The cold winds howled across the desolate ruins, their mournful cry carrying the scent of ash and death. For eight-year-old Liang Cheng, the world had collapsed in a single night. His small village, nestled in the quiet embrace of the Tianyuan Valley, had been his everything—a haven of warmth and simplicity. That was until it wasn't.
The sky had bled crimson that fateful night, lit by the unholy glow of flames as marauders descended upon the unsuspecting settlement. Liang's family—his father, mother, and two elder sisters—had been among the first to fall. His father fought valiantly, wielding his old spear with trembling hands, but he was no match for the cultivators who razed the village for sport.
"Run, Cheng! Don't look back!" his mother had screamed, pushing him into the forest.
Liang had obeyed, his small legs pumping with all the strength he could muster, tears streaming down his face as screams echoed behind him. The crackling of fire, the sickening sound of blades meeting flesh, and the cries of his sisters haunted his ears.
He had looked back once—just once—and that sight had seared into his soul forever. His family, lifeless and broken, sprawled amidst the burning remains of their home.
---
The Boy Who Wandered
For days, Liang wandered aimlessly, his body weakened by hunger and cold. The forests were unkind, and the animals more so. He scavenged scraps, drank from muddy puddles, and cried himself to sleep beneath the starless sky.
"Why?" he whispered to the heavens. "Why didn't I die with them?"
Fate, however, had other plans. A group of cultivators from the Emerald Tempest Sect, a middle-grade faction, was passing through the area. One among them, a young woman named Yu Meilin, noticed the frail boy collapsed by the roadside.
"Master," she called to her elder. "This child... he's barely alive. Should we leave him?"
The sect elder, a stern man named Wu Jian, glanced at Liang with a frown. "The sect has no use for weaklings."
"But... he's just a boy," Meilin argued, kneeling beside Liang and pressing a pill to his lips. "Please, allow me to take him in as my responsibility."
Wu Jian sighed, but he did not object. And so, Liang Cheng's life took an unexpected turn.
---
A Spark of Talent
The Emerald Tempest Sect wasn't known for its warmth, but it provided Liang with something he'd never known before: opportunity. Under Meilin's guidance, Liang began training in basic cultivation techniques. To everyone's surprise, his talent was extraordinary.
By the time he reached his teens, Liang had already surpassed many of his peers, mastering techniques far beyond his age. Yet, despite his achievements, his heart remained hollow.
Every night, he would stand beneath the moon, clutching a worn pendant—a keepsake from his mother—and whisper the names of his family.
"Father, Mother, Meiyu, Lianhua... I swear I'll find a way to bring you back."
---
A Fire Ignited
Years passed, and Liang's reputation within the sect grew. By twenty-four, he had reached the peak of Core Formation, an achievement that earned him both admiration and envy. His strength was undeniable, but his demeanor was distant, almost melancholic.
Then, one day, everything changed.
It began with a voice—deep and resonant—reaching every corner of the world.
"To the strongest of this realm, I invite you to partake in a tournament unlike any other..."
Liang's breath hitched as a colossal image appeared in the skies, displaying the Creator himself. The announcement of Jin's tournament sent shockwaves through the cultivation world, but for Liang, it was something else entirely.
The prizes, especially the mystical treasures, ignited a flicker of hope in his heart. Could the Creator possess the power to defy the natural order? To undo death itself?
"If I win..." Liang whispered, his fists trembling. "Maybe... maybe I can bring them back."
---
Thirteen Years of Struggle
Driven by this newfound purpose, Liang threw himself into cultivation with reckless abandon. Each day was a battle against his limits; each night, a test of his resolve. He delved into forbidden ruins, fought against rogue cultivators, and braved the ferocious beasts of the uncharted lands.
The path was perilous, and he bore its scars—both physical and emotional. There were moments when despair threatened to consume him, moments when the weight of his goal felt unbearable. But every time he faltered, he would clutch his mother's pendant and remember the promise he had made.
By the time he turned thirty-seven, Liang Cheng had achieved the Nascent Soul realm, a feat that solidified his status as one of the Emerald Tempest Sect's finest disciples. Yet, for all his strength, he remained grounded in humility, his true purpose known only to himself.
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The Present
As Liang sat cross-legged in meditation within the sect's training grounds, he couldn't ignore the murmurs around him.
"Did you hear? The Creator raised the Ethereal Moon Sect to high-grade status!"
"They say he gifted them treasures beyond imagination. If only our sect could receive such favor..."
Liang opened his eyes, his gaze sharp. The news of Jin's recent actions had rekindled the memories of the tournament. Though over a decade had passed, his determination burned as brightly as ever.
"I'm not ready yet," Liang muttered to himself, his hands tightening into fists. "But I'm close. Just a little more, and I'll stand before the Creator."
In his heart, he knew that the road ahead would be fraught with even greater challenges. But for his family—for the chance to see them smile again—Liang Cheng was willing to face anything.
---
Reflections in Solitude
That night, beneath a sky filled with countless stars, Liang sat alone on a hill overlooking the sect. The pendant in his hand glinted faintly in the moonlight.
"I've come so far," he whispered. "But is it enough?"
The faces of his family flashed in his mind, vivid and haunting. His father's stern yet loving gaze. His mother's gentle smile. His sisters' playful laughter.
"Wait for me," he said softly. "Just wait a little longer."
The wind carried his words away, but the promise remained etched in his soul.
---
To Be Continued
Liang Cheng's journey was far from over. With the weight of his past driving him forward, he stood on the precipice of a future filled with both hope and uncertainty. Yet one thing was clear—his story was destined to intertwine with the Creator's, and the world would bear witness to the path of a man who defied the odds for the sake of his family.