"Why won't you accept my cultivation method, human? Isn't it miserable to remain a mortal at the end of the world? If you agree to practice my legacy, no one in this world will surpass you! That, I guarantee."
In an area thick with trees, a young man with his face covered in blood looked up at a branch, where a crow with entirely black feathers and two silver eyes stared down at him, whispering human words.
It was terrifying. Anyone else would have fainted from fear or, at best, run away without daring to look back.
But the young man, named Xie Yun, showed no reaction. He was used to seeing strange things.
"I don't want to. Find someone else."
Xie Yun replied with no emotion in his voice and turned his gaze forward.
His nose throbbed with pain, fractured and bleeding nonstop. Blood streamed down his face.
'I'm so damn unlucky.'
Xie Yun thought, full of mixed emotions. One of the things he hated most in life was the misfortune that always struck when he least expected it.
This time, the strange occurrence was the ground suddenly cracking. As he was walking, he slammed his face into the ground!
And no, it wasn't just dirt—it was a hard mineral.
He picked it up and stored it in the backpack he carried, its weight adding up considerably. Even so, he could still carry it.
"Don't go, human!"
The crow shouted, and in the next moment, flew from the tree, stopping in front of Xie Yun's face, floating in the air.
"I really can change your life—even let you survive with that Disaster Body of yours! Aren't you tired of risking your life every time you go somewhere?"
Upon hearing that, Xie Yun grew serious. His eyes turned cold as he stared at the crow. In the next instant, he moved his hand swiftly to the creature's neck, grabbing it like a dodgeball.
With the crow in his grasp, he tightened his hold slightly.
"How do you know that? Explain yourself!"
The crow, seeing Xie Yun's murderous expression and feeling the pressure on its neck, remained calm. It seemed to have expected this turn of events.
"F-first, let me speak... I c-can't talk like this."
It groaned, and Xie Yun loosened his grip a bit, allowing the crow to breathe. It took a few breaths but paused, sensing a hostile aura.
"Calm yourself, human."
The crow gulped and began to explain everything.
"First, I know about your physique because I've seen it in the records. You may not believe it, but this crow was once one of the Four Beasts of the Divine Realm. But due to an unknown catastrophe—which I don't even remember—I fell. Not just me: the dragon, the phoenix, and the tortoise also fell, along with the gods!"
As it said this, the crow showed both sadness and anger. The thought of a former divine beast being kept in confinement enraged it.
Still, it showed no more than that. It needed the boy before it—the only one who could accept its legacy.
Xie Yun, not in a good mood, looked confused.
'Is that true?'
He didn't know. His mind raced, trying to process the information.
"Prove you're a divine beast…"
He demanded, still gripping the crow's neck. The creature began to smile.
"Prove it? Is that what you want? Foolish child, do you realize that if I wanted to kill you right now, I could?"
"Oh really?"
Xie Yun feigned confusion and squeezed harder. He applied real strength, trying to snap the animal's neck. As he did, he smiled like a madman.
"Then do it! Free yourself from my hand—or die!"
Xie Yun wanted to test his limits. The crow, tortured, couldn't take it anymore and opened its wings.
Clack!
Xie Yun's hand shattered like paper. His bones turned to dust.
Xie Yun staggered back in shock. He didn't scream. He simply stared at it with a changed expression.
"You really are a divine beast?"
"Of course, you fool!"
The crow snarled, eyes gleaming with bloodlust. But it soon calmed down.
"You're lucky, human, that I need you. If it were anyone else, you'd be nothing but a memory… Not even that. I'd erase you from history."
This time, Xie Yun believed him.
"You said the entire Divine Realm fell... So there are no gods left in this land? Then why do believers still burn incense? And what is this Disaster Body I have? Is there any way to get rid of it? I don't want to be unlucky!"
The last part made his teeth clench. Xie Yun didn't want to live constantly on the edge of death. He just wanted to be normal.
To this day, he had never fulfilled that wish. His childhood was lonely, his teenage years miserable—begging for scraps and getting beaten every day. And now, in his youth, his life was at risk in the forest—and not even from monsters. The mineral was proof enough.
The crow, understanding that sentiment all too well, smiled again.
"Human, I'll answer your questions. The first is both a 'yes' and a 'no.' Yes, because all true gods are dead. And no, because immortals have ascended to take their place. They're not real gods, but cultivators who reached that level.
The common people you see are praying to these immortals, and that increases their fortune. Did you know, little human, that having worshippers boosts one's luck? But for you, that won't work. Even if an entire universe worships you, your misfortune won't end. It would only attract more disaster.
As for your last question… if you want to get rid of your bad luck, that's impossible. You'll always be destined for trouble. From the moment you were born with that physique, this was your fate."
The crow was honest, throwing cold water over Xie Yun, who began to shed tears.
He was a strong person, but hearing that he'd never be happy… broke something inside him.
'Why live a life like this…?'
He was full of resentment. The desire to die was strong.
"Brat, wait until I finish speaking! Do you remember what I said in the beginning?"
The crow said, pulling Xie Yun out of his inner world.
Snapping back to reality, he recalled the crow's words. Then he wiped his tears and looked seriously at the divine beast.
"If your legacy really can change my life... then I accept."