The eastern region of the Spirit Realm, Tianlan City.
On the Xiao family's training grounds, spiritual qi swirled thickly. Two small figures sat facing each other, surrounded by visible vortexes of spiritual qi that stirred the surrounding grass and trees without any wind, petals fluttering about like butterflies.
Five-year-old Xiao Chen and Han Yu had their eyes slightly closed, their hands forming arcane seals. With each breath, they drew in the world's spiritual qi like a surging tide. The aura radiating from their bodies had already reached the Profound Connection Realm!
The Xiao family members and elders watching from the sidelines all wore expressions of shock and pride.
"Incredible... both young masters are only five years old!"
"The Profound Connection Realm! A realm that countless cultivators struggle to reach even after a century of bitter training!"
"The Family Head was wise!"
"Five years ago, he overruled all opposition and kept both young masters. This truly is an omen of our Xiao family's rise!"
In the center of the training ground, Xiao Chen slowly opened his eyes, starlight seeming to flow within his gaze.
He looked at Han Yu across from him and smiled faintly. "Junior Brother, today's spiritual qi tide is thirty percent denser than yesterday's."
Han Yu also opened his eyes, the sharp light within them restrained, and nodded. "The spiritual qi of this realm differs from that of the Immortal Spirit Holy Land, but to return to the Profound Connection Realm in just five short years does exceed expectations."
The two exchanged smiles, understanding each other perfectly.
They were naturally no ordinary five-year-old children.
...
Five years ago, the night the shooting stars fell.
In the backyard of the Xiao family in Tianlan City, a streak of light pierced the sky, striking the training ground beside the Xiao family ancestral shrine without deviation and carving out a massive scorched crater.
At that same moment, a baby's vigorous cry came from the delivery room—the Xiao family's legitimate son, Xiao Chen, had been born.
"A calamity star! This is the birth of a calamity star!" the midwife shrieked in terror.
"A meteor strikes the courtyard as a child is born—this is an omen of great misfortune!"
Panic spread quickly. The Xiao family elders looked grave, and some even proposed sending the infant away to avoid bringing disaster upon the family.
Just then, the current Xiao Family Head, Xiao Tiannan, overruled all objections. He carried the swaddled infant to the meteor crater.
Shockingly, the baby neither cried nor fussed. Instead, he reached his small hand toward the scorched pit and giggled. Even more miraculously, the azure energy lingering in the crater surged into the infant's body like rivers flowing into the sea.
"This is no calamity star—this is a Holy Son!" Xiao Tiannan excitedly raised the infant high.
"The meteor is no disaster, but a heaven-sent opportunity! This child will surely lead the Xiao family to glory!"
Xiao Tiannan's unwavering conviction was not without reason.
Several hundred years ago, he too had been born beneath a shooting star. That night, the Xiao family ancestral home was struck by a meteor just as he came into the world. From childhood, he displayed astonishing talent, his cultivation speed far surpassing his peers, ultimately becoming the Xiao family's youngest ever Family Head.
He had always believed he shared a special destiny with shooting stars.
While the Xiao family members were still half-convinced, another piece of news arrived: a neighboring city's Han family had also birthed a "calamity star," and the family was about to dispose of the child.
Hearing this, Xiao Tiannan didn't hesitate.
"Bring that child to the Xiao family and raise him alongside Chen'er! Born of the same shooting stars, they must be heaven's favored ones!"
And so, the Han family child who had been deemed a calamity star was brought to the Xiao family, becoming Xiao Chen's adoptive brother.
Over these five years, Xiao Tiannan had poured vast resources and effort into both children. Xiao Chen and Han Yu did not disappoint, displaying earth-shattering talent. Object Control at three, Profound Connection at five—they had set unprecedented cultivation records in the Spirit Realm.
...
On the training grounds, Xiao Chen and Han Yu finished their cultivation and walked away side by side under the reverent gazes of the onlookers.
Upon returning to their private cultivation chamber and activating the soundproof barrier, the two finally shed their genius personas, revealing solemn expressions.
"Senior Brother Han, it's been five years. I wonder how our fellow disciples are faring," Xiao Chen sighed softly, his fingertips tracing the desk and leaving faint trails of spiritual qi.
"You and I were lucky to meet someone as understanding as the Xiao Family Head. But the others, I fear..."
Han Yu nodded gravely. "Master sent us ten into the Spirit Realm intending for us to grow quickly and help him win this game of chess."
"But the Black Tortoise broke the covenant, and with disasters both natural and man-made, we 'Children of the Shooting Stars' became targets instead."
The two fell silent, both understanding the gravity of the situation.
But over these five years, besides each other, they hadn't heard any news of their fellow disciples.
The Spirit Realm was vast—not as large as the Lower Realm, but still equivalent to three provinces' worth of territory.
"We must find a way to locate them," Xiao Chen said firmly.
"This game cannot afford any losses. We need the strength of all our fellow disciples."
Han Yu pondered aloud. "But the Spirit Realm is vast."
"We've only reached the Profound Connection Realm—prodigies among our peers, yes, but still far from enough to roam the Spirit Realm freely."
"Moreover, our identities are special. If our connection to the other 'calamity stars' were exposed, it could invite unnecessary trouble."
"Junior Brother speaks truly," Xiao Chen nodded.
"So our top priority is to increase our strength as quickly as possible. Once we have enough influence within the Xiao family, we can begin searching for the others."
The two exchanged a glance, each seeing the other's determination.
Xiao Chen walked to the window and gazed toward the northern horizon.
"Still, we shouldn't worry too much. Our fellow junior brothers and sisters are all people blessed by destiny."
"They may have already found their own paths to rise."
Just then, a respectful voice came from outside the chamber.
"Young Masters, the Family Head requests your presence. He says important news has arrived from the Northern Border."
Xiao Chen and Han Yu exchanged a look, both seeing surprise in the other's eyes.
The Northern Border? That was precisely the direction from which they'd sensed that domineering, kindred aura!
The two straightened their robes and left the chamber, following a servant to the Xiao family council hall.
Xiao Tiannan stood before a map of the Spirit Realm, his expression grave. Seeing the two arrive, he smiled with relief.
"Chen'er, Yu'er, you've come just in time. We've just received word from the Northern Border."
"The Demon Sovereign Qin Ao has announced the establishment of a Holy Dynasty, naming Ten Holy Sons, and declaring his intent to unify the Spirit Realm."
"Ten Holy Sons?" Xiao Chen's heart stirred.
"Reportedly, those Ten Holy Sons are all children born where shooting stars fell five years ago. Qin Ao calls them Children of Destiny rather than calamity stars."
Xiao Tiannan looked at the two meaningfully. "This coincides with my own thinking."
Han Yu asked cautiously, "Father, who is this Qin Ao?"
"While most believe he is a newly rising powerhouse of the demonic path, ruthless in his methods and unfathomable in his strength," Xiao Tiannan mused, "only a few know that this man was once a titan of the demonic path many years ago. His reappearance will surely stir up endless storms of blood."
Xiao Chen and Han Yu exchanged a look, both seeing the guess in the other's heart.
This Qin Ao was very likely a piece the Upper Realm had planted long ago! And he seemed to have already gathered all the Upper Realm's "calamity stars" into a unified force!
"What does Father think of this matter?" Xiao Chen asked probingly.
Xiao Tiannan smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping across the several meteor fall points marked on the map.
"I have always believed that shooting stars are not disasters, but destiny. Though Qin Ao walks the demonic path, his philosophy aligns with mine."
"However... the righteous and demonic paths are irreconcilable."
He looked at the two, wisdom gleaming in his eyes.
"Continue your cultivation and raise your strength as quickly as possible. The Xiao family will support you fully."
"I believe that in the near future, you and those so-called calamity stars... no, Children of Destiny, will change the entire landscape of the Spirit Realm."
After leaving the council hall, Xiao Chen and Han Yu felt conflicted.
"It seems the Xiao Family Head is even more wise and... far-sighted than we imagined," Han Yu said quietly.
Xiao Chen nodded. "He seems to have already seen through many things, merely biding his time."
The two gazed northward, as if they could pierce through endless space and time to see that fellow disciple who had built a Holy Dynasty.
"We must pick up the pace," Xiao Chen said, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes. "Since an enemy has already emerged, we absolutely cannot fall behind."
"Agreed," Han Yu said, a smile tugging at his lips.
They might be chess pieces, but were they not also among the architects of this grand game!
...
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