Volume One, Chapter Three: The Protagonist’s Template—The Divine Flame Saint Body!

"Awesome!"

Wang Mu’s eyes gleamed as he looked up and let out a long, thunderous roar, feeling an unparalleled sense of exhilaration.

It was exactly as he thought.

In this world of cultivation, where "protagonists of destiny" roam in packs and peerless geniuses are a dime a dozen, staying grounded and training honestly only leads to a life as an extra. Cheating—or rather, using a "cheat"—was the only way to get ahead!

However, despite his excitement, Wang Mu did not allow himself to become complacent or slack off.

After all, the Damocles' sword of several destiny-bound protagonists hung over his head, ready to fall at any moment.

Given the growth speed of those "Children of Luck," who knew when they might master their ultimate techniques and come knocking for his head?

He couldn't afford to gamble! He couldn't afford the stakes!

At this thought, the joy that had just surfaced was quickly suppressed.

Spend money! Invest! This young master needed to grow stronger as fast as possible.

"Not enough!"

Watching the excited Golden-Winged Roc soaring through the sky, Wang Mu muttered to himself, "Relying solely on Wang Fugui to carry me is far from enough. I need to find more people to invest in."

But who should he look for?

Wang Mu lightly stroked his chin, lost in thought. "Finding suitable candidates for a 'bottom-fishing' investment is truly difficult!"

Wait! How could he have forgotten him?

In his current situation, the most suitable target for investment was undoubtedly Lin Yan—the one whose partner his predecessor had snatched, leading to his demotion to a lowly servant disciple.

After all, this starting template was just too classic; he was a textbook protagonist of destiny!

"The only problem is, given the bad blood between us, it’s unlikely he’ll accept my goodwill," Wang Mu thought, feeling a bit of a headache.

Forget it, whatever! I’ll just try it and see! Even if I can't secure an investment, I must at least try to mitigate his hostility.

At a time like this, it’s best to be kind; resolve the karmic debts whenever possible. Otherwise, if all the protagonists of destiny teamed up to descend upon him, even with the system's protection, there was no guarantee he could hold them off.

"According to my predecessor's memories, this guy Lin Yan should be in the outer region right now."

After a moment of contemplation, Wang Mu set off immediately.

...

The Beiming Sacred Land was one of the three great sacred lands of the Northern Territory, governing hundreds of millions of miles of ocean. It was divided into the Core Region, the Inner Region, the Outer Region, and the Fringe Region.

The Core Region housed thirty-six immortal islands, boasting the richest spiritual energy and serving as the residence and training ground for the sacred land's top brass. Wang Mu lived within this area.

The Inner Region consisted of hundreds of islands, where the inner disciples of the sacred land lived and trained.

The Outer Region contained thousands of islands and belonged to the sect's industrial assets. Most were medicine or mining islands, managed by outer and registered disciples.

As for the outermost Fringe Region, strictly speaking, it was no longer part of the sect's actual grounds, but rather territory under its jurisdiction.

The Fringe Region held tens of thousands of islands scattered like stars across the North Sea. Countless commoners lived there, and some islands had even developed into nations locked in power struggles.

All these islands submitted to the Beiming Sacred Land, paying taxes and tributes. The geniuses from the various factions on these islands took pride in joining the sacred land as disciples.

In fact, Lin Yan was originally a nobleman’s son from one of these fringe islands. He had only moved to the Inner Region after becoming an inner disciple.

However, he later offended Wang Mu’s predecessor, had his cultivation crippled, and was demoted to an outer-region medicine island to water plants, spread fertilizer, and weed the fields.

...

At this moment, on Biyun Island in the Outer Region.

"You piece of trash!"

"You're in charge of watering and fertilizing these fifty acres of spiritual herbs today."

"The surveillance crystal is watching your every move. If I catch you slacking off, you’ll find out exactly what cruelty is!"

A pot-bellied steward stood on a high platform, brandishing a magic whip and throwing his weight around.

In the fields, a young man wearing a ragged undershirt carried a bucket of dung, watering the crops under the scorching sun.

On his arms, his calves, and every inch of exposed skin, there were crisscrossing lash marks—frightening and gruesome to behold.

"Bastard!"

"Animal!"

The boy cursed under his breath as he scooped the foul water. "One day, I will kill you all. Kill you all!"

*Hum~*

Just as the boy was seething with resentment, the ancient ring on his right index finger trembled gently, and a stream of pure spiritual energy surged through his body like a cool spring.

"Yan'er." An old, kindly voice echoed in Lin Yan’s mind. "Do not let hatred cloud your path. You have awakened a Sacred Body. Once you grow, what is the mere Wang family?"

"For now, your priority is to focus on cultivation and reach the Foundation Establishment stage as soon as possible."

"Only by breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage will you have a chance to escape Biyun Island, escape the territory of the Beiming Sacred Land, and find true freedom."

Lin Yan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, the hatred in his eyes had been completely hidden. "Teacher, don't worry. I understand."

"Heh."

"Wang Mu, oh Wang Mu, you could never have dreamed that I would encounter Teacher!"

"With Teacher's help and guidance, I have not only healed my dantian but also awakened a Sacred Body. In just two months, I have returned to the ninth level of Qi Refining."

"I truly look forward to it! What kind of expression will you, that useless, cultivation-less piece of trash, have when you see the man I have become?"

"Ke-ke-ke-ke~"

The boy sneered in a low voice. The thought of standing at the pinnacle one day and stepping on Wang Mu filled him with uncontrollable excitement.

Motivation! Unprecedented motivation for cultivation kept him full of energy every day!

*Screech~!*

Just then, the sunny medicine field went dark.

A sharp, piercing cry, like a roc splitting the clouds and cracking stones, sent chills down everyone’s spines.

Lin Yan looked up instinctively.

He saw a massive, divine roc spreading its wings as it glided over Biyun Island. Standing on the head of this divine bird was a young man in white robes.

*A man as jade-like as the moon, a young master without peer.*

The boy’s ethereal, otherworldly demeanor was like that of an immortal descended, enough to entrance countless women and make countless men feel inferior.

However, as Lin Yan looked at him, he couldn't help but grit his teeth, his eyes turning bloodshot.

It’s him! It’s him! It’s this very person!

It was this animal who had snatched away his beloved Yan'er three years ago. He had also crippled his cultivation, turning him from a brilliant inner disciple into a lowly medicine farmer bullied by everyone.

This animal! What is he doing back on Biyun Island?

Could it be that he wasn't satisfied with humiliating me and is now here to cut the weeds and dig up the roots?

No!!!

If he really intends to kill me, there is absolutely no way I can resist at my current ninth level of Qi Refining. Even if Teacher intervenes and takes control of my body, he would have a hard time defeating that giant bird beneath him!

Endure! I must endure!

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river; do not bully a young man for being poor!"

I will endure!

At this thought, Lin Yan forced down his rage, squeezed out a smile, and knelt down alongside the pot-bellied steward in the direction of the Golden-Winged Roc.

"Respectfully welcoming the Holy Son!"

*Whoosh~!*

The Golden-Winged Roc shrank rapidly and landed steadily with Wang Mu on its back.

At this moment, Wang Mu finally got a clear look at the young man with the protagonist template.

Good heavens. This kid really had it rough!

Wearing a tattered shirt, skin darkened by the sun, and covered in scars from head to toe—this was no "protagonist treatment," this was a human tragedy!

However, as the system interface appeared before his eyes, Wang Mu confirmed it: This guy really was a protagonist template!

Not only did he have world-class talent, but he even came with a "Grandpa" in a ring—a buy-one-get-one-free deal!