The Invincible Body, as it is aptly named, stands among the most formidable and singular abilities one can possess. And Su Xiaobai, marked by fate, now bears this power, in the form of his Innate Ability!
Yet, it was this very Invincible Body that sowed the seeds of his life's greatest challenges. Unlike others who must touch the Immortal Tianlong Spirit to awaken their abilities, Su Xiaobai's powers stirred to life mere years after his birth.
The Immortal Body grants him invulnerability to all manners of energy and attacks, a shield against the conceivable and inconceivable. However, this impenetrable defense is tethered to time, its duration expanding in harmony with his cultivation journey.
But therein lies the crux of Su Xiaobai's plight: Cultivation.
A cultivator's talent is measurable within the revered halls of the Institute of Science, where the Dao Stone resides, flanked by seven resplendent pillars. Each pillar ignited represents a step closer to unparalleled mastery.
In Su Xiaobai's lineage, prodigious talent is a family heirloom. His father, mother, and sisters, all shone brilliantly, igniting all seven pillars with ease, a testament to their destined greatness. Such luminaries are invariably destined for the echelons of S-Ranked Guardians.
The Guardians, the bastion of humanity's defense, are stratified from the nascent D-Rank to the apex, the S-Rank.
But Su Xiaobai, in a twist of cruel irony, could only ignite a single pillar. His aptitude for Cultivation was virtually non-existent. Even now, his cultivation level mirrors that of a mere child, ten years of age.
The Invincible Body, which promised unparalleled might, languished into a dormant relic within him, constrained to a fleeting second of use in his current state.
When Su Xiaobai was contemplating about the curse of the Invincible body, a soft voice from behind him called out.
"Xiao Bai..."
Turning around, he found his mother, Eternal Su, standing with the poise of a seasoned warrior.
Her ethereal beauty was accentuated by her long, silver-white hair that cascaded down like a silken waterfall, bound partially atop her head in an intricate arrangement of braids and jewels that signified her lofty status. Her eyes, a piercing crimson, seemed to hold the depth of their lineage's history and a gentle warmth reserved only for him.
She was clad in an elegant yet formidable attire that hinted at her prowess and her A-Ranked Star Guardian status.
The ornate, dark-hued bodysuit adorned with silver filigree moved like a second skin, showcasing her formidable strength and the agility that she was renowned for in the Guardian circles.
With a stature that spoke volumes of her swift ascend to the intermediate stage of the Void Initiation realm, she stood as an evidence to her unparalleled talent and determination, having reached such heights in less than three hundred years—a feat that left many in silent awe.
"Xiao Bai, lost in thoughts again?" Eternal Su's voice echoed softly in the silent chamber, a melodic contrast to the hidden strength underneath—a testament to her status as a nurturing mother and a revered Guardian.
Su Xiaobai turned, his gaze drifting over the familiar symbol of strength and grace that his mother embodied.
A chuckle escaped him, dispelling the solemn air. "I was just taking a pee," he said with a nonchalance that clashed amusingly with the gravity of his mother's presence.
Eternal Su raised an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth twitching in a rare amusement. "A warrior must always be aware of his surroundings, even in such... vulnerable moments," she teased, her tone light yet reminding him of the many lessons where vigilance was as crucial as strength.
Su Xiaobai shrugged, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the ornate garden, dappling his face with light and shadow. "If they want to come and disturb me during my sweet moments, let them come, my dear mother. I have also learned the art of sacred dao!" He announced, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Eternal Su, his mother, looked at him, her confusion evident in her furrowed brow. "Huh?" she uttered, the perplexity clear in her voice.
With a wide, cheeky grin, Su Xiaobai took a graceful step to the side, revealing a beautifully carved edge of the stonny cliff.
He beckoned her forward with a flourish of his hand, inviting her to witness his latest creation. "Come and see for yourself, mother."
Eternal Su, albeit still confused, complied. Her steps were light, almost dancing across the cobblestone path, her silken dress whispering with each movement.
As the realization of his mischievousness dawned on her, her lips twitched, fighting back a smile.
Finally, she surrendered to her amusement, a subtle smile playing on her lips. Gently, she placed her hands over his head. "You clever child. When will you ever stop with your antics?" she asked, her voice filled with both exasperation and affection.
Su Xiaobai knitted his brows, trying to duck away playfully. "Not my hairs, at least," he protested. However, his words seemed to have zero effect on this seemingly obsessed woman.
'Sigh, she is at it again...' Su Xiaobai muttered to himself in resignation. His mother, one of the top beauty figures in their realm, always seemed to dote on him a bit too much.
In front of him, her usual poise was replaced with a mother's tender care.
The reason, as apparent as the bright moon on a clear night, was his lack of strength.
It made her devote most of her time to him, training, teaching, and now, fussing over his hair.
In these moments, she saw not the fearsome, revered figure that others saw, but simply his mother – caring, loving, and perhaps, a little too overprotective.
Once she had her share of him, Eternal Su's eyes, still glimmering with a mother's warmth, shifted back to their usual sharp, discerning gaze. "Xiao Bai, as we decided earlier, today we must visit the Institute of Science and test the Tianlong Spirit! It's our golden opportunity, especially since we can do so without alerting anyone in the city," she suddenly spoke, her tone shifting to one that was sharp and serious.
Su Xiaobai, taken aback by the sudden change in topic, nodded in agreement. "Let's go then," he said, his voice tinged with a mix of anticipation and unease.
He reached out, taking her soft hands in his. In a synchronized motion, both lifted slightly off the ground, their feet hovering just above the dew-covered grass.
Whoosh!
In the next moment, their bodies soared through the air, flying towards the direction of Wuxia Province. The world below them blurred into a mix of grey and browns as they sped over the landscape.
Nestled within the protective embrace of the Heaven's Shield lay Wuxia Province, a bastion of knowledge and power.
However, Su Xiaobai and his family resided outside this shield, their villa perched atop the rugged, storm-lashed peaks of the Stormpeak Mountains.
Despite being close to the actual city, their home was a place of danger, lying outside the walls.
It was here that Su Xiaobai was exiled, a place both of beauty and danger.
This incident, his exile, was shrouded in mystery and doubt.
It had nothing to do with him... or maybe it did. He wasn't entirely sure.
His gaze lingered on Eternal Su's face, the woman who, despite her sensibility, was capable of taking the life of her own husband.
The thought was incomprehensible, a riddle wrapped in a mystery.