The mists of the Hidden Valley remained as thick and eternal as ever.
But within their embrace, something had changed.
Wu Tian—now six years old—sat in quiet solitude at the edge of a cliff where the mountain winds whispered low and constant. No one followed him. No one needed to. He had long outgrown the need for guidance. The boy who once mimicked martial forms in the dirt was now a quiet prodigy—a force growing in silence.
His spine was straight. His eyes closed.
He sat in the lotus position, silently cultivating the Soul Creation Art.
And within him, something stirred.
A deep breath. The world seemed to pause.
Then, a crack—not in stone or air, but in the unseen fabric of his soul. A ripple passed through him, from his dantian to the crown of his head. Golden light flickered along his spine like a serpent rousing from slumber.
His body did not move. But his soul... ascended.
Ding!
"Mortal Soul Stage achieved. Legacy System initializing…"
The voice was soft, impersonal, yet clear—resonating in the space between his thoughts. Wu Tian didn't flinch. He had waited for this moment. Felt it approaching like the change of seasons.
"Soul requirements met. Accessing locked inheritance…"
A surge of warmth bloomed in his chest. For a moment, it felt as though a sun had ignited at his core. Knowledge—ancient, cryptic, divine—began to unravel within his mind.
"Primordial Chaos and Origin Technique—unsealed."
"This cultivation method draws from cosmic essence, combining inner qi with elemental creation force. Compatible with host's soul signature. Estimated amplification rate: 9.8x."
Wu Tian's eyes opened. There was no awe in them. Only certainty.
This was what he had always known—what he had trained for. And now, finally, the time had come. It was time to begin.
He rose to his feet, wind whipping at his robes, and turned toward the sealed passage at the far edge of the valley.
It was time to leave.
The ancestral hall was quiet, the scent of incense lingering faintly in the air. Portraits of ancient clan leaders lined the walls—watchful, solemn, proud.
Wu Tian entered alone, his steps quiet but unwavering. Lady Yue turned from her seat, startled by his presence.
"Tian'er," she said softly. "You're up early."
"I have something to ask," Wu Tian said.
She tilted her head.
"I want to leave the valley."
Lady Yue's breath caught. "No. You're still a child. It's dangerous outside, more than you know. You were born here for a reason—hidden, safe."
"I am six," Wu Tian replied, calm and firm. "And I've broken through to the Mortal Soul Stage."
Her eyes widened.
A soft rustle from the shadows signaled Elder Han's presence. He emerged from behind a pillar, gaze sharp and probing. "You've advanced?"
Wu Tian nodded. "On my own."
That much, at least, was true. He would not speak of the voice in his mind—the system that had awakened in secret—nor the cultivation technique only he could access. This was his burden, his secret, and perhaps… his weapon.
"Show me," Elder Han said, stepping forward.
Without hesitation, Wu Tian sat in lotus position on the polished stone floor. He inhaled deeply—and the hall shifted.
A subtle pull rippled through the air. Dust trembled. A candle flickered unnaturally, its flame leaning toward him. Then—golden light shimmered faintly beneath his skin, coiling like a living script along his arms and neck before vanishing.
Elder Han drew a sharp breath. "That's... impossible. At your age?"
Lady Yue knelt beside her son, hand hovering just shy of his shoulder. "You've been hiding this…"
"There was nothing to hide," Wu Tian said. "Only to prepare for."
"You speak like an old man," Elder Han muttered, half in awe. "You're not just talented. You're fated. You are a monster."
Wu Tian looked up at them both. "The dreams still come. Battlefields, fire, cities, monsters. I don't know what they mean. But I know it's time for me to leave."
Lady Yue closed her eyes. "The valley is sacred... but it is also a prison."
"She was right," Elder Han murmured. "He must go."
Lady Yue whispered, "Assign a Dou Zong to protect him—secretly. Tell them not to interfere unless truly necessary."
By sunset, Wu Tian stood at the great Sealed Gate—a monolithic arch of stone veined with ancient runes that shimmered faintly in his presence.
Lady Yue fastened a dark sash around his waist, her hands trembling slightly. In its folds, she placed a crescent-moon jade pendant and gave him a spatial ring.
"Keep it close. It marks your bloodline. Speak our name only when you must. The outside world may not have forgotten. And this ring contains what you'll need."
She tried to smile, but the sadness in her eyes betrayed her. "I don't want to lose you."
"You won't," Wu Tian said. "But I must find who I'm meant to become. And grow strong—so we no longer have to hide."
Elder Han approached next, offering a tightly bound scroll. "The path ahead isn't just wide—it's layered. This map marks known sects, spirit lands, and qi-rich zones across the Dou Qi Continent. Some will tolerate your gifts... others will seek to claim them. Be wary of the eight ancient clans."
Wu Tian took the scroll, bowing with respectful grace. "I will remember the clan."
Elder Han placed a hand on his shoulder. "And the clan will remember you. If ever you need aid, take this token and seek the Pill Tower."
As Wu Tian turned toward the world beyond, the mists parted as if in recognition. The path was narrow, descending through bamboo groves and rocky cliffs.
He did not look back.
System, he said inwardly, begin cultivation.
Ding!
"Primordial Chaos and Origin Technique: Phase One Initiated. Objective: Absorb qi from three unique spiritual environments. Advancement Target: Dou Zhe Stage within three months."
"Reminder: This method draws from high-purity sources. Seek unique elemental qi zones to accelerate refinement."
"Reward: Fire, Thunder, and Wood Attributes."
Wu Tian's heart was steady. His hands did not tremble. Each step forward felt like a return to a place he had never seen, yet always known. At last, he would explore the Dou Qi Continent—the world he once only read about in his past life on Blue Star.
The valley faded behind him.
And for the first time in his life, the world opened before him.