⚡ The Last Disciple of Lightning Peak
> "The last spark
in a dead wind. A disciple born of pity… now the storm walks with him."
---
⛰️ On the Highest Peak
The top of the
mountain shuddered as lightning struck like never before.
Thunder raged
through the sky. The heavens roared and cracked, and from within the blinding
storm, a figure appeared—tall, long-haired, golden aura swirling violently
around his body. By his side, a majestic white tiger beast stood firm, its fur
flickering with sparks, eyes glowing like twin stars.
When the figure
opened his eyes…
Even his enemies
could see the death of their own fate reflected in them.
He exhaled once—just
once—and the storm calmed.
A divine
breakthrough.
And yet... in this
moment of victory, his heart whispered of regret.
> "All seven
of my disciples... they've become mighty now. Feared names. Revered.
Honored."
The golden aura
dimmed slightly as his voice softened.
> "But that
last one... the child I accepted without a spiritual root. I never taught him
anything. He was just a child... following me with eyes full of hope."
He closed his eyes
again.
> "I
couldn't shatter him back then. I accepted him as a disciple... because I
didn't want to break his heart. And then I left."
The white tiger
huffed beside him, sensing the pain behind the power.
> "I don't
even know what he's doing now. He had no root... but I saw something in him. A
fire."
The cultivator
looked far into the eastern sky, toward a distant continent.
> "Wherever
you are... if that fire still burns… I hope that when we meet again, you'll be
stronger than I am now."
They called him the
Lightning Sovereign—and the clouds knew his name.
Lightning cracked
once more, and the figure vanished into the clouds, leaving only echoes behind.
---
🛖 Market Road – Lower District
Aarush walked alone,
a small pouch of copper coins tucked under his arm. His dark hair was unkempt,
his clothes simple and worn. Around him, the market bustled with life—spirit
fruits, qi herbs, cultivators in fine robes flashing spirit techniques just to
impress passersby.
He watched as a boy
floated a coin with qi, hands weaving a practiced sign.
Aarush raised his
own hand… mimicked the movement…
Nothing happened.
Behind him, mocking
voices rang out.
> "Hey! Look at
him—trying again!"
> "Careful,
Aarush. You might shatter the sky!"
> "Hahaha! The
most powerful cultivator of our generation!"
Laughter followed
like a swarm of flies.
Aarush didn't
respond. He lowered his hand and walked on, gaze steady, mind silent.
> "I'm the last
disciple of my master… one of the most powerful cultivators in the entire
continent. I need to prove—no, I will prove—to all of them that I can
cultivate. I'll show them during the sect selection next week."
He pressed forward,
heading for the stalls ahead.
---
🛤️ Market Exit Trail – Late Afternoon
As he stepped off
the main road, arms filled with groceries, he heard a voice from behind.
> "Aarush?"
He turned.
It was Niva—his only
true friend.
She had tied her
hair loosely behind her, eyes shining faintly with spiritual glow. Her steps
were light, graceful—she had clearly begun cultivation.
They paused.
Both smiled
awkwardly, then—at the same moment—asked:
> "Are you going
next week?"
A moment of surprise
passed.
Niva nodded,
laughing gently. "Yeah… I'll be in the trial."
Aarush smiled
faintly. "Me too."
She looked at him
curiously. "I've already awakened my martial soul—it's a Frost Lotus. What
about you?"
His face darkened
slightly. But he forced calm into his voice.
> "Not yet. But
I'll still go."
Before Niva could
respond, a rough voice cut in.
An older cultivator
stepped forward from the shadows of a nearby stall, arms crossed, voice low and
coiled like a snake ready to strike.
> "You? Going to
the sect admission test? Hah! Foolish brat."
> "That trial
isn't for trash like you. Especially rootless trash."
Niva flinched but
said nothing. Aarush's hands clenched—but he exhaled slowly, calming himself.
> "His fists
trembled. But he drew a breath through the venom—and chose silence."
Something inside him
wanted to snap this time. He had heard this for years.
But instead, he just
smiled lightly.
> "If people like
him get selected… why not me?"
His voice was calm,
not arrogant—just painfully honest.
---
🏠 Home – That Evening
Aarush placed the
groceries quietly on the table.
He didn't speak
right away. His parents looked tired. Distant.
Finally, he asked.
> "What's wrong
with me?"
His mother
stiffened.
> "I know you're
hiding something. I don't have a spiritual root. I've tried everything. But
I've read scrolls. I've heard rumors. What is the truth? Why am I like this?"
Silence.
His father changed
the topic.
> "The Uccot Sect
Trial is coming. Top twenty get invited to outer discipleship. Top three… go
directly to inner sect."
His mother smiled
softly, avoiding his eyes.
> "Just do your
best, Aarush. That's all we ask."
---
🌙 Roof of the House – That Night
Aarush sat alone,
looking up at the sky.
In the far distance,
lights glowed across the hills. The sect's outer trial camp was already being
set up. Dozens of youths would awaken their martial souls. Hundreds would
compete.
And he… would be
laughed at once more.
> "But I'll go
anyway."
> "Even if I
fail. Even if I'm broken."
> "If I have
nothing... I'll still walk forward."
And far, far away… a
storm flickered in the sky again.
As if
someone—somewhere—was still listening.