A cold wind swept over the quiet village of Qīnglóng, nestled at the edge of the sprawling Earthly Mortal Plane (地凡界 – Dì Fán Jiè). It was a place where legends mingled with everyday hardship, and where even the most unremarkable lives could hide a spark of destiny. Amid these humble surroundings, destiny was about to bestow its most curious gift.
A Life Once Lived
Lance had once been an ordinary man—a fervent reader of cultivation light novels whose every day was steeped in tales of immortal heroes and unfathomable powers. Late one evening, as rain pelted the city streets, Lance had been returning from a favorite bookshop when fate intervened in the most unexpected way. A screech of brakes, the deafening sound of a bus colliding with fate, and then nothing but darkness.
Yet darkness was not the end.
Instead, Lance awoke to a warmth that spread through his soul, a sensation both alien and intimately familiar—a feeling of being reborn. When consciousness returned, he discovered that he was not in the bustling modernity he once knew, but in a mysterious, archaic world where cultivation determined one's fate. And with a shock that mingled disbelief with reluctant acceptance, he learned that he had been given a second chance at life—this time as a newborn.
A New Name, A New Destiny
The infant's first cries echoed through a modest dwelling. A gentle voice, filled with overwhelming relief and tenderness, whispered, "My precious son…" The woman cradling him was Mei Lan, whose eyes shone with the fierce love of a mother who had endured hardship to bring new life into the world. Standing beside her was a man whose deep, solemn voice resonated with quiet pride: "He shall be known as Wu Tian."
Thus, Wu Tian became his new name—a name that would one day be whispered in awe throughout the realms. Even in infancy, something extraordinary stirred within him: an unyielding spark that set him apart from the rest. Unbeknownst to those gathered, Wu Tian was reborn with an innate affinity for the Dao of Time—a force that would shape the very fabric of his existence.
The Subtle Whisper of Time
In the days and months that followed, while other infants slept soundly, Wu Tian's mind was awake. Every flutter of a falling leaf, every ripple in the water, resonated with a secret rhythm only he could hear. Even as his tiny fingers clutched his mother's hand, he sensed the steady march of seconds, minutes, and hours. In the quiet of the night, while others dreamed, Wu Tian's soul danced with the patterns of time. It was a force both gentle and relentless, beckoning him to learn its mysteries.
Though his body was small and fragile, his inner world was vast. The Dao of Time revealed itself in delicate, almost imperceptible ways—a glimpse of the future in a moment of crisis, the slow-motion beauty of a falling cherry blossom. Each experience, each sensation, was a lesson etched into his being. Confidence and calm settled within him like an eternal flame, and even his early infantile frustrations—his yearning to cry out and be understood—became lessons in restraint and the beauty of patience.
A World Governed by Cultivation
As Wu Tian grew, so did his understanding of the world around him. The village of Qīnglóng was modest—a small cluster of homes that coexisted with the natural wonders of the Earthly Mortal Plane. Here, the mighty Azure Cloud Sect (青云宗 – Qīng Yún Zōng) and other illustrious powerhouses were distant legends, their grandeur known only through whispered tales and scrolls brought by wandering cultivators. Yet even in this humble setting, the art of cultivation was ever-present.
In the local square, a group of children practiced rudimentary qi-gathering techniques, their faces alight with innocent determination. The air shimmered with the latent power of spirit and ambition. In the nearby market, merchants traded not just goods, but also rare medicinal herbs and mysterious artifacts said to be imbued with elemental energies. It was in such a vibrant tapestry of life that Wu Tian's journey began.
The Inception of a Cultivator
By the time Wu Tian reached the age of five, subtle signs of his extraordinary nature could no longer be hidden. His eyes, clear and unyielding, observed details that others missed—the subtle shift in the wind before a storm, the precise cadence of birdsong at dawn. Even as a child, his behavior bore the mark of someone already acquainted with ancient and profound wisdom. He was confident to an unsettling degree, calm in the face of small adversities, and possessed an unquenchable curiosity about every detail of his world. Yet, beneath his precocious exterior lay a mischievous spark—a tendency to be unexpectedly flirtatious and charming, traits that would earn him both admiration and bemusement from those around him as he matured.
It was during one crisp autumn afternoon that Wu Tian first demonstrated his burgeoning powers. While playing near a tranquil stream, he encountered a fallen leaf swirling in the wind. As other children watched in amazement, Wu Tian extended a chubby finger toward the leaf. To their astonishment, time seemed to slow. The leaf hung suspended in mid-air, every vein and intricate detail visible as if carved by divine artistry. In that moment, the villagers murmured in wonder, unsure whether it was magic, luck, or merely the wild imagination of a gifted child. Wu Tian, however, understood that it was his inherent connection to the Dao of Time—a precursor to the vast powers he would one day command.
The Call to Cultivate
At the age of ten, the turning point came. In this world, the age of ten marked the beginning of one's formal cultivation journey. Wu Tian's family, though modest in means, held deep respect for the traditions of cultivation. The village elders had arranged a ceremony at the old ancestral temple—a crumbling yet dignified structure that echoed with the wisdom of past generations. Here, children were to have their potential measured by the ancient Spirit Testing Stone, a relic said to glow brighter for those blessed with exceptional talent.
As Wu Tian approached the stone, the atmosphere grew heavy with anticipation. One by one, his peers placed their palms upon its cool surface. Many experienced nothing more than a dull glow, a sign of ordinary potential. Then came Wu Tian. He stepped forward with a confident, almost knowing smile. His hand touched the stone, and in an instant, silence fell.
The stone pulsed—a deep, resonant hum that reverberated through the temple walls. A brilliant light emerged from within, forming intricate patterns that danced like the turning of cosmic gears. The elders exchanged glances, their faces etched with awe and a touch of fear. In a final, breathtaking moment, the stone shattered into countless fragments, the light cascading outward in a spectacle that seemed to suspend time itself.
In that single, transformative moment, the future of Wu Tian was sealed. The Dao of Time, awakened and now bound to his soul, had made its declaration: he was destined for greatness—a path that would lead him from humble beginnings to the lofty peaks of cultivation, and perhaps even beyond the mortal realm.
The Journey Ahead
As the fragments of the Spirit Testing Stone drifted like stardust in the twilight, Wu Tian's eyes sparkled with a mixture of determination and mischief. Deep within him, the whispers of time urged him onward. He knew that the road ahead would be fraught with challenges—rival cultivators, deadly sects, and mysteries that would defy mortal understanding. Yet, the spark of destiny burned brightly in his heart.
Confident and calm, yet with an inner playfulness that belied his extraordinary potential, Wu Tian vowed silently: I will master the Dao of Time. I will rise above the limitations of this mortal plane. And I will carve my name into the annals of cultivation, forever remembered as the one who bent time to his will.
Thus began the extraordinary tale of Wu Tian—a tale of rebirth, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of power. His journey was not merely one of cultivation, but of transcending fate itself. And as the stars began to appear in the evening sky, it was clear that the saga of Wu Tian was destined to reshape the very fabric of the world.
The wheels of time had begun to turn, and with them, the destiny of a new hero was set in motion…