When Chen Nan opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a wooden bed. The soft bedding made him feel warm and comfortable.

  The sky had long since darkened, but the rain was still falling. An oil lamp was lit in the room, casting a gentle light.

  The sound of the rain, the soft bedding, the soft light—it felt as if Chen Nan had returned home, and a sense of warmth filled his heart.

  The door creaked open, and a woman, about fifty years old, entered. She had a kindly expression and said, "You're awake. Young man, you really don't know your limits, running around in the rain."

  Chen Nan couldn't understand the language of the continent, but he understood that the woman meant well. He quickly got out of bed and saluted her.

  It was only then that he realized he had been changed into a clean set of clothes.

  "Thank you, ma'am!"

  The woman was momentarily stunned. She clearly didn't understand Chen Nan's words, but she didn't think much of it. Given the many different races on the continent, it was common for some people not to know the common language.

  Chen Nan followed the woman to the outer room, just as a young man, around eighteen or nineteen, walked in. He was quite sturdy. After placing a tray of food on the table, he smiled at Chen Nan in a friendly manner.

  Chen Nan returned the smile.

  After dinner, he expressed his gratitude to the woman and then returned to his room, where he fell into a deep sleep.

  In his dream, a beautiful figure walked out of a sea of flowers and vanished in the rain of petals, leaving behind an ethereal voice: "I wait for you... until we meet again..."

  Then, in the dream, Chen Nan saw his father, Chen Zhan. His father's gaze was wise and deep, as though he could see through all the illusions of the world. He spoke softly, "Those who climb high must humble themselves, those who travel far must start near. In this world, what's important is not where you stand, but the direction you're moving toward!"

  As Chen Zhan's figure gradually faded, the image of Chen Nan's mother appeared.

  "Vanity fades, and simplicity returns to truth..."

  One by one, familiar figures walked toward Chen Nan, only to slowly fade away.

  In the morning, Chen Nan woke early, opened the door, and stepped out. By then, the rain had stopped, and a rainbow stretched across the sky, adding a beautiful scene to the world.

  "Ten thousand years, and yet, what is there left for me to let go of? I must start anew!" Chen Nan shouted loudly. He decided to face reality and begin a new life.

  Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, half a year had passed. Relying on his martial skills, Chen Nan became the best hunter in the small town. Every day, the prey he brought back far exceeded that of others. With the money he earned from hunting, he bought a small courtyard.

  In addition to hunting, he spent his time either honing his martial arts or learning the language of the continent from the townspeople. Although he still couldn’t communicate fluently, he had already become able to understand the words of those around him. Moreover, Chen Nan constantly adjusted his mindset, accepting reality. He no longer hesitated or felt lost. He had gradually integrated into this society.

  Since he was able to understand the language of the continent, Chen Nan finally realized how drastically the world had changed over the past ten thousand years. The Immortal Fantasy Continent and the Magic Continent, once separated by only a narrow strait, had been brought together by a massive earthquake.

  The Eastern Immortal Fantasy Continent and the Western Magic Continent each had their own splendid civilization. After the two continents merged, the differences in culture and belief led to frequent conflicts between their races. As these frictions escalated, racial conflicts emerged, and eventually, a war broke out between the two great races.

  It was a catastrophic war, with bodies piled up on the battlefield and rivers of blood flowing. Countless able-bodied men were forcibly conscripted and never returned. Millions of civilians died tragically, and tens of millions of people were displaced, leaving the continent in a state of despair and grief.

  The war grew more brutal, and at last, the Western Church deployed mages and holy knights. Just as the war was on the verge of tipping in one side’s favor, the Eastern martial artists and the previously reclusive cultivators organized themselves and entered the battlefield. A grand confrontation between the Eastern and Western cultivators began—True Qi against Battle Qi, Flying Swords and Magic Artifacts against Magic. On the battlefield, sword energy and battle aura clashed violently, while magical artifacts and spells dazzled and dazzled.

  The final result of the war was mutual destruction. After the battle, countless bones lay scattered across the battlefield, and the continent was left in a miserable state. The wise figures on both sides recognized the enormous harm of the war, and finally, a comprehensive peace treaty was signed.

  Time can heal all wounds, and after thousands of years of easing, racial conflicts finally disappeared. The initial stages of racial integration were achieved, and there was no longer any distinction between the Immortal Fantasy Continent and the Magic Continent. The merged continent was named Tian Yuan.

  "So that’s how it is. No wonder there are so many different races in the town—this place must be at the border between the Immortal Fantasy Continent and the Magic Continent. No wonder I encountered fire-breathing wolves while hunting; they must be magical beasts from the West."

  Upon learning all this, Chen Nan was deeply shaken, yet many things suddenly became clear to him. Another half year passed, and Chen Nan had finally mastered the common language of the continent. He had a deeper understanding of Tian Yuan, and he had fully integrated into this society.

  Of course, there were still some things that remained as hazy as ever to him. He still couldn’t understand what had happened between the gods, or why so many powerful deities had died. He had asked everyone in the town, but no one could provide him with an answer.

  Finally, an old man in the town said to him, "Child, this is a question that not only you want to know the answer to. Many people across the continent seek the answer, but it remains an unsolved mystery."

  Chen Nan asked, "Was it when the two continents erupted into full-scale war that the gods themselves got involved?" As he said this, he felt his heart stop for a moment. What an astonishing possibility! His heart was filled with shock.

  The old man shook his head and smiled, saying, "Child, you have a rich imagination, but in fact, long before the great war between the two continents broke out a thousand years ago, the Tomb of Gods and Demons already existed. No one knows exactly when it was built, nor does anyone know who built it."

  Chen Nan exclaimed, "What? Even before the two continents were connected... the gods of both continents...?"

  The old man nodded and said, "Indeed. When the many tombs of gods and demons were discovered, the world was shocked. Countless cultivators rushed there, and even cultivators from the Magic Continent tried to cross the strait to pay their respects. From then on, the Tomb of Gods and Demons was revered as a sacred site, and people began to bury some of the strongest figures in history there as a mark of respect."

  "But... the Tomb of Gods and Demons is located at the junction of the two continents. Why didn't the great earthquake that occurred when the two continents connected destroy it?" Chen Nan asked.

  The old man sighed and said, "The Tomb of Gods and Demons has always been a mystery."

  During that year, Chen Nan had several thoughts about visiting the old man guarding the tomb, but he never acted on them.

  "Since I’ve begun a new life, I should let go of everything from the past. The Tomb of Gods and Demons and the old man guarding the tomb should stay in my memories."

  A year’s time, neither long nor short, but for Chen Nan, it was of great significance. He had learned the common language of the continent, and his mentality gradually became more peaceful. He had shed the sorrow and despair of the past, and restored the vigor of youth. He decided to leave the small town and begin his travels across the world.

  When the Immortal Fantasy Continent and the Magic Continent were connected, a vast and continuous mountain range rose at their junction. The small town was located on the edge of the Immortal Fantasy Continent, right at the boundary of the two continents. Less than twenty miles to the west lay the endless mountain range.

  No one dared to venture deep into the mountains, for not only were there fierce birds and beasts, but also the legendary ancient giants. For ordinary people, it was undoubtedly a place of great danger and evil. Even the most experienced hunters in the town would only dare hunt at the outskirts of the mountains, never stepping into their depths.

  The rumors of flying dragons and towering ancient giants deeply fascinated Chen Nan. When he decided to leave the town and travel across the continent, his first destination was the "great place of danger and evil" that was so close by.

  Before leaving, Chen Nan gave his house to the mother and child who had taken him in, then strode out of the town.

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  The wheel of history began to turn, and the legend began here.

  Chen Nan ventured deep into the mountains alone. He had been walking through the continuous mountain range for three days, encountering countless fierce birds and beasts. He avoided those he could, and fought those he could not avoid.

  "There aren't any particularly remarkable evil beasts," he thought.

  Suddenly, a massive shadow flew swiftly overhead, stirring up a violent wind.

  Chen Nan was startled and looked up, only to see a gigantic "monster bird," thirty zhang in length, flying across the sky above him.

  The monster bird was entirely green, emitting faint glimmers of light, and trailing a ten-zhang-long tail behind it.

  "My God! A featherless monster bird—no, a monster bird completely covered in scales. Ah, that tail is hideously ugly," he exclaimed.

  If anyone had passed by at that moment, they would surely have laughed at Chen Nan's ignorance for not recognizing one of the strongest creatures on the continent, the dragon. At the same time, they would have admired his courage, as this guy dared to comment on the dragon right in front of it.

  The green dragon clearly hadn’t noticed the small creature on the ground, nor had it heard those "idle words." Otherwise, it would have certainly swooped down and torn apart this disrespectful fool.

  As the green dragon slowly disappeared into the distance, Chen Nan snapped out of his daze and, somewhat belatedly, said, "That big fellow... could it be the legendary dragon? This... this is too ridiculous, it’s just a big-winged fat lizard! It must be some kind of mutated dragon from the magical continent. Compared to the divine dragons of the Immortal Fantasy Continent, it's just... sigh!"

  Of course, Chen Nan had never seen the legendary divine beasts of the Immortal Fantasy Continent—the dragons. But the numerous legends about them gave him some idea of what dragons were like, and the exquisite engravings he had seen depicted these supreme creatures in perfect form.

  The Western giant dragon that had just flown by left him deeply disappointed. Perhaps that green dragon was just as powerful, but he had a feeling that the Western giant dragon couldn’t possibly compare to the Eastern divine dragon.

  Chen Nan muttered to himself, "If only one day I could see an Eastern divine dragon with my own eyes... sigh, that dragon just now was really... so ugly."

  He didn’t know what the green dragon would think if it heard his words. It probably wouldn’t need to be told about "racial discrimination" before dealing with him "on the spot."

  The mountains were full of strange sights: towering peaks shrouded in mist, stone forests with bizarre formations, and water pools with flowing streams and cascading waterfalls...

  Chen Nan stood atop one of the high peaks, the sky above him clear and vast, the white clouds below him rolling like celestial energy. His heart swelled with excitement.

  "Ten thousand years, haha... who can lament the passing of endless years? I, Chen Nan, can! Haha..."

  As his excited emotions slowly calmed, he gazed at the blue sky, feeling a profound sense of peace.

  A crystal-clear river wound its way through the mountains. After descending from the peak, Chen Nan felt an overwhelming heat, so he plunged into the river. Holding his breath using his family's secret technique, he let the current carry him downstream. He didn’t know how long it had been, but eventually, he noticed the flow of the river had slowed, even stopping. When he opened his eyes, he saw that the river continued to wind through the mountains, but he had been carried to the edge of a clear pool.

  Suddenly, a splash rose from the pool, and an incredibly beautiful scene unfolded before Chen Nan’s eyes. A girl stood up from the water, her long black hair dripping wet and cascading over her shoulders. Her jade-like face glistened with droplets of water, resembling a lotus flower freshly emerged from the water—pure and graceful. Perhaps she should not be called a woman, but rather a girl, for she looked to be only sixteen or seventeen years old. Her exquisite beauty, with lively eyes, long eyelashes, a delicate nose, and rosy lips, made her look like an elf, as pure as an angel.

  When Chen Nan looked down, he almost had a nosebleed. The girl’s proud, perky chest had just surfaced from the water, glimmering with a seductive shine that stirred the most primal desires within him.

  At the same time, the girl noticed Chen Nan. Her lively eyes immediately filled with fear. She screamed, "Ah... help... pervert..."

  Chen Nan was stunned. He never expected such a clichéd situation to happen to him. Without a doubt, his reputation as a lecherous, debauched man would be hard to wash away. In a panic, he jumped out of the water, pulling the girl into his arms and covering her mouth. The soft, smooth body in his arms made his blood race.

  Suddenly, a surge of power erupted from the girl’s body, sending Chen Nan flying. At the same time, her graceful form soared like a swift swallow from the pool and landed on the shore. She quickly grabbed the clothes on the shore and put them on.

  When the immense force surged toward him, Chen Nan knew something was terribly wrong. This beautiful and pure-looking girl was actually a highly skilled martial artist. He felt her cultivation was far superior to his own. If he hadn’t silently drifted close to her in the water, he would never have been able to touch her.

  A dozen figures appeared from the nearby forest, flying toward them. At the same time, the air shimmered, and a glowing barrier formed around the girl, protecting her within. The group of people who had rushed over now surrounded her, shielding her in the center.

  Now that Chen Nan was considered a qualified resident of the Tianyuan Continent, he could immediately recognize that the glow from earlier had been cast by a magician. He also noticed that these dozen or so people were skilled martial artists. His head began to ache. The scene indicated that this girl was no ordinary woman—she was either the daughter of a noble family or the daughter of a renowned clan. He had clearly messed with someone he shouldn’t have.

  Three magicians walked over from a distance, all quite young. One of them muttered something to himself, then waved his hand, making the protective barrier around the girl vanish.

  As soon as the magical barrier disappeared, the girl shouted in anger, "Kill that man right now, hurry!"

  Chen Nan quickly called out, "Please, beautiful lady, hear me out..."

  "Shut up! What are you all waiting for? Get him!"

  At that moment, the stunningly beautiful girl’s face was filled with murderous intent. She looked as though she wanted to tear Chen Nan apart immediately.

  "It's a misunderstanding..."

  It was the three magicians who acted first. One of them chanted, "Water spirit, drifting between heaven and earth, heed my call, Water Dragon Wave!"

  There was a ripple in the air, followed by the sound of water splashing, and a water dragon rose from the surface of the water, charging towards Chen Nan.

  At first, Chen Nan didn’t pay much attention, but when the water dragon was about to strike him, he suddenly felt the immense force hidden within it. He quickly dodged to the side.

  "Boom!"

  The water dragon hit the surface, sending a massive wave that pushed Chen Nan towards the shore, in the direction of the girl.

  "Unconscious! After getting up, that girl will tear him apart." Chen Nan quickly swam in the opposite direction.

  At that moment, the magician who had cast the Water Dragon Wave chanted another spell. The calm water surface rippled again, and layers of waves surged towards Chen Nan, forcing him back to the shore. The guards by the girl immediately advanced, surrounding him.

  Chen Nan stood up from the water, forcing a grim smile. "This is really all just a misunderstanding..."

  "Shut up! Get him! Knock him down and drag him over!" the girl shouted.

  The dozen or so people, both men and women, though young, were all far from weak. As they looked at Chen Nan, their gazes were full of pity, as if he were already a piece of meat on the chopping block.

  Chen Nan knew that the fight was inevitable. He made the first move, pushing his palms outward, sending waves of shadowy palm strikes. Then, he leapt into the air, aiming to jump over the heads of the crowd and break through. Clearly, they gave him no chance. His palm strikes were easily neutralized by two of them, who then took to the air and forced him back down.

  Just as his body began to fall towards the ground, several palm winds struck towards his back. In a panic, he swung his palm backwards without looking.

  "Boom!"

  Chen Nan staggered forward, almost falling to the ground. His face flushed, and a mouthful of blood surged towards his throat, but he forced himself to swallow it.

  It seemed like these dozen or so people had figured out his strengths and weaknesses, forming a circle to trap him. The woman, who appeared to be the leader of the guards, walked towards him. She was delicate-looking, seemingly frail. But Chen Nan didn’t dare let his guard down for a moment. He knew this woman was far from as weak as she appeared.

  A sharp gleam of sword light slashed toward Chen Nan, lightning-fast, and in the blink of an eye, it was upon him. Chen Nan hurriedly dodged to the side, a strand of his long hair sliced off by the woman's sword, fluttering to the ground.

  He sucked in a cold breath. This woman wielded her sword like lightning—something he could not resist, unless he reached the Grandmaster level of his family’s first-layer arcana. In the moment of his hesitation, the graceful woman attacked again, her sword moving faster than lightning, each strike aimed directly at his vital points.

  After over thirty exchanges, Chen Nan finally fell short. The woman struck him with a palm to his back, sending him crashing to the ground. He coughed up three large mouthfuls of blood.

  The guards dragged him before the girl.

  “Hmph! You’re nothing but a useless scoundrel, I thought you were something more impressive!” the girl sneered.

  A chill ran through Chen Nan’s heart. The expression on the girl’s face was completely different from the angelic one he saw earlier in the water. Back then, she seemed like a little angel, but now, he felt as though a beautiful little demon was standing in front of him.

  “This... uh, little sister, I really didn’t mean to offend you. I was just worried you might scream and cause unnecessary trouble, so I rushed over and grabbed you...”

  “Shut up!” The girl’s eyes seemed to burn with fury. She lifted her small foot and kicked Chen Nan hard.

  In that instant, Chen Nan felt paralyzed, unable to move or speak.

  The guards, who had always appeared calm and collected, immediately changed their expressions upon hearing Chen Nan’s words. They shouted angrily, “What? This damn bastard dares to insult Her Highness the Princess like this? He deserves to be sliced into a thousand pieces!” Then, they hastily kneeled, trembling as they spoke, “We are deserving of death for failing to protect Her Highness the Princess.” Sweat poured down their faces.

  At this moment, the little princess was consumed with regret. She regretted giving Chen Nan any chance to speak. His outrageous words filled her with humiliation and fury, leaving her at a loss as to how to face her subordinates.

  In a fit of rage, the little princess snapped, “Get up! This bastard is spouting nonsense. How could you believe him? I sensed him long before he even got close. If I didn’t want to give you all a chance to prove yourselves, I would have dealt with him myself!”

  She then cast a venomous glare at Chen Nan, who lay on the ground. “Hmph! How dare you slander and insult me, your princess! Beat him senseless!”

  Though paralyzed and unable to speak, Chen Nan could hear every word clearly. He never imagined that this girl was a princess.

  The dozen or so guards clearly doubted the princess's words, secretly resenting Chen Nan’s baseless insolence. When they beat him, they made sure to do so with calculated precision, each blow akin to a needle prick or ant bite, tormenting him to the brink of death. In no time, his body was covered in bruises and wounds.

  “Enough! If you hit him any more, he’ll die.” Looking at the battered Chen Nan, the little princess laughed with delight, clearly satisfied with the outcome. The young guards stopped their assault, stepping aside as the little princess approached Chen Nan with a charming smile.

  Relief washed over him. Having unwittingly insulted a royal, he had expected much worse torture. Perhaps this nightmare was finally ending.

  The little princess’s sweet voice whispered in his ear, “You have some nerve, trying to lay a hand on me. Luckily, my wisdom uncovered your scheme in time. If you had managed to peep… What face would I have left? I would be laughed to death!”

  Chen Nan froze. Wait—what scheme? Hadn’t she been smiling at me just moments ago? But now… When he met her gaze again, a feeling of dread coiled in his gut. Her smile, sweet as honey, now held a trace of malice, sending a chill through his body, making him shiver involuntarily.

  With a sugary smile, the little princess declared, “Attendants, prepare the castration ceremony.”

  A deafening roar filled Chen Nan’s mind. Darkness threatened to consume him. At that moment, the princess’s radiant smile seemed utterly demonic—he finally understood. She was a little devil, disguised as an angel.