A gentle breeze brushed through the tall mountain grass as a boy lay silently beneath the sky's endless blue. Surrounded by birdsong and rustling leaves, Su Yang appeared as though he were still dreaming—his face peaceful, framed by windswept hair.
Nearby sat a small dog, its fur soft and fluffy, its deep brown eyes sharp and vigilant. The little creature, named Max, wasn't just any dog—he was Su Yang's spirit companion, and in that moment, he sat like a silent sentinel, guarding his master from the unseen dangers of the world.
Then, without warning, Su Yang stirred. His eyelids fluttered open.
The sight that greeted him was breathtaking—rolling hills stretching endlessly, tree-lined ridges cutting through the clouds, and skies so vast they seemed to swallow time itself. He sat up slowly, as if waking from a dream too heavy to shake off.
A sharp bark pierced the stillness.
Su Yang turned to see Max wagging his tail enthusiastically.
> "Max?" he blinked. "What are you doing out of the Spirit Land?"
Before he could think further, Max launched himself onto Su Yang's face, gleefully licking it with reckless joy.
Caught off-guard, Su Yang laughed and cradled him in his arms, placing him gently on his lap.
> "Hey, hey, alright," he chuckled. "I missed you too, buddy."
As Max settled on his lap, Su Yang finally looked around more carefully—and his eyes darkened.
All around him were blood-stained rocks, shattered bones, and the remains of spirit beasts, scattered across the forest floor like a battlefield long forgotten.
> "Wait a minute… Max, did you… kill all these spirit beasts?" he asked, stunned.
Max let out a single, proud "woof."
That was all Su Yang needed.
> "So… I was unconscious, and they came for me. You protected me," he murmured, reaching to scratch behind Max's ears. "Thanks."
But as his fingers touched Max's fur, Su Yang's thoughts turned inward—how did he get here?
The last thing he remembered was helping Lu Ying absorb the Original Blood in the cave. Her body had started freezing, and he'd used his fiery essence to help her stabilize. But after that…
Nothing.
His memories turned black.
He looked down at himself. These weren't his clothes. They were too big, clearly not his.
> "Max… did Lu Ying bring me here? Or… did she use me to complete her inheritance and leave me behind?"
His tone was half-joke, half-hurt. But Max only tilted his head, then trotted away. After a moment, he returned with something in his mouth—a ring.
Max placed it gently in Su Yang's palm.
It was a golden ring, seemingly ordinary to any casual eye—but Su Yang was no ordinary boy. His background in blacksmithing told him this ring was special. Crafted with incredible precision, it had subtle etchings that pulsed faintly with dormant energy.
He activated his appraisal skill.
> [Name: Storage Ring (???)]
[Remark: Your appraisal level is too low to identify further information.]
Su Yang frowned. The ??? meant it was either a high-tier artifact—or something hiding its true nature.
Still, he decided to test it.
He sent a wisp of spiritual power into the ring.
Instantly, his mind was pulled into a vast pocket realm.
---
Before him stretched a lush 200-meter field, shimmering with vibrant life. Spiritual trees bore radiant fruits, herbs grew in organized rows, and spirit energy hung thick in the air. It was like stepping into a hidden paradise—a treasure trove any cultivator would kill for.
But that wasn't what caught his attention.
In the center of the realm stood something so massive, so shocking, it made him freeze in place.
A giant snake skeleton.
Dozens of meters long. Its skull alone was the size of a small hut, with long, curved fangs that still gleamed with an eerie luster.
It was the same snake bone he saw in the legacy site… or at least one just like it.
> "What… is this?" he whispered.
The air around the bones pulsed with ancient energy. He could see battle scars on the ribcage—huge slashes and melted bone, as though the snake had faced heavenly tribulations or fought divine beasts in its time.
Su Yang stepped closer, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword—though he knew it was just a skeleton.
Yet somehow… its hollow eye sockets seemed to fo
llow him.
A chill climbed up his spine.
> "This thing… even in death, it's terrifying," he murmured.