Night had slowly set in, bringing with her a gentle breeze that caressed the surrounding hills and valleys. The sky, formerly tinged with purple and gold by the setting sun, had darkened little by little, giving way to an infinite firmament where dazzling stars sparkled. Their fragile light pulsated gently, as if they were communicating with the entire universe.
On the side of a lonely hill, a child of about fourteen stood in a strange position. His body seemed frail under the silver glow of the moon, but a certain determination emanated from him. His feet were stretched, his toes touching the ground as his heels remained slightly raised. His arms, stretched out towards the sky, formed a graceful bow, and his head was tilted backwards. All around him, a weak but persistent spiritual energy flowed slowly, enveloping his body with a light barely noticeable halo.
Jun Xiao, such was his name, was plunged into a deep meditative state. Each inspiration allowed her to suck the spiritual energy floating in the night air, directing her through her meridians. He let it flow slowly inside him, feeding his muscles, bones and organs. His young body, although still in full growth, already exuded a singular aura, a sign of an extraordinary talent.
The hours passed slowly. The moon, suspended high in the sky, lit up Jun Xiao's silhouette with a soft and mystical light. The night air was cool, but he didn't feel the effect; His body seemed to come into harmony with the elements. At times, a light breeze rippled the tall grass around him, producing a soothing, almost melodious murmur. He thus remained motionless until the moonlight began to fade. Little by little, the darkness of the night gave way to the golden glow of dawn. The first light of day touched the horizon, bathing the earth with a warm and reassuring light. Jun Xiao slowly opened his eyes. His deep, dark pupils seemed to contain a golden, fleeting but undeniable glow, as if a mysterious force was hidden there.
He took a deep breath before exhaling a long, controlled breath. A slightly impure air escaped from his mouth, dissipated immediately by the morning wind. His gaze fell on the rising sun, silently observing the star which announced the beginning of a new day.
Fourteen years had passed since birth in this world. Fourteen years of learning, discoveries and challenges. But that was just the beginning of his journey.
In his previous life, Jun Xiao was not a martial arts prodigy, nor a feared warrior. He had never handled weapons, nor followed rigorous training under the tutelage of a legendary master. On the contrary, he was an ordinary man, an enthusiast of reading, eager for knowledge and always looking for new stories to devour. He spent hours plunged into classic novels, philosophical treatises, history textbooks and even fantasy stories describing worlds where warriors could break mountains with a simple punch.
In his previous life, Jun Xiao had reached the age of thirty. He led a peaceful existence, working in a small library where he found his happiness among the rays filled with old and modern books. He particularly liked legends about immortals and martial arts practitioners capable of absorbing the energy of heaven and earth. However, he had never imagined that one day, he would find himself immersed in such a universe.
His destiny swung suddenly on a trip. The plane in which he was in sudden failure, and in a few minutes, everything fell into chaos. He remembered the panicked screams of the passengers, the violent jolts, then a blinding flash before everything turned black. When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer the thirty-year-old man he had been, but a simple infant, unable to move or even speak.
This was the most difficult revelation to accept. Jun Xiao, who had spent his life surrounded by knowledge and epic stories, found himself trapped in a weak and defenseless body. He looked at his small slender arms and sketched a bitter smile.
In his old life, he was perhaps just a story lover, but he had a sharp mind, sharpened by years of reading and reflection. Yet none of his acquaintances could help him understand why or how he had arrived in this world. As Jun Xiao contemplated the sunrise, lost in thought, a slight rustle was heard behind him.
He didn't need to turn around to find out who was approaching. A smile appeared on his lips as a childish, energetic voice broke the silence of the morning.
"Big brother, I knew you would be here! You always like to watch the sun rise. Dad and mom are looking for you!" Jun Xiao turned his head slightly and saw a five-year-old girl climbing the hill with determination.
Her large round eyes sparkled under the first rays of the sun, and her long braids swayed on either side of her face to the rhythm of her steps. His youthful expression exuded the innocence and vivacity of childhood. This little girl was none other than her younger sister, Jun Ling.
"Dad and mom are looking for me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why?"
Jun Ling shrugged his shoulders maliciously before replying carelessly: "I don't know! But if you're late, mom and dad might give you a spanking!" Hearing this, Jun Xiao burst out laughing.
With tenderness, he pinched his little sister's plump cheeks, who immediately began to protest.
"Let's go then, before I get punished." Jun Ling rubbed his reddened cheeks, a sulky pout on his face.
"Big brother, you are really mean! I already told you not to pinch my cheeks!" But hardly had she finished her sentence than Jun Xiao pinched her cheeks again before walking away, laughing.
"Brother! Don't run!" she cried, chasing her afterwards.
The two children descended the hill, their laughter resonating through the fields still covered in dew. Jun Xiao, despite his adult memories, couldn't help but feel pure happiness playing with his little sister. He may have lived thirty years in his former life, but he was surprised to appreciate these moments of carelessness, as if he were really a child.
Soon they reached the foot of the hill, where the vast domain of the Jun clan stood. An imposing manor house with curved roofs, inspired by traditional architectures, stretched out in front of them. Behind the stone walls, carefully maintained gardens stretched out between small paved courtyards.
Without wasting time, Jun Xiao headed to the main hall of the east court. He already knew where his parents were waiting for him.
When he entered the vast hall, he found a mature man sitting on the main seat. He wore a long white robe and his dignified look gave him the air of a scholar, although his lively gaze betrays a natural authority. At his side, a woman with a graceful face, dressed in style, gave her a soft but slightly worried smile.
This man and this woman were his parents in this new life: his father, Jun Tian, and his mother, Su Mei.
Slightly bowing in respect, Jun Xiao spoke: "Dad, mom, were you looking for me?" Jun Tian frowned slightly, his piercing eyes peering at his son with a hint of severity.
"Where did you go so early in the morning?" he asked calmly but authoritatively.
"Honey please don't scare the child." Su Mei, Jun Xiao's mother, intervened with a soothing smile, glancing at her husband before turning to her son.
"Xiao'er, in a few days, you will be fourteen. It's time to awaken your innate potential. Your father and I decided to take you to the sacred room for the awakening ceremony."
The awakening of innate potential? Jun Xiao stood frozen for a moment. Although he has read countless fantasy stories in his old life, he never thought he would find himself in a similar situation.
In this world to name Tianyun, each individual was born with an innate potential, a natural gift that defined his ability to cultivate spiritual energy and progress in the path of power.
This potential was classified in ten levels, from the first, considered mediocre, to the tenth, an existence defying the laws of heaven. The higher the potential, the more a person could absorb and refine the surrounding energy quickly, allowing them to progress at lightning speed. Conversely, those with too low potential were condemned to slow or even non-existent growth.
Worse still, some people were born without the slightest potential, unable to cultivate and destined for an ordinary life.
A world where only force was law… Jun Xiao clenched his fists slightly. He knew how cruel a person's fate could be here. Those with great potential were respected, pampered and carefully trained, while the others were despised, considered dead weights for their family and society. His heart accelerated slightly. What would be its own potential? Thus, Jun Xiao was led by Su Mei and Jun Tian to the sacred hall of the Jun clan mansion.
When they arrived outside the majestic building, a crowd was already crowding there. Many parents were present, accompanying their children who came to awaken their innate potential. This day marked a crucial step in their lives, because their future would largely depend on the level of potential they were going to reveal.
In addition to Jun Xiao, several other young people from the different branches of the Jun clan were gathered, waiting with an excitement mixed with anxiety. Some whispered to each other, exchanging assumptions and hopes, while others kept a tense silence.
The atmosphere was loaded with anticipation, and Jun Xiao felt a slight tension rising in him. Soon he would know what his true potential was in this world.