The vast Azure Flame Empire basked under the brilliance of a golden sun, its sprawling palaces and towering spires gleaming like celestial beacons. Within the royal palace, however, all was not as harmonious as it seemed. For deep in its heart, a tragedy had recently unfolded—one that marked the fall of a once-promising heir.
Zhe Tian, the empire's second prince, sat alone in the dim confines of his chamber. His once-bright eyes were clouded with despair, his body hunched as he stared at his trembling hands. The faint glow of golden qi, which once coursed through his veins, was now utterly absent. He was a prince no more—a cripple in body and spirit.
Just weeks ago, he had stood tall, brimming with hope and determination. Though his cultivation talent was deemed modest compared to his elder brother, Zhe Yu, he had always worked tirelessly to prove his worth. But jealousy was a venom that spared no one, and his elder brother had ensured that Zhe Tian's rise would end before it truly began.
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The Day Everything Changed
It had been a routine sparring session in the royal courtyard. The empire's nobles and scholars had gathered to witness the two brothers showcase their skills. Zhe Yu, the crown prince, stood tall—a paragon of strength and talent. By contrast, Zhe Tian had always been smaller, less imposing.
"Come, little brother," Zhe Yu had said with a cruel smirk. "Show them what you've learned."
Zhe Tian had tried his best, wielding his sword with precision and grace, but his opponent was relentless. Zhe Yu's strikes became more aggressive, his blows heavier. Then, in a moment of unchecked fury, Zhe Yu unleashed a forbidden technique, shattering Zhe Tian's dantian.
A deafening silence had fallen over the courtyard. The nobles whispered among themselves, their faces pale. The crown prince had crippled his own brother—a heinous act even by the empire's ruthless standards.
Zhe Tian's parents, the emperor and empress, had watched in stoic silence, their expressions unreadable. Though their hearts burned with anger and sorrow, they had said nothing. As rulers, their first priority was the stability of the empire, and Zhe Yu, as the heir, was essential to that balance.
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The Engagement
Despite his fall, Zhe Tian's engagement to Lady Yue Qingyue remained intact—a bond forged long before his birth. Yue Qingyue, the sister of the Scarlet Moon Empire's emperor , was renowned across the lower realms for her beauty and cultivation prowess. Thirty years his senior, she was a woman of poise and elegance, her mere presence commanding respect.
When Zhe Tian first met her as a child, she had treated him with an odd mixture of warmth and detachment. Her words were always kind, her gaze always gentle, but there was an unshakable distance between them. He often wondered if she resented their arranged marriage, particularly now that he was a cripple.
But Yue Qingyue had shown no signs of disdain. Instead, she had visited him in his chamber shortly after the incident, bringing rare medicinal herbs and speaking to him softly.
"You mustn't lose hope, Zhe Tian," she had said, her voice like a melody. "Fate is a river that bends in unexpected ways. This… this may not be the end."
Her words had brought him comfort, though he couldn't help but notice the faint flicker of pity in her eyes. That pity, more than anything, stung his pride.
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The Struggle Within
Zhe Tian clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. Days had turned into weeks, and the weight of his situation pressed heavily on him. He could no longer cultivate, no longer wield the power that defined his identity. He was a prince in name only, a shadow of his former self.
His parents, though outwardly indifferent, had not abandoned him entirely. He often caught fleeting glimpses of their concern—his mother lingering a moment too long outside his chamber, his father issuing discreet orders to provide him with the finest elixirs and healers.
But the court was less forgiving. Rumors spread like wildfire, mocking the "crippled prince" who had fallen from grace. Even the servants whispered behind his back, their scorn thinly veiled.
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A Visit from Yue Qingyue
One evening, as the moon bathed the palace in its silver glow, Yue Qingyue visited him again. She entered his chamber with her usual grace, her crimson robes shimmering like liquid fire. Her beauty was otherworldly, her presence both calming and intimidating.
"Zhe Tian," she began, her voice soft yet firm, "do you know why I agreed to this engagement?"
He looked up at her, his gaze weary. "Because our families willed it so. I was born into this fate, just as you were."
She shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "No. I agreed because I saw potential in you—a spark that others overlooked. Even now, that spark remains, buried though it may be."
Her words caught him off guard. "I am a cripple," he said bitterly. "Whatever potential I had is gone. You would do well to sever this engagement and find someone worthy of you."
Yue Qingyue's expression darkened, and for the first time, he saw a flicker of anger in her eyes. "Do not speak of worth as though it is determined by cultivation alone. You are more than your dantian, Zhe Tian. You always have been."
Her words lingered in the air long after she had left, igniting a small ember of hope within him.
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The Beginning of Change
That night, Zhe Tian stood beneath the open sky, the cool breeze carrying the scent of blooming lotuses. He gazed up at the stars, his heart heavy with longing.
"Why?" he murmured. "Why was I born into this life, only to be cast aside?"
As if in response, the heavens answered. A sudden rumble echoed across the sky, and a golden streak of lightning tore through the darkness, illuminating the world in its brilliance.
Before Zhe Tian could react, the lightning struck him, searing his body with unbearable pain. He fell to his knees, his vision blurring as an ancient voice echoed in his mind:
"You, who bear the name Zhe Tian, are chosen. My legacy… my power…My title is yours to wield. Rise, and remind the world of the Dragon God."
When the light faded, Zhe Tian collapsed, his body trembling. But within him, something had awakened—a spark of divine energy that pulsed with life. His journey, long thought over, had only just begun.