Three hundred thousand Years Ago
In a distant village nestled at the foot of a colossal mountain range that separated the Metal Flow Plain from the outer lands of the Golden Pillar Continent, a young boy, no older than five, wielded a wooden stick like a sword. He swung it with fierce determination, imagining himself as a mighty swordsman battling a towering tree.
"Du Tian! Stop playing with that stick! The lord cultivators have arrived to inspect the children. Follow me, quickly!" The sharp voice of the village chief rang out from behind him.
Startled, the boy froze mid-swing and then hurried to obey. "Yes, Village Chief!" he said, gripping the stick tightly before discarding it and rushing to the gathering area.
A line of children was already forming near the village center, their faces filled with a mix of anxiety and excitement. At the front stood a group of young men and women clad in light pink robes. Their attire bore the emblem of a sword arranged like a blossoming flower—a mark of the prestigious Blossoming Sword Sect.
One by one, the children stepped forward, placing their hands on a glowing orb held by one of the cultivators. Some were chosen, directed to stand on the right, while others were sent to the left, their faces falling in disappointment as they ran crying to their parents—or sat alone if they had no family to console them. Each time a child was chosen, a hefty pouch of money was handed to the village chief, who accepted it with an eager smile.
Finally, it was Du Tian's turn. The boy stepped forward hesitantly, his small hand reaching out to touch the orb. As soon as his fingers made contact, the orb began to glow with an intense green light, brighter than anything the cultivators had seen that day.
One of the cultivators, a stern-faced man with sharp eyes, leaned closer, his expression shifting to one of astonishment. "Divine Wood?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
The other cultivators exchanged glances, their composure slipping for a brief moment before the stern-faced man turned to the village chief. Without a word, he handed over an enormous sack of money, far larger than the others. The village chief’s face lit up with a greedy smile as he accepted the pouch.
The cultivator then crouched down to face Du Tian. His tone softened slightly, though his demeanor remained authoritative. "From this day forward, you are a disciple of the Blossoming Sword Sect. Follow us."
Du Tian looked back at the only home he had ever known, his expression unreadable, before nodding and stepping toward the cultivators. The villagers watched in awe, some whispering prayers of gratitude for the blessing bestowed upon their small, forgotten village.
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A Five Hundred Years Later
In the midst of a bustling arena surrounded by towering cliffs, a Qi sword shot into the sky, its gleaming edge shimmering with immense power. Moments later, it shattered into a million fragments, the pieces raining down in a relentless storm onto its target.
"Clink! Clink! Clink!" The sound of countless tiny blades echoed across the field, followed by a scream.
"Ahhhhh!"
As the dust settled, the crowd leaned forward, holding their breath. The defeated cultivator lay unconscious in the center of the battlefield, his robes torn and his sword broken.
A loud voice resonated throughout the arena. "The winner is Du Tian!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
"Senior Brother Tian is amazing!"
"As expected of him—unmatched!"
Compliments and shouts of admiration filled the air, a testament to Du Tian's growing fame within the Blossoming Sword Sect.
Du Tian stood tall amidst the praise, his sword dissolving into spiritual light as he sheathed his aura. His face was calm, but his heart brimmed with pride. Today, he had won the sect's inner competition—a feat that earned him the coveted title of core disciple.
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But as he soaked in the moment, a woman's voice rang clearly in his mind, soft yet commanding.
"Come to the Grand Blossoming Mother Tree."
Du Tian stiffened, confusion crossing his features. The Grand Blossoming Mother Tree was a sacred area, strictly forbidden to all but the highest-ranking members of the sect. Why was he being summoned there?
Ignoring his curiosity, he quickly left the arena, navigating the sect's lush gardens and intricate pathways until he reached the sacred grounds. Towering above him was the Grand Blossoming Mother Tree, its trunk vast and ancient, its branches stretching endlessly toward the heavens.
Standing beneath its massive canopy was a middle-aged woman in elegant robes, her presence exuding authority. Her eyes carried a sharp brilliance, and her aura felt like an impenetrable wall.
"You must be Du Tian," she said, her voice steady and resonant. "I am Lan Da Ning, Grand Elder of the Blossoming Sword Sect. From this moment onward, you will be my personal disciple."
Du Tian froze, the weight of her words sinking in. The Grand Elder Lan Da Ning was a legendary figure—a prodigy of her generation. Stories of her achievements had been told and retold among the disciples, and her name carried a sense of awe and reverence. To be chosen as her personal disciple was an honor beyond measure.
"This is really happening!?" Du Tian thought to himself, still processing the enormity of the situation.
Lan Da Ning raised an eyebrow, her tone becoming sharp. "What are you waiting for? Bow to your master!"
Snapping out of his daze, Du Tian dropped to his knees and kowtowed respectfully. "Disciple Du Tian greets Master! I will not disappoint you."
Lan Da Ning's lips curled into a faint smile. "Good. From now on, your path will be far more challenging"
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A Ten Thousand Years Later
Under a dense canopy of ancient trees, the sound of clashing weapons echoed through a hidden battlefield. Two cultivators faced off with fierce determination. One, clad in a light pink robe, wielded a thunder-imbued sword that hummed with power. The other, dressed in a black robe with golden embroidery, brandished a menacing yellow spear, his strikes swift and deadly.
The pink-robed cultivator, Wei Beipan, staggered backward, his sword trembling under the relentless assault. Blood trickled from a wound on his shoulder, and his breathing grew ragged. The black-robed attacker smirked, sensing victory, and raised his spear for the final blow.
But just as the spear descended, a flash of light streaked through the air. A wooden sword, simple yet radiating immense power, pierced the black-robed man’s back with unerring precision.
“W-what?!” the man gasped, his face twisting in disbelief as he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
Wei Beipan, still clutching his injured side, looked up to see Du Tian descending from the sky. His senior brother’s light pink robe fluttered in the breeze, and his expression was calm but commanding.
“Thank you, Senior Brother Tian!” Wei Beipan exclaimed, bowing deeply despite his injuries. “If not for you, I would already be dead.”
Du Tian waved off the gratitude with a faint smile. “How could I let my junior perish in this secret realm? If something happened to you, Master would surely scold me.”
Wei Beipan lowered his head, guilt flashing across his face. “I’m sorry, Senior Brother. It was my carelessness that put me in danger. We should leave before other cultivators arrive.”
Du Tian nodded. “Follow me. I’ve located an ancient treasure trove nearby. If we’re swift, we can claim something worthwhile before the realm closes.”
Wei Beipan’s eyes lit up with hope, and the two cultivators quickly made their way deeper into the secret realm.
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The treasure trove was a sight to behold—a hidden chamber filled with glowing artifacts, sparkling gemstones, and ancient scrolls. The air buzzed with the lingering energy of the immortal who had once resided there.
Du Tian and Wei Beipan worked together to collect the most valuable items, their movements quick and efficient. By the time they exited the realm, their spatial rings were filled to the brim with treasures.
Returning to the sect in triumph, they immediately sought out their master, Lan Da Ning, to report their findings. In the grand hall beneath the towering Grand Blossoming Mother Tree, the two knelt respectfully before her.
Lan Da Ning’s gaze swept over her two disciples, her expression unreadable. “Tian’er, Pan’er, it is good to see you both have advanced to the Dao Threshold Realm. The future of our sect looks brighter with your growth.”
She paused, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. “I have something of great importance to share with you, and you must swear to keep this a secret. Only the sect master and you two will know.”
Du Tian and Wei Beipan exchanged a glance before bowing deeply. “We swear, Master.”
Lan Da Ning’s face softened. “Within the next hundred years, I will attempt to break through and become the first True Immortal of the Blossoming Sword Sect. During this time, I will undergo my retreat in the forbidden area beneath the Grand Blossoming Mother Tree. I will require both of you to guard the area. Do not let anyone approach under any circumstances.”
Du Tian’s heart swelled with pride at being entrusted with such a critical task. “We will not fail you, Master.”
Wei Beipan, however, kept his head lowered, his expression hidden. As he echoed Du Tian’s words, “We will guard it with our lives,” a flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes.