C1 Fallen Star

Clacroams, a continent obsessed with martial honor and the pursuit of the Outer Worlds, was a place where the martial spirit reigned supreme.

The crisp chill of early autumn swept across the land, enshrouding the majestic Spirit Mountain in a dense mist. The tiger and wolf forest seemed to vanish into the depths of the clouds, a place of mystery and wonder.

At the edge of Spirit Mountain, the babbling brooks were alive with birdsong and the sweet scent of flowers. The forest loomed high, dappled with the morning's dewy embrace.

A young man, about fifteen or sixteen, draped in a few thin animal hides, sat at the forest's edge, gazing into the distance at the rising sun.

Beside him lay a three-meter-long black panther, its gaze fixed on the mountains, a trace of concern flickering in its eyes. After a while, the Black Panther spoke, "Spirit Mountain has been restless lately. You should head back home sooner."

"But being with you is what I love most. Without your guidance over these past few years, I doubt I would have even begun to grasp Body Forging. You're our village's guardian deity; surely you're not going to be petty," the young man playfully teased the Black Panther.

In the distance, the clouds thickened, threatening to shroud the morning light in darkness.

The worry in Black Panther's eyes deepened. Standing up, it spoke with a hint of nostalgia, "Haoyun, remember this. If one day the forest is no more, do not grieve. For the forest will one day return to its former glory."

The young man, Chu Haoyun, didn't fully grasp Black Panther's words. He had been raised in this forest, discovered by the Black Panther and brought to the village it protected. At ten, he had stumbled upon the Black Panther and since then, had often snuck out to frolic and secretly learn the art of Body Forging under its tutelage.

Haoyun was the name etched on the jade medallion when Black Panther found him, and it became his name, Chu Haoyun, following the customs of his village.

After the Black Panther departed, Chu Haoyun trudged through the forest, his spirits dampened, making his way back to the village.

The sky grew heavy with an ominous gloom, as if the world itself was under a great weight. Deep within Spirit Mountain, the rumble of an impending storm echoed, yet no lightning flashed.

Suddenly, the clouds split asunder, as if torn by invisible, colossal hands. A blinding halo spun within the fissure, its brilliance piercing. The first bolt of lightning struck, shattering the halo into a meteor that tore through the heavens.

A meteor streaked across the sky, and sunlight pierced through the clouds, bathing the land in a warm glow.

Chu Haoyun spotted a sparkling, fiery red jade bead nestled in the grass nearby, its light fading. The bead's surface was rough, adorned with delicate patterns, and it was emitting thin wisps of mist.

All of a sudden, the fiery red jade bead twitched, startling Chu Haoyun. He rubbed his eyes for a clearer look. The bead moved again, this time appearing to sprout legs and slowly inching away.

After watching intently, he noticed several tiny legs, as thin as strands of hair, scurrying beneath the bead. Lifting the jade bead, he chuckled, "Ah, it's a Mountain Moving Ant. You really had me going there. I thought the thing had grown legs on its own!"

Underneath the bead, several gray-black ants, no bigger than green beans, were busily maneuvering it with their tiny legs. These creatures were a common sight on Spirit Mountain. Small in size, yet their forelimbs possessed incredible strength.

As Chu Haoyun examined the jade bead, the Mountain Moving Ants seemed to realize that their prize had been taken by an intruder. One bit down hard on his palm, causing him to reflexively flip his hand and smack it against the ground.

Suddenly, a warm sensation flowed through his palm, as if something had surged into his body. When he lifted his hand, both the Mountain Moving Ants and the jade bead had vanished without a trace.

The warmth spread from his palm throughout his body, leaving Chu Haoyun feeling utterly relaxed, reminiscent of the secret hot spring visits with Rees. Then, he felt his arms swell and throb with pain, crying out as they seemed to inflate like balloons, growing larger and larger.

He pounded the ground with his arms as his consciousness began to blur. The thudding grew louder, drowning out his cries, while gusts of wind erupted, sending chips of stone scattering.

After some time, Chu Haoyun came to. His arms were unchanged, making the whole experience seem like a surreal dream.

However, as he turned over, Chu Haoyun sensed something was amiss. His arms felt significantly stronger than before, as if he could now lift a boulder weighing thousands of pounds with ease.

"Strange? How can I still feel so strong after lifting something several times heavier than usual?" Chu Haoyun pondered as he set down the boulder, staring at his hands in bewilderment. He felt akin to a Mountain Moving Ant—small in size but possessing astonishing strength.

In the Martial Tao of Clacroams, possessing the strength of ten thousand kilograms was indicative of reaching the seventh level of Body Forging. Yet, Chu Haoyun had not advanced beyond the fifth level. What could have caused such a dramatic increase in his strength? And why were only his arms affected, with the rest of his body remaining unchanged?

"Hey, kid. Did you catch a glimpse of that beam of light that fell around here?" A brash voice snapped Chu Haoyun out of his reverie.

A short distance away, two teenagers, around eighteen or nineteen, were searching for something. Chu Haoyun instantly recognized them as the sons of the chief of Jackal's Maw Village. The taller, leaner one was Feilong, and the shorter, plumper one was his brother, Feihu.

These two were known for their laziness, always snatching things from others to flaunt as their trophies, a habit that had become more pronounced since their uncle assumed leadership.

Chu Haoyun paid them no mind and began to walk away. It was then that Feilong got a good look at him, nudged his chubby brother, and sneered, "I was wondering who it was. Turns out it's the wild child who was begging for milk on the streets of Boltburg a few years back. Hahaha..."

Feihu joined in the mockery, "Exactly. I wouldn't have remembered if you hadn't mentioned it. It really does depend on the village, doesn't it? Just look at Chu Lin from their village—a cripple who dared to challenge our uncle for a spot as an Outer Sect disciple of the Silent Cloud Sect three years ago. Talk about delusions of grandeur."

The Silent Cloud Sect was a martial arts sect nearby, recruiting Outer Sect disciples from the surrounding areas every three years. For a small mountain village like theirs, an association with the Silent Cloud Sect was a stroke of immense luck.

Chu Haoyun halted, his expression souring as he spun around to confront them. "If your uncle hadn't resorted to deceit and poisoned Uncle Chu Lin, how could he have possibly lost that opportunity?"

"Just him? He's nothing but a cripple." Feilong sneered with contempt, spitting on the ground. Casually, he crushed a group of Mountain Moving Ants that were scuttling by underfoot. "My third uncle will handle him as easily as I squashed these ants."

"Exactly. A mere cripple," Feihu echoed, his face twisted in scorn. "Does your pathetic little village really think anyone can rise to prominence? A wild brat like you, getting uppity in front of us? On a good day, we might just snatch that little black cat from your village and have ourselves a stew."

Chu Haoyun's expression darkened to its limits. He had grown up under the care of his grandfather, the village chief, but Black Panther Rees was like a father to him.

As Chu Haoyun turned to face them, Feilong mocked, "What's the matter? You think you can take us on?"

"Big brother, how could this wild brat possibly be a match for you?" Feihu flattered. "You're a fifth-level Body Forging expert, capable of shattering a thousand-kilogram boulder with a single punch. If you accidentally killed him with a slap, well, hehe, we'll just make him cough up whatever treasures he's found here."

Feihu grinned malevolently at Chu Haoyun. They had followed a mysterious light all this way and found nothing; Feihu was convinced Chu Haoyun had claimed it.

Chu Haoyun remained stoic, his lack of reaction seeming to mock Feilong, who squinted his eyes and said with feigned sympathy, "It appears this wild brat doesn't understand the power of a fifth-level Body Forger. Today, I'll show you what it really means to earn the right to laugh at others!"

"Big brother, just squash him with one slap!" Feilong urged, brimming with arrogance.

Feilong's sinister smile widened as he looked at Chu Haoyun with mock pity, his hands clenching as if he had already crushed him to bits. Meanwhile, Feihu edged toward Tharannora Village, aiming to block Chu Haoyun's retreat.

"What's with this kid? Not running away?" Feilong muttered to himself as he closed in on Chu Haoyun. But the formidable power of his fifth-level Body Forging made him dismiss the thought, and with a cruel smirk, he focused his energy into his fist, launching it toward Chu Haoyun's face.