Over a thousand years ago, the world was plunged into chaos during an event that came to be known as the Great Demonic War. This was no ordinary conflict—it was a clash between realms, where the balance of existence itself teetered on the edge.
The Demon King, Lio, had risen to unimaginable power. Through centuries of dark cultivation, he reached a level that rivaled the gods themselves. With his mastery over ancient forbidden magic and his command of the vast demon armies, he launched an invasion upon the human world. His power was absolute. Cities fell like leaves in the wind, kingdoms were reduced to ashes, and the skies turned red with fire and blood.
Humanity was on the brink of annihilation. No warrior, no army, no spellcaster could match the might of Demon King Lio. Desperation gripped the world. Prayers were whispered to forgotten gods, and hopes dwindled with each passing day.
Then, just when all seemed lost, a lone figure emerged from the shadows of legend—a mysterious warrior whose name has been lost to time. No one knew where he came from, or how he had gained such power. Some claimed he was chosen by the gods. Others believed he was the reincarnation of an ancient celestial being. All that is known is that he stood when no one else could.
He faced Demon King Lio alone.
Their battle raged for days, perhaps even weeks. The skies shattered with each strike, and the ground quaked beneath their power. Mountains crumbled, oceans trembled, and even time itself seemed to hesitate. Those who witnessed the clash described it as a war between gods, beyond mortal comprehension.
And then—silence.
When the dust settled, both the Demon King and the hero had vanished. The demon forces, once unstoppable, crumbled without their leader. They retreated into the dark corners of the world, and peace slowly returned to the lands of men.
To this day, no one knows what truly happened in that final battle. Did the hero sacrifice himself to seal the Demon King away? Did they both perish in a final, devastating blow? Or do they still walk the world in secret, waiting for the day they are needed again?
Legends speak of a time when darkness will rise once more—and with it, the return of the hero who once saved all of humanity. Grandpa, what happened after that battle?
"After the battle, a new era began in the cultivation world. In this era, everyone seeks to become the strongest in the world."
Wow...
"Now, Cio, let's go to sleep. We need to open the inn early tomorrow."
Why, Grandpa?
"Because the day after tomorrow, the Hero Ceremony begins."
Good morning, Grandpa.
"Good morning, Cio."
Grandpa, why is the road so crowded today? There are so many people outside!
"That's because tomorrow is the Hero Ceremony. People from all over the region are traveling to the capital to watch it. This road leads straight there."
The Hero Ceremony... wow. I've always dreamed of seeing it!
"Many people do. Heroes, cultivators, adventurers... all of them gather to be honored or to honor others."
Grandpa, can I help you today at the inn?
"Of course. Just wipe the tables and keep an eye on the front. I'll be in the back cooking."
A short while later, four people entered the inn—one woman and three men. They all wore cloaks, but their swords were clearly visible, glowing faintly with power.
One of the men spoke with a calm but firm voice,
"We'd like food for four. Something hot and filling."
Right away, sir. Please have a seat.
As I served the food, I couldn't help but stare. The woman's sword was beautiful—long and elegant, with silver and blue markings that shimmered like moonlight. She herself was calm and graceful, but her presence was strong, like the wind before a storm.
Excuse me, miss... your sword is amazing. It's the most beautiful sword I've ever seen.
She looked at me, slightly amused.
"You like it? Would you like to touch it?"
Can I?!
She gently handed it to me. I reached out and tried to lift it—but it was incredibly heavy. I could barely raise it an inch before setting it back down, my arms trembling.
One of the men chuckled.
"You're lucky our lady let you touch it. Most mortals don't get that chance. Her sword is no ordinary blade."
Another added, "Only those with true strength or spiritual power can even hold it properly."
The woman smiled softly.
"If you want to lift a sword like this one day, then you must become strong. Not just in body, but in spirit."
They finished their meal in silence, then left some coins on the table.
"Thank you," the woman said, before they all turned and walked out of the inn, disappearing into the growing crowd outside.
Grandpa, here's their payment.
"Thank you, Cio."
Grandpa... I want to become a cultivator someday. I want to be strong enough to lift a sword like that.
"Ah, Cio... we are just simple people. We don't have the power for things like that."
But Grandpa... can't a normal person become someone great too?
He looked at me quietly, then smiled.
"Alright, alright. Who knows what the future holds? We'll go watch the Hero Ceremony tomorrow. Maybe it'll inspire you even more."
Really, Grandpa? We're really going?
"Yes. We'll leave early and find a good spot to watch."
Thank you, Grandpa! I can't wait!
Ceremony Day
"Grandpa, come fast! Otherwise, the seats will be taken by others!"
The road was so crowded, full of people heading toward the capital. Everyone was excited, voices buzzing in the air like bees.
When we finally reached the ceremony grounds, I pointed quickly.
"Grandpa, over here! There are some empty seats!"
We made our way through the crowd and sat down. I looked around, eyes wide.
"Grandpa, the ground is so big!"
A voice boomed across the field—it was the host of the ceremony.
"Hello, watchers! Today is the Hero Ceremony! This ceremony is held to show respect to our heroes—those who saved humanity—and to discover the strongest rookie cultivators! Let's welcome our honorable guests!"
The crowd cheered wildly.
"Our first guest is the Sword Master from the Heaven Clan! Second guest, the charming lady from the Fairy Sect! And third, a mighty fighter from the Fist Sect—also known as the Fist Demon!"
I nudged Grandpa excitedly.
"Grandpa! Look! That lady—we saw her at our inn yesterday! She's that powerful?!"
Grandpa squinted. "So she really was someone important..."
"Let's start the ceremony!" the host declared. "Now begins the rookie matches!"
The crowd roared with excitement.
"First match: Candidate No. 98 vs. No. 92! Second match: Candidate No. 54 vs. No. 67!"
I couldn't take my eyes off the stage.
"Grandpa, cultivators are so cool! I also want to become a cultivator!"
Grandpa smiled. "Okay, okay, Cio."
"Third match: Candidate No. 5 vs. No. 2!"
The crowd suddenly erupted.
"Look—it's Candidate No. 5! She's the Saint from the Fairy Sect! She's so pretty!" "And her opponent is the young master from the Xuan Sect!"
On the ground, the two stood facing each other. The Saint looked calm and graceful. The young master smirked.
"Lady Saint, how are you? Don't worry, I'll hit you gently."
She smiled lightly. "Don't worry about me, young master. Just focus on the fight."
The bell rang. The match began!
They moved like lightning, clashing with speed and skill. In the end, the Lady Saint stood victorious.
The crowd cheered.
"The winner is Candidate No. 5—the Fairy Sect Saint!"
As the sun began to set, the host announced, "That concludes the first day of the Hero Ceremony!"
Grandpa and I stood up.
"Grandpa, those matches were awesome!"
"Yeah, they were," he said, chuckling. "Come on—we need to head back home before dark."
"Okay, Grandpa!"
Ceremony Day – Part 2
"Grandpa, I finished all my work! Grandpa, can I go watch the ceremony? Please, Grandpa!"
He looked at me for a moment, then smiled.
"Okay, Cio. You can go—but come back before dark."
"Okay, Grandpa! Thank you!"
I rushed out of the inn, heart pounding with excitement. The streets were packed again, even more than yesterday. As I squeezed through the crowd, I bumped into a group of people and fell to the ground.
"Oof!" I stood up quickly. "I'm sorry!"
The group barely looked at me as I ran off. Behind me, I heard one of them speak quietly to another.
"Boss, the work is complete. We just need to wait for the ceremony to end."
That made me curious... but I didn't have time to think about it. I had to get to the ceremony grounds!
By the time I reached the plaza, the host was already speaking.
"Welcome back, everyone! Today we continue with the final battles of the Hero Ceremony. Our top six rookie cultivators have been chosen!"
He raised a hand as the crowd cheered.
"They are:
Ling Cao from the Heavenly Clan
The Lady Saint from the Fairy Sect
Huo from the Tang Sect
Xang from the Fire Clan
Fang from the Poison Sect
The Young Master from the Fist Sect!"
Everyone roared in excitement.
"Let's begin with our first match: the Fist Sect Young Master vs. Huo of the Tang Sect!"
The two clashed in a fierce battle, but in the end, the Young Master emerged victorious.
"Second match: Xang of the Fire Clan vs. Fang of the Poison Sect!"
Fang's strange techniques and clever moves helped him win the fight.
"Now, the third match: Ling Cao of the Heavenly Clan vs. the Lady Saint of the Fairy Sect!"
It was a breathtaking fight—grace versus precision—but Ling Cao narrowly won.
"And now, we move to the semi-final:
Ling Cao vs. Fang of the Poison Sect!"
Their battle was intense, but Ling Cao proved too powerful. He won once again.
"Final battle!" the host shouted. "Ling Cao vs. the Fist Sect Young Master!"
The crowd held their breath as the two strongest warriors faced off. Power flashed across the arena. In the end—Ling Cao stood tall.
"Our champion is Ling Cao of the Heavenly Clan!" the host announced. "Let us all congratulate him!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause.
"Wow!" I whispered. "The ceremony was so awesome!"
I looked up at the sky. The sun was already sinking.
"I need to hurry! If I don't get back before dark, Grandpa will scold me!"
I ran back toward the inn, heart still full of excitement
Grandpa, I'm back!"
"Oh, Cio, you're back. How was the ceremony?"
"Grandpa, the ceremony was so great!"
"Good, good. Come in for dinner—I made your favorite."
"Stew? That's great, Grandpa!"
I sat down eagerly. "Grandpa, the stew is so delicious."
But suddenly—we heard screaming outside. Loud, panicked, and terrifying.
Grandpa and I rushed to the door. As we stepped outside, our eyes went wide in horror.
People were being slaughtered in the streets. Houses were burning. Smoke and flames rose into the sky. Screams echoed everywhere.
"Grandpa… what's happening?! Why are people dying?!"
We looked up—and saw three cultivators fighting in the sky, their powers shaking the air.
I stared, shocked. Two of them—I recognized. They were the ones I accidentally bumped into earlier that day.
Suddenly, more people in dark cloaks appeared in the chaos—killing anyone they found.
"Cio! Inside the inn—now!" Grandpa shouted.
He grabbed my arm, pushed me through the back door, and began quickly packing a bag.
"We're heading to the mountains. We have to run."
We fled out the back, heading toward the forest path. But before we could go far, a blast of energy hit Grandpa and knocked him down.
"Grandpa!" I screamed, kneeling beside him. "Are you all right?!"
"Cio… run! They're coming! You have to go!"
"I'm not leaving you, Grandpa!"
"Cio, you're a good boy... but you have to live. Please—go! I'll distract them."
Tears filled my eyes. "No, Grandpa—please!"
But he pushed me away and stood up, facing the attackers.
I ran.
Behind me, I heard shouting… and then silence. I turned back just long enough to see them strike Grandpa down.
Tears streamed down my face as I ran toward the mountain. More enemies spotted me and gave chase.
I entered the jungle, running through the dark forest, branches whipping at my arms. I hid behind a tree—but two men were already searching for me.
Then—I made a small sound.
They heard.
"There he is!"
I ran again, heart pounding. Suddenly, a blast of energy hit my shoulder. Pain tore through me as blood flowed freely.
I kept running, stumbling, until I reached the edge of a cliff.
One of them attacked. The blast hit me—throwing me over the edge.
I fell.
As I plummeted, I saw flashes of Grandpa—his smile, his stew, the inn, our peaceful life.
"Grandpa…" I whispered as darkness closed in. "Don't leave me..."
Then—I hit something.
Hard.
Everything went black.
When I opened my eyes, I was lying on cold stone. Blood covered me. My body felt shattered.
But… I was alive?
I could barely speak. "Grandpa? Are you… alive?"
I saw him in a dream—walking away into the mist.
"Grandpa! Wait!" I shouted. "Where are you going?!"
I cried out loud—and woke up gasping.
"I'm alive… but… where am I?"
Then, a voice echoed around me.
"This is my dimension."
Two figures floated down from the air. Their presence felt powerful… otherworldly.
"Welcome to the Heavenly Paradise.