On Breezecrest Peak, near Frosthaven Lake, a young man with a lean physique sat shirtless on the water’s surface. His body moved gently with the flowing ripples, resembling a light boat.
Overhead, a few birds flew around, carrying twigs and straw in their beaks, preparing to build nests.
Under the surface, a group of fish playfully swam around the young man, creating patterns of movement. At that moment, he seemed completely in tune with nature, resonating with the world around him.
Out of nowhere, a dark figure descended from the sky, landing gracefully on the lake’s surface. The resulting ripples scattered the fish below and startled a few birds into flight.
“Hey, time’s up. Master wants you down the mountain immediately, no time to dawdle,” said the dark-clad figure. The young man, still meditating, showed no reaction as if he hadn’t heard.
The dark figure arched an eyebrow and continued, “You’ve got a mission to take down Kirin, Logan Rhys. This is your chance to face him.”
At this, the young man, who had been motionless, slowly opened his eyes. A glint of energy appeared in those usually lackluster eyes.
“Where?” he asked casually.
“Scenic Monastery at Quandary Mountain,” replied the dark figure. Without further words, the young man rose from the water’s surface. He stretched lazily and, with a single step, launched into the air, disappearing as a streak of golden light.
“Turning the body into a sword, soaring through the sky. Did he have a breakthrough again?” mumbled the dark-clad figure in surprise.
In his early twenties, the young man stood as the ultimate grandmaster, unrivaled by any. Even Kirin, with his abundant aura and luck, couldn’t measure up.
The young man was truly unparalleled -second to none!
In Aetherburg’s Serene Village, a middle -aged man, covered in mud, made his way home carrying two wooden buckets filled with fish, shrimp, and crabs. It looked like he had quite the catch.
“Hey, Simple Ken, back so soon? It seems like you had a good haul,” greeted some neighbors warmly.
Simple Ken scratched his head, responding with a silly smile.
Reaching the village entrance, a group of children who had been eagerly waiting immediately surrounded him, chatting away.
“Simple Ken, I found a gemstone. Wanna trade it for two fish?”
A young boy handed him a goose-egg- sized stone with excitement. Without a word, he grabbed two fish and ran off.
“Simple Ken, I want crabs. If you give me a few, we’ll be best friends!”
“Best friends… best friends Grinning widely, Simple Ken swiftly tied several large crabs with a grass rope and handed them to the little girl.
“Simple Ken, I also have a gemstone. I want big fish in exchange!”
“And me! I want it, too!”
In a lively manner, the children used various tricks to quickly deplete Simple Ken’s supply of fish, shrimp, and crabs.