Chapter 1
In the ancient age—before cities, before written history, before even true kingdoms—the world was one endless jungle.
Giant trees covered the sky. Rivers split the land like veins. Creatures far larger than humans ruled the darkness. Thousands of tribes survived scattered across the wild, each one shaped by fear, strength, and instinct.
In this world, power was everything.
Not wealth.
Not kindness.
Only strength and survival.
A weak tribe disappeared.
A weak bloodline ended.
And a strong family could rule entire regions of jungle for generations.
The Sun Fang Royal Clan
Among thousands of tribes stood the most dominant force: the Sun Fang Clan of Ashkar.
Not a city kingdom—but a jungle empire built through hanging bridges, sacred trees, stone altars, and warrior traditions.
Their rule was not based on fear of each other.
But unity.
No jealousy.
No betrayal.
Only family.
The king and queen raised their three sons not as rivals—but as brothers who trusted each other completely.
The First Prince protected the kingdom.
The Second Prince led wars.
And the Third Prince…
was different.
Yuan — The Third Prince
Yuan was born perfect in nearly every way.
Strong.
Fast.
Calm.
Brilliant in survival.
Loved by the people.
Respected by warriors.
Even feared by rival tribes.
But he had one weakness.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Desire.
A deep, uncontrollable urge to explore the world beyond what was known.
He didn’t want only power.
He wanted to see everything that existed beyond the jungle.
Even if it meant leaving safety behind.
Asha — The Hidden Knowledge Keeper
Asha lived in a secretive spiritual tribe near the Black River.
Her people guarded ancient knowledge about the jungle’s deepest mysteries—things most tribes refused to speak of.
Unlike warriors, she understood symbols, ruins, and forgotten truths carved into stone.
Shan — The Companion
Shan, 18 years old, was Yuan’s closest friend.
Calm. Observant. Experienced.
Where Yuan rushed forward, Shan watched carefully.
He didn’t match Yuan’s brilliance…
but he balanced it.
A World of Strength and Survival
In this era, everything depended on two things:
PowerFamily
To survive, a person had to become strong enough to protect others.
And families didn’t just raise children—they raised future strength, future survival, future dominance.
So when Yuan reached sixteen…
marriage became a political expectation.
Because he was not just a prince.
He was the Third Prince of Ashkar.
A future pillar of the bloodline.
Yuan’s Conflict
But Yuan had no interest in marriage politics.
Not because he hated it…
but because he didn’t want someone who saw him as power, position, or wealth.
He wanted truth.
Someone real.
Someone loyal beyond ambition.
So he kept avoiding discussions about marriage quietly.
Not rebellion.
Just distance.
His Family’s Trust
But his parents never stopped him.
Because trust was stronger than fear in the Sun Fang Clan.
Every month, Yuan would leave the palace:
sometimes for 5–6 dayssometimes deeper into unknown jungle zones
And every time, he returned.
So the king made a simple decision:
Let him grow.
Let him explore.
Let experience build him.
Because in their eyes, exploration was training—not escape.
The Journey System
As Yuan grew older, his journeys became more structured.
He and Shan formed a survival pattern:
Travel deep into jungle regionsWalk for miles through unknown landBuild small shelters at night (with space for rest and gear storage)Take shifts for watch and sleepMove again at dawn
The jungle became their training ground.
But it was no longer only familiar territory.
Crossing Beyond the Known World
One day, Yuan made a decision.
They would not only explore their jungle anymore.
They would go beyond it.
Into unknown territory where no tribe’s maps reached.
Before leaving, Yuan informed his parents:
“I will return in a few days.”
And as always…
they allowed it immediately.
Because they trusted him completely.
The Journey With Shan
This time, Yuan did not go alone.
He went with Shan.
Together, they moved deeper than ever before.
And for the first time, Yuan wasn’t only responsible for himself…
but for someone walking beside him.
Morning Routine in the Unknown
After by nights of survival in small shelters, their routine continued:
Yuan wakes early.
Checks the surroundings.
Then says calmly:
“I’m going out. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
Shan stays with the camp.
Yuan scouts ahead alone
