The cultivation world, a tapestry woven from raw spiritual energy, stretched beyond comprehension, dwarfing even the magnificent rings of Saturn in its sheer immensity.
Even you can compare Saturn's ring to a huge universe. It was a realm where mortals pursued enlightenment and immortals wielded powers that could shatter stars.
In the immortal realm , most ethereal planes, two ancient immortals, their cultivation having spanned eons, engaged in a cataclysmic battle. Their clash sent ripples of cosmic energy through the void, threatening to unravel the very fabric of existence.
"Surrender that Heavenly Jade!" one immortal, a being of pure, unbridled power, roared, his voice thundering across the boundless expanse.
His eyes, like twin supernova, burned with an insatiable desire. "You are far too feeble to ever truly wield its power! It is a relic of true cosmic might, not for a minor immortal like yourself!" With a motion that displaced galaxies.
he summoned a colossal sword, an embodiment of pure destructive energy, and unleashed an attack of terrifying, world-ending force.
The celestial sword, a brilliant streak of white-hot plasma, tore through the void, aimed directly at his opponent.
The second immortal, already bleeding profusely from a wound that scorched his chest, struggled against the overwhelming assault. His celestial robes were tattered, and his spiritual aura flickered precariously.
"This jade... this Heavenly Jade was everything to me," he gasped, his voice raw with a despair that resonated through the cosmos. "I stood at the precipice of a breakthrough, a final ascent to the revered Heavenly Immortal Realm! But your avarice, your relentless pursuit of this power, has shattered my spiritual root, condemning me to a swift, agonizing end! Yet, hear me now! Even in death, I will never yield this Heavenly Jade to you!
" With a final, defiant scream that echoed with untold millennia of cultivation, he began the forbidden act of self-destruction, pulling the radiant jade, a sphere of pulsating crimson light, into his annihilating demise.
The energy within him, vast and uncontrolled, swelled exponentially. "No, you fool!" cried the first immortal, a flicker of panic in his otherwise stoic gaze. He lunged forward, extending a desperate hand, but it was too late.
A blinding, deafening explosion ripped through the cosmos, consuming them both.
The energy unleashed was so immense, so utterly destructive, that where the immortals once stood, only glittering motes of ethereal dust remained, slowly scattering into the infinite void. The force of the blast reverberated for eons, a testament to the raw power of their demise.
Far below, in the tranquil, mist-shrouded Tongxuan Grim Valley, as dusk painted the towering peaks in hues of deep purple and fiery orange, a young boy named Wang Zifan trudged along the winding riverbank
His small frame, barely clothed in worn rags, seemed to shrink against the vastness of the valley. His stomach, a hollow pit of aching hunger, rumbled incessantly. An orphan, his parents claimed by the brutal ravages of a forgotten war that had swept through these lands years ago,
He desperately scoured the ground for any meager scrap of food—a wild berry, a fallen nut, anything to stave off the gnawing emptiness. Each step was an effort, each breath a struggle against the encroaching chill of the evening.
Suddenly, a brilliant, pulsating red light streaked across the darkening sky, leaving a fiery trail in its wake. It plummeted to earth nearby with a soft thud that vibrated through the ground. Curiosity, a powerful, primal force even against the relentless pangs of hunger, compelled Wang Zifan to cautiously approach the impact site.
He peered through the underbrush, his heart hammering against his ribs. There, nestled amidst the fallen leaves, was a glowing object, radiating an otherworldly crimson luminescence.
He reached out a trembling hand and picked it up. The object was smooth, warm to the touch, and surprisingly light. "This must be a treasure!" he whispered, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and dawning hope. "I can sell this for a fortune in the market! Enough to eat... enough to survive!" With this newfound hope blossoming in his chest, he clutched the glowing object tightly and turned his meager steps towards the distant, bustling lights of the nearest market town.
Along the dusty, winding path that led out of the valley, a group of imposing figures on horseback rode past him. They bore the distinct insignia of the infamous Immortal Slayer Sect, a fearsome organization known for their ruthlessness and immense power in the cultivation world.
"Young Master," one of the heavily armored retinue pointed, his voice a low growl, "what is that shining thing in the child's hand?" The Young Master, a pampered youth with an arrogant sneer etched on his face, initially dismissed the comment with a wave of his hand.
"Probably just some common bauble," he muttered, bored. But then, a flicker of the red light caught his eye, and he reluctantly glanced over.
His eyes, usually filled with disdain, widened perceptibly, a spark of avarice igniting within them.
Could this be a truly rare artifact? he mused, a greedy smile forming on his lips. If I present this to my father, the Sect Elder , his favor will surely be mine. Perhaps even a breakthrough in my own cultivation!
He reined in his magnificent spirit beast, a majestic white tiger, and called out to Wang Zifan, his voice dripping with feigned benevolence. "Boy," he commanded, "hand over that treasure, and I shall generously give you five gold coins.
" Wang Zifan's young mind raced, calculating quickly. Five gold coins! That's an unimaginable sum for someone like me. Enough food for an entire month, perhaps even more! But... the way this Young Master is speaking, the way his eyes gleam... perhaps this treasure is worth far, far more.
His survival instincts, honed by years of hardship, screamed at him. "This treasure is deeply valuable to me, sir," Wang Zifan stated, a surprising firmness in his small voice, "I cannot sell it to you.
" The Young Master's face, once masked by false kindness, contorted with cold fury. His aura, though weak compared to true immortals, pulsed with malevolent intent. "Insolent, ungrateful child!" he snarled, his voice rising in volume. "It seems I must teach you a lesson in humility!"
He turned to his hulking guards, his voice turning into a venomous hiss. "Take the treasure from him! And for his defiance, break one of his arms and a leg!"
The guards, hulking figures clad in dark armor, advanced on Wang Zifan, their cruel smiles promising pain. Two of them, clearly in the second stage of the Qi Refining Realm, drew their swords, their blades glinting menacingly in the dim light. "I don't even possess a spiritual root," Wang Zifan thought in a surge of desperate panic, his small body trembling.
"How can I possibly fight these powerful cultivators?" A burly guard, his face scarred and brutal, lunged first, his sword whistling towards Wang Zifan's head.
The boy instinctively squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable, cold steel. But then, a phenomenon occurred. The Heavenly Jade in his hand, clutched so tightly it felt part of his very being, pulsed with an incandescent, blinding light.
The light enveloped Wang Zifan, forming a temporary shield. A wave of raw, unseen energy erupted from the jade, washing over the attacking guards. When Wang Zifan, trembling but unharmed, slowly opened his eyes moments later, all his attackers lay sprawled on the ground, unconscious, their weapons scattered around them.
Even the Young Master's grand spirit beast had collapsed, whimpering faintly. Wang Zifan stared at the now softly glowing jade, a profound sense of awe, and a flicker of fear, washing over him.
"This treasure... it's truly mysterious," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "Perhaps it is an ancient relic, a treasure beyond comprehension. I must never sell it." He clutched it tighter, a newfound resolve hardening his young heart.
As night deepened and the air grew colder, Wang Zifan continued his solitary journey through the quiet, ancient forest, the faint glow of the Heavenly Jade casting dancing shadows around him. His hunger, though briefly forgotten in the face of danger, now returned with a vengeance, a persistent, gnawing ache in his stomach.
The forest was dense, the sounds of nocturnal creatures filling the air, and he felt a growing weariness. Suddenly, a tantalizing aroma wafted on the evening breeze—the rich, savory scent of roasting meat. His stomach demanded attention, overriding his caution. He followed the scent, his pace quickening, until he reached a small clearing bathed in the warm glow of a crackling bonfire.
An old man, his face lined with the wisdom of countless years, sat by the fire, expertly tending to a sizzling piece of meat skewered over the flames.
He looked up as Wang Zifan approached, his eyes twinkling with an ancient, knowing light. "Child," the old man offered, a warm, gentle smile gracing his weathered face, "would you care for some of this? You look quite hungry." Wang Zifan, unable to refuse such an invitation, eagerly nodded and sat down, joining the old man by the fire.
They ate in comfortable silence, savoring the warmth of the fire and the exquisite taste of the perfectly cooked meat. It was the most delicious meal Wang Zifan had ever tasted.
the old man, his voice soft and kind, asked his name, and Wang Zifan readily told him. "Wang Zifan," he repeated softly, as if savoring the sound. Then, Wang Zifan, emboldened by the old man's kindness, asked him for his name. A gentle smile played on the old man's lips, and a soft, knowing laugh escaped him.
Before Wang Zifan could even process it, the old man simply vanished, dissipating like mist in the morning sun. His voice, however, lingered in the crisp night air, a melodic whisper that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, "We shall meet again, sometime, Wang Zifan." The fire continued to crackle, casting long, dancing shadows, but the old man was gone, leaving
Wang Zifan alone with the lingering warmth of the fire, the taste of the meat, and the profound mystery of the Heavenly Jade now glowing steadily in his hand. His destiny, once uncertain, had just taken an extraordinary turn.