Jade Palace
Located in a remote area of the Dragon Empire, Jade Palace stands on a snowy mountain. Despite its long history of hundreds of years, it ranks only in the middle to lower factions of the Dragon Empire. Jade Palace houses nearly a thousand disciples, most of whom are women, each as beautiful as a flower.
Even though the palace is surrounded by heavy snow and devoid of plants, the female disciples are like blooming flowers, creating a stunning landscape amidst the frost. While Jade Palace may not be particularly remarkable otherwise, its abundance of women makes it a desirable place for many cultivators seeking a dao companion.
On this snowy day, many female disciples are practicing martial arts. Holding long swords, their rhythmic training echoes throughout the palace like music, making the winter feel less cold.
In one courtyard of the Jade Palace, a pale young man repeatedly thrusts a wooden spear forward, shouting with each thrust. His movements are forceful, expending all his strength. Each time snow touches the spear's tip, it shatters into countless white flakes, falling gracefully to the ground.
After several thrusts, the boy stops to catch his breath, looking up at the sky. His thoughts drift to memories of his previous life.
His name is Yi Tianyun, and in his previous life, he was a gaming enthusiast. On a stormy night, a bolt of lightning struck him, and he lost consciousness, certain he was about to die. When he awoke, he found himself in this strange world with memories of a weak boy who had died from overexerting himself during training. Despite knowing his fragile body couldn't handle intense training, Yi Tianyun felt compelled to grow stronger.
"Is there really no other way?" he murmured to himself. His pale skin and thin body made him look more like a fragile girl than a cultivator.
"Hyaaahhh!" he shouted, thrusting his spear forward again. A cyclone formed at the spear's tip, scattering snow into delicate, floating flakes. Yet his pale skin reflected the same lifelessness as the snow itself.
Yi Tianyun lacked blood qi, a vital energy source for life and cultivation. Without it, survival was difficult, and cultivation was impossible. Training in this condition only brought him closer to death.
Suddenly, he coughed violently, his face briefly flushing with a trace of blood. He crouched down, his body unable to bear the strain.
"Aaaahh, Young Master! Why are you out here training? You're hurting yourself!"
A young maid rushed out of the palace, concern etched across her face. She hurriedly draped a coat over Yi Tianyun, scolding him.
"Sister Xiaolian, I'm fine. I'm just exercising…" Yi Tianyun forced a smile through his coughs, his pale face betraying his words.
As the young master of Jade Palace, Yi Tianyun was under the care of his aunt, the Palace Lord, after his parents' mysterious disappearance. Although the maid, Xiaolian, called him "Young Master," others in the palace held him in disdain, considering him a burden.
Xiaolian frowned but didn't argue further. "The Palace Lord asked me to bring you to the main hall. I've been searching for you everywhere, and here you are, training…"
When Yi Tianyun entered the main hall, the warm air greeted him, along with the cold stares of the female disciples. Their gazes, filled with contempt, were something Yi Tianyun had grown used to.
The disdain stemmed from his birth. As the son of a former Palace Lord, his existence violated a core rule: Palace Lords were forbidden from marrying or having children. His mother, who had broken this rule, had fled after giving birth to him, leaving him in the care of his aunt, Shi Xueyun.
His aunt's talent and influence had saved him from being expelled, but her protection couldn't shield him from the scorn of others.
"Tianyun, you finally came. Were you secretly training again?"
A soft yet authoritative voice broke through the chatter. Shi Xueyun, the current Palace Lord and Yi Tianyun's aunt, approached him. Despite her young age—barely twenty—her cultivation had reached the Core Condensation Realm, a feat unmatched by most her age.
"Aunt…" Yi Tianyun greeted her warmly. She was the one person who cared deeply for him, providing comfort and guidance in this harsh world.
Shi Xueyun gently patted Yi Tianyun's head. "I don't blame you for wanting to cultivate, but you must not overdo it!"
From her sleeve, she pulled out a jade box. As she opened it, a strong blood qi filled the air, leaving the surrounding disciples in awe and envy.
"This is the Dragon Blood Divine Pill," Shi Xueyun said, her voice soft. "Take it. It should help replenish your blood qi and improve your condition."
Yi Tianyun's eyes widened in shock. The Dragon Blood Divine Pill was incredibly valuable, yet his aunt had gone to great lengths to obtain it for him.
Tears welled up in his eyes. Over the years, Shi Xueyun had tirelessly sought remedies to improve his health, and this gift was a testament to her unwavering care.
"There's nothing more important to me than seeing you get better," Shi Xueyun said, pinching his pale cheeks playfully.
Yi Tianyun nodded firmly. "I understand. I'll do my best to recover!"
Their moment was interrupted by a disciple rushing into the hall. "Palace Lord, someone from Spirit Sect is here!"
Shi Xueyun's expression hardened. "I'll handle this. Tianyun, you should rest."
As she left to deal with the Spirit Sect, Yi Tianyun clenched his fists in frustration. Though he longed to help, his current state left him powerless.
"I must take this Dragon Blood Divine Pill and recover…" he resolved, heading back to his room.
As Yi Tianyun reached the courtyard, three male disciples blocked his path.
"Young Master, why not give us the Dragon Blood Divine Pill? It'll be wasted on you, but it could help us reach the next level!"
Their tone was mocking, treating him like a useless burden.
"Oh? And what if I say no?" Yi Tianyun's cold eyes glared at them. This pill, a gift from his aunt, was not something he would give away to anyone.