The golden leaves of Star Dou Forest swayed gently,whispering ancient lullabies across the quiet clearing.
Beneath the shade of a massive, silver-gold tree,two tiny twins lay sleeping —one with a faint blush of vitality,the other... faintly wrapped in a silvery halo.
Tang Yan's eyes fluttered open slowly.
He could feel it —the crude, fragile link to the void he'd created last weekwas still there, thin as a spider's thread,yet stubbornly pulling in Heavenly Energy from somewhere far beyond.
The System's voice rang out dramatically:
[ Congratulations Host! You've successfully duct-taped yourself to cosmic oxygen.Survival rate increased from 2% to 5%! Woohoo! ]
Tang Yan twitched internally.
Can't you just say "Good job" like a normal system?
The System fake-sobbed:
[ Noooo, Host. Where's the fun in that? If I don't mock you, how will you grow stronger emotionally? ]
Tang Yan rolled his baby eyes internally.
✨ First Status Screen: Self-Check
With the System's half-hearted guidance,Tang Yan summoned his first official status window.
A transparent golden screen appeared before his inner sight.
[Status – Tang Yan]
Age: 0 (Newborn)
Strength: 1000
Agility: 2500
Physique: 5000
Intelligence: 30,000
Soul Power: Locked (Breath-only circulation)
Special Condition: Heavenly Void Link (Fragile)
Tang Yan nearly choked on his own breath.
Is this normal?!
The System whistled proudly:
[ Congratulations Host! You're officially a cheat code wearing a diaper! ]
Tang Yan: I'm broken... I'm a newborn monster.
The System added in a solemn, fake-serious tone:
[ No worries. Society isn't ready for you yet anyway. Just look adorable and drool for a few years. ]
Tang Yan wanted to cry but was afraid the System would meme him harder.
✨ Tang San's Status Peek
Curious, Tang Yan pulled up Tang San's status too.
[Status – Tang San]
Age: 0 (Newborn)
Strength: 110
Agility: 130
Physique: 1250
Intelligence: 300
Special Condition: Golden Vitality Enhancement (Inherited from Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear)
Tang Yan squinted.
...This isn't bad. For a normal baby.
System immediately threw shade:
[ Host, comparing yourself to Tang San is like comparing a nuclear missile to a butter knife. Both are sharp... but one levels cities. ]
Tang Yan snorted mentally.
✨ Tang Hao's Journey and Pain
Meanwhile,in the nearby human town bordering Star Dou Forest,Tang Hao moved silently through narrow streets.
He wore a black cloak, his hammer hidden.
He eavesdropped quietly in a tavern.
And what he heard shattered the last pieces of hope in his heart.
"The Clear Sky Sect? Crushed by Spirit Hall. Sealed off.""Tang Hao? Expelled!""They say he's a disgrace to the hammer...""Even his father died because of him..."
Tang Hao's fists trembled under the table.
Forcing down a roar of agony, he paid quietly and left.
The journey back to the forest was a silent, suffocating nightmare.
By the time he returned,his body looked strong —but his spirit staggered like a man dying inside.
Ah Yin, feeding Tang Yan, noticed first.
She quickly handed Tang Yan to Bi Ji and rushed to her husband's side.
"Hao... what's wrong?" she asked softly.
✨ Ah Yin's Comfort (6 Emotional Exchanges)
Tang Hao tried to speak but only shook his head.
Tears, thick and burning, filled his fierce eyes.
Ah Yin stepped closer.
"Is it the Clear Sky Sect?" she whispered.
Tang Hao nodded stiffly.
"They sealed the mountain. Expelled me.Blamed me... for everything..." his voice cracked.
Ah Yin's hands cupped his face tenderly.
"You fought for love. For family.Not for betrayal."
Tang Hao gritted his teeth.
"They hate me now.They think I destroyed the Sect... my father's death..."
Ah Yin pressed her forehead against his.
"Your father died protecting you.He made a choice... not of blame, but of pride."
Tang Hao's body shook silently.
"What if... what if I doomed everything?" he whispered.
Ah Yin's soft voice was a balm to his cracked soul.
"Then let us build something greater... together."
Tears finally broke free, falling freely onto Ah Yin's shoulder.
For a long time, they just stood there,wrapped in silence and each other's warmth.
✨ Back to Tang Yan: Trolling Continues
Meanwhile, inside Tang Yan's mind...
The System was still being itself:
[ Host, serious family drama happening outside and you're sitting there like a potato. ]
Tang Yan rolled his eyes.
I'm a literal baby. What do you expect me to do? Tap dance?
The System giggled:
[ Now that you mention it... Baby Dance Skill unlocked soon™️! ]
Tang Yan groaned internally.
✨ The Future Looms
Later that night, under the starlit forest canopy,Gu Yuena quietly approached Tang Hao, who sat staring into the fire.
Her voice was soft, almost motherly.
"If not Star Dou Forest... where would you go?"
Tang Hao thought for a long moment.
Then, voice hoarse but steady, he answered:
"Somewhere quiet...Somewhere between Heaven Dou and Star Luo...Maybe...Holy Soul Village."
The stars above twinkled,as if blessing the new journey that had just begun.
🌑 To be continued...