Chapter 1: Farewell Letter from the Future

"Xiao Yan, 1st stage, Dou Disciple"

Following a loud and excited voice, a noisy commotion ensued. Even though separated by tall walls, one could feel the astonishment of the Xiao family members. Imagining the scene was not difficult.

However, with half the sky clear and the other half rainy, the joys and sorrows of different people did not align. Chen Guan only felt that they were being noisy.

Because it was the happiness of the Xiao family, with which Chen Guan had no connection whatsoever.

Taking out a cold and hard bread from his pocket, he closed his eyes and forced himself to eat it. Although it was hard to swallow, at least it could fill his stomach and prevent him from starving to death in this familiar yet unfamiliar world.

Each time he reminisced about the past and compared it to the present, Chen Guan truly experienced the unpredictable nature of life and its mix of fortune and misfortune.

Indeed, Chen Guan was not originally from the Dou Qi Continent.

Two months ago, it was just an accidental fall that brought him to this world.

Unlike the protagonists in novels, he was still wearing clothes!

However, strangely enough, upon arriving in the Dou Qi Continent, he had transformed into his appearance at the age of four.

There was no so-called destined mission, no system's favor. What accompanied him were only endless disdain and bullying, along with the greatest challenge of all — language barrier!

A four-year-old kid with no strength, no background, and unable to communicate, one could imagine how agonizing his past two months had been.

From initially being seen as a little madman to becoming silent, brainstorming to ensure the next meal, this was no longer life — it was purely about survival.

Two months of time were enough to change a person, especially in such an extremely difficult environment.

Chen Guan, who had never passed a foreign language exam before, was now able to understand some simple common phrases and words in the Dou Qi Continent after just two months of earnest listening, observation, and speculation. That was a considerable progress.

It was also during that time that he first learned that this place was actually a famous checkpoint in the Dou Qi Continent.

The Empire of Jia Ma, the city of Wutan!

Afterward, he came to survive near the Xiao family.

After all, compared to the other big families in the city, the atmosphere here was relatively better—at least, since he arrived here, instead of being bullied three times a day, it became once every three days.

As for entering the Xiao family? That was impossible; the Xiao family wasn't a charitable organization and didn't have any goodwill towards him.

Half a month ago, there was a time when Chen Guan went without food for two days, feeling weak from hunger. He even considered clinging onto Xiao Yan's leg, thinking that perhaps a fellow countryman could lend him a hand.

But seeing Xiao Yan's arrogant and confident appearance from a distance, he gave up. Currently, Xiao Yan had yet to experience major ups and downs; he was still a "brat."

Leaning against a corner of the Xiao family's courtyard wall, Chen Guan began contemplating his future.

Now he can engage in simple communication and gradually integrate into the Dou Qi Continent, which means he can try to strive for something.

Two months of arduous survival had made Chen Guan extremely eager to become stronger.

He wanted power! Taking a deep breath, suppressing the bitterness in his heart, Chen Guan cleared his mind and focused on thinking.

The matter of intercepting various opportunities from Xiao Yan was too distant. The immediate problem before him was that he had not yet started cultivating.

He needed a guide, someone to teach him how to sense Dou Qi energy and the techniques that a practitioner would need!

Even if it was just a low-level Yellow Rank technique, as long as it could get him started, there would be hope for everything.

However, as an "orphan" in the Dou Qi Continent, he had no background, no support, no connections, no power, and not even a single coin. How could he easily obtain a set of techniques?

Should he seek shelter with the Xiao family? Or some other power?

But that would require others' willingness to take him in.

Throughout the whole day, Chen Guan pondered over this matter. He came up with countless ideas and even considered targeting those solitary mercenaries. However, no matter which method he considered, the feasibility was not very high. He could only suppress his impulses, continue to integrate into the Dou Qi Continent, and plan slowly.

Late at night.

A cold wind woke Chen Guan up. He wrapped his thin clothes tightly around himself and was about to find a sheltered spot to continue sleeping when suddenly, he stopped.

In that instant, he distinctly felt that something had entered his mind.

After carefully examining it, Chen Guan hesitated.

It was actually a letter.

No, to be precise, it was a farewell letter! A farewell letter written by his future self on the brink of death!!! In this letter, he left behind a brief account of his life.

"My name is Chen Guan, a mercenary, a six-star Dou practitioner. I have just turned twenty. Because I took on a mission and entered the Magic Beast Mountain with a few teammates to find medicinal herbs for the employer, I unfortunately encountered a third-rank Magic Beast. With severe injuries, it seems that I won't survive."

"I can clearly feel my life force slipping away. At this moment, memories of the past rush before my eyes like a galloping horse."

"I am actually not from the Dou Qi Continent. This is the biggest secret buried deep in my heart. Unless forced to, I will never reveal it to anyone."

"I regret it. Thinking back to my childhood, at the age of four, I started planning in order to cultivate. It took me half a month to find an opportunity, and under the cover of darkness, I killed a severely injured mercenary in the Magic Beast Mountain. I had been waiting for this opportunity for so long. Even though I recognized this mercenary, whom I had been scolded and beaten by before, when I stood by his bed, I hesitated several times and couldn't bring myself to strike. However, in the end, the desire to become stronger and survive prevailed, and I did it!"

"It was my first time killing someone. It took me two days to recover. On this person, I found some coins and a low-level Yellow Rank technique called the Flame Control Art, but unfortunately, there were no valuable medicinal herbs left as he had used them all."

"After much hesitation, I decided to record this down, just in case."

"In just two days, relying on the insights into sensing Dou Qi energy mentioned in the technique, I explored on my own and felt the surrounding Dou Qi energy. It was during that time that I discovered my talent seemed to be quite good."

"Now, here's the lucky part: I have the Fire attribute."

"Half a year later, when I returned to Wutan City, I happened to come across a prominent figure one night. He possessed the ability to transform his Dou Qi into wings and appeared quite old. Throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire, there are only two or three people who match that description."

"Out of curiosity, I followed him from a distance. Although the old man noticed and scolded me, I learned of his identity. Surprisingly, he is Jia Xingtian, a member of the imperial family of the Jia Ma Empire. When Xiao Xun'er first arrived at the Xiao family, he received news and secretly came to take a look, bringing along several homeless children with him, intending to groom them for the royal family. This time, he passed by again because of Xiao Yan's growing fame, and he brought along a few more children."

"While this may not be a secret matter, he actually told me about it. I couldn't believe it. He said that when he first came to Wutan City, I was also a target. Unfortunately, due to my impulsive actions and mistakenly consuming a potential-destroying poisonous herb, he gave up."

"Knowing this, I deeply regretted it. I remembered that poisonous herb. I encountered a life-threatening situation when I first entered the Warcraft Mountains, where I found it in a cave. Back then, I thought it was a stroke of luck. How ridiculous."

"Now, looking back, if I had patiently waited for some time, perhaps I could have been taken to the royal family by Jia Xingtian, even if it meant being used as a tool. At least it would be better than my current situation."

"Three years have passed, and my old acquaintance, Xiao Yan, has lost his Dou Qi. The fallen genius. In Wutan City, I overheard mercenaries discussing it. I'm not surprised by this, just deeply moved. The plot is unfolding."

"I know about many opportunities and have considered exchanging that information for resources to cultivate. However, I never expected that I would be tricked the first time I cooperated with someone, nearly losing my life. This made me realize that without strength, there's no point in desiring anything. It's beyond my reach."

"At the age of fourteen, I advanced to the level of a Dou Practitioner. It was the result of my step-by-step cultivation. Many mercenaries called me a genius, but I would smile and brush it off, feeling bitter in my heart."

"I know that my talent is good, but it has been wasted. If I had better resources, more profound techniques, and someone to guide me, I could have achieved so much more!"

"Another year passed, and I went to the Xiao family with a plan. Maybe I could benefit from Xiao Yan's reputation. However, due to the obvious traces left by my stimulated potential, the treatment offered by the Xiao family didn't satisfy me, so I politely declined."

"As for the other two major families and even the Misty Sect in the Imperial Capital, I have no interest. I have made up my mind to cultivate on my own."

"I have lived on the Dou Qi continent for sixteen years, all alone. I have never truly integrated into this world, and now, I don't even have someone to take care of my body after death. It's truly pathetic."

"Meeting someone here is fate. If anyone finds this, and if there's still time, I give you sincere advice: go and latch onto Xiao Yan's leg. He is destined to become the Flame Emperor in the future. Everything is for the sake of becoming stronger. Don't be embarrassed. Haha."