Chapter 1: Descending the Mountain, The High Wall of a Broken World
Damp and heavy, the wind, carrying the stench of rotting soil and a faint, chilling metallic tang, suddenly rushed into his lungs.
Lin Yan abruptly opened his eyes.
A vast, desolate expanse of black mountains stretched out before him. The forests were scorched and withered, and the ground was crawling with dense, intricate fissures in the rock.
From deep within the earth, a muffled, heavy vibration constantly emanated, as if countless unseen things were lurking and writhing beneath the rock strata, never ceasing.
He stumbled half a step, raising a hand to press against his forehead as a wave of dizziness washed over him.
"Damn it. Again?!"
A low murmur slipped through his clenched teeth.
Another unfamiliar world.
Lin Yan slowly exhaled, suppressing the slight helplessness in his heart. His memories, skills, and temperament remained unchanged; only the world beneath his feet had been completely overhauled once again.
He looked down at himself. He was wearing an old, coarse cloth tunic. It was clean and plain, completely out of place against the grey, desolate mountains and wilderness.
Raising his eyes to look into the distance, he saw the sky and earth shrouded in a layer of dead, grey mist.
The distant landscape was scarred and devastated. Broken highways, abandoned barbed wire fences, and collapsed building ruins were scattered everywhere. Pitch-black rifts, like hideous scars, crisscrossed and tore apart the entire land.
This land had endured a long, brutal catastrophe.
After a brief moment of disorientation, the calmness honed by years of life-and-death battles reclaimed his mind.
Lin Yan adjusted his breathing and followed the gentle mountain path, walking slowly downhill toward where signs of human presence might be.
...
The afternoon mountain wind was bleak and cold.
As the mountain path curved around a bend, his field of vision suddenly opened up.
A colossal, towering walled city stretched across the end of the earth.
Tens of meters high, an endless alloy-concrete wall dominated the landscape. Its surface was covered with overlapping claw marks, bullet holes, and scorch marks. Dense defensive turrets were scattered across its length, and sentries patrolled back and forth along the battlements, an aura of grim martial readiness hitting him like a physical force.
At first glance, it exuded the heavy, tragic grandeur of a fortress defending ten thousand miles of territory against all odds.
But in the next second, a group of people walking up the mountain path ahead shattered the illusion of an ancient, majestic citadel.
They were a group of young men and women, not much older than teenagers, wearing standardized modern school uniforms. Standard-issue short blades and lightweight tactical gear hung from their waists. Their strides were steady, their eyes sharp and vigilant, instinctively scanning the mountain forests and crevices on both sides every few steps.
They were not out for a leisurely spring outing.
They were completing a life-and-death assignment.
Lin Yan quickly caught up and asked politely, "Excuse me, could you tell me where this place is?"
The group instantly halted.
The burly young man at the front, his expression resolute, immediately raised his eyes to assess Lin Yan. Seeing that his clothes were old and his aura was clean, devoid of malice or the腥气 (foul stench) of alien races, he lowered his guard slightly and replied, "This is the L City Bastion in the Southwest War Zone. We are students from the Third Combat Readiness High School in the city, executing an outdoor mountain patrol and hazard clearance mission."
"Mountain patrol and hazard clearance?" Lin Yan was slightly taken aback.
Hearing this, the girl wearing glasses beside him gave a bitter smile. Her tone hid the numbness and tension that everyone in this era carried.
"What else? The wilderness is completely ruined. The ground is full of subterranean rifts, and lizard mutants could crawl out at any time. We have to leave the city every week to patrol, check for new rifts, and clear out low-level wandering alien species. It's a basic combat readiness task for all students."
Lin Yan followed up softly, seizing the opportunity, "Lizard mutants?"
This time, the girl with glasses was completely stunned, staring at him in utter disbelief.
"You don't know about the Lizardmen?"
This was a survival instinct etched into the bones of every human being, twenty-five years into the Cataclysm.
It was a fear known to every three-year-old child within the city, yet this young man before her seemed entirely ignorant of it.
Lin Yan remained silent for half a second, then calmly delivered the explanation he had already prepared.
"I was adopted by my master when I was young and raised in seclusion deep in the mountains and valleys, never setting foot in the mortal world. My master passed away a few days ago, and this is my first time descending the mountain. I know absolutely nothing about the changes down here."
As these words landed, all the students were shocked.
"Seclusion in the deep mountains?" the girl with glasses murmured to herself. "Twenty-five years into the Cataclysm, with rifts everywhere and mutant beasts running rampant, there are no longer any safe, uninhabited zones. How have you managed to survive safely in the mountains until now?"
The burly young man dropped his casual demeanor. His expression turned solemn as he used the most straightforward language to explain the rules of this world to this naive newcomer from the mountains.
"It seems you really have been completely cut off from the world. I'll give you the key points. They'll help you survive."
"Twenty-five years ago, the global rock strata collapsed, endless subterranean rifts appeared, and the Lizardmen invaded en masse. Their physical bodies are incredibly strong, but the most terrifying thing is their innate mental turbulence. Ordinary people don't even need to be in close combat; they can be driven mad, knocked unconscious, or suffer a complete mental breakdown just from the psychic shock."
"The incident was sudden back then. Old-era military equipment was largely ineffective against high-level alien species. Humanity suffered a total collapse, ninety percent of the wilderness territory was completely lost, and countless cities were destroyed outright."
"The surviving humans have all retreated to the six massive bastion cities of the War Zones. Outside the walls is a dead land; inside the walls is the only remaining human realm."
Lin Yan listened quietly, his eyes quietly settling with understanding.
There was no tedious piling up of lore; just a few sentences about the suffering of humanity were enough to establish the cruel undertone of this world.
"So, even you students have to risk your lives outside the city?" Lin Yan asked.
"There are no idle people in chaotic times," a girl beside him sighed softly. "After the Cataclysm, all schools were restructured into combat readiness academies. There are no students who just read books. Physical fitness, combat, and Sea of Consciousness cultivation are mandatory for everyone."
"Ordinary people cultivate to protect themselves. Those with outstanding talent are enlisted directly into the War Zone upon graduation to guard the walls, clear rifts, and defend humanity's last territory."
"Sea of Consciousness?" Lin Yan caught onto this unfamiliar core term.
The burly young man explained concisely, "A specialized method for cultivating a mental barrier. It's used to resist the mental shock of the Lizardmen; it's the greatest reliance humanity has to survive to this day. No matter how strong your physical body is, if your Sea of Consciousness shatters, you're as good as dead."
Lin Yan nodded in understanding.
At this moment, he finally grasped the core rules of this world.
Physical combat was secondary; condensing and strengthening the Sea of Consciousness was primary.
It was a world locked in a bloody, desperate war against humanity's natural enemies and endless, suffocating darkness.
Seeing Lin Yan alone, ignorant, and helpless, the girl with glasses felt a surge of goodwill and offered a reminder.
"You just came down the mountain. Without a household registration or official records, there's no way you can enter the city alone. City-wide control is extremely strict right now to prevent alien spies from infiltrating. All strangers are thoroughly checked."
"We can take you back to the city and help you register and guide you. But for the subsequent procedures, you must follow the official protocols of the Municipal Military Affairs Bureau."
Lin Yan nodded slightly, his tone sincere. "Thank you."
The group did not linger any longer, walking steadily toward the majestic, towering bastion city in the distance.
...
Half an hour later, they approached the city gates.
The massive alloy gates loomed before them. Security at the entrance was extremely tight. Fully armed city defense soldiers stood guard in pairs, their sharp eyes scanning every person entering the city, checking credentials and registering records without a moment's slack.
The burly young man took out his squad's mountain patrol mission card and handed it to the city guard.
"Third High School Mountain Patrol Squad, mission complete, returning to the city. We encountered an unregistered individual who has lived in deep mountain seclusion for a long time. This is their first time descending, with no records in the mortal world. We are bringing them back to register and will be heading to the Military Affairs Bureau to establish a file."
The soldier strictly verified the squad's information and repeatedly scrutinized Lin Yan. Confirming there were no abnormalities or alien aura, he wrote down the registration and instructed in a deep voice, "You must complete the file registration within twenty-four hours of entering the city. Unregistered individuals are strictly prohibited from loitering or wandering privately. Violators will be severely punished."
"Understood."
With a mechanical roar, the side gate slowly opened.
Stepping inside the city, the scenery was completely different.
Outside the wall was dead mountains, wasteland, desolation, and a death zone overrun by alien species.
Inside the wall, the streets were orderly, the flow of people organized. Shops, training grounds, and supply stations were neatly arranged, and the warmth of human life had found a stable foothold.
Yet, within this warmth, there was not a shred of relaxation or comfort.
Pedestrians on the streets walked briskly, most carrying protective gear and blades. Schoolboys and girls, in addition to carrying their books, held physical training equipment in their hands. Open-air training grounds were everywhere, the此起彼伏 (此起彼伏) shouts of martial arts practice and the breathing techniques for the Sea of Consciousness echoing through the streets and alleys.
This city was alive, but it was forever tense.
As they walked, the girl with glasses explained the legitimate path forward to Lin Yan.
"Let me make the next steps clear so you aren't left confused.
"After you register and settle your household, the government will give you two official choices.
"First, you can be assigned a city logistics position. You work in exchange for rations and housing, living a stable life without having to fight on the front lines. But you'll be mediocre your whole life, and it will be very difficult to obtain cultivation resources.
"Second, you can sign up for the municipal unified talent assessment for newcomers.
"As long as your Sea of Consciousness talent and physical foundation meet the standards, you can enter the official training camp. After the training concludes, you'll be graded. Those with exceptional talent will be recommended on merit to enter combat readiness high schools, or directly assigned to frontline combat squads."
Lin Yan's footsteps paused slightly as he listened quietly. He knew too little about this world right now, and it wouldn't be wise to make a hasty decision.
"I understand. Thank you."
The wind swept through the long street, carrying the sounds of a city preparing for war across the entire metropolis.
Beneath the bastion of this broken world, Lin Yan's bloody, reborn life officially began.
End of Chapter
Lin Yan abruptly opened his eyes.
A vast, desolate expanse of black mountains stretched out before him. The forests were scorched and withered, and the ground was crawling with dense, intricate fissures in the rock.
From deep within the earth, a muffled, heavy vibration constantly emanated, as if countless unseen things were lurking and writhing beneath the rock strata, never ceasing.
He stumbled half a step, raising a hand to press against his forehead as a wave of dizziness washed over him.
"Damn it. Again?!"
A low murmur slipped through his clenched teeth.
Another unfamiliar world.
Lin Yan slowly exhaled, suppressing the slight helplessness in his heart. His memories, skills, and temperament remained unchanged; only the world beneath his feet had been completely overhauled once again.
He looked down at himself. He was wearing an old, coarse cloth tunic. It was clean and plain, completely out of place against the grey, desolate mountains and wilderness.
Raising his eyes to look into the distance, he saw the sky and earth shrouded in a layer of dead, grey mist.
The distant landscape was scarred and devastated. Broken highways, abandoned barbed wire fences, and collapsed building ruins were scattered everywhere. Pitch-black rifts, like hideous scars, crisscrossed and tore apart the entire land.
This land had endured a long, brutal catastrophe.
After a brief moment of disorientation, the calmness honed by years of life-and-death battles reclaimed his mind.
Lin Yan adjusted his breathing and followed the gentle mountain path, walking slowly downhill toward where signs of human presence might be.
...
The afternoon mountain wind was bleak and cold.
As the mountain path curved around a bend, his field of vision suddenly opened up.
A colossal, towering walled city stretched across the end of the earth.
Tens of meters high, an endless alloy-concrete wall dominated the landscape. Its surface was covered with overlapping claw marks, bullet holes, and scorch marks. Dense defensive turrets were scattered across its length, and sentries patrolled back and forth along the battlements, an aura of grim martial readiness hitting him like a physical force.
At first glance, it exuded the heavy, tragic grandeur of a fortress defending ten thousand miles of territory against all odds.
But in the next second, a group of people walking up the mountain path ahead shattered the illusion of an ancient, majestic citadel.
They were a group of young men and women, not much older than teenagers, wearing standardized modern school uniforms. Standard-issue short blades and lightweight tactical gear hung from their waists. Their strides were steady, their eyes sharp and vigilant, instinctively scanning the mountain forests and crevices on both sides every few steps.
They were not out for a leisurely spring outing.
They were completing a life-and-death assignment.
Lin Yan quickly caught up and asked politely, "Excuse me, could you tell me where this place is?"
The group instantly halted.
The burly young man at the front, his expression resolute, immediately raised his eyes to assess Lin Yan. Seeing that his clothes were old and his aura was clean, devoid of malice or the腥气 (foul stench) of alien races, he lowered his guard slightly and replied, "This is the L City Bastion in the Southwest War Zone. We are students from the Third Combat Readiness High School in the city, executing an outdoor mountain patrol and hazard clearance mission."
"Mountain patrol and hazard clearance?" Lin Yan was slightly taken aback.
Hearing this, the girl wearing glasses beside him gave a bitter smile. Her tone hid the numbness and tension that everyone in this era carried.
"What else? The wilderness is completely ruined. The ground is full of subterranean rifts, and lizard mutants could crawl out at any time. We have to leave the city every week to patrol, check for new rifts, and clear out low-level wandering alien species. It's a basic combat readiness task for all students."
Lin Yan followed up softly, seizing the opportunity, "Lizard mutants?"
This time, the girl with glasses was completely stunned, staring at him in utter disbelief.
"You don't know about the Lizardmen?"
This was a survival instinct etched into the bones of every human being, twenty-five years into the Cataclysm.
It was a fear known to every three-year-old child within the city, yet this young man before her seemed entirely ignorant of it.
Lin Yan remained silent for half a second, then calmly delivered the explanation he had already prepared.
"I was adopted by my master when I was young and raised in seclusion deep in the mountains and valleys, never setting foot in the mortal world. My master passed away a few days ago, and this is my first time descending the mountain. I know absolutely nothing about the changes down here."
As these words landed, all the students were shocked.
"Seclusion in the deep mountains?" the girl with glasses murmured to herself. "Twenty-five years into the Cataclysm, with rifts everywhere and mutant beasts running rampant, there are no longer any safe, uninhabited zones. How have you managed to survive safely in the mountains until now?"
The burly young man dropped his casual demeanor. His expression turned solemn as he used the most straightforward language to explain the rules of this world to this naive newcomer from the mountains.
"It seems you really have been completely cut off from the world. I'll give you the key points. They'll help you survive."
"Twenty-five years ago, the global rock strata collapsed, endless subterranean rifts appeared, and the Lizardmen invaded en masse. Their physical bodies are incredibly strong, but the most terrifying thing is their innate mental turbulence. Ordinary people don't even need to be in close combat; they can be driven mad, knocked unconscious, or suffer a complete mental breakdown just from the psychic shock."
"The incident was sudden back then. Old-era military equipment was largely ineffective against high-level alien species. Humanity suffered a total collapse, ninety percent of the wilderness territory was completely lost, and countless cities were destroyed outright."
"The surviving humans have all retreated to the six massive bastion cities of the War Zones. Outside the walls is a dead land; inside the walls is the only remaining human realm."
Lin Yan listened quietly, his eyes quietly settling with understanding.
There was no tedious piling up of lore; just a few sentences about the suffering of humanity were enough to establish the cruel undertone of this world.
"So, even you students have to risk your lives outside the city?" Lin Yan asked.
"There are no idle people in chaotic times," a girl beside him sighed softly. "After the Cataclysm, all schools were restructured into combat readiness academies. There are no students who just read books. Physical fitness, combat, and Sea of Consciousness cultivation are mandatory for everyone."
"Ordinary people cultivate to protect themselves. Those with outstanding talent are enlisted directly into the War Zone upon graduation to guard the walls, clear rifts, and defend humanity's last territory."
"Sea of Consciousness?" Lin Yan caught onto this unfamiliar core term.
The burly young man explained concisely, "A specialized method for cultivating a mental barrier. It's used to resist the mental shock of the Lizardmen; it's the greatest reliance humanity has to survive to this day. No matter how strong your physical body is, if your Sea of Consciousness shatters, you're as good as dead."
Lin Yan nodded in understanding.
At this moment, he finally grasped the core rules of this world.
Physical combat was secondary; condensing and strengthening the Sea of Consciousness was primary.
It was a world locked in a bloody, desperate war against humanity's natural enemies and endless, suffocating darkness.
Seeing Lin Yan alone, ignorant, and helpless, the girl with glasses felt a surge of goodwill and offered a reminder.
"You just came down the mountain. Without a household registration or official records, there's no way you can enter the city alone. City-wide control is extremely strict right now to prevent alien spies from infiltrating. All strangers are thoroughly checked."
"We can take you back to the city and help you register and guide you. But for the subsequent procedures, you must follow the official protocols of the Municipal Military Affairs Bureau."
Lin Yan nodded slightly, his tone sincere. "Thank you."
The group did not linger any longer, walking steadily toward the majestic, towering bastion city in the distance.
...
Half an hour later, they approached the city gates.
The massive alloy gates loomed before them. Security at the entrance was extremely tight. Fully armed city defense soldiers stood guard in pairs, their sharp eyes scanning every person entering the city, checking credentials and registering records without a moment's slack.
The burly young man took out his squad's mountain patrol mission card and handed it to the city guard.
"Third High School Mountain Patrol Squad, mission complete, returning to the city. We encountered an unregistered individual who has lived in deep mountain seclusion for a long time. This is their first time descending, with no records in the mortal world. We are bringing them back to register and will be heading to the Military Affairs Bureau to establish a file."
The soldier strictly verified the squad's information and repeatedly scrutinized Lin Yan. Confirming there were no abnormalities or alien aura, he wrote down the registration and instructed in a deep voice, "You must complete the file registration within twenty-four hours of entering the city. Unregistered individuals are strictly prohibited from loitering or wandering privately. Violators will be severely punished."
"Understood."
With a mechanical roar, the side gate slowly opened.
Stepping inside the city, the scenery was completely different.
Outside the wall was dead mountains, wasteland, desolation, and a death zone overrun by alien species.
Inside the wall, the streets were orderly, the flow of people organized. Shops, training grounds, and supply stations were neatly arranged, and the warmth of human life had found a stable foothold.
Yet, within this warmth, there was not a shred of relaxation or comfort.
Pedestrians on the streets walked briskly, most carrying protective gear and blades. Schoolboys and girls, in addition to carrying their books, held physical training equipment in their hands. Open-air training grounds were everywhere, the此起彼伏 (此起彼伏) shouts of martial arts practice and the breathing techniques for the Sea of Consciousness echoing through the streets and alleys.
This city was alive, but it was forever tense.
As they walked, the girl with glasses explained the legitimate path forward to Lin Yan.
"Let me make the next steps clear so you aren't left confused.
"After you register and settle your household, the government will give you two official choices.
"First, you can be assigned a city logistics position. You work in exchange for rations and housing, living a stable life without having to fight on the front lines. But you'll be mediocre your whole life, and it will be very difficult to obtain cultivation resources.
"Second, you can sign up for the municipal unified talent assessment for newcomers.
"As long as your Sea of Consciousness talent and physical foundation meet the standards, you can enter the official training camp. After the training concludes, you'll be graded. Those with exceptional talent will be recommended on merit to enter combat readiness high schools, or directly assigned to frontline combat squads."
Lin Yan's footsteps paused slightly as he listened quietly. He knew too little about this world right now, and it wouldn't be wise to make a hasty decision.
"I understand. Thank you."
The wind swept through the long street, carrying the sounds of a city preparing for war across the entire metropolis.
Beneath the bastion of this broken world, Lin Yan's bloody, reborn life officially began.
End of Chapter