By the age of three, Lin Shen's intelligence and observation were far beyond ordinary children. While others played, he would sit by the stream or under the trees, quietly watching the flow of water, the patterns of leaves in the wind, and the faint energy traces that lingered in the earth. The World Tree inside him had grown slightly, its roots extending deeper into his meridians, absorbing the energies around him and strengthening his body.
Lin Shen had begun to notice something extraordinary: events in the world seemed to follow a hidden pattern, as though a story was already written. He did not fully understand it yet, but fragments of the original Battle Through the Heavens plot whispered in his mind. He saw distant conflicts, the rise and fall of clans, and the movement of Heavenly Flames before they appeared. He kept silent, never revealing this knowledge, understanding that observation and patience would be his greatest advantages.
At age four, Lin Shen began experimenting with energy circulation. He had no teacher, no instructions, only his observations and the World Tree's subtle guidance. Tiny sparks of fire appeared in his consciousness, small and unstable, but he could sense them, control their direction, and even balance their energy with the faint silver glow of the Moon Physique. Each experiment strengthened his control over Yin–Yang energy and allowed the World Tree to expand further within him.
One day, while playing quietly near the forest, he noticed a fragment of chaotic flame energy floating in the air. He did not panic. Instead, he extended his awareness, sending a root of the World Tree toward it. Golden and silver energy flowed through the root, stabilizing the fragment. The flame hissed and struggled, but could not escape. Lin Shen analyzed it mentally, learning its rhythm, energy flow, and potential dangers.
Though small, this was his first successful interaction with volatile energy. He realized that control did not come from brute strength, but from intelligence, balance, and observation. Even at this age, Lin Shen was already learning the key principles that would one day allow him to master the 18 Heavenly Flames and shape entire worlds with the World Tree.