A cold storm encompassed and raged across the Spirit Bloom Valley fervently and with very strange aura it was like a signal that something was about to be cultivated, its winds which were fast and very strong were howling like the cries of anguished yokai spirits which would be very disturbing and scary for any mere mortal.
Lightning tore through the skies as a strange feeling was felt for what is to become, illuminating the towering cliffs giving the valley a purplish colour and cascading the waterfalls of the valley which made it shine in illuminous red. Beneath the windy and persistent storm, the river churned violently like never before, carrying all the debris it's could find and something else, something some people might say more precious than gold.
Below the valley in the churning waters of the river they was a crimson cloth never seen before by anybody, soaked but still vibrant, it's reflection was a bit dim but could be seen by a few distances away, it's floated amidst the swirling waters of the troubled river.
Wrapped within this crimson cloth was a baby girl, her cries barely audible over the thunder which was ravaging the valley, As the lightning struck closer to the river and to the Crimson cloth where she had being kept, a sigil which is an ancient mark detonating greatness on the infant's tiny arm began to glow faintly which shows she was brought for a purpose, pulsing with an otherworldly light and the aura which surrounded this Baby and this cloth could not be just underestimated and yet unexplained.
While all of this was happening from the shadows of the spirit bloom valley, Yuna, a lone cultivator who lived alone for a greater amount of time in her life full with wisdom and intellective wits was there, she was clad in worn robes which she normally wored and she finally stepped closer to the riverbank after she felt the energy which it was giving out.
Her eyes were as sharp as that of an eagle, trained by years of survival and hardship she grew in wisdom and in strength, with her gazed fixed on the mysterious child who was wrapped on the crimson cloth. The sigil's glow reflected in her irises it was like something she has not seen before, and a chill ran down her spine for she was greatly amazed and dazzled.
"The heavens rarely intervene," she murmured and said to her self her voice trembling with disdain and fear "What is this child's purpose?", as she was curious and at the same time inquisitive.
Out of her curiosity she decided to get the baby from the river in the crimson cloth just as she reached out to the baby, the sigil on the little girl armed flared brightly and the light could be seen from a distance and a voice, soft but commanding with a tone which signaled power, echoed in her mind: "The Chosen One must not perish.", and she was indeedly greatly afraid.
After all what had happened in the valley during the storm with the sounds of the churning river and the atmosphere which was there she felt very afraid and at first felt a little bit of hesitation, but she summoned courage and took up the baby, cradling her against the storm and she left the river.
The sigil which was on her arm was now dimmed and it was not shining anymore as it did before, its warning gone which brought a little resolute to Yuna, leaving only a faint warmth beneath the baby's delicate skin. Yuna studied her closely after scooping her up from the river, she saw her pale cheeks, delicate features, and an unnatural calmness despite the storm, and she was convinced that this child is no ordinary being.
After some minutes of looking at the baby and having long thoughts "Lian Yue," Yuna whispered to herself in agreement, naming her after the moonlight that pierced through the storm clouds for she was powerful as the light of the moon which gazes upon the valley. "That shall be your name."
After she had said this she left the riverside, though the storm continued to rage uncontrollably, Yuna carried the baby into her secluded home within the valley which she has stayed for a very long and reasonable amount of time.
The Spirit Bloom Valley was not just a mere valley to those who knew it but they also considered it a haven, and only few knew that a place like the valley existed, a place untouched by the chaos and cultivation of the outside world. For so many years and so long, it had been Yuna's sanctuary, a place where she could live in solitude and in peace without troubles from any cultivation, it was a place where she could stay away from the sects and clans that once sought her power and her expertise during cultivation.
But this child which Yuna had cultivated from the river during the stormwas different. The sigil on her arm was no ordinary mark it's had greatness and strength written all over it. Yuna recognized the powerful sigil mark on Lian Yue arm and recognized it from the ancient texts she once read, she knew the mark to be a symbol of celestial favor, tied to destinies that shook the heavens and earth, and those who posses it were not mere mortal with fatal destinies.
"Why would they send you here?" Yuan asked the baby Lian Yue as if expecting an answer. Her voice softened. "What burden must you bear?", Yuan was surprised and curious right from the first time she saw Lian Yue at the river wrapped with the crimson cloth, she always wondered why such a beautiful baby girl will be wrapped in such clothing and kept at a river and where did she come from, she was so curious but she had to listen to the voice which spoke to her.
After a long while the storm passed, leaving the valley blanketed in mist and a bit of dew which made it look beautiful and a little difficult to see clearly. Spirit Bloom Valley was a paradise of vibrant flora and mystical energy although it was isolate. Golden lotuses floated atop crystal-clear pools, while ancient trees whispered secrets to those who could hear them.
The air itself shimmered with qi, the life force cultivators relied upon to grow stronger, it was indeed a fortress cultivators loved and most importantly it was discrete.
After all these had happened Yuna took the baby into her home and worked quickly to cleanse and dress the baby, her mind racing with uncertainty and anxiety at the same time. Outside the valley, the world was ruled by powerful sects and clans, each vying for supremacy and immortal power. Cultivators climbed the ladder of realms which they called Qi Gathering, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, and beyond seeking immortality and dominion over mortals.
Yuna knew this very well and she knew that if any of the cultivators get to know about the sigil mark on Lian Yue arm it would become very messy.
But the heavenly sigil on Lian Yue's arm was a rare sight even in such a world, it was something she had never seen in reality as she only read about it in books and ancient scrolls. It marked her as a chosen child of the heavens, destined for greatness or destruction, which troubled Yuna a bit.
"Spirit Bloom Valley can shield you for now," Yuna said softly to the little baby Lian Yue, glancing at the shimmering barrier that surrounded her home which made it a bit hidden from cultivators even in the Spirit bloom valley "But the day will come when you must face the world. And when that day comes..." She hesitated, her fingers tightening on the crimson cloth. "Will you survive it?", she had resonated all the possible outcomes of her survival and indeed it troubled her so much.
Days turned into weeks for Lian Yue, and the baby thrived under Yuna's care. Lian Yue was no ordinary child right from the day Yuan cultivated her from the river. By the age of three, she could sense qi in the air which is not normal for an average 3 year old, her tiny fingers instinctively reaching out to the energy that surrounded her which was fascinating. By five, she could manipulate the qi energy which she had around her with ease, summoning faint lights to dance across her palms.
"She's awakening too soon," Yuna muttered and said to her self, worry creasing her face. She had hoped to keep the Lian Yue and the mark and purposefulness she possesed hidden until she was ready, but her extraordinary talent made that impossible and difficult.
Even the valley's protective barrier was beginning to weaken under the strain of the celestial energy radiating from Lian Yue, she was indeed blessed by the sigil mark.
One fateful evening in the valley where Yuna and Lian Yue stayed, as Yuna meditated near the river which she picked Lian Yue from, she felt a shift in the air which was an odd feeling. A sinister presence, faint but unmistakable, brushed against the edges of the valley's barrier. Her eyes snapped open, she knew that something was about to happen and she was very worried.
"No," she whispered. "It's too soon."
She rushed from where she was to Lian Yue immediately, who was practicing her breathing techniques near the lotus pond which she had at her home. "Lian Yue, listen to me," Yuna said, her voice firm and commanding but laced with urgency. "You must never leave this valley. Do you understand? Never." she was so concerned for her safety as she did not want those cultivators to get to her.
Before Lian Yue could respond, the ground trembled beneath them. The barrier covering spirit bloom valley rippled as shadows began to form beyond its edge.
Lian Yue clung to Yuna's robes tightly being afraid of the fear of the unknown, her young face pale with fear and uncertainty. "What's happening, Master?" she asked, her voice soft melodious but trembling.
Yuna's eyes were fixed on the horizon she was very observant at that point looking at Yuna's facial expression, immediately Lain Your saw figures began to emerge from the mist—dark shapes with glowing eyes. "They've found you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, and fear gripped on both of them.
A piercing howl echoed through the valley sending chills down their spine, followed by the sound of claws scraping against the barrier, all these were very uncomfortable for Yuna and then Lian Yue's sigil began to glow once more, its light pulsing like a heartbeat.
"Go inside and stay hidden," Yuna commanded, drawing her sword as a form of defence and protection.
As Lian Yue ran back towards the house for safety, a thunderous crack echoed through the valley. The barrier which made spirit bloom valley such a fortress shattered, and a swarm of shadowy figures flooded in, which spelt bad news for both Yuna and Lian Yue.
"Lian Yue!" Yuna shouted to her, turning to face the invaders. Her voice carried a mixture of desperation and resolve. "Run!", she shouted and told Lian Yue.
The child turned and began to run back inside the house from the lotus pond, tears streaming down her face, as Yuna charged into the fray, her sword blazing with qi and a lot of courage. But even as Yuna fought, one thought consumed her: How long can I keep her safe?, because she knew that as the barrier which made spirit bloom valley safe was broken that more cultivators would keep coming for Lian Yue.
The last thing Lian Yue saw before the door slammed shut was Yuna standing alone against the tide of darkness, which made her afraid and worried.