The village had never felt more oppressive than it did in the hours after Yunshi's meeting with the Elders. Each step he took seemed to echo in the silence that surrounded him, and the familiar faces of his neighbors had become unfamiliar, their gazes lingering on him like the weight of an unseen burden. The Starborn legacy, whatever it was, was now his—something powerful, something dangerous, and something that could change everything.
The knowledge that the Elders had spoken of lingered in his mind, its weight settling on his shoulders like a second skin. He was no longer just Yunshi, the village cultivator with modest skills. He was something more. The Starborn legacy had chosen him, and now the responsibility was his to bear.
"Do you really understand what you've gotten yourself into?" Wei's voice cut through Yunshi's thoughts. His childhood friend had followed him after they left the Elder's hall, and the two were walking side by side through the village toward Yunshi's small cottage.
Yunshi shrugged, trying to push down the anxious knot forming in his stomach. "No," he admitted. "I don't think I do. But I can't change what's happened."
Wei gave him a pointed look. "I've known you for years, Yunshi. You were always content being the quiet, unnoticed one. Now you've awakened the power of the stars. You're not just another cultivator anymore. People will notice you."
Yunshi paused in his tracks, and Wei slowed as well, his expression turning serious. Yunshi could feel his heart pounding in his chest, the weight of his power making it difficult to breathe. "I didn't ask for this," Yunshi said, almost defensively. "I didn't even want it."
Wei sighed, his gaze softening. "I know you didn't. But now that you have it, you need to understand that this kind of power isn't something you can hide from. There are forces beyond our village, beyond this world, that will want to use you or destroy you. And the worst part? You don't even know what you're truly capable of yet."
Yunshi felt a cold shiver run down his spine at the truth of Wei's words. His mind still reeled from everything he had experienced in the Forgotten Legacy tower—the swirling galaxies, the guardians, the orb of power. It all felt like a dream, like something far beyond his reach. But the burning mark on his palm, the symbol that had fused with his skin, was real. It was proof that whatever happened that night was no illusion.
"I just… I don't understand it, Wei," Yunshi said quietly. "This power, the legacy… it feels like it's always been a part of me, but it's so much bigger than I could have imagined. I don't know how to control it. What if I lose myself in it?"
Wei's expression softened further as he placed a hand on Yunshi's shoulder. "Then you'll train. You'll learn. That's the only way forward."
Yunshi nodded, though uncertainty gnawed at him. "But what if I'm not strong enough?" he muttered.
Wei smiled faintly. "You're not alone in this, Yunshi. And you don't have to figure it all out on your own. Just take it one step at a time."
That night, as the moon rose high above the village, Yunshi stood at the edge of the forest, staring up at the sky. The stars shimmered like distant flames, their light flickering as if responding to something deep within him. He closed his eyes, feeling the strange, pulsing power within his chest, the energy that had awakened inside him when he touched the Forgotten Legacy's orb.
He extended his hand toward the heavens, his fingers trembling. The air around him seemed to hum in response, as if it were alive and attuned to his every thought. His heart raced as he felt the power surge in his veins again, the energy of the Starborn legacy vibrating through him like a tuning fork. A vision flashed before his eyes—glimpses of galaxies, stars being born and dying in an endless cycle. The vastness of the universe stretched before him, unfathomable and incomprehensible.
And then, as if on instinct, he whispered a single word.
"Star."
The world around him seemed to hold its breath. The air thickened, and Yunshi's palm began to glow with a brilliant blue light. The glow intensified, brighter than the stars above, until it filled his vision entirely, a blinding aura surrounding him.
And then, suddenly, the light condensed into something solid.
A sphere of pure starlight hovered in the air before him, its surface shifting and swirling with cosmic energy. It was a small thing, no larger than a fist, but it pulsed with power, radiating an aura that made Yunshi's heart pound in his chest. He felt connected to it, felt that it was a part of him. But it was also something more, something that existed beyond him.
He reached out slowly, his fingers brushing the surface of the sphere. The moment his hand touched it, the energy inside him flared, sending a shockwave through his body. His mind was flooded with visions—of planets, of stars exploding, of forces beyond mortal understanding. The power felt overwhelming, yet strangely exhilarating. He could feel the gravitational pull of distant suns, the orbits of celestial bodies spinning in harmony. And he knew, deep in his soul, that this was only the beginning.
But before he could fully explore the sensation, the sphere collapsed in on itself with a soft pop, leaving Yunshi breathless and disoriented. His heart thundered in his chest as the last of the starlight faded from his fingers. His palm still tingled from the touch, a remnant of the power that had flowed through him.
He stumbled back, his mind reeling.
"I… I did it," he whispered to himself.
The moment was fleeting, though. His triumph was quickly replaced by the gnawing realization that this was only the first step. If the power of the Starborn legacy could manifest like this, what else could it do? And what consequences might there be if he couldn't control it?
A soft rustling behind him interrupted his thoughts. He turned to find Wei approaching, his expression cautious but filled with curiosity.
"I felt that," Wei said, his eyes wide. "What was that? That light, that power—it was like nothing I've ever seen."
Yunshi looked at his friend, still stunned. "I don't know. But I think… I think it's the Starborn legacy. It's real, Wei. And it's inside me."
Wei stepped closer, his gaze still fixed on Yunshi's glowing palm. "You're not just a cultivator anymore, Yunshi. You're something far greater. This power, it's like the very stars themselves are in your grasp."
Yunshi clenched his fist, the glow from his palm flickering briefly before fading away. "I have to learn how to control it," he said, his voice filled with determination. "If I don't, it might destroy me."
Wei looked at him, concern etched on his face. "You're going to need help. You can't train by yourself. There are people—strong people—who would kill to get their hands on that power."
Yunshi's stomach churned at the thought. "Then we'll have to be ready."
The following days were filled with intense training, but it wasn't enough. Yunshi practiced using the Starborn legacy, focusing on controlling the strange celestial energy that coursed through him. Yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to grasp it fully. Every time he thought he understood it, the power would slip through his fingers like sand, eluding him. It was as if the universe itself was playing a cruel game, showing him glimpses of its vastness and then pulling it all away before he could truly hold onto it.
He spent hours meditating in the woods, trying to attune himself to the forces that governed the stars, but every attempt felt like stepping further into an unknown abyss. The feeling of being overwhelmed by the universe itself was a constant presence, a gnawing fear at the back of his mind.
One evening, as Yunshi sat alone in the forest, his eyes trained on the sky, a cold gust of wind swept through the trees. He froze, sensing something. A presence. He wasn't alone.
From the shadows of the trees, a figure emerged. It was tall and cloaked in dark robes, its face hidden beneath a hood. The figure moved silently, as if it were part of the night itself.
"Yunshi," a voice spoke, smooth and cold. "It's time you learned the true nature of your power."