The small village of Azure Peak had always been a quiet and peaceful place, nestled in a lush valley surrounded by towering mountains. Life in the village was simple: farmers tilled their fields, children ran through the streets, and families gathered in their homes at night to share meals and stories. The people here lived humble lives, never seeking attention, just content to exist in the peace of the world around them.

In one of the modest homes at the edge of the village, Zhen Xi sat by the warm hearth, his small fingers carefully tracing the grain of the wooden table. His gaze was fixed on his father, Zhen Hua, who sat at the other end of the room. His father's hands moved skillfully over a block of wood, carving it with a precision that made the process seem effortless.

"Xi'er, come here and watch closely," Zhen Hua called, his voice soft but firm, filled with the warmth of a loving parent.

Zhen Xi immediately jumped from his seat and hurried over to his father's side. "What are you making, Father?" he asked, his voice full of curiosity.

Zhen Hua smiled, the lines on his face deepening in warmth. "I'm carving a phoenix, Xi'er. Do you know what a phoenix is?"

Zhen Xi blinked up at his father, a slight frown crossing his young face. "A bird?"

"A very special bird," Zhen Hua said, gently lifting the half-carved figure to show his son. "The phoenix is a symbol of rebirth. It falls, but it always rises again, stronger and more beautiful. It's the essence of resilience."

Zhen Xi's eyes widened, his face lighting up with wonder. "A bird that never gives up... can I be like that, Father?"

Zhen Hua's smile softened as he placed the carving back on the table, turning to face his son fully. "Of course, Xi'er. If you work hard and never give up, you can be anything you want in life. You just need to stay true to yourself, no matter how tough things get."

From the kitchen, Mei Ling's voice echoed through the open doorway. "Zhen Hua, don't fill his head with such lofty ideas," she teased, her voice light and teasing. She entered the room, her arms full of freshly washed vegetables. "Xi'er, come help your mother in the kitchen."

Zhen Xi turned to look at his mother, a smile tugging at his lips. "But Father said I can be anything I want to be!"

Mei Ling smiled softly, her gaze warm and affectionate as she set the vegetables down on the counter. "Yes, but first you need to learn how to cook, clean, and do all the things that make a family's home happy. Come on, help me set the table."

With a playful sigh, Zhen Xi walked over to his mother, eager to help as best as he could. Mei Ling chuckled as she watched her son struggle to carry the plates.

Dinner time in the Zhen household was always filled with lighthearted chatter and laughter. The modest table was set with simple but comforting dishes: warm rice, stir-fried vegetables, and a rich stew made from the meat of a small goat they had raised themselves. The smell of the stew, rich with herbs and spices, filled the room and made Zhen Xi's stomach growl.

Mei Ling served the food, and Zhen Xi eagerly dug in, scooping up large portions into his bowl with excitement. His father, sitting across from him, smiled at his son's enthusiasm. "Slow down, Xi'er. You'll choke if you eat that fast."

Zhen Xi, cheeks puffed with food, glanced up at his father and grinned. "It's so good! I can't help it!"

Mei Ling gave him a stern but affectionate look. "Slow down, or I won't make this stew anymore."

Zhen Hua laughed. "She's got you there. When your mother says something, she means it."

"I'm just trying to make sure our little Xi'er doesn't eat us out of house and home," Mei Ling said, her voice light but carrying a trace of maternal care. She patted Zhen Xi on the head. "You're growing too fast. Soon, we won't be able to keep up with you."

Zhen Xi smiled sheepishly, continuing to eat. He loved these moments of simple joy, of the warmth of his parents' laughter and their easy, familiar teasing. For as long as he could remember, his life had been like this: safe, secure, and full of love. Nothing could make him feel more at home than the sounds of his family's voices, the warmth of their presence, and the knowledge that no matter what, he was loved.

As they finished their meal, Mei Ling rose to clear the table, and Zhen Hua took his place at the window, gazing out at the vast expanse of fields that stretched into the distance. Zhen Xi followed him, standing at his side.

The sky had shifted as they ate, the orange light of the setting sun fading into a deep red. Zhen Xi looked up, noticing how the colors seemed to ripple in the sky, as if the very air itself was being torn apart.

"Father, look!" Zhen Xi exclaimed, pointing toward the sky.

Zhen Hua's expression darkened as he turned to the window, his face going pale. "Mei Ling, get Xi'er. Now."

Before Zhen Xi could ask what was happening, a wave of energy rippled through the air. The ground beneath them trembled, and a massive crack split the sky above.

It was then that Zhen Xi saw them. Two enormous figures, indistinct and shrouded in brilliant, destructive energy, clashed in the heavens. Their movements were like the thunder, shaking the very earth with every strike. Zhen Xi watched in awe and fear, his heart racing.

"What are they?" Zhen Xi whispered, barely able to understand what was happening.

"I don't know," Zhen Hua said, his voice low and filled with concern. "But we need to leave. Now."

But it was too late.

A massive wave of crimson energy shot through the sky, tearing toward them with terrifying speed. Zhen Hua grabbed Zhen Xi and pushed him toward the door, but before they could escape, the wave struck the house with a deafening roar.

The force of the impact sent Zhen Xi flying backward. His head hit the ground hard, and everything went dark.

Zhen Xi woke to an unbearable pain. His body ached all over, and he could barely breathe as his vision swam in front of him. His hands shook as he pushed himself up, struggling to make sense of his surroundings.

"Mother? Father?" His voice was weak, barely more than a whisper, as he called out into the smoke-filled silence.

There was no answer.

His heart raced in his chest as he struggled to sit up. His surroundings were an eerie silence, broken only by the faint crackling of distant flames. As Zhen Xi turned his head, his eyes fell on the lifeless forms of his parents.

"No... no..." Zhen Xi's voice trembled, and his hands reached out toward them, but he couldn't move. His limbs felt as if they were made of lead.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he crawled toward them, his heart breaking with every inch closer he got.

"Mother! Father!" His voice cracked with anguish.

But there was no response.

As his hand brushed over his mother's lifeless face, a deep voice echoed inside his mind. It was as if the very air had shifted, and Zhen Xi could hear a presence far beyond his understanding.

"Do you refuse to accept this fate?"

Zhen Xi's heart froze, and his eyes widened. "Who... who are you?"

"Do you wish to change your destiny?" The voice asked, resonating deep within his soul.

Zhen Xi's lips trembled as he whispered, "Yes... I want to save them. I don't want to be weak anymore."

The golden throne appeared in his mind, a vast and ancient construct, radiating power and authority. It seemed to beckon him, calling him toward it.

"Your unwillingness has awakened me," the voice intoned. "I can preserve their souls, but power comes at a cost. Do you accept?"

Zhen Xi didn't hesitate. He clenched his fists, his resolve hardening like steel. "I'll do anything! Just save them!"

The throne's light enveloped him, and for a moment, Zhen Xi felt like he was floating in the endless sea of time. His body burned with an intense power that he had never felt before, and the faint presence of his parents' souls settled within him.

As the light faded, Zhen Xi felt the weight of the power and responsibility that had been bestowed upon him. The throne was his now, and it would guide him, as long as he proved himself worthy.

Zhen Xi stood, his body aching but stronger than it had ever been before. The village, once filled with life, was now a smoldering ruin. The pain of loss weighed heavily on his heart, but he knew one thing for sure: this was just the beginning.

With the power of the throne inside him, Zhen Xi would walk the path of vengeance. He would uncover the truth behind the destruction of his family, and he would make those responsible pay. And along the way, he

would uncover the mysteries of the world, unlock his own potential, and forge a path toward power and destiny that no one could predict.

But for now, the grief weighed heavily on his heart. He stood amidst the ruins of his home, staring at the ashes of the place where his family had once been. A tear slipped down his cheek, but it was not the tear of a helpless child. It was the tear of a survivor, a tear that spoke of the loss and the fire of vengeance that burned inside him.

The golden throne, now a part of his soul, pulsed within his chest. It whispered to him, its presence comforting yet imposing. With every breath, Zhen Xi could feel its power growing inside him. The souls of his parents had been preserved, but now they were more than memories—they were a part of him, their will merging with his.

He closed his eyes, focusing inward. "You have the strength within you to change this world, Zhen Xi," the voice echoed in his mind. "But power alone is not enough. You must learn to control it, to bend it to your will. Seek out those who can teach you, and grow stronger with each step. The throne will guide you, but it will be your choices that define your fate."

Zhen Xi nodded solemnly, wiping the tear away. He could feel the weight of his parents' love within him, a guiding force that would never leave his side. His mother and father had always told him to never give up, to always strive for more, and now that message resonated with him louder than ever.

"I will avenge you," he whispered into the still air, his voice firm with the resolve he had made. "I will grow stronger, and I will make those responsible pay. I will rise like the phoenix, and no one will stand in my way."

As Zhen Xi stood amidst the wreckage of his former life, the sky above began to shift again. The deep red color of the sky had faded, but a lingering tension remained in the air. The clash between the two giants, whatever it had been, was still fresh in his mind. He had only caught a glimpse of their power, but it was enough to ignite something within him. He needed to understand what had happened—why the sky had torn open, why the battle had raged above them. And perhaps, more importantly, who had been behind it.

His gaze hardened as he took a final look at the wreckage of his home, a sense of finality settling over him. The world outside was vast and full of dangers, but it was also full of opportunities. He would use every ounce of his newfound power to uncover the truth, to learn what had really happened that fateful night. And along the way, he would find the strength to build something greater than what had been lost.

But for now, there was no time to waste. He turned away from the smoldering ruins, his heart pounding with determination.

The first step was to leave this place behind. The village had been kind to him, but it had nothing left for him now. He needed to find the next step in his journey, the next piece of the puzzle that would lead him to the answers he sought. There was a world out there, a vast and dangerous world full of cultivators and power struggles, and Zhen Xi was ready to enter it.

As he walked away from the ruins, the wind picked up, carrying the scent of burning wood and the promise of a new beginning. His eyes glinted with the fire of resolve, and the golden throne within him pulsed in response, its power like a heartbeat within his chest.

"You are not alone," the voice of the throne echoed once more, resonating deep within his soul. "The world will test you. It will try to break you. But you will rise. You will claim what is yours."

Zhen Xi clenched his fists at his sides, his jaw set with unwavering determination. "I will rise. I will claim what is mine. I will not be weak again."

And with those words, he stepped forward into the unknown.

The journey ahead was long and fraught with challenges. Zhen Xi knew that every step would test his resolve. But with the power of the throne within him, he felt unstoppable. It was a weighty power, one that demanded respect and control. But Zhen Xi was not one to shy away from challenges. If anything, the destruction of his family had only made him more determined to succeed.

As days passed, he wandered from village to village, keeping a low profile and avoiding unnecessary attention. He was still a young boy—no more than a child in the eyes of the world—but he felt the power within him growing, slowly but surely. The throne, with its ancient, otherworldly energy, kept him going. It whispered to him in his dreams, giving him glimpses of the vast world of cultivation, of warriors and sects, of the great powers that ruled the land.

He knew his journey would not be an easy one. The world of cultivation was filled with danger, and those who sought power were often ruthless. But Zhen Xi was no ordinary child. His calm and composed nature, along with his high intellect, made him an ideal candidate to navigate this treacherous world.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, but Zhen Xi's resolve never wavered. He knew his path would be long and difficult, but he also knew that every challenge he faced would only make him stronger. And as he continued to walk this path, he would discover not only the truth behind his parents' deaths but also the mysteries of his own lineage. His bloodline, shrouded in mystery, held secrets that even he didn't fully understand yet. But he would uncover them, piece by piece, until he had all the answers.

And perhaps, one day, he would return to this village—no longer the child who had been helpless in the face of tragedy, but a man of immense power. A man who had risen from the ashes, like the phoenix his father had carved.

Zhen Xi's journey was just beginning, and the world was waiting for him.