As twilight deepened, Qing Feng, his father, and his mother sat together, enjoying a simple dinner. Afterward, they returned together to their cramped room to sleep. Qing Feng, ever considerate, slept in the rickety bed that belonged to his parents, while they willingly slept on the ground, with only a few old cardboard boxes offering meager protection from the dirty, earthen floor.
"Mom, Dad, are you really okay sleeping on the ground? Maybe I should sleep down there instead," Qing Feng asked with concern.
"It's alright, child. We're more comfortable down here. You just stay in the bed," his mother replied gently, masking the discomfort in her back.
Qing Feng returned a brilliant smile, a smile that warmed his parents' hearts. They knew that smile was their most precious treasure.
"Dad, we're so lucky to have a child like Qing Feng, don't you think?" his mother said softly, gazing at her husband with affection.
"That's right. We are very lucky. But... I also feel guilty, knowing that Qing Feng was born without the talent for cultivation," his father replied bitterly, hiding the pain in his heart.
They held each other tightly, shedding tears of regret that had been suppressed for too long. It was a long time before they finally drifted off to a restless sleep. Silence filled the small room, broken only by the sound of the wind whistling through the gaps in the dilapidated wooden window, as if it too was sharing in their sorrow.
---
The Next Morning
Qing Feng awoke from a deep sleep, disturbed by the sound of the wind whistling through the cracks in the walls. His mother had already risen early and was waking him, as the sun was already up. The sun rose, its warm rays bathing the earth, but failing to penetrate the humble room.
"Qing Feng, wake up, child. Wash up and eat," his mother said gently, masking the fatigue in her face.
"Okay, Mom," Qing Feng replied, slowly opening his eyes, squinting against the morning light.
He climbed out of bed, still feeling a bit sleepy. However, the sound of his father's hurried footsteps jolted him fully awake.
"Dad, where are you going? Why are you in such a hurry?" Qing Feng asked, puzzled.
"Oh, Qing Feng, I'm going to check on the Willow Tree. The village chief said it seems to be sick. Would you like to come along?" his father invited, hiding a deep worry.
"Yes, I want to go, Dad! But first, I need to wash up and eat. Wait for me!" Qing Feng replied excitedly, unaware of the burden on his father's shoulders.
Qing Feng ran toward the washroom, leaving his father to chuckle helplessly. His mother, seeing Qing Feng's hurried manner, simply shook her head and smiled.
"How is that child always so full of energy?" she murmured to herself, masking her admiration and concern.
Qing Feng's mother, Yan Xunxi, was a woman of exceptional beauty, though the simple life had slightly faded her radiance. Many villagers were captivated by her looks, but none knew the secret she hid. Yan Xunxi was concealing her true identity. She was not from a poor family, but from the illustrious Yan Clan, one of the most powerful sects in the cultivation world. She was the first heir to the Solar Imprint and the future Celestial Empress, a destiny she had abandoned for love.
However, Yan Xunxi chose to give up everything for her love for Qing Feng's father, Zhang Qingsu. She destroyed her cultivation, becoming an ordinary person to marry the man she loved. Though life was simple, Yan Xunxi never regretted her decision. She and Zhang Qingsu lived happily together, forgetting her glorious past.
"How is the Yan Clan doing now? Ah, never mind. I'm happy as I am," she murmured to herself with a smile, hiding the occasional pangs of longing that surfaced in her heart.
Qing Feng, who had just finished washing up, saw his mother smiling to herself.
"Mom's smiling? It must be because she saw Dad's handsomeness," he teased, trying to lighten the mood.
"No, no. Mom's just happy to have a child like you, Qing Feng. Oh, right, weren't you going with Dad? Hurry along," his mother said evasively, masking the blush on her face.
Qing Feng suddenly remembered and quickly got dressed. He ran out of the washroom and toward his father, ready to embark on their little adventure.
---
On the Way to the Willow Tree
Qing Feng and his father walked together toward the Willow Tree. He was overjoyed, as it had been a long time since he had been there. His eyes sparkled, as if he had forgotten all the hardships in their lives. Zhang Qingsu could only smile as he looked at his son, hoping that he would have a bright future.
---
At the Willow Tree
Qing Feng and Zhang Qingsu arrived at the Willow Tree. Qing Feng was surprised to see that the tree looked weak, as if it was dying. His eyes welled up with tears, as if he could feel the tree's pain.
"Dad, why does the Willow Tree look like it's dying?" he asked with concern, voicing the fears of all the villagers.
"Don't worry, child. The Willow Tree isn't dying, it's just sleeping," his father replied, trying to reassure him, even though he didn't believe his own words.
Qing Feng sighed in relief. "Thank goodness. If the Willow Tree died, I wouldn't have any friends," he said, hiding the loneliness he often felt.
All the villagers were working hard to find a way to restore the Willow Tree. Qing Feng was also racking his brains, feeling responsible for saving the tree he considered family.
"How can we wake the Willow Tree from its slumber?" he murmured to himself, searching desperately for a solution.
Suddenly, a memory flashed through his mind. His eyes sparkled, as if he had received an epiphany. "I remember! I once read a book that Dad gave me," he thought, berating himself for not remembering sooner.
Qing Feng recalled a book that his father had painstakingly bought from a city far away from their village, a book containing forbidden knowledge about the cultivation world.
---
Qing Feng Reading the Book
"The planet Nexus possesses incredibly rich spiritual energy. This spiritual energy can even bring the dead back to life. The method is to use bamboo, arranging the bamboo side by side. The deceased must be placed in the middle of the bamboo array. Then, light the bamboo one by one, and the spiritual energy will be absorbed into the body of the deceased. Even ordinary people can see the spiritual energy, albeit only a glimpse."
"That's crazy! So, we can bring people back from the dead? But, the method is right here in this book. It won't work if it's just ordinary people," he exclaimed, realizing how vast and complex the world outside his village was.
---
Back to the Present
A brilliant smile spread across Qing Feng's face. He felt as if he had just successfully cultivated, even though he knew it was impossible. "Dad, I know how to wake up the Willow Tree!" he shouted excitedly, breaking the silence of the village.
Everyone turned to look at him, curious about the method Qing Feng knew. They hoped that this child, who was considered talentless, could bring hope to their village.
"What method, child? Tell us quickly," his father said, his eyes shining, masking the doubts that still lingered in his heart.
"First, we must find bamboo and arrange them side by side in the direction of the Willow Tree. Then, we light the bamboo with fire," he explained in detail, trying to convince everyone.
Everyone followed Qing Feng's instructions, though some were still skeptical. However, Zhang Qingsu believed in his son. He knew that Qing Feng had something special, even if he didn't have the talent for cultivation.
The villagers gathered bamboo and arranged them side by side in the direction of the Willow Tree. Qing Feng approached with a torch, feeling nervous but still determined.
"Alright, everyone stand back! Otherwise, we might explode," he shouted nervously, hiding his fear.
The villagers retreated. Ren Chao scoffed, looking down on Qing Feng's efforts. "How could a talentless child possibly save the Willow Tree that protects our village?" he sneered, hiding the jealousy in his heart.
Qing Feng extended the torch toward the bamboo. The flames immediately ignited and spread quickly. Qing Feng ran away, though he ran slowly because his body was weak.
"Okay, everyone, get ready," he shouted, hoping that everything would go well.
Everyone held their breath, curious to see what would happen. Suddenly, from the very last bamboo, a blinding light erupted.
"Qing Feng, is that spiritual energy? But, why can ordinary people see it?" the village chief asked in disbelief, witnessing a miracle with his own eyes.
The dense light spread to the other bamboo. The spiritual energy was immense, beyond anything they had ever seen. The light reached the last bamboo and entered the Willow Tree. The Willow Tree emitted a blinding light, forcing everyone to close their eyes.
"It seems to have worked. The instructions in the book were correct," Qing Feng murmured to himself, feeling relieved and proud.
The once withered Willow Tree began to regrow, becoming even larger than before. A beam of light shot out from the tree, piercing the sky and forming a yin-yang vortex, a phenomenon that shook the entire cultivation world. All the great sects witnessed a person breaking through to the Cosmic Enlightenment Realm from the mortal realm, a rare occurrence that only happened once every few thousand years.
Around the beam of light, there appeared a magnificent halo and a green planet symbolizing the element of wood, a symbol of power and life. The planet merged with the beam of light, turning it into a very powerful dark green, radiating an awe-inspiring glow. Ordinary people nearby felt immense pressure and collapsed to the ground, unable to withstand the power.
After the green beam of light faded, a giant green figure appeared behind the Willow Tree, a manifestation of the cosmic power that the Willow Tree had just obtained. This figure was an absorption of cosmic energy from beyond the universe, a testament to the fact that the Willow Tree had transcended its limits. The Willow Tree had reached the Cosmic Enlightenment Realm and formed a giant body. The laws of the Nexus world could not suppress this power. Those who reached the Cosmic Enlightenment Realm could defeat an early expert of the Immortal Realm, a power that all cultivators feared.
Qing Feng watched all of this in awe, realizing how insignificant he was in the face of cosmic power. "So that's what it looks like when a cultivator breaks through to the next realm. It's so spectacular! There's a giant behind the Willow Tree," he murmured to himself, feeling awed and inspired.
Gradually, the giant's light faded. The Willow Tree, which had been floating in the air, fell to the ground, causing a small earthquake that shook the entire village. All the villagers knelt down, afraid to look at the tree, feeling fear and reverence.
The Willow Tree began to speak in a deep and majestic voice. "Who helped me break through to the peak realm?" it asked with a powerful aura, intimidating everyone.
No one dared to answer. Only Qing Feng stepped forward, looking at the Willow Tree, showing a courage that no one else possessed.
"It was me, Willow Tree. Congratulations on your success," he replied respectfully, though he felt a tremor in his heart.
The Willow Tree understood that Qing Feng was not lying. "Why does Qing Feng know how to focus spiritual energy? But he doesn't have any talent," it thought, curious about the secrets this child possessed.
"Alright, thank you for helping me. Now, you can come to see me whenever you want," the Willow Tree said, bestowing a priceless reward.
"What?" All the villagers were stunned, unable to believe what they had heard. The small village became noisy, buzzing with talk of the miracle that had just occurred.
Qing Feng happily stepped forward, unaware of the magnitude of the impact of his actions. "Really? I can come to see you whenever I want?" he asked, making sure he hadn't misheard.
The Willow Tree nodded, revealing a gentle smile that only Qing Feng could see. The villagers smiled at Qing Feng, realizing that this child, who they thought was talentless, was their hero.
However, the Willow Tree's breakthrough to the Cosmic Enlightenment Realm had already attracted the attention of the great sects. They would stop at nothing to possess this tree, even if it meant destroying this small village.
---
Epilogue
Qing Feng distanced himself from the noisy banquet, feeling uncomfortable with all the attention he was receiving. He looked up at the beautiful stars and moon, seeking peace.
"Wow, the stars and moon are so beautiful tonight," he murmured to himself, feeling at peace.
Suddenly, the Willow Tree approached him in its tree form, revealing a reassuring smile. "Qing Feng, I know that you feel inferior because you don't have any talent. However, you are very skilled in intellect. Why don't you become the emperor of the mortal realm?" it asked, presenting a challenge that would change his life.
Qing Feng was stunned. He stood up straight, smiling, and accepting the challenge with all his heart. "Willow Tree, even if I don't have the talent for cultivation, I will find a way to cultivate without talent. I will become the strongest, even if I am hated by the sky, the gods, and fate. My feet will not kneel to gods or fate. I will only kneel to those who deserve my respect, and that is my parents and you, Willow Tree."
"Therefore, let alone gods, celestial emperors, or fate. I will kill them one by one," he said, his eyes filled with determination, revealing the ambition burning within his heart.
The sky rumbled, responding to Qing Feng's words. The Willow Tree's leaves, Qing Feng's clothes, and his hair fluttered in the wind, as if the entire universe was witnessing the birth of a legend.
"Even though you don't have any talent, you still yearn to become strong. I can't wait to see your future, Qing Feng," the Willow Tree thought with confidence, realizing that it had discovered someone special.
Will Qing Feng prove himself to the world, his parents, and the Willow Tree? Or will he fail to become the strongest? Only time will tell.
----
Chapter 2 Completed