Li Feng had always believed in loyalty, kindness, and hard work. For as long as he could remember, he'd given his all—whether it was long hours at his job or the quiet devotion he'd shown to Mei Lin, his girlfriend of three years. Life wasn't easy in the bustling city, but he'd thought he was on the right track. They'd even spoken about marriage and what their future would look like.

But that future shattered in a single, heartbreaking moment.

As he entered the small café where they'd arranged to meet, a pit formed in his stomach at the sight before him. Mei Lin was with another man—someone he recognized, too: Zhang Wei, a wealthy second-generation heir from a prominent family. The way she looked at Zhang was filled with an affection Li Feng hadn't seen in a long time. It was as if she'd forgotten everything they'd shared.

For a few moments, he watched silently, his heart pounding. When she noticed him standing there, her expression shifted from shock to guilt and then to something worse: indifference.

"Li Feng," she said quietly, not even trying to hide her discomfort. "I… I didn't think you'd be here so soon."

"So soon?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "What's going on, Mei Lin?"

Zhang Wei only chuckled, looking at Li Feng with an air of arrogance. "It's simple, really. She chose someone who can actually give her a future."

Anger and sorrow mixed inside him, but he knew he couldn't force someone to stay if they didn't want to. Without a word, he turned and left, feeling like a stranger in his own life.

For days, Li Feng moved through his routines in a fog, haunted by memories that were now tainted. He was struggling, but he also knew he couldn't stay in the city, surrounded by places that reminded him of her and the life he'd lost. And so, he made a decision—to leave the city and return to his ancestral village. He hadn't been there in years, not since his parents had passed, but perhaps the quiet of the mountains would help him find some peace.

Early one morning, Li Feng boarded a crowded bus and began his journey. The landscape changed gradually, from the city's towering buildings to the rolling hills and valleys of his childhood. With each mile, his heart grew lighter, though he knew he was still searching for something he couldn't quite name.

It was nearing sunset when the bus came to a sudden halt on a narrow, winding road. The driver leaned out to assess the situation. "Looks like a fallen tree ahead," he muttered. "It'll take a while to clear this path."

With a sigh, Li Feng stepped out to stretch his legs. The air was cool and filled with the scent of pine and earth. As he wandered away from the bus, a faint rustling caught his attention. Turning, he saw an old man with a long, silvery beard standing a few meters away, dressed in flowing robes that looked out of place in this world.

"Young man, you seem burdened by sorrow," the old man spoke, his voice deep and oddly calming.

Li Feng blinked, uncertain. "Who… who are you?"

The old man smiled mysteriously. "One who has seen many paths and walked between worlds. I am called the Immortal Sage."

A soft laugh escaped Li Feng's lips; he couldn't help it. He didn't believe in legends or gods, and this seemed like something out of a story. But the old man's eyes held an intensity that silenced him. There was a timelessness there, a weight that made Li Feng shiver.

"Why would someone like you speak to someone like me?" Li Feng asked, half-curious, half-wary.

"Because I see potential in you, though it's buried beneath pain," the Immortal Sage said, stepping closer. "You have a fire inside you, young man, a drive that only a rare few possess. And yet, you are at a crossroads. You can walk away from your past and return to a life of silence. Or…" He held out his hand, his voice dropping to a whisper, "You can take the first step toward true power."

Li Feng stared at the old man's outstretched hand, feeling an inexplicable pull. For a moment, he thought of the betrayal he'd faced, the emptiness that had followed. Then he thought of his parents, the sense of purpose he'd once felt, and the desire to make something more of his life.

"What… what would this first step mean?" he asked, his voice trembling.

The Immortal Sage's eyes gleamed. "It means you will leave behind your old life. It means facing trials that will challenge your spirit and reshape your soul. If you succeed, you will gain power beyond imagination, power that can protect what is dear to you. But if you fail…"

Li Feng took a deep breath. The life he'd known was already gone, his dreams with it. If this mysterious man could offer him even a chance at a new beginning, at a life of purpose, then perhaps it was worth the risk.

"I accept," Li Feng said, his voice steady.

The old man smiled, his eyes filled with approval. "Then prepare yourself, Li Feng. The path of cultivation is long and difficult, but if you can endure, you may one day touch the heavens."

As the last light of day slipped beyond the mountains, the Immortal Sage laid his hand on Li Feng's shoulder. In an instant, a surge of energy filled Li Feng's body, awakening something within him. He could feel his heart beating faster, his senses sharpening, and his spirit beginning to stir.

With that, Li Feng's journey had begun.