In this alternate timeline, five centuries before the completion of the fate-changing ritual, the Eastern Star Dominion stretched across a vast expanse of stars. Among the countless worlds within its reaches was the Ancestral Dream Planet, home to the Ancestral Cloud Continent.
Near Divine Bird City, a dense forest lay shrouded in shadow. Three rugged men prowled through its undergrowth, their sharp eyes searching for movement.
Let's call them Knife, Scar, and Muscle.
The first seemed perpetually on edge, a knife glinting ominously in his hand.
The second had a scarred face and a cunning, cruel look about him.
The third towered over the others, his bulging muscles making him look strong enough to crush a cow with his bare hands.
"Where are they?" Scar grumbled.
Knife, already irritated, bellowed into the forest, "Hmph! Don't make me find you, or you're dead!"
His shout echoed through the trees, but no reply came.
Muscle broke the silence. "That damned blue-eyed brat… why's he so strong when he's not even a cultivator yet? There's something off about him."
Scar nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he took down two of our guys—cultivators. How's that even possible?"
Knife smirked knowingly, twirling the blade in his hand. "You idiots don't get it? He's God's son."
The other two froze. Muscle raised an eyebrow. "Which God?"
Knife shrugged with a wry smile, leaving the other two to exchange nervous glances before the realization hit them.
"That God?!" they exclaimed in unison.
"Yeah, that God," Knife confirmed, his tone grim.
Muscle's eyes widened. "No wonder he's strong. But still, there's no way he can beat the three of us, right?"
Scar, the weakest of the trio, shivered as he glanced nervously around. "But… is it okay to hunt God's son? What if he… you know, comes back?"
His jaw clenched, his hands shaking at the thought of retribution. Stories of God's limitless, devastating power lingered in their minds.
"Ptooey! You coward!" Muscle spat. "That God's been gone for years without a single sighting. Who knows? Maybe he's left for good." He sneered. "It doesn't matter whose son he is. Stealing Big Boss's toy? That's unforgivable."
Knife nodded in agreement. "Exactly. That outsider doesn't belong here. Didn't God say no outsiders are allowed in this city?"
Though that wasn't exactly what God had said, Scar hesitated before nodding reluctantly. With no choice but to follow through with the task, he pushed his fear aside and steeled himself.
Their decision made, the three resumed their search.
* * *
After hours of combing through the forest, they stumbled upon a dilapidated hut hidden among the trees. Without hesitation, they barged inside.
The bandits ransacked the place with knives and fists. They tore through every corner they could find, but their efforts yielded nothing.
Just as they were preparing to leave, a sound broke the silence.
"Khoff… Khak… Khak."
The coughing came from the attic, which was small enough to house little more than a family of mice.
"Found you!" Muscle roared, his voice triumphant as he threw a devastating punch upward.
The ceiling shattered, and four small figures tumbled to the ground. They were children, no older than seven, their ragged clothes and battered bodies telling of their suffering. Among them were three boys and one girl, each with irises of distinct colors.
The boy with yellow eyes was the most injured, his body covered in cuts and bruises. His back bore freshly branded words, charred and obscured by blood, rendering them illegible. Blood also stained his lips as he continued to cough violently, clearly the source of the earlier sound.
"Ha! There you are!" Knife cackled.
Muscle grabbed the boy by the collar, hoisting him into the air with one hand. "Come here, you little monkey! We're not done playing with you yet!"
"Put Wuji down, or I'll smash that hand to pieces!"
The sharp command came from another boy with striking blue eyes. His small frame trembled as he pointed at the bandits, anger keeping his voice fierce despite his fear.
Scar sneered at the boy's defiance. "With your puny strength? Heh. This place is too cramped for a fight. Why don't you come outside and show us what you've got?"
The bandits left the hut, dragging Wuji with them, but they didn't go far. They stood just outside, waiting for the challenger to emerge.
"Lizhua!" the blue-eyed boy called to his companion, whose eyes were a fiery red. "To the death!"
They had trained for this moment. He wouldn't let fear or doubt hold him back. He burst through the door with a raw scream that rattled the trees.
"Brother Feng, wait for me!" Lizhua followed close behind, his own shout mingling with his friend's. Adrenaline coursed through his veins as he ran.
The two boys charged straight at the bandits.
The bandits exchanged sneering glances. They outnumbered the children and far surpassed them in cultivation and experience. It felt beneath them to fight two kids three-on-two, so Muscle, the strongest of the trio and the one holding Wuji, barked at his companions. "Hurry up and get rid of them. Don't waste time!"
Scar and Knife grinned, stepping forward to deal with the boys.
The boys rushed in, fists flying—but they were far too young.
Scar and Knife moved like seasoned predators. In moments, the children were driven back, blows landing hard and fast.
Feng Luotian fought fiercely, shielding Lizhua even as he took blows himself. But the bandits were far stronger. The boys stumbled and bled. Any other children would have given up by now, yet they kept fighting.
Lizhua, battered and bleeding, felt his strength fading but refused to give in. He wouldn't fail his leader. Not now.
Wuji, meanwhile, was too injured to do anything. Held tightly in Muscle's grip, he could barely breathe, let alone fight back.
Scar laughed—a sharp, ugly sound—then backhanded Luotian.
Crack!
The boy flew, hit the ground hard. Blood sprayed, darkening the earth.
"Brother Feng!!" Lizhua lunged, voice cracking with panic.
Knife met him with a savage knee to the gut.
Thud.
Lizhua crumpled, choking. He vomited, breathless.
"Hmph, enough games," Knife said with a sadistic grin. "Let's finish this." He raised the knife to strike, aiming to end Lizhua's life.
"STOP!"
A girl's voice pierced the tension, sharp and desperate.
Knife froze mid-swing as the girl with green eyes stumbled forward. She clutched a small bag close to her chest, her hands trembling as she rummaged inside.
Muscle chuckled. "And why should we listen to you, little miss?"
Ignoring him, the girl pulled out a token from her bag and raised it high. Carved from refined jade in the shape of a peacock with fanned, gold-etched feathers, it pulsed with unmistakable authority.
The bandits froze. Their smirks vanished, replaced by pale, horrified faces.
"The Peacock Crest…" Knife muttered.
"You're… the City Lord's daughter?!" Scar stammered.
The girl nodded, silent but resolute.
In an instant, all three dropped to their knees, kowtowing in panic.
"We're sorry! Please—have mercy!" They feared no absent god, but the City Lord was a far more terrifying prospect—present, ruthless, and fiercely protective. Offending his daughter guaranteed death for them all.
The girl drew a shaky breath and stood tall. When she spoke again, her voice was firmer. "Go back and tell your boss that this is his final warning. If he ever dares to send anyone after us again… I'll make sure my father hears of it personally."
"Yes! Understood! We swear!" the bandits yelped in unison, scrambling to their feet and vanishing into the forest like terrified ghosts, never daring to look back.
She watched them vanish, relieved but guilty. She disliked using her father's token, but she'd had no other choice.
Once the group gathered again, Luotian turned to the girl, his expression stern despite the blood trickling from his mouth. "Yue'er, how many times have I told you not to use the token? How can we prove ourselves like that?" He hadn't meant to blame her, but relying on the token felt like admitting defeat.
"But… but you were all… Waaah!" Yue'er's lips quivered as she burst into tears, unable to find the words to defend herself.
Lizhua, struggling to keep himself steady, managed a teasing grin. "Brother Feng, you've made her cry again."
"W-What? Ah… Yue'er, I didn't mean it like that. I'm sorry. And thank you for saving us." Feng Luotian's voice softened as he quickly tried to console her, guilt washing over him.
Yue'er sniffled, her tears slowing to soft sobs.
Shifting his attention, Luotian crouched beside Wuji, who had been flung aside by the panicked bandit. "Are you okay, Wuji?"
"I'm—Khak! Khak! Khak!" Wuji tried to respond, only to be interrupted by a fit of coughs. After a moment, he forced a weak smile despite the pain etched on his face. "I'm okay."
"We should take him to your place, Sister Mei," Lizhua suggested, his voice weary but steady.
Luotian nodded. "I agree, but let's rest here for now. Those bastards might be waiting for us at the forest exit. We need to be ready."
The group went back inside the hut and settled down to rest.
After they had rested for a while, Luotian's eyes lit up. He sat up straight. "I've got an idea. Want to hear it?"
The others perked up, nodding eagerly.
"From today on, let's be sworn brothers and sister!" Luotian declared proudly.
Lizhua and Wuji exchanged glances, their faces lighting with agreement. Only Yue'er hesitated, prompting Luotian to tease her. "What's wrong, Yue'er? Don't want me as your Big Bro?"
Yue'er snorted, crossing her arms. "Who would want to call you Big Bro, Luotian?"
Unfazed, Luotian grinned confidently. "Why not? I'm this strong already, and I haven't even awakened yet!"
"I'm in," Wuji said.
"Me too," Lizhua added.
Luotian looked expectantly at Yue'er. "Well?"
With an annoyed huff, Yue'er relented. "Fine!"
Luotian laughed, triumphant. "Good! Then let's swear an oath on the will to protect!"
The group exchanged puzzled glances.
"What's the will to protect?" Wuji asked.
Luotian's expression softened. "It's something my father told me before he left," he said, pride and reverence in his voice.
His gaze seemed to grow distant, as if he were staring at something far beyond the walls of the hut.
* * *
A few years earlier, Feng Luotian stood beside his father on a cliff overlooking a vast ocean. Younger and smaller then, the boy gazed at the horizon, his eyes sparkling with ambition.
"Someday, Father, I'll protect this city and everyone in it with my own strength! Just like you, I'll make the bad guys back down with only my words!"
His father chuckled warmly, stroking his son's head. "It's good to hear you have such ambition. But remember one thing, Tian'er."
"What is it, Father?"
"The will to protect."
Luotian tilted his head, confusion evident. "The will to protect?"
His father's gaze turned toward the ocean, his eyes reflecting a profound light. "That's right. Strength alone doesn't protect anyone. What determines whether you're weak or strong is your will to protect. As long as that will stays strong, you'll never see your loved ones perish. But the moment you give in—whether to fear, greed, or despair—you'll lose everything you hold dear, even yourself."
He turned to his son, his gaze intent. "So, Tian'er. Always stay strong. Uphold your will to protect and guard those you love with your life on the line."
The boy's small fists clenched. "Yes, Father. I will."
His father smiled, his gaze returning to the ocean. "It's good as long as you understand."
* * *
Back in the hut, Luotian finished his story. "That's what he told me. It's stayed with me ever since."
The others listened with rapt attention, their eyes shining with admiration. Luotian's father was a legendary figure in the city—a man revered as a God. Every child knew the stories of his deeds, tales they proudly shared among themselves.
"Well?" Luotian asked.
Without hesitation, the others nodded.
The four exited the hut and lined up outside, kneeling beneath the sky.
The boy with azure eyes raised his voice first. "Let Heaven bear witness as I, Feng Luotian, take Ying Lizhua, Sun Wuji, and Mei Yue'er as my sworn brothers and sister. For as long as I live, I will uphold my will to protect. Neither fear nor greed, not even death, will shake this will! I will never let my brothers or sister draw their last breaths before me. If I break this oath, may Heaven condemn me with a thousand tribulations!"
The others followed suit, their voices ringing out in unison, sealing their bond with Heaven as their witness.