This world was called Tianxuan.
Unlike Earth, it was not a planet, but a self-contained dimension bound entirely by rules. The sun in the sky? Rules. The moon? Rules. Even the stars above followed fixed paths written into the world's very fabric. There were endless oceans and edgeless islands, and yet one could travel straight forever and never return to their starting point.
Ancient documents claimed that Tianxuan realmis a refuge, created during some long-forgotten war. Everything—sky, land, sea—was man-made. As for the world's true edge or origin… only those ancient and unfathomably powerful beings would know.
The Qin family was located in the Southern Continent.
The South was one of the five great continents that made up the known cultivation world.
At its center stood the Central Continent—the true heart of the world. Ancient sects ruled from secluded mountains, some so old their founders were now myths. It was said that even Transcending Tribulations Realm experts still walked openly within its borders, and the heavens themselves hesitated to strike in their presence.
Surrounding the Central Continent were the four outer lands: the frozen Northern Tundras, the blazing Eastern Sands, the scattered Western Archipelagos, and the wild and rugged Southern Wastelands.
four great powers held dominance in the southern continent,
The Heavenly Furnace Holy Land — famed for refining techniques and body tempering, The Moon Worshipping Holy Land — mysterious and aloof, known for strange cultivation involving the void and stars, The Taixuan Sect — an orthodox power with deep foundations in Dao comprehension, and The Daqing Dynasty — a vast imperial nation that ruled a quarter of the Southern Continent with bloodlines, armies, and divine right.
Families like the Qin family were considered noble vassals under Daqing's rule.
They held land, wealth, and some talented cultivators, but in the grand scheme of things, they were only a mid-tier family—a large fish in a small, muddy pond.
Their patriarch had reached only the peak of the Golden Core Realm, and the family's one true deterrent was its oldest ancestor, who had once broken through to the God Transformation Realm. But even he had remained stuck there for centuries.
In the past thousands of years, cultivation beyond Foundation Establishment had become increasingly difficult, as if the heavens themselves resisted further growth. Only the most ancient families or sects had Void Refining or Unity Realm ancestors hidden in deep seclusion.
And those beyond even that?
They were rarely seen. Some said the Mahayana Realm cultivators had ascended. Others believed they had gone into hiding—afraid of something far more terrifying than Heavenly Tribulation.
Some time ago, when Qin Ye was only a boy, he had been spotted by the elders of a hidden force from the Central Continent—the mysterious Void Moon Sect. Though the clan had no knowledge of it, he had received a direct invitation to join them. Only he and his grandfather, Qin Mu, knew of this.
Now, sitting quietly in his grandpa's room, Qin Ye re-read that invitation once again.
Meanwhile, Qin Mu and was secretly examining Qin Ye's body.
After some time passed, Qin Ye greeted his grandfather, and the two sat down for a quiet discussion about the Dao. As always, their conversation flowed naturally—one question, ten answers, each answer sparking a deeper insight.
Even after all these years, Qin Mu remained amazed.
"This kid is a monster. "
He had never once revealed Qin Ye's talent to the family. In this chaotic world, being exceptional was a blade that cut both ways. Praise could turn into envy. Admiration could turn into schemes.
After Qin Ye left, Qin Mu pulled out an ancient, dust-covered mirror.
The reflection twisted unnaturally.
"Physique unknown. Qi structure foreign. Cultivation stable… too stable.""What are you hiding, child?"
He tapped the floor and whispered a hidden incantation. A small panel shifted beneath the floorboards, and an old jade piece floated out. On it were carved seven ancient clan names, long erased from most history books.
His eyes paused at the final, half-erased character: Qin.
"If this child truly carries the blood of that lineage… then the heavens will tremble."
On his way home, Qin Ye was lost in thought.
"The Qin family… really isn't simple."
It had already been agreed that he would leave for the Central Continent soon. Qin Mu had promised to keep it secret from the rest of the clan.
He trusted his grandfather completely. More than that, he feared him a little.
Back when Qin Ye was younger, he had once sensed someone spying on him using unknown methods. Years later, he found the truth—it was Qin Mu.
That level of surveillance required rare instruments—ones that needed at least Void Refining Realm cultivation to operate. Which meant Qin Mu had been hiding his true strength all along.
Perhaps even the God Transformation ancestor was a mask.
Suddenly, a mechanical chime rang in his mind.
Ding!It is detected that the Son of Destiny is plotting against the Host.
Mission: Get rid of Qin Feng, the Son of Destiny.Reward: Original Dao Scriptures, Part III
Qin Ye raised an eyebrow.
"So it begins."