The morning sun rose slowly over the village, casting long shadows on the dirt roads as Xu Tian walked away from the confrontation with Liu Wei. His heart still raced from the surge of power, and his hands were trembling—not from fear, but from the intensity of what he had just done. He had never imagined that the Forbidden Scripture would grant him such overwhelming power so quickly. The energy that flowed through his body now felt like a beast that needed to be tamed, a force that was both exhilarating and terrifying.
As he walked back to his hut, the villagers went about their daily routines, unaware of the storm that had just begun to stir in their midst. But for Xu Tian, everything had changed. His encounter with Liu Wei was just the first spark of something much larger—a rebellion against the very force that had condemned him to a life of servitude.
The weight of the Forbidden Scripture pressed heavily in his mind, its teachings still swirling within him. He had barely begun to understand the depths of its power, yet already he could feel the subtle tug of destiny pulling him in ways he had never felt before. The Heavenly Dao might have abandoned him, but the Scripture had chosen him as its vessel. And if he was to wield this power to its fullest, he would have to become something more than just the boy who was cast aside by the world.
That thought burned in his chest as he entered his hut and began to prepare for what was to come. The village was no longer his home. It had never truly been his, not in the way he longed for. He had spent so many years working, serving, and enduring, but now, all of that was behind him. The world beyond the mountains called to him, a world filled with dangers, mysteries, and untold possibilities.
But before he could leave, there was something he had to do.
Xu Tian sat on the edge of his rickety bed, the Forbidden Scripture resting in his lap. Its ancient runes glowed faintly, almost as if they were alive, as they seemed to whisper in a language only he could hear. He closed his eyes and reached out with his mind, allowing the energy inside him to guide him.
Slowly, the world around him began to fade, replaced by images and sensations that were both foreign and familiar. He felt himself drifting through a sea of stars, his body weightless, as though he were a mere mote in the vastness of space. The Scripture's power had unlocked something in him, and now he was able to perceive things beyond his physical form. He could feel the flow of qi that connected all things, a vast web of energy that bound the world together.
But even as he marveled at the beauty of it all, there was something else—something darker. A shadow loomed just beyond his reach, a presence that felt ancient and oppressive. The Heavenly Dao, Xu Tian realized. It was watching him. Perhaps it had always been watching him, waiting for the moment when he would make his move.
The voice of the Forbidden Scripture echoed in his mind, its tone calm yet filled with undeniable authority.
> "The path you walk is fraught with peril. The Heavenly Dao will not let you go unchallenged. You are marked, Xu Tian, and those who defy fate always face the wrath of the heavens."
Xu Tian's eyes snapped open. The weight of those words settled into his bones, cold and unyielding. But he was not afraid. No, he was not the same boy who had hidden in the shadows of the village, hoping for a life that would never come. He had been given a choice, and now he would make it his own.
With renewed determination, Xu Tian stood and walked out of his hut, the Scripture still clenched tightly in his hands. It was time to face the world. He could feel the stirring of qi within him, a power that no mortal should have possessed. It would be his weapon, his shield, and his path forward.
But the village, with all its quiet indignities, still lingered in his mind. Liu Wei's words had struck a chord—he had mocked Xu Tian's very existence, calling him a cripple, a dog without teeth. But now, Xu Tian had teeth. He had claws. And he would carve a path through the heavens if he had to.
As he crossed the village, a familiar figure appeared in his path—an old woman who had once given him scraps of food when he was young. She stood silently before him, her gnarled hands clasped in front of her. Her eyes, though clouded with age, still held a sharpness that Xu Tian had always admired.
"You are not the same boy I once knew," she said, her voice soft but steady.
Xu Tian paused, his heart aching. The village had never been kind to him, but this woman had always seen him for what he truly was—a person, not just a servant or a failure.
"No, I'm not," Xu Tian replied, his voice steady.
The old woman nodded slowly. "The path you walk is dangerous, child. The Dao is not kind to those who seek to defy it. But sometimes, one must fight back against fate. Just be careful not to lose yourself in the process."
Xu Tian looked at her, his expression serious. "I won't lose myself," he said firmly. "I've already lost everything once. I won't let that happen again."
The woman's gaze softened, and for a brief moment, Xu Tian saw a flicker of something in her eyes—regret, perhaps, or understanding. She reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder, her touch surprisingly strong.
"Then go, and may the heavens show mercy on your soul," she whispered.
Xu Tian didn't know what the future held, but one thing was clear: there would be no mercy from the heavens for him. And he didn't want it.
With a final nod to the old woman, Xu Tian turned and walked away from the village. His journey had only just begun, and the world ahead was vast and unforgiving. But as he left behind the life that had once confined him, he felt the weight of his decision settle deep within him, a promise to himself that no matter what lay ahead, he would never again be a pawn in the game of the heavens.
The rebellion had begun, and it would burn through the world like a wildfire.