Across the vast skies of the Tian Yuan Continent, where cloud-covered mountains intertwine with rivers that flow like the veins of the world, humanity lives under a single law: power is truth.
On this land, martial spirits determine the fate of every person. Some are born with common spirits, while a rare few awaken extraordinary ones that cause entire clans to bow in respect. Among the great kingdoms, the "Heavenly Blade Kingdom" stood proud with its four major clans… and the "Bai Clan" was one of them.
That morning, golden sunlight flooded the spacious plaza at the heart of the Bai Clan's main residence. It was the long-awaited and nerve-wracking day: *the Awakening Ceremony for the youths of both the main family and its branches.
Families lined the plaza while the clan elders stood in their long robes, watching with solemn expressions. Dozens of fifteen-year-old youths gathered, their hearts pounding like drums of war.
At the center stood a massive stone platform. Carved upon it was the figure of a celestial beast, surrounded by deep blue spirit rings that slowly revolved.
This was the "Spirit-Summoning Stone", the oldest relic of the clan, used only on this sacred day.
Whispers rose among the crowd when a young man dressed in luxurious white robes walked to the center of the plaza.
It was " Bai Xuan"
The young master of the clan
The number one genius of his generation
The golden hope of the Bai Clan
His short silver hair and sharp eyes radiated confidence stronger than the nine great mountains. He stood straight like a spear forged to pierce the heavens.
An elder spoke respectfully.
"Let the young master Bai Xuan step forward."
Bai Xuan placed his hand on the stone.
The air trembled
A whirlwind gathered
Then
**A burst of azure light exploded**
A giant celestial hawk rose into the sky, its wings slicing through the air as if capable of cutting apart clouds.
An elder cried out
"The Sky wind Hawk, A high-grade martial spirit."
Shouts of admiration filled the plaza. Many bowed instinctively.
It was clear
This day belonged to Bai Xuan.
But while the entire plaza cheered his name
One boy stood in the shadows unnoticed.
A boy with messy black hair and half-closed eyes
as if he had not fully woken up.
This was "Bai Lin"
A child of one of the branch families.
And worse, the younger brother of Bai Ge, the great general, was revered across the kingdom.
He stepped forward slowly when his name was called, as though even walking was too much effort.
Whispers of ridicule spread through the main family's youths
"Look at him, even his footsteps are lazy."
"How is this the brother of the kingdom's war hero? A joke."
Even the elders looked at him with cold disappointment.
Bai Lin stepped onto the stone without caring about the mocking stares.
He raised his hand casually.
The air grew still, not with anticipation of greatness but with the silent expectation of failure.
A faint flicker appeared
Then another weak shimmer
And finally, a small creature rose from the stone
slow
soft-furred
gray
clinging to its claws like a sleepy child
A sloth
The plaza froze for a moment
Then
Laughter erupted
"A sloth spirit"
"This is worse than a low-grade spirit."
"What a disgrace to General Bai Ge's blood."
Even a girl from the branch families covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
An elder muttered loud enough for everyone to hear
"What terrible luck the brother of the great general, awakening a sloth."
"Even ordinary spirits are better than this."
But Bai Lin
did not blush
did not get angry
did not show any shame
He simply picked up the sloth, placed it on his shoulder, and yawned as though he had not slept for days.
Then
To the shock of everyone,
he calmly walked away.
He reached a large tree at the edge of the plaza, sat in its shade, placed the sloth on his chest, and closed his eyes to sleep
while the laughter of the others faded like distant echoes.
One youth snorted
"He only came here to nap."
"He's not even worthy of standing behind Bai Xuan."
But none of them knew
not the elders
not the main family
not even the proud Bai Xuan
that every great story begins in the humblest of places
and that this weak, sluggish creature
might one day reveal a power beyond anything the Bai Clan had ever imagined.