The night was dark and quiet. The tall leaves moved delicately with every passage of the wind, creating a serene whistling sound. The tall trees of the forest, created a nice shade , covering Mo Zhenyu who lay prone in the leaves.
His target was the low-level starbeast munching on its prey. It was a moonlight wolf.
A very agile beast who could harness moon power, to thicken its fur and claw.
Nine Years old Mo Zhenyu was clutching his metal spear, tight as he waited for an opening. It was the final test his father had given him, defeating a starbeast while being mortal.
The moon wolf's movements were reflected in the blue pupil of his only remaining eye.
He steadied his breath and dashed, in a single motion. The wolf had just finished its meal and was looking drowsy. The first lesson he learned from his father was always to wait for the opponent's weakness to appear.
As soon as Mo Zhenyu appeared into view the startled wolf shot crescent moonlight beams towards him. But his spear moved like a whip, deflecting the incoming projectiles.
He kicked the sand on the ground toward the wolf to obstruct its vision, while he closed the gap further. The Wolf lunged at him claws first.
But while taking advantage of the momentum of his run he slid under the wolf, using the sharp spearhead to cut it underbelly.
Unfortunately, the thick hide proved to be hard to cut through leaving a shallow cut not deep enough to kill.
He immediately spun back into a standing position, throwing multiple trusts at the beast. The wolf was covered in moonlight, giving its fur a glossy look, and the harshness of metal.
The clanging sound of metal clashing resonated through the night. The match between mortal and starbeast was exhilarating. Mo Zhenyu, spear danced like a needle while the wolf and his claws were restless.
The breaking point he was waiting for finally arrived when a giant cloud covered the moon, plunging the forest into total darkness.
With his left hand holding the spear steady, and the right palm guiding the motion, the spear began a new form of deadly assault. The spear vibrated with each strike, tearing through the weakened hide.
It was the Thousand Needles strike. The spear method his mother was renowned for. Each strike felt like a thousand piercing needles. Right now as a mortal, he could only create ten needles per strike but I was enough to send the wolf into agony.
Mo Zhenyu's attack did not slow down, trust, swing, trust, taking advantage of the dark he pounded the star beast until his own hands were bleeding.
"Enough" a calm voice commented from the dark. "It is dead." The voice added until it came into view.
Only then did the cloud, pass by thus bringing back the light into the forest.
Mo Zhenyu was panting rapidly, covered in blood. "You need to learn restraint"
His father said. Mo ZhenYu visibly too exhausted to reply, dropped his spear and sat on the floor next to the corpse. "If there was another beast in the vicinity, how would you protect yourself? What did I tell you?"
"Always give yourself some room to maneuver" Mo Zhenyu replied as he looked at his father. The man was quite handsome, he shared the same straight black hair as Mo Zhenyu other than that, he looked nothing like the man. Most of his features and appearance, save for the ugly scar on his left eye. Mo RenYu his father was a scholar, noble in spirit and appearance. He did not speak much unless it was related to training and calligraphy. His upbringing method was stern and barbaric. Train the spear for hours, write calligraphy for hours, and repeat.
The only thing they had in common was their passion for painting. They could spend hours in silence painting side by side without saying a word. The artistic fiber was strong.
However, the man was void of emotion for his son at least that's how Mo Zhenyu felt.
"Catch your breath I am going to set up the astral connection array. I was fourteen when I connected with my guiding constellation. If you can do it at nine your...mother will be proud of you." He said deflecting his gaze.
"I am ready" Mo Zhenyu replied knowing his father was avoiding a sensitive subject. Dotted with wisdom, superior to his years in age, Mo Zhenyu always understood things deeper than he let out. He understood his father's plight and sighed inwardly. But today was an important day for him. Today he would contract his guiding astral constellation, and would finally become a cultivator.
Every being was born under an astral constellation. Most constellations were too weak to be awakened. Those born under such a constellation were said to have a mortal fate. Destined to be mortals. This would be the fate of most of these people.
Those born under stronger constellations could obtain power through something called astral energy. A potent energy gained by channeling your fated constellation.
Constellations had ranks and the higher the number of stars the greater the rank.
After connecting with a constellation, they would become an Astral cultivator and would manifest an artifact that would be their destiny artifact. The destiny artifact would grow with the astral cultivator ultimately being the greatest auxiliary source of power for them.
He reviewed the information while looking at his father through his only functioning right eye. The man summoned his destiny artifact, a flaming red talisman. The talisman floated right before Mo RenYu who began to draw some hand signs, the talisman multiplied into dozens of identical talismans. They floated around Mo Zhenyu in strategic places before forming a pentagram. A bright light shone from each talisman, converging into single lines that connected them together.
Mo ZhenYu was suddenly assaulted by a rush of energy he never felt before.
"Focus," His father's voice interrupted. "Free your mind, and relax your muscles."
Mo Zhenyu executed immediatly the instructions not daring to waste this opportunity.
"Search for the highest point, within your mind."
" Mine was in my heart, you could be anywhere, trust your instinct."
Mo Zhenyu followed the instruction to the letter letting his consciousness roam free within his body trying to find that high point. After a minute, all his instincts led him to that special place. He never dared to touch. His carved-out left eye.
As soon as his consciousness ventured into that hollow and dark space his left eye used to be, a blue light enveloped him. And like an elevator, his consciousness was transported out of his body.
In an instant, he rose above the island and was in the night sky, surrounded by thousands, of stars. He could see many constellations, Stone rabbit, Moon Wolf...
The experience was surreal, the stars, seemed, alive, moving, and breathing. The lions roared, chasing the Sagittarius. The Gemini, playing a prank on the Aquarius.
How magical.
"Don't lose your focus, when you are in the astral realm" Mo RenYu's voice reached in dragging him from the reverie. "You need to advance to the highest point."
Mo Zhenyu executed the order and swam up, into the sky, passing many constellations. The ascension seemed to have no end. The surroundings became colder the higher he went, and the pressure on his consciousness increased significantly.
"Remember, this is also a test of your drive. The higher you go the better the chance your guiding constellation will connect to you."
Mo Zhenyu gritted his teeth and pushed through, rising higher and higher. Until he reached an eerie part of the sky. He could not see any constellations, around except an ominous, dark star, that seemed to swallow everything around.
He shrudded and ran in the opposite direction still rising higher. He could remember how long he had been rising, but his consciousness could not handle the pressure anymore. His ethereal body was slowly crumbling.
"Now! Condense Astral energy," His father said sensing he had reached his limit too.