To have spent a week in the wilds without a single encounter with the fearsome beasts was nothing short of miraculous.

Little did anyone know, Zhang Hao had come face-to-face with a Vicious Beast of the Dark Green, a creature of extreme evil and danger.

Zhang Hao's account of his ordeal was no fabrication. He truly had been snagged by a tree branch on the edge of a cliff. Dangling precariously, he clung to the branch for dear life, his eyes catching sight of a concealed cave entrance not far off.

Driven by the primal urge to survive, Zhang Hao scrambled into the cave, only to discover an entirely new world hidden within. As he inched forward, he lost his footing and plummeted into the depths, falling for what seemed like an eternity before hitting the ground with a thunderous thud. Blood spurted from his mouth as he lay there in agony, his body wracked with pain from countless broken bones, until darkness claimed him.

Upon regaining consciousness, Zhang Hao was met with excruciating pain that tore through him, prompting scream after scream into the void. His cries for help merely echoed back in the pitch-black cavern, unanswered.

Time crawled by in the suffocating darkness, every second stretching into an eternity of fear and torment. Eventually, the will to live spurred Zhang Hao on. Despite his broken legs, he dragged himself across the cave floor, groping blindly in the oppressive blackness.

His hands soon brushed against what felt like the edge of a water pool. Desperate for relief from his parched throat and the searing pain, Zhang Hao lunged forward to drink, unaware that it was not water but a pool of blood that awaited him. Misjudging his movement, he toppled headfirst into the crimson depths.

Flailing wildly, Zhang Hao fought against the choking sensation as his consciousness began to fade, slowly sinking to the bottom of the pool. It was then that the blood pool underwent a bizarre transformation, swirling into a vortex of blood.

Zhang Hao's body became like a voracious black hole, frantically absorbing the blood from the pool around him.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Zhang Hao came to with a jolt, instinctively pushing off the ground to stand. He froze, taking in his surroundings.

In that moment, Zhang Hao was struck by a sense of wonder. The intense pain that had wracked his body was gone. Despite the pitch darkness that should have shrouded his vision, he could see everything with crystal clarity, and he felt a boundless energy coursing through him.

Confusion clouded his expression as he pieced together his memories. He recalled tumbling into a water pool not long ago. But why had the water vanished, leaving behind a gaping chasm ten meters deep and several dozen meters across?

Zhang Hao paced anxiously around the perimeter, searching for an exit, but there was none to be found. In a fit of frustration, he stomped his foot, propelling himself several meters into the air before landing with a thud.

Lying on the ground, Zhang Hao was stunned and utterly astonished by what had just happened.

He quickly got to his feet and approached the edge of the chasm. With a powerful leap, he soared up, only to crash back down to the ground.

As he picked himself up, a cheer escaped his lips. He hadn't expected to clear the ten-meter depth of the chasm with a single jump.

Having ascended from the depths, Zhang Hao surveyed his surroundings. There was nothing remarkable, just a circular cave. It seemed as if the mountain's interior had been hollowed out, forming a colossal cavern with a single exit—the very hole he had initially fallen through.

Determined to leave, Zhang Hao knew he had to scale the cave's side to reach the opening. There was no turning back; he had to survive.

Filled with newfound vigor, Zhang Hao found the uneven cave walls manageable to climb. He ascended over ten meters before a slip of his inexperienced hand sent him plummeting back to the ground.

As he braced for impact, Zhang Hao was certain it was the end. But with a muffled thump, the anticipated fatal blow was just a sharp pain that quickly faded.

Standing once more, he marveled at his survival from such a fall. Unharmed, Zhang Hao resumed his climb and, after several more attempts, finally emerged from the cave.

Cautiously ascending the cliff's edge, he made his way back to Hillfar Village by the same route. Upon his return, the villagers of Hillfar questioned him, prompting Zhang Hao to concoct a tale of getting lost to cover his tracks. After all, the events that transpired within the cave were so unbelievable, he feared they would fall on skeptical ears. Little did Zhang Hao realize, this extraordinary encounter within the cave had irrevocably altered his destiny, setting him on a journey toward immortality.