Chapter One: The Miracle in the Fields
In a remote corner of the Jiuzhou Continent, Qingshi Village lay quietly in the embrace of the mountains, like a sleeping elder whose face bore the deep marks of time. The village was small but exuded an indescribable tranquility and harmony. Its people lived off the land, working from sunrise to sunset, leading simple and fulfilling lives.
Li Yun, a sixteen-year-old boy with raven-black hair and bright, curious eyes, always thirsted for knowledge and exploration of the unknown. His parents had passed away when he was very young, leaving him with a dilapidated thatched cottage. Despite the hardships, he never gave up his desire for learning.
As the first rays of sunlight filtered through the cracks in the thatched roof and sprinkled across his simple bed, he slowly awoke from his deep slumber. In his dream, he had traversed endless galaxies, touching the mysteries of the cosmos. Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he sat up from the hard bed, stretched, and felt the new strength surging within him.
He donned his coarse cloth shirt, which had been his companion for years, washed up briefly, grabbed his hoe, and stepped out of his home. The morning air carried a faint scent of earth and the fragrance of flowers and grass, bringing him a sense of freshness. He took a deep breath, as if to inhale the freshness into his very soul. With a light step and an unprecedented lightness, he strode towards the fields outside the village.
In the fields, rice stalks swayed gently in the breeze, and dewdrops sparkled on the leaves like countless glittering gems. Li Yun swung his hoe, beginning his day's labor. As the sun grew hotter, sweat trickled down his forehead, nourishing the land that had raised him. Wiping his brow, he looked up at the sky, where a dark cloud was slowly drifting in from the distant mountain peaks.
"It looks like it's going to rain," he muttered to himself, quickening his pace. His movements revealed a calmness born of the confidence granted by his training.
Suddenly, a dazzling light descended from the sky, landing right in the center of Li Yun's field. The unexpected brilliance forced him to squint, and he felt a powerful force fluctuation that nearly knocked him off his feet. When the light dissipated, Li Yun opened his eyes to see a massive crater in the middle of his field, with a jade slip hovering in the center, emitting a faint glow.
Li Yun approached cautiously and reached out to touch the jade slip. The moment his fingertips made contact, a cool sensation spread throughout his body, and an ancient voice echoed in his mind.
"Fated one, I am the Qinglian Sword Immortal. Our meeting today is the will of heaven. This jade slip contains my cultivation method. I hope you will use it wisely and embark on the path of immortal cultivation."
Li Yun stared in shock at the jade slip in his hand, never expecting such a miraculous encounter. Looking around, he found nothing unusual except for the crater and the jade slip in his hand.
He clutched the jade slip, a surge of unprecedented excitement welling up in his heart. He knew this jade slip would change his destiny; he would no longer be an obscure farmer's boy but would have the chance to pursue the path of immortal cultivation and seek eternal life.
Back in the village, Li Yun did not immediately reveal his extraordinary encounter to anyone. He knew the world of immortal cultivation was fraught with danger and competition, and he must proceed with caution. That night, he secretly studied the jade slip at home and discovered it contained a cultivation method called the "Qinglian Sword Scripture."
Following the jade slip's guidance, Li Yun began to cultivate. He felt a faint flow of spiritual energy within him, weak but filling him with an unprecedented sense of fulfillment and strength. He closed his eyes, feeling the energy circulate through his body, each cycle bringing a new sense of fullness. He knew this was spiritual energy, the source of power for cultivators.
Recalling the sword moves from the jade slip, he silently recited every detail of the movements in his mind. Swinging his hoe, he managed to draw sword energies in the air. Though weak, these energies accurately struck the void. His movements became smoother, as if he had merged with his surroundings. He could feel the spiritual energy from the mountains and forests converging towards him, each strike imbued with the power of nature.
As his cultivation deepened, Li Yun felt his strength growing. He felt his body becoming lighter, his reactions quicker. He knew these changes were brought about by the Qinglian Sword Scripture.
As night fell, Li Yun sat alone in front of his thatched cottage, continuing his cultivation. Moonlight, like liquid silver, bathed him, intertwining with the spiritual energy within him, creating a strange resonance. He could feel the power purifying and strengthening his body.
At that moment, he suddenly sensed a powerful aura approaching. He opened his eyes to see a figure slowly walking towards him under the moonlight. It was a middle-aged man in a black robe, his eyes deep and piercing, as if he could see through everything in the world.
The man approached Li Yun and smiled slightly, "Young man, your performance has impressed me. My name is Nightwind, a cultivator who travels the lands. I can sense the power within you; you are very talented."
Li Yun looked warily at the man who called himself Nightwind, feeling the other's strength but also aware of the dangers and uncertainties in the world of cultivation. He nodded politely, "My name is Li Yun, and I appreciate your compliment."
Nightwind nodded, a glint of admiration in his eyes, "Li Yun, I see you have the bones of a cultivator. I have a proposal: would you like to travel with me, learning more advanced cultivation methods?"
Li Yun's heart skipped a beat, knowing this was a rare opportunity. But he also knew it meant leaving his home and the people he cared about and who cared about him. He took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with determination.
"Mr. Nightwind, I am grateful for your proposal. But I am a member of Qingshi Village, and I have a responsibility to protect my home. I cannot just leave."
Nightwind smiled faintly, admiration in his gaze, "Young man, you are loyal and principled, and I appreciate that. But I hope you will consider my proposal. The world is vast, and your talent should not be buried here."
With that, Nightwind's figure gradually disappeared into the moonlight, leaving Li Yun standing alone. He looked up at the sky, where the bright moon still hung high, as if silently watching over him.