Time flowed swiftly, and before long, Li Tian reached his second year of life. Unlike an ordinary child who would still be learning to walk and speak properly, he was far ahead—both mentally and physically.
Thanks to the Celestial Jade Clan's supreme heritage, even normal children within the clan developed faster than commoners. But Li Tian was on another level entirely.
At two years old, he was already walking with ease, his movements stable and precise, as if he had been practicing martial arts for years. His speech was clear, his vocabulary far exceeding that of a toddler. And most importantly, his control over Qi had reached an unprecedented level—far beyond what anyone could have expected.
Despite his monstrous talent, one thing Li Tian truly appreciated about this life was his family.
His father, Li Jingzhe, was the Patriarch of the Celestial Jade Clan—an awe-inspiring cultivator whose mere presence could make even seasoned warriors tremble. His mother, Yu Qingyue, was the Matriarch, a woman of profound wisdom and unparalleled beauty, whose strength rivaled that of his father.
But unlike the cold, distant families often portrayed in cultivation worlds, his parents were different.
They loved him.
Perhaps it was because they recognized his potential, or maybe it was simply because they were good parents, but he was doted upon immensely.
His mother would often personally feed him spirit-nourishing meals, made from the most precious heavenly ingredients. His father, despite being the mighty clan leader, would always carry him around on his shoulders when he returned from his duties.
Even his extended family—elders, uncles, aunts—watched him with eyes full of pride and expectation.
He was not just a genius. He was the future of the Celestial Jade Clan.
By the time Li Tian turned three, he had already started his basic cultivation training.
Most children of the clan did not begin until they were five or six, but the Patriarch himself declared that Tian was ready.
One early morning, as golden rays of the sun bathed the Celestial Jade Clan's grand courtyard, Li Jingzhe stood with his arms crossed, watching his young son.
"Today, you will take your first step on the path of cultivation," his deep voice echoed.
At his father's command, Li Tian sat cross-legged, mimicking the posture he had seen countless times before. Though he already had experience sensing and manipulating Qi, he had never done it under formal guidance.
"Breathe in… feel the Qi of the world," his father instructed.
Tian closed his eyes, drawing in a slow breath. He didn't just sense the Qi—he could feel it, flowing like a vast ocean, swirling around him, waiting to be commanded.
His father continued, "Now, guide it gently, circulate it through your meridians."
This step was supposed to take months for beginners. Some children spent years just trying to feel their meridians. But for Li Tian, it took seconds.
With ease, he willed the Qi into motion, guiding it through his body like an expert. A faint golden aura surrounded him, shocking even the battle-hardened Patriarch.
After a moment, his father let out a low chuckle. "Good. As expected of my son."
What he didn't say aloud was that even he had never seen a child this talented before.
Aside from training, Li Tian's early years were filled with warmth and laughter.
He had two elder siblings—his brother, Li Feng, and his sister, Li Mei. Though they were both older, at ten and twelve years old, they adored their little brother.
Li Mei would often sneak into his room to read him ancient texts, hoping to introduce him to literature and strategy at an early age. Li Feng, on the other hand, was more physically active, often lifting Li Tian onto his shoulders and running around the clan's training fields.
One day, when Tian was three, his siblings took him to watch a friendly sparring match between two young disciples.
The battle was intense, with sword Qi flashing through the air, but while others gasped in excitement, Li Tian merely observed.
"Brother," Li Feng grinned, "one day, you'll be in that arena too."
Li Tian, his sharp gaze locked onto the fighters, simply nodded. Sooner than you think…
While his family saw him as a prodigy, only Li Tian himself knew the full truth—he had barely begun tapping into his true potential.
At night, when others slept, he secretly practiced manipulating Qi.
He discovered that he could not only absorb Qi faster than others, but he could refine it to an absurdly pure degree. Even though he had no proper cultivation technique yet, his instincts alone allowed him to strengthen his foundation far beyond what should be possible.
What no one realized was that his body was already undergoing a transformation.
His meridians were expanding. His bones were strengthening. Even his soul force, something that even supreme cultivators struggled to refine, was subtly growing stronger each day.
And deep within him…
His ultimate secret—the ability to create life—remained hidden.
One fateful evening, as the sun dipped below the mountains, Li Tian stood alone in the courtyard.
His small frame, no bigger than a normal child's, cast a long shadow against the stone pavement. He clenched his tiny fists, feeling the immense power coursing within him.
He looked up at the sky, his young yet profound mind already envisioning the future.
One day, he would stand at the peak.
One day, he would reshape the world itself.
For now, though…
He was still just a child.
And the world had no idea what kind of monster was growing in its midst.