The Great Ruler: Reborn as Mu Chen, sweeping across the vast world!

The starlight fades, but we must remain grounded.

Mu Chen looked around and saw an ancient forest stretching as far as the eye could see.

Towering ancient trees rise from the ground, their branches intertwined, blocking most of the sunlight. Only scattered spots of light leak through the gaps, spreading out patches of dancing light in the forest.

The air was damp and heavy, filled with the mixed scents of soil, decaying leaves, and some unknown plant.

Is this the Spiritual Path?

Mu Chen took a deep breath, keenly sensing the changes in his body.

"As expected, spiritual energy is sealed off."

In this spiritual path, all participants are unable to use spiritual power and can only rely on the most primal physical strength to survive and fight.

Of course, there are ways to become stronger, such as slaying spirit beasts to strengthen oneself with their essence!

A blood-red token landed in front of Mu Chen. This was his identity certificate for the Spiritual Path and the key to future ranking and competition for spiritual power.

As he examined the token, the familiar pale blue light screen automatically unfolded in his mind.

[The system has detected that the master has entered the special trial area—the Spirit Path.]

[Note: Check-in is available in this area. Do you wish to check in?]

Mu Chen's eyes lit up, and he silently thought, "Check-in."

[Check-in location: Linglu]

[Check-in successful!]

[Reward Obtained: Innate Chaotic Sacred Body Dao Embryo]

[From chaos arose, the Great Dao was in harmony, the sacred body supported the heavens, and all laws were swayed.]

An indescribable feeling exploded from the deepest part of my soul!

A warm current flowed slowly through his limbs and bones, reshaping and reforging his already excellent physique!

The bones emitted a subtle yet dense series of soft sounds, like the clear ringing of jade chimes; the flow of blood seemed to slow down, yet became heavier and more powerful, each heartbeat like the beating of an ancient war drum!

A faint, hazy light emanates beneath the skin, appearing and disappearing instantly, sinking deep into the skin's texture.

Mu Chen stood still, closing his eyes and experiencing the changes in his body.

He could feel his power growing rapidly in silence, his flesh and bones becoming denser and tougher, and his five senses becoming several times more acute!

A sense of clarity arose spontaneously.

It was as if this body was meant to be this way. The previous ten years of cultivation were nothing more than groping under a thick layer of dust. Now that the dust has been swept away, the pearl has begun to shine.

Most importantly... it seems he can now choose not to be suppressed by the spiritual energy restriction here!

With just a thought... let's just follow these rules for now.

After assessing his condition, Mu Chen slowly opened his eyes.

A fleeting illusion of chaos opening up in his eyes, with the sun, moon, and stars shifting and disappearing, before returning to clarity, yet appearing deeper and brighter than ever before.

"What a magnificent innate chaotic holy body Dao embryo!" Mu Chen thought with delight.

He gently clenched his fist, without using any technique, simply bringing his five fingers together.

"Bang!"

The air in his palm was squeezed and produced a slight popping sound!

A physical power that seemed capable of shaking mountains surged and roared through his blood!

Mu Chen put the token into his storage bag and silently stepped onto the ground covered with a thick layer of humus.

At the initial stage of Dao Embryo Awakening, one's control over the body has reached a level of subtlety.

His gaze swept calmly around him. The forest was deep and treacherous, but Mu Chen felt no fear, only a faint sense of anticipation.

After walking for a while, Mu Chen paused slightly.

"Splash... splash..."

The sound of flowing water and the girl's occasional soft humming were exceptionally clear to his ears.

A knowing glint flashed in Mu Chen's eyes.

That should be Wu Yingying.

The granddaughter of the Martial Heaven King of the Martial Spirit Academy, she is straightforward, outspoken, and even a bit willful, but she is not inherently bad and has a clear sense of right and wrong.

In the original timeline, she and Mu Chen became acquainted through a fight on the Spiritual Road, and later fought side by side, making her a friend worth making.

Unexpectedly, I ran into her here even though I just randomly chose a direction. It seems we really are destined to meet.

Mu Chen didn't continue to approach, but changed direction instead. It wasn't convenient to get to know her at this time. But taking a bath in the Spirit Road, this girl really has a big heart!

At that moment, a sudden change occurred!

"roar--!!"

The beast's roar suddenly exploded, startling a flock of birds into flight!

The sound of violently splashing water came from the direction of the stream in the distance, and a graceful figure, as light and agile as a swift, instantly darted from the stream to the bank.

With a gentle flick of her delicate little feet on the blue stones on the shore, the folded blue clothes were lifted into the air. In just a moment, the slightly tight-fitting outfit was neatly dressed on her body, and her wet long hair had not yet been tied up.

Clearly, Wu Yingying also heard the roar.

The next moment, a spirit beast with a blood-red body, resembling both a pig and a tiger, and with a single jet-black horn on its head, appeared in Mu Chen's sight.

Its size is comparable to that of a strong ox, with protruding tusks and its body covered with short, stiff red hair like steel needles, especially the black barbs around its neck, which are particularly ferocious.

Its four hooves pounded the ground, sending decaying leaves flying. A pair of small, red eyes stared intently at it, and foul-smelling saliva dripped from the corners of its mouth.

"Blood Pig Tiger?"

Mu Chen was somewhat surprised.

This wasn't in the original story; you'd only encounter this thing later on!

Things changed right from the start, so it seems the later plot can only be taken as a reference.

Mu Chen's undisguised demeanor attracted the attention of the Blood Pig Tiger, which clearly regarded Mu Chen as food. It exhaled two streams of white breath from its nostrils and pawed the ground with its hind hooves, ready to pounce.

The Blood Pig Tiger lacked complex pouncing techniques; it simply relied on its massive body and terrifying strength to charge towards Mu Chen like a blood-red chariot.

Wherever they went, they left deep hoofprints!

Mu Chen did not panic. He simply moved his feet slightly, his steps were so simple that they were almost casual, and his figure turned to the side like a willow catkin in the wind.

The Blood Pig Tiger, carrying a foul stench, charged past him from half a foot away, only to miss its target.

Mu Chen's eyes were calm and unwavering, and a seemingly ordinary black dagger appeared in his hand at some point.

His figure blurred as he closed in on the side of Blood Pig Tiger's neck, the tip of his dagger silently extending and gently slicing along the scale-like seams at the base of the black thorns...

Pfft!

A thin line of blood suddenly appeared, then burst open!

Warm blood, like a long-suppressed fountain, shot out several meters, staining the nearby tree trunks and ground a striking scarlet.

A clean, swift cut to the throat!

"Awooo—!!"

The severe injury to its vital organs and the intense pain completely unleashed the ferocity of the Blood Pig Tiger. It let out a deafening howl of pain, and its small, crimson eyes instantly filled with a frenzied crimson light.

Ignoring the gushing blood from its neck, it twisted its body violently, opened its blood-red maw, and bit down hard on Mu Chen with a foul stench. At the same time, its two front hooves stomped down, determined to crush the seriously injured creature into a pulp!

In its berserk state, the Blood Pig Tiger's strength and speed both increase significantly, making it even more dangerous.

Mu Chen simply raised his left hand, spread his five fingers, and gently pressed down on the huge head of the Blood Pig Tiger that was struggling to turn around.

"Bang!!"

A muffled thud, like a heavy hammer striking wet mud.