Vermilion Bird Star.
Zhao State, Hengyue Sect.
At the peak of a towering cliff stood an ancient sect built along the mountainside, majestic and imposing against the vast sky.
The grand gatehouse was forged from dark, lustrous stone, its surface carved with mysterious ancient runes that faintly shimmered with spiritual light.
On both sides rose enormous pillars engraved with lifelike dragons. Their fierce eyes glared outward as if they might break free at any moment and soar into the heavens.
Layered eaves curved upward like wings preparing for flight, blending elegance and solemnity amid drifting clouds and mist.
As one of the few cultivation sects within Zhao State, the Hengyue Sect was currently hosting an exchange competition with the Xuandao Sect to evaluate the strength of both sides.
"Our Luohe Sect rarely holds competitions like this," a gentle female voice remarked. "The cultivators here focus mainly on killing and combat. Unlike our Fire-Burning lineage, which specializes in alchemy, weapon forging, and demon extermination."
The speaker was a woman of extraordinary beauty.
Her brows were delicate like willow leaves, her features radiant as spring blossoms. She resembled a lotus fairy—graceful, elegant, and serene—her voice soft and soothing.
"Wan'er, once this competition ends, we should return to the Luohe Sect," the man beside her said with a sigh. "If the Ancestor learns we delayed our cultivation, we will surely be reprimanded."
"I understand…" Li Muwan replied softly.
Her gaze drifted toward the distant Hengyue Sect plaza. Her pearly teeth gently bit her lower lip as a trace of longing appeared within her star-like eyes.
Li Qiqing, her elder brother, understood her well. Since childhood, his sister had always held someone in her heart.
Rumor claimed that person was once a prodigy disciple of the Hengyue Sect. Yet despite many inquiries, no one had ever heard of him.
Just as Li Qiqing was about to speak again, the clear blue sky suddenly darkened.
Thunder roared.
Lightning flashed violently as bronze-colored bolts twisted through the clouds like raging dragons and serpents, distorting the surrounding air wherever they passed.
Disciples of both the Hengyue Sect and Xuandao Sect looked upward in shock.
High above, a figure shrouded in crimson mist stood within the storm clouds. Even a single glance at him made one feel as though their soul would be torn from their body.
Within the silent heavens, a hundred-meter-long blood-red dragon surged through the clouds.
Standing upon the dragon's head was a young man dressed in a crimson robe.
His skin was pale, his features cold and handsome, filled with an overwhelming killing intent. Long silver-white hair fluttered behind him in the wind.
"Hengyue Sect… I have finally returned."
The white-haired youth was named Lin Tian, once the greatest prodigy of the Hengyue Sect a hundred years ago and the personal disciple of Sect Master Huanglong Zhenren. He had been hailed as the most talented cultivator on the entire Vermilion Bird Star.
A transmigrator, Lin Tian possessed unparalleled talent.
He entered Qi Condensation at the age of three, reached Foundation Establishment at five, and achieved Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment by eight.
At thirteen, he became the first cultivator on Vermilion Bird Star to step into the Pseudo-Core stage, his fame spreading throughout Zhao State. Even Lin Yi, inspector of the Tongtian Tower, took notice of him.
Yet fate proved cruel.
As the sect's supreme genius, Lin Tian was exceptionally granted permission to enter the extraterrestrial battlefield, an ancient realm that opened only once every hundred years.
However, shortly after entering, a spatial rift appeared and swallowed him whole, leaving his fate unknown.
Upon learning this, Huanglong Zhenren personally searched the battlefield countless times but found nothing.
Lin Yi later joined forces with experts of the Giant Demon Clan to investigate again, yet no trace of Lin Tian was discovered. In the end, all concluded that the prodigy had perished.
Even his master lost hope.
What none of them knew was that Lin Tian had not died.
The spatial rift had transported him into the far more terrifying Ancient God Land.
For a hundred years, his life there was nothing short of hell.
He was hunted daily by powerful beings and constantly fought wandering spirits that sought to devour him. Survival itself became cultivation.
To return home, Lin Tian fought, killed, and cultivated relentlessly.
Only after enduring endless slaughter and finally breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage did he gain the strength to intimidate the rulers of that cursed land and escape.
A century had passed.
Everything had changed.
How many centuries could one life endure?
"Who dares trespass upon the Hengyue Sect?!"
Several Core Formation cultivators rose into the air. The sect disciples stared at Lin Tian with grave expressions as though facing a mortal enemy. Many drew their immortal swords, pointing them toward him.
Lin Tian descended calmly onto the ground, one hand resting behind his back.
"Elder Liu Wenju. Elder Li Qinghou. It has been a long time."
The two elders froze upon hearing their names spoken.
They searched their memories but could not recall ever meeting this young man.
Elder Liu Wenju frowned. "Fellow Daoist, who are you? Why do you know us?"
Lin Tian waved his hand.
An azure jade tablet appeared instantly in the air, glowing softly. At its center was engraved a single character:
Lin.
The elders' expressions changed drastically.
This jade token had been granted to only one disciple in the Hengyue Sect over the past thousand years.
The peerless genius who vanished a century ago.
"You… you are… Lin Tian?!"
Shock filled Liu Wenju's voice.
None of them could believe the prodigy presumed dead had truly returned.
Sect Master Huanglong stepped forward, trembling as memories flooded his mind.
"It really is you… Tian'er?!"
"A hundred years have passed," Lin Tian replied coldly. "Has Master forgotten me?"
His voice was icy, carrying the chill of countless killings. A century of slaughter had drained his vitality; only after leaving that strange realm had his hair turned white overnight.
Huanglong Zhenren approached him in disbelief, gripping his shoulders tightly as tears welled in his eyes.
"It truly is you… Tian'er…"
His voice trembled.
"Where have you been all these years? Since you were alive… why didn't you return to the Hengyue Sect?"
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