The sun hung low over the craggy peaks of the Iron Fang Mountains, casting long shadows across the forest below. The wind howled, whispering through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth and the faintest trace of something ancient. The world was quiet, save for the occasional screech of a distant beast, as if even nature itself held its breath in anticipation.
At the foot of the mountains, nestled within a humble village, a long figure sat cross-legged on the ground. His eyes, dark as the night sky, were closed in deep concentration, his face calm and serene. His name was Xian Wu, a young man of seventeen, with untamed black hair that cascaded down his back like a river of night. Despite his stillness, the faintest ripple of energy emanated from his body, a signal that he was not like the others in the village.
Xian Wu was a cultivator.
Though born into a family of common folk, his natural talent for cultivating the spiritual energy that flowed through the world marked him as different. He was not yet a master of his craft, but even in his youth, he could sense the faintest stirrings of power within him. The world of cultivation, full of mystic beasts, celestial realms, and forbidden arts, beckoned to him a world beyond the grasp of those who toiled under the weight of mortal life.
But for now, Xian Wu's path was humble.
"Still not enough," he muttered to himself, his voice barely a whisper. He had spent countless hours training, cultivating the Qi that flowed through the world, yet no matter how hard he tired, he couldn't break through the barrier that held him back. His body trembled slightly, a sign that his spiritual energy had reached its limit for the day. But something nagged at him, a deep feeling in his chest that there was more to his cultivation than just hard work.
"Wu! Enough with the training! You'll wear yourself out!" came a voice from behind him.
Xian Wu opened his eyes to see his adoptive sister, Lin Yue, standing at the edge of the clearing, arms crossed, an exasperated expression on her face. Her long brown air fluttered in the wind, and her sharp eyes glinted with concern.
"I'm fine, Yue," Xian Wu replied, rising to his feet. "Just a little more... I can feel it."
She sighed, shaking her head. "You've been at this for hours. You're already stronger than most in the village. Don't be so hard on yourself."
Xian Wu turned his gaze to the horizon, where the sky met the jagged peaks of the mountains. His fingers clenched into fists. He had heard rumors. Whispers of powerful cultivators who could move mountains with a thought, command fire with a flick of the wrist, and live for centuries. He had no such power, and it frustrated him. He wanted to be like them. He wanted to rise above the limitations of his world, to break through the mortal shackles that bound him.
Yet, his cultivation was slow, far slower than those of the sects and families he had read about in ancient texts. Qi Condensation, the first step in the cultivation journey, was a struggle. He had only recently begun to feel the spiritual energy flow through him in any significant way.
The weight of his family's death still haunted him. He had been just a child when his parents were killed by mysterious cultivators, individuals who wielded unimaginable power. Their passing left a deep scar in his heart, one that burned with the desire for vengeance.
"I need to get stronger," Xian Wu muttered to himself.
Lin Yue watched him, her eyes softening. "You're not alone, Xian Wu. You've got me."
But Xian Wu's thoughts drifted, his gaze lost in the distance. The desire for vengeance was not the only thing that kept him going. There was something hidden within him, something powerful that had yet to fully awaken. The dreams, the strange sensations, the sense of being chosen for something greater than a life in this backwater village... It all pointed thing: Destiny.
Suddenly, a tremor shook the ground, followed by a booming roar that sent birds scattering into the sky. The sound was unmistakable, a spirit beast had arrived.
Xian Wu turned to Lin Yue, who looked equally alarmed. "Not another one," she whispered. "The spirit beasts have been more active lately. What could be causing this?"
"Stay close," Xian Wu said, already moving toward the edge of the village. The air was thick with spiritual energy, the Qi surrounding them vibrating with tension. Whatever was coming, it wasn't just a random beast. It was something far more dangerous.
As they approached the village's outskirts, Xian Wu saw it. A massive, black-scaled serpent, its body coiled around the base of a tall mountain, eyes glowing with a blood-red hue. It let out another deafening roar, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
Xian Wu's heart raced. He had only heard tales of spirit beasts, powerful creatures that could only be tamed by the strongest of cultivators. He had never expected to face one in person.
"I'll handle this," Xian Wu said, his voice firm. He stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest. He wasn't ready, but the beast was close, and the village was in danger.
As he stepped into the clearing, he felt the Qi in the air shift, as if the world itself was holding its breath. His hand rose instinctively, and he reached out, calling upon the spiritual energy within him.
The serpent's eyes fixed on him, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze.
Then, with a surge of energy, Xian Wu released his first attack.