Within the framework of the world, there is Qi, it can be described as a life force that bonds everything together.
In ancient times when beasts ran rampant across the land and sky, and titans walked the earth, humanity were at their wits end. Looked down upon by the beasts and titans as a weak and pathetic species, the humans were enslaved and killed by the billions.
Humanity that was on the verge of extinction discovered Qi by chance. A human who had just buried thousands of his brethren, fell to his knees and began to pray to the heavens in despair. As he was praying he looked up to see motes of light dispersing into the firmament. Struck by this sight, the man continued to study and sense these motes of light in his surroundings. Years later he managed to harness this life energy and became the very first cultivator.
With his newfound power, he rounded up his fellow humans and began to share his experiences with them. Knowing they needed to keep secrecy, they formed an underground alliance with as many as 10 thousand like-minded heroes and called it The Human Alliance. They created techniques and martial arts to absorb Qi into their bodies in the hopes of eventually reversing their fate.
Generations past and these heroes had long continued to refine their techniques. What started out as clumsy and debilitating, turned into sharp and powerful. After a thousands of years of torment and humiliation, humanity began their rise against the tyranny of the titans.
10 thousand people had turned into 10 million, the weak had metamorphosed into strong as the Human Alliance finally took its stand for their survival.
After a gruelling war that spanned 500 years, the beasts and titans were forced to leave this world. Although victorious, the cultivators who once numbered 10 million were left with fewer than 100.
Humanity celebrated their pyrrhic victory and freedom from oppression, albeit with a bitter taste in their mouths as they thought about the sacrifice of The Human Alliance. The survivors all agreed that the cultivators would hold great esteem in any of their future kingdoms and be hailed as the saviours of humanity henceforth.
With the annihilation of the Human Alliance, the cultivation techniques that were developed and shared were all but lost, only to be passed on by those who were left. However, majority of the survivors from the Alliance were lacking in strength and were only capable of replicating the simplest of Qi techniques.
There were 10 exceptional cultivators who remained from the 100 survivors. Heartbroken from the loss of their brothers in the war, they decided to go their separate ways and create their own powers throughout the continent and safeguard the world from a potential return of the beasts and titans.
"That was 2 thousand years ago" with a solemn face, Grandpa Yin finished his story.
Michael and Jason were both so engrossed in the story that they hadn't realised Grandpa Yin had stopped talking. Sparkles could be seen in both their eyes as they both revelled in the tale.
"Wow! The Human Alliance, how cool!" Jason exclaimed with an excited expression.
"How inspiring, fighting for survival" Michael added. He could feel something inside him resonating with this epic tale.
Grandpa Yin nodded "Now that you know the history of cultivation, it's time to start your own path" the old man's expression was still serious.
"Do you two have a cultivation technique?"
Jason shook his head dejectedly while Michael hesitated "It should be okay right?" he asked himself.
"I have a technique Grandpa Yin" Michael pulled out his Qi technique book that his father had given him and handed it over.
Grandpa Yin looked at the cover of the book which read "Qi Technique" in shoddy handwriting. He slowly opened the book and a frown formed on his brows instantly.
"Is everything okay Grandpa Yin?" Michael asked nervously.
Closing the book, he looked up at Michael with a serious expression. "Destroy this book" he said gravely and threw it back to Michael.
"Huh?" Michael was surprised and caught the book. He slowly opened it up to see what was wrong, upon opening it he saw… "Nothing?"
"What the f***?" he cursed.
"That technique should have already been imprinted in your mind" Grandpa Yin suddenly held out a palm and incinerated the book in Michaels hand.
Michael jumped in fright at the sudden burning sun on his hand and cried out in shock.
"W…what do you mean?" he stuttered.
"Tell no one about this" He locked eyes with Jason who was standing mouth agape and a scary look formed on his face.
Power began coalescing toward Grandpa Yin as he said, "Can you be trusted?".
Jason was terrified by the sudden change in Grandpa Yin's demeanour, he almost dropped to his knees as he felt a horrifying force beginning to be formed.
Michael jumped in front of Jason and spread his arms apart, protecting Jason. "Grandpa Yin, Jason is my childhood friend, he's like a brother to me. I can trust him". He could feel cold sweat dripping down his back, but he was resolute.
Grandpa Yin retracted his power, and a smile began to form on his face again. "Very good" he said, clearly pleased with Michael's decisiveness.
"If you're both going to trust each other, let me be witness to your ceremony"
"Ceremony?" Jason and Michael both looked at each other in confusion.
Without answering, Grandpa Yin left the room and left the two boys scratching their heads. Not long after, he came back with a bottle of wine and 2 ornate porcelain cups.
The old man moved toward the table and placed the wine and cups down "Sit down you two, we're about to complete a sworn brother ceremony. I will be your witness" he finished with a smile.
Jason and Michael looked at each other once again, however this time, instead of confusion their eyes were filled with resolution. They were already close and trusted each other, this would be the next step.
Michael smiled with a tinge of sadness in his eyes "I always thought we would be brothers Jason. Just not like this".
Jason felt his sadness and whispered "Rosa… your brother will now be my sworn brother".
Snapping out of his reverie, Michael walked over and sat down at one end of the table and Jason soon followed suit. Grandpa Yin gently poured the clear wine into each cup and sat down.
"Place a drop of your blood into your wine cup" Grandpa Yin instructed.
Michael wielded his knife and created a nick in his finger as he allowed his blood to drop into the wine cup in front of him. The blood dropped to the bottom and began to swirl in the cup, turning the once clear wine into a pink aromatic one. Handing the knife over to Jason, he did the same.
Grandpa Yin collected Michael's cup and mumbled a few words under his breath as he passed it to Jason, he then repeated his action with Jason's cup.
"Repeat these words young men. May the heavens bear witness to my oath, this man will become my brother. I shall never willingly betray nor hurt my brother in this life, or mine shall be forfeit"
The 2 boys held up their cups and repeated the words while looking at each other seriously
"Let the heavens be on notice, these two men have sworn an oath to become brothers". Grandpa Yin stood up and gestured to each of them with his hands.
Jason and Michael both lifted their cups to their mouths and drank the contents willingly.
"With the exchanging of cups, the heavens have witnessed your oath. Should you not abide by this oath you will be cursed for eternity and looked down upon by the heavens" Grandpa Yin said seriously.
Michael put down his cup in emphatic fashion, he then got up from his seat and held out his hand toward his newly sworn brother.
"Welcome Brother" he said with a big grin on his face.
Jason took his hand and said with an equally big grin "Well met, Brother".