"A shadow does not have depth, yet it is still considered a 2nd dimensional object in a 3rd dimensional world, odd isn't it? It is described as something that covers another object with an infinitely thin sheet yet it is not really a physical object, it is not a result of atoms laying over another object that we simply can't see, nor is it dark matter or some other energy. A shadow is simply the result of a 'lack of' light, light being matter or energy giving both length and height to a shadow. We can feel light due to the energy it radiates as heat and we can feel shadows due to the lack of this light to provide that heat, so how is it we have removed the shadow from this chair? The chair is still here, is has all of its normal mass and light interacts the same, it just has no shadow. This is the privilege of cultivation, we break the rules of the universe and as such the universe tries to 'correct' these flaws, generally from a build up of energy that should otherwise not be there"
- Teacher Veya ~ Late stage golden core
Belial Truss, Dark brown of hair, silver green eyes.
Born during the fall of the Vast tree realm, he caused a mirage to appear in his surroundings depicting the flow of time across the realm, at 3 months he could crawl, at 4 months he could stand, at 6 months he could run and talk, when he reached his first year he convinced his family to change their cultivation methods one by one causing mayhem to spread within his family, those who's dao were to weak fell into devilism or qi divination.
At age 2 he had already rewritten his families entire collection of cultivator methods, refining of all sorts, general knowledge of plants and beast, by the end of the year he had updated, improved and added more information than his family could even imagine.
At age 3 he set up an array to gather spiritual energy so subtlety that it could evade the best detection methods of the Bell family, using this extra energy his family was able to cultivate their young faster than others quickly gaining the momentum needed to become a great family.
At age 5 he was the first among his peers to enter the foundation establishment stage in 3/4 required categories for cultivators namely the mind, body and spirit Qi only his soul remained lacking.
At age 10 he dominated over his peers ranking #4 out of 1246 heavenly chosen and 4000~ish 'normal' cultivators of the new generation, only those in the top 100 could dream of challenging him.
At age 40 he reached the late stage of nascent soul was a general in the 5 family union and his family had taken the 8th spot in the family rankings.
At age 100 he...
None of it mattered.
Time had been reset.
All of his accomplishments were null.
This time around he would do even better, this time he would aim for 1st place among his peers, this time... this time.
Did it matter?
Why had time reset?
Could he stop it? was he powerful enough? could he get powerful enough?
He couldn't.
He himself cultivated the dao of time a genius of an eon whom few could ever hope to rival and even then the best he could do was preserve his memory for his past self.
He could pass Qi convergence and reach the foundation establishment stage quicker, he could reach golden core, nascent soul maybe even Deity transformation within 50 years but it wouldn't be enough.
He knew it wouldn't be enough.
Someone whom was powerful enough to reset time on such a scale, only an old monster could do such a thing he wasn't ready to face such a being.
This time he would grow a little slow to get a better foundation, this time he would wait, this time he must plan in case it happens again, and if it does he must at least get a general idea of the cause.
He had already improved on everything he did befor age 5 besides for attaining his foundation and now he had to take it slow, but not too slow and he must not deviate much from the past until the last moments unless he changes something unbeknownst to him.
He wrote nothing down in case someone finds the record, even if he uses some unknown or made up language, which cultivator wouldn't be able to decipher it eventually? It's been done millions of times befor with ancient scriptures and codes why wouldn't they be able to crack his code eventually?
He would take no chances.
He repeated the information in his head thousands of times for a week until he memorized it, he didn't think anyone would read his mind with a soul searching spell after all it didn't happen befor and if he does not change the route of the past much it shouldn't happen now.
Although his family may have a bigger role this time, and his allies may he stronger of even change slightly, he would try his best to keep things relatively the same.
~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oliver Spindle, Olive hair, green eyes.
Born two years befor the fall of the Vast tree realm, when he was born there was no shock, no awe, the heavens did not change upon his arrival only the spiritual energy surged around him the sign of a talent being born, he learned to crawl at 8 months, he started to walk in about 1 year and a half, he started to learn to talk during the same time.
When he was two he was an active baby but not out of the ordinary, when he turned three it was the same no new shocking developments after the Universal gift was given to all in the vast tree realm, at four he finally showed the general signs of a cultivator but nothing unusual, at five he tested his spiritual root and body with nothing out of the ordinary to show, he was a talent but not of the new generation.
Rank 4 earth+wind spiritual roots quite good but not for the generation, physique average, healthy no underlying issues.
When he turned 12 he did not rule over a generation, he survived.
He did not push his family to new heights but his younger sister did, he did not develope new cultivation methods did not push the limits of what could be from what was he could hardly be considered important even as the future heir of the family.
At 20 he broke into peak foundation establishment in the 3 basic requirements of the mind, body and spiritual Qi, this was already considered exceptional even over preforming... or it would have been under normal circumstances.
As for the soul only the affluent dabbled in that or those with heavenly luck, otherwise he simply had to bide time for his soul to strengthen on its own as he cultivates.
By the end of it all, out of 1,567 heavenly geniuses only around 1,200~ survived he didn't know exactly, and out of 52,049 'normal' cultivators only 5384 survived till the end, himself counted.
A survival rate of around 10% for the 'normal cultivators'.
He was lucky.
No, he fought for every opportunity he could at every moment he could and he lived without shame... so he thought at least.
He felt suffocated at every moment, alone over time, and guilty for having lived.
He couldn't hold his head high as a proud son of heaven, his allies were at best mediocre and even his prospect dao companion could only be considered 'the best that you can do', and still he felt guilt for having been one of the few who survived when all his friends died and even his sister whom the hopes of the family relied never got to shine.
She was not a heavenly chosen but she was more talented then him either way, a genius amongst geniuses trying to compete with monsters.
Now he is once more re-living the nightmare of his younger years.
All the pain, struggle and loss he had gone through would it repeat?
No.
He was not going to sit back and let it happen the same way once more.
He may not be as talented as others, and even if he knows certain events of the future, he knows he would be unable to capitalize on everything, he can't be number one amongst the new generation, he couldn't even be number one in the 'normal' category befor.
Did this mean he had no way to push forward for a better result?
No.
He knew what he needed to do, he knew what mistakes to avoid, he knew which events could be useful to him, he knew what he could do and what he couldn't.
This time he would break into Golden core befor 20, he was certain and if all goes well he may even enter Nascent soul befor 150 years pass.
He couldn't be reckless but he couldn't be ultra careful either, he needed to be proactive enough so that he is constantly moving forward but careful enough not to draw to much attention.
He didn't know why he had come back to this time, but he knew that even tho it was full of hardship it was also an opportunity.
He made a list, a list that held all the knowledge he could remember, he sorted it into events, topics, cultivation knowledge, opportunities, danger zones, and people of notice to avoid or interact with.
He kept this list on himself at all times and regularly looked into it, his cultivation had reverted back to what it once was after all, his mind was not clear or of perfect memory, to many mistakes could be made mistakes he couldn't afford to make.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sidra Azure Eden, brown hair, dark eyes.
Born during the destruction of the Vast tree realm, the stars shine high in the sky, the music of heaven sounded and an angelic babys cry brought peace to its surrounding, it was a joyous occasion that would bring a family to the forefront in any era.
At least it would have been, but her twin brother had been born first and received the attention of all befor him, her father only made a passing acknowledgement of her birth befor bringing his attention back toward her brother, her own mother choose to hold her brother rather then pay attention to her newest child.
At 2 months she could crawl, at 3 walk, at 4 talk and at 5 months she could run truly an over achiever.
She excelled at everything she attempted overshadowing her brother by a large margin, yet she was always pushed aside while her brother was praised for existing.
When she turned one the sky was filled with stars, her entire room filled with a vast amount of spiritual energy transforming into a crown that shined with silver and blue as if the sky itself was held within, no one took notice.
When she turned two a robe of stars was draped on her shoulders, at three a pair of earrings appeared.
By the time she turned 8 a full outfit made of stars that grew alongside her lay in a storage space, she did not wear it out of fear of reprisal from her family.
"A woman should not stand out" her mother said.
By the time she turned 10 she could be considered one of the top 100 prodigies within the five family union, she thought her hard work would draw praise from her family, take note of her, that they would love her at long last.
Her family was angered.
She had overshadowed her brother in public, her brother whom was the future heir of the family, her brother who will lead the family to a bright future.
She was a female in a patriarchal family, she should not act beyond her place.
She was born as an accompaniment to her brother nothing more.
When she shines he had to shine brighter, when he fails she must fail with him, when he is in the public eye she must be a shadow.
If befor she lived in relative peace due to negligence, now her family was actively part of her life but not in the way she wished.
By the time she turned 20 her family all actively suppressed her, she no longer tried to gain their acknowledgement instead trying to calm the flames around her.
She had no one to rely on, she had no where to go, she was stuck without the knowledge of what she should do.
She had been 'raised' on fairy tales of a prince charming coming to the aid of a damsel in distress and had firmly locked herself into that mindset.
At 20 she had become an astonishing beauty considered among the top 3 most beautiful in the FFUs history, she had entered golden core, her family was rising in power, her brother was rising in prestige everything was looking better.
At 50 she had received thousands of marriage offers yet the man she loved never gave her such an offer finding himself lacking at the time, so she gave up and pushed forward reaching the late stage of golden core, but soon her cultivation had stagnated unable to reach peak golden core after 14 years.
She had become distressed thinking she would be abandoned by her family.
Her brother had finally surpassed her, her family had created an inner demon that she could not shake slowing down her cultivation to a stop.
She had put too much value on family.
But where could she go?
They were trapped in an enclosed space, and while that space could be considered a realm of its own, she didn't really wish to split with her family.
Cultivation took a long time, a very long time, she did not want to do it all alone.
She still hoped for their approval their appreciation.
Her dao was based on companionship at the time, it was her most desired form of cultivation so she actively sought to build good relationships with those around her.
At age 100 she finally got her wish.
Although not with the man she loved, her family's approval and acknowledgement would be given.
Her family had arranged what could be considered the best marriage possible for their family.
The Azure family had forged an alliance with the Nordaine family, and with it a marriage between direct decedent's was proposed.
The Nordaine family was initially reluctant thinking it to be archaic but eventually relinquished their position after the Azure family quoted 'A new age a new way of life'.
And so, a marriage was held, a marriage was consummated, and six children born over the years.
Once more her cultivation increased, but now it rose exponentially.
She was happy, she was content, she had a family that cared for her, pushed her forward her full potential finally blooming.
Her husband promised her happiness, safety and love.
That should he ever make her unhappy he would be willing to destroy everything to start over again even if he loses her.
Whats the point of starting over if they aren't together she thought.
She had grown to care for this man, even willing to say she loved him.
He kept his promise. A cruel promise she saw now.
He killed her entire family, refined their bodies and souls into treasures and sold of the children into slavery - all for a promise he made in the past.
She was heartbroken, although her family never treated her well at the start they did slowly come to accept her and even made up for their past actions.
She ran away, ran away into the arms of another, her first love.
She eloped with him.
When it was over she had regret, somehow finding a way to blame herself for his actions and her own thereafter, she still loved her husband but she couldn't look at him now.
Unfortunately befor she had fully composed herself her mind was shaken.
A protective charm was broken.
Followed by 3 more consecutively.
The protection charms she had given to her children broke one by one.
She spared no time rushing back to her home not even bothering to fully dress herself shocking the man she laid with, but it was to late.
A smile she did not see appeared on his face.
Once she arrived home five dead bodies without heads lay on the floor, with the final one in the hands of her husband.
"What a shity little trick he played, he said he would one day make me suffer a loss that I couldn't accept and I must admit he did it" his back towards her he spoke as if she was not present.
A sound of bone breaking sounded, her last childs body dropping to the ground.
Her family was killed, her children lay dead, all at his hands and he can't even look at her.
Despicable.
She attacked with all her fury, she fought him without the intention to living past this day.
She was not strong enough.
As if looking at a rabid dog, he crippled her.
Had he always been this strong?
He turned towards her one last time, there were no tears in his eyes no sorrow not a shadow of remorse.
"I once promised you befor, should I ever make you unhappy I would destroy everything and start again. Today I will keep that promise"
Time stopped.
"I will sacrifice my present self and my future self to allow you to go back, back to a time befor we ever meet, befor you ever suffered, befor. I'm... I'm sorry" Finally a trace of emotion on his face, shame.
"Bastard, you dare show me such a face!" she screamed one last time
"May you preserve your memories so we never meet again under such circumstances, should you desire to kill my past self I will warn you now I am far more cruel then than I am now"
Like a mirror cracking her mind and body along with all in existence collapsed onto itself.
All of the 'reality' around them reset, he could have killed her, he could have free'd her from her suffering, instead he choose to send her back to the worst years of her life.
It had been 5 years since then.
This time she no longer cared for her family's attention, she knew they did not love her now maybe ever so why waste time, eventually they would come crawling to her.
She had a new goal in this life.
"El... Elio Nordaine Black, you may not remember me in this life but I remember you..."
Her plan wasn't revenge there was no point to it, her family was alive, she was alive, her children... never existed.
She was a cultivator till the end she could not forget this, should she vow to take revenge her path may very well end, after all should she fail she would only end up in the same miserable state as befor or worse.
She would make him suffer, she would change her fate, she would no longer be naive to think in love conquering all.
No, conquest simply made more enemies.
She knew she couldn't change everything, her family would probably still try to marry her off to the best possible option, she needed to get stronger, far stronger.
Dao of companionship? garbage.
This time she had a new dao.
This time she won't chase around a foolish fantasy like a perfect family, those who achieve such a feat are not the norm but the outliers, especially in the cultivation world where a single treasure can have friends and family fight to the death with no remorse.
She knew what she needed to do, befor she outshined her brother without reason, but this time she would give her family a reason that they could accept without hindering her.
This time, this time he will bring up the marriage proposal and all his actions will be under her control.
She still loved him, once a dao companionship has been formed it lingers in the mind to the point of obsession and her mind had not been reset to zero, she needed time to cleanse herself to forget the past.
Her family? his family? her past lover?
All who get in her way will die!
She only needed to get him, she only needed power over him, once she does he will know true misery, everyone else was simply a side character in her story.
Truly the dao of love is the harshest to achieve.
The dao of rage on the other hand...