The northern ridge above Qingyu Village shimmered under the soft light of dawn. Mist lingered among jagged stones and ancient pines, curling like restless spirits. Birds sang their morning songs, and the distant river reflected gold sunlight. To a casual observer, it was a serene morning in a small mortal village. But for Feng Yan, sixteen years of mortal life would end today, and the first step toward a path that could shake heavens and devour stars would begin.
Feng Yan's dark eyes flickered with thought. He was still mortal—his body weak, untrained, fragile compared to the warriors of cultivation he had only heard of in whispered village legends. Every muscle in his body was ordinary, unseasoned. Yet inside his chest, the Heaven Devouring Pearl pulsed faintly, chaotic and alive, as if aware of its host's impending trial.
He clenched his fists, feeling the faint warmth and hum of energy beneath his skin. His mind raced, calculating, analyzing, anticipating. I am mortal, yes. Weak… but even the weak can survive if they think faster than the strong.
---
The Forest Beckons – First Struggle
The forest north of the village was dense and shadowed. Villagers rarely ventured past its edge, speaking in hushed tones of wandering spirits and feral beasts. For Feng Yan, it was a place of opportunity. The Pearl's subtle pulse guided him deeper, nudging him to perceive and sense the flow of energy around him.
His first step into the forest felt awkward. The moss beneath his feet was slippery, the shadows long and twisted. Every rustle of leaves set his heart racing. He was weak—physically untrained, and yet he knew instinctively that this trial was designed to test more than brawn.
A low growl sounded from a dark copse ahead. From the shadows, a massive wolf-like creature emerged, larger than any mortal wolf, its eyes glowing with faint, chaotic energy. Its teeth snapped, its claws dug into the soft earth, and it charged toward him with terrifying speed.
Feng Yan froze for a moment. He was still mortal. If this beast struck with full force, it could crush him. His heart pounded. Think… observe… act.
He raised a trembling hand. The Pearl pulsed in response. Not with raw power, but with guidance—a subtle whisper in his mind: "Shift… dodge… redirect…"
With a deep breath, Feng Yan sidestepped, barely avoiding the creature's snapping jaws. His foot slipped on the wet moss, and he fell forward, scraping his hands. Pain shot through him. The beast lunged again.
Weak… but fast… clever…
He rolled to the side, narrowly escaping the beast's claw. Using its momentum against it, he grabbed a fallen branch and jabbed at the ground in front of it. The creature stumbled, confused. Though Feng Yan had done no real damage, the combination of observation, prediction, and quick thinking had saved him. He rose shakily to his feet, heart racing.
---
Rival Emerges – Mortal vs. Cultivator
A shadow detached itself from the trees. The boy from before, slightly older, with a faint cultivator aura, stepped forward. His eyes sparkled with curiosity, tinged with amusement.
"So, this is the mortal everyone fears will never survive?" he said, voice smooth but mocking. "Barely dodging a wolf… pathetic. Yet… you are clever, I'll give you that."
Feng Yan's hands were scraped, his body trembling slightly, yet his eyes were calm and calculating. "I am mortal. I am weak. But I survive. And I will surpass those who underestimate me."
The rival's smirk faltered. He had expected fear, hesitation, or panicked retreat. Instead, he saw a boy who used brains over brawn—a mortal surviving against creatures far beyond his strength.
---
First Step Toward Strength
After the wolf retreated, Feng Yan sank to the forest floor, exhausted. His muscles ached; he was weak, barely able to lift himself. But the Pearl pulsed warmly, feeding subtle knowledge.
"Observe. Learn. Adapt."
He studied the forest around him: the flow of the stream, the bending of branches, the way the moss cushioned or hindered movement. His mind recorded patterns. Each mistake, each misstep, each brush with danger became a lesson. Though he could not defeat the beast outright, he understood why he survived: careful observation, rapid reaction, and subtle manipulation of the environment.
The Pearl guided him to meditate, even in exhaustion. Energy trickled into his body, not enough to overpower, but enough to sense subtle currents in the air, vibrations in the ground, and weaknesses in approaching threats.
For the first time, Feng Yan understood: Even the weak can train the mind and senses before the body. Even mortal flesh can wield immortality through intelligence, perception, and strategy.
---
Foreshadowing FMC
High above the mortal world, hidden in the clouds, Lian Mei, Daughter of Heaven, watched the mortal boy. Her luminous eyes reflected interest, admiration, and curiosity.
"This boy… born of the Heaven Devouring Pearl," she whispered softly. "A mortal… yet different. He survives despite weakness, guided by cunning and instinct. So he begins to walk the path of destiny… a path that even heaven cannot ignore."
---
Reflections and Resolve
Feng Yan returned to the ridge overlooking the village as sunlight bathed the fields. He was weak, bruised, and trembling from exertion. Yet for the first time, he felt hope and determination.
"I am mortal. I am weak. But I will not stay weak. I will grow… stronger… smarter… faster… until no force in the heavens or earth can challenge me."
The Pearl pulsed in his chest, almost as if acknowledging this mortal's first step toward godhood. Its chaotic energy remained subtle, not raw power, but a seed that would grow over time into a force capable of destroying stars, devouring heavens, and defying fate itself.
This was only the beginning. Feng Yan's mortal body was weak, but his mind, instincts, and the Pearl's chaotic guidance would allow him to rise, slowly but inevitably, on the path from weak to strong.