Part 1: The Mortal Realm Awakening
The golden sun peeked over the horizon, casting long shadows over the grand estate that stood atop the Heavenly Peak Mountain. The morning mist curled around the lush greenery like a protective veil, and the air shimmered with the faint presence of spiritual energy. This was no ordinary mountain, nor was this an ordinary family residing within its sacred grounds.
Inside the main hall of the Celestial Void Manor, a young boy sat cross-legged in quiet meditation. He was Amresh, heir to the most powerful lineage in existence. His dark hair cascaded over his shoulders like threads of silk, his sharp yet elegant facial features already showing signs of future majesty. Even though he was only fifteen, his presence exuded an aura of hidden power, a quiet strength lying in wait beneath his calm demeanor.
The Weight of a Powerful Bloodline
Amresh was not born into an ordinary family. His father, Lord Virendra, was a celestial sovereign whose very name caused deities to kneel and demonic emperors to tremble. His mother, Lady Ishani, was no less formidable—her mastery over laws of time and life made her a divine existence beyond mortal comprehension. And then, there was his sister, Princess Arya, a prodigy whose cultivation had reached an unfathomable realm, someone who could destroy entire sects with a flick of her wrist.
While many envied him for being born into such an illustrious family, Amresh knew the truth—his journey would be far more difficult than others. With parents and a sister of such status, expectations were placed upon him before he could even walk. Every step he took was compared to his sister's meteoric rise. Every minor failure was magnified because the world expected nothing less than godhood from him.
But he was not one to complain. Instead, he welcomed the challenge.
The Ring of Destiny
On his right hand sat an ancient ring, its surface dark as the void, yet pulsating with an inner light that seemed to defy time itself. This was the Celestial Void Ring, a relic given to him when he was just a child. His father had once said, "This ring holds more secrets than even I know, Amresh. Guard it well, for it will be both your shield and your key to the unknown."
Even after years of wearing it, he still hadn't unraveled its true potential. At best, he knew it functioned as a storage ring—one vastly superior to any other. But Amresh could sense something deeper, something ancient slumbering within it, waiting for the right moment to awaken.
Today, he intended to find out more.
A Duel to Prove His Worth
Just as he was about to enter deeper meditation, a voice called out from beyond the hall.
"Amresh! You've been lazing around again, haven't you?"
The doors burst open, revealing a tall, stunningly beautiful woman clad in silver armor. Her piercing eyes held a sharpness that could cut through steel, but beneath that intensity lay an undeniable warmth. This was Reshma, his personal bodyguard and the only woman who dared to speak to him so freely.
"Lazing? I was cultivating," Amresh replied, standing up. He was tall for his age, though Reshma still stood slightly above him.
"Cultivating? More like daydreaming. Your sister has already reached the Divine Emperor Realm, while you're still at the Sky Profound Realm. If you don't work harder, people will start calling you 'The Useless Young Master.'"
Amresh smirked. "I'd like to see who dares."
Reshma rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. She had been with him since childhood, assigned by his parents as his protector, but their relationship had long since evolved beyond mere duty. She admired him, perhaps more than she should, and he knew it.
"Come with me," she said. "Master Eldran is waiting to test your progress. He wants to see if you've improved."
Amresh nodded. This was his first true trial. He had sparred with elders before, but today, he would be fighting one of the strongest warriors in his father's sect. If he failed, it would confirm the whispers—that he was weak, that he could never live up to his family's name.
But if he won… he would take his first step toward true power.
And he had no intention of losing.
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Part 2: The Awakening of the Ring
The training ground of the Celestial Void Manor was vast, resembling an ancient battlefield where countless duels had taken place. The ground was lined with deep cracks, remnants of past clashes between powerful warriors. At the center stood a tall, formidable man with a grizzled beard and piercing golden eyes—Master Eldran, the Supreme Combat Instructor of the Manor.
Amresh stepped onto the battlefield, his heartbeat steady, his eyes locked onto his opponent. The onlookers—disciples of his father's sect, elders, and a few members of the household—watched in silence. This duel was more than just a training exercise; it was a test to prove that Amresh was worthy of his lineage.
"Do you understand the terms of this duel, young master?" Eldran's voice was deep, his tone laced with an unshakable confidence.
Amresh nodded. "No external help. No artifacts. Only pure combat."
Eldran smirked. "Then prepare yourself."
Without further warning, he vanished.
The Clash Begins
The moment Eldran disappeared from sight, Amresh's instincts screamed danger. A split second later, a powerful fist was hurtling toward his ribs, carrying enough force to shatter stone.
He's fast!
Amresh barely managed to pivot, dodging by a hair's breadth. The impact of Eldran's fist hitting the ground caused the earth to quake, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Dust and debris flew into the air, obscuring visibility.
Before Amresh could react, Eldran appeared again—this time behind him. A heavy palm aimed at his shoulder. Amresh twisted his body mid-air, deflecting the strike with his forearm. A sharp pain jolted through his bones. Even a simple clash with Eldran felt like colliding with a mountain.
But Amresh didn't falter.
Summoning his Sky Profound Qi, he executed a technique from his personal arsenal—"Heaven's Shadow Step." His body blurred, flickering from one position to another like a mirage. He reappeared a few meters away, creating distance.
"Not bad," Eldran said approvingly. "But you're holding back."
Amresh clenched his fists. Damn it… even after all my training, he's still toying with me.
Eldran suddenly extended a single finger and pointed at Amresh. A terrifying force erupted from his fingertip. The surrounding air compressed, turning into a massive invisible force that slammed toward him like a tidal wave.
There was no time to dodge.
The Ring's First Awakening
At that moment, something stirred within Amresh. A deep, primordial energy surged from his right hand—from the Celestial Void Ring. A dark glow emanated from it, and in an instant, the powerful energy aimed at him was absorbed into the ring, vanishing without a trace.
Gasps erupted from the spectators.
"What just happened?"
"Did he… absorb Eldran's attack?"
Even Eldran's eyes narrowed in surprise. "That wasn't your own ability, was it?"
Amresh looked at the ring in shock. What just happened?
For years, he had tried to uncover the secrets of the ring, but it had always remained silent. Now, it had reacted on its own, absorbing an attack that should have left him injured.
A voice echoed in his mind.
"Power recognized… Unlocking the first seal… You are now permitted to wield the Ring of Devouring."
A rush of knowledge flooded into his mind—a technique embedded within the ring.
The Ring of Devouring
The ability was simple, yet terrifying: it could absorb energy-based attacks and convert them into Qi for the user. Not only had it neutralized Eldran's strike, but it had also given Amresh a surge of raw power.
Feeling the energy flowing through him, Amresh clenched his fists. His entire body was brimming with new strength.
"Let's try this out," he muttered.
He raised his hand and concentrated. The absorbed energy coalesced into a pulsating black sphere in his palm. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he sent it hurtling toward Eldran.
Eldran's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Good! Finally, you show me something new!"
Instead of dodging, he raised his arm and met the attack head-on. The black energy exploded against his body, creating a deep crater beneath his feet. But when the dust settled, Eldran stood there, unharmed.
However, he smiled. "Now you're starting to fight like a true warrior."
The Final Strike
Amresh didn't let up. He channeled his newfound strength, using Heaven's Shadow Step to close the distance instantly. His fists burned with internal energy, enhanced by the power he had absorbed.
Eldran's smirk widened. He met Amresh's charge head-on. The next few moments were a blur of flashing limbs, clashing fists, and explosive Qi bursts. The impact of their battle shattered the training ground beneath them.
Then, Eldran suddenly raised a hand. "Enough."
Amresh halted, panting heavily. Sweat dripped from his forehead, but his eyes burned with determination.
Eldran studied him for a moment before nodding approvingly. "You pass."
The crowd was silent for a few moments before whispers broke out.
"He actually forced Master Eldran to end the fight?"
"He wasn't just enduring—he was fighting back!"
"His ring… what kind of artifact is that?"
Reshma, who had been watching the entire time, crossed her arms and smirked. I knew he was special… but even I didn't expect this.
The Path Forward
As the crowd slowly dispersed, Eldran walked up to Amresh. "You're still far from your peak, boy. But today, you took your first real step forward."
Amresh nodded. He knew he had much to learn. The power of the Celestial Void Ring had only just begun to awaken. There were still secrets within it, waiting to be unraveled.
He glanced at the sky, feeling an unshakable resolve within him.
This was only the beginning.
One day, he would rise beyond the mortal world, beyond the divine, and even beyond the immortals. He would carve his own legend, not as the son of a celestial sovereign, but as his own man.
And the universe would remember his name.
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End of Chapter 1