The skies above Wu Lin village were painted in a soft, ethereal glow as Ming Ling soared through the clouds, riding on the back of his majestic crystalline eagle. The beast, with its shimmering white feathers and wings that refracted light like a million tiny diamonds, cut through the sky with blinding speed. It was a Moon-Ranked beast, known for its mastery over light and its unparalleled swiftness. The sun reflected off the eagle's wings, casting radiant beams across the sky, painting the horizon in hues of gold and silver.
Ming Ling sat upright, his posture regal, his eyes focused on the distant village below. Wu Lin village—a place so insignificant it had barely made it onto any maps in the past century. Yet here he was, on orders to investigate something that seemed utterly impossible. His crystalline eagle let out a soft screech as they began their descent toward the village, its wings creating shimmering arcs of light as it cut through the air.
"Wu Lin village," Ming Ling muttered to himself, his voice filled with disbelief as he peered down at the quiet settlement nestled between the mountains and forests. It looked as mundane as any other forgotten village, its wooden huts scattered like leaves blown by the wind. Yet, somewhere down there was supposedly a Sun-Ranked individual, a person of incredible potential.
The thought gnawed at him. How could a Sun-Ranked being—a rarity even in the grandest cities—appear in such a place? It didn't make sense. Ming Ling's brow furrowed in frustration as his eagle soared lower, preparing for a landing.
Meanwhile, in the modest wooden cabin on the mountainside, Yang Feng stood frozen in place, his mind spinning. His father's reaction had caught him completely off guard. Bai Feng's voice had been filled with shock when he dropped his jug of wine, the liquid spilling across the floor and filling the air with the pungent scent of alcohol.
The silence between them was thick, heavy like a storm cloud hanging above. Yang Feng remained still, unsure of what to say or do. His father's pale face was now drained of all color, his usual carefree demeanor replaced with something far more serious, almost fearful.
"What did you say?" Bai Feng's voice was barely more than a whisper, his eyes wide in disbelief. "You refused to join the spiritual academy?"
Yang Feng swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his father's stare. Before he could answer, Bai Feng's eyes narrowed with a sudden, desperate intensity. "What...what is your spiritual beast?" Bai Feng asked, his voice trembling slightly, as though dreading the answer.
Yang Feng blinked, feeling a sudden sense of unease as he replied, "It's...a wolf."
Bai Feng's face went white, his expression one of pure shock. "Impossible," he muttered under his breath. And then, in the blink of an eye, he was no longer seated. He moved with a speed Yang Feng had never seen before, appearing right in front of him in an instant.
The air around them seemed to thicken, charged with a sudden tension as Bai Feng knelt down in front of his son. His rough, calloused hands gripped Yang Feng's shoulders tightly, his eyes wide and searching.
"Say it again," Bai Feng demanded, his voice shaking as he stared into Yang Feng's eyes. "What did you say your spiritual beast was?"
Yang Feng felt his throat tighten. He had never seen his father like this before, never seen him so...afraid. With a nervous swallow, Yang Feng repeated softly, "My spiritual beast is a wolf."
The words hung in the air like a hammer strike. Bai Feng's eyes widened even further, and without warning, tears welled up and began to stream down his face. He pulled Yang Feng into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around his son with such force that Yang Feng could barely breathe.
"That's my son," Bai Feng whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You've pulled through...even when the odds were against you."
Yang Feng's mind raced, his breath growing shallow as his father squeezed him tightly, nearly crushing him in the process. "F-Father...I can't...breathe," he managed to choke out.
Realizing what he was doing, Bai Feng loosened his grip and pulled back, wiping the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. He took a deep breath, his face a mixture of pride, fear, and something else—something Yang Feng couldn't quite place.
Bai Feng stood up and took a step back, his expression serious as he looked down at Yang Feng. "Listen to me, Yang Feng," he said, his voice firm now. "You have to follow your own path, do you hear me?"
Yang Feng stared at his father, feeling a strange mix of emotions bubbling up inside him. He had never expected this reaction. Not from the man who had always seemed indifferent to everything, who had cared more for his drink than anything else. But now, here he was, looking at Yang Feng with an intensity he had never seen before.
"The spiritual academy," Bai Feng continued, "it will help you. It will help you grow, and learn, and become stronger. You have to go, Yang Feng. You have to live your life there, become a spiritual master. That is your destiny, my son."
Yang Feng opened his mouth to protest, but the words wouldn't come. He wanted to tell his father that he didn't need the academy, that he didn't care about becoming a spiritual master. But something about Bai Feng's tone, the sheer urgency in his voice, made him hesitate.
"But...," Yang Feng stammered, trying to find the right words.
Bai Feng raised a hand, cutting him off. "Don't worry about me," he said firmly. "You've already done more for me than I could ever ask. This is your time now. You need to find your purpose, your true purpose."
Yang Feng felt a wave of confusion wash over him. His purpose? What was his purpose? He had been reborn into this world with no clear direction, no idea of what he was supposed to do. His memories of his past life were fragmented, his knowledge of the spiritual world incomplete. What could his father possibly mean?
Seeing the turmoil in his son's eyes, Bai Feng softened his gaze and placed a hand on Yang Feng's shoulder once more, though this time his grip was gentle. "You're destined for greatness, Yang Feng," he said quietly. "I've known it from the moment you were born. You have a strength inside you that you don't even understand yet. The academy will help you discover that. It will help you find your true path."
Yang Feng stood there, speechless. His mind was racing, his thoughts a tangled mess of questions and doubts. He had never heard his father speak like this before—never heard him talk about destiny, or strength, or purpose.
For a moment, Yang Feng wondered if this was all some strange dream. If perhaps he would wake up any moment and find himself back on that cliff, alone in his thoughts. But the warmth of his father's hand on his shoulder told him otherwise. This was real. And his father...his father believed in him.
Yang Feng's chest tightened as he looked into Bai Feng's eyes, seeing a glimmer of something that had been hidden away for so long. Something that had been buried beneath the layers of drunkenness and apathy. It was pride. Pure, unadulterated pride.
As Yang Feng stood there, his mind reeled with thoughts of his future. The academy...his purpose...his spiritual beast. What did it all mean? And more importantly, what was he meant to do now?
"Go," Bai Feng said softly, his voice breaking through Yang Feng's thoughts. "Find your purpose, my son."
Yang Feng looked at his father one last time, his heart heavy with unspoken words. Then, slowly, he nodded.
What did it mean? What was this new side to bai feng and what did he imply by destiny? Yang feng stood there falling to the void of questions with each unfolding event. What was to come now.