Lian walked through the narrow, dilapidated streets of the Fallen Star District. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the buildings around him were crumbling, much like the spirits of the people who lived here. His steps were deliberate, though his mind raced with conflicting emotions.
His power surged within him, yet it wasn't enough to erase the emptiness he felt. His sister Elena… his family. All gone. The world had changed, and he had changed with it, but there were some things that remained unhealed.
I couldn't save her, Lian thought, a heavy weight in his heart. I couldn't even say goodbye.
But even with the power to turn back time, to rewrite history itself, Lian knew there were some things he couldn't undo. His sister's death had been a result of a larger, unavoidable fate—one Lian had been powerless to change. He could travel through time, see the past, even alter events, but he had made a choice. He would not bring Elena back.
She deserved peace. She had suffered enough.
His eyes hardened with determination. If nothing else, he would make sure Iris, Elena's daughter, would not have to suffer the same fate.
---
The small hut where Iris lived was a far cry from the place of her potential. The walls were thin, and a damp chill clung to the air. Lian could feel the faint pulse of his bloodline in this place, but it was weak—like a dying ember in the wind.
The girl was small, no older than 14. Her body was frail, her face pale, and her clothes barely enough to protect her from the cold. She had been abandoned—left to rot in a world that had no place for her. The sect had discarded her, just as they had discarded her mother.
But Iris was his bloodline. And Lian would not allow her to fade into the shadows.
He knocked on the door, and after a few moments, it creaked open. Iris stood there, her eyes cautious, wary of any strangers.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Lian felt a pang in his chest. Despite the girl's strength, there was a sadness in her eyes that spoke of years of neglect. "I'm Lian. Your uncle."
Iris blinked, confusion flashing in her eyes before recognition slowly crept in. Her lips parted, but no words came out. She was silent for a long moment before finally saying, "Uncle?"
Lian nodded, his voice soft but firm. "Yes. I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere."
Her expression shifted, and for the first time in years, she seemed to relax. Her guard fell just a little, and tears welled up in her eyes. "You're… you're really here?"
"I am." Lian's voice was gentle, but there was an unshakable resolve in it. He crouched down, meeting her gaze. "I'm sorry for what happened to your parents. I couldn't save them. But I'm here for you now."
Iris's voice cracked as she whispered, "I don't have anyone left."
Lian's heart twisted. Her innocence, her hope—it's all been stolen by this cruel world.
"No," he said softly, "You still have me."
He reached out and gently placed his hand on her head, feeling the faint pulse of her bloodline beneath his fingers. His own power surged, recognizing the dormant potential within her, buried under layers of despair.
---
After bringing Iris inside, Lian sat across from her. His mind raced as he thought about her future—about the potential he saw in her. She was his bloodline, the last of his family.
"I know you're confused," Lian said, watching her closely. "I have the power to change many things. To reshape this world. And now, I'll help you shape your future."
Iris stared at him, unsure of what to make of his words. "I don't understand. I have no talent for cultivation. The sect said my dantian is crippled. There's nothing left for me."
Lian shook his head, a small smile playing at the edges of his lips. "You're wrong. Your dantian is damaged, yes, but not beyond repair. You may not know it, but you carry my bloodline. You have a potential that far exceeds anything this world has seen."
Her eyes widened. "What do you mean? How can I possibly be talented?"
Lian stood, and with a flick of his hand, a small surge of energy filled the room. It was a trickle at first, but it grew into a powerful current—pure, untainted energy that swirled around them.
"This is the energy of the world," Lian said. "And with my help, you will be able to cultivate it. You'll break through your limitations, and your true potential will awaken."
"I-I don't know if I can…" Iris stammered, her eyes wide in disbelief.
Lian knelt beside her, his voice soft but filled with unshakable conviction. "You can." He placed his hand gently on her forehead, and she felt the warmth of his power seep into her. "I will rebuild your dantian. You will cultivate faster than anyone else, and you will become strong. Not just for yourself, but for your parents, for your bloodline… and for revenge."
Iris flinched at the word, but Lian's gaze was steady, unrelenting.
"Your parents died in the hands of those who sought to control their power. I will make sure you are strong enough to bring them justice."
She looked up at him, and for the first time, hope flickered in her eyes.
"I'll help you. We'll do this together," Lian promised, his voice a vow.
---
Lian sat in meditation as the energy within him flowed smoothly, guiding Iris as she sat cross-legged beside him. He gently channeled his power into her, watching her dantian slowly begin to reform, regaining its lost strength.
As Iris's body began to glow with the faintest hint of spirit energy, Lian smiled. The path to her cultivation had begun, and with it, her transformation would take place.
"From this moment forward," he whispered to her, "your bloodline will awaken. And you will become the strongest version of yourself. I'll be with you every step of the way."
---
To be continued…