The morning sun rose over Qingyu Village, spilling golden light across the river, the hills, and the quiet cottages. Birds chirped and villagers stirred, unaware that something extraordinary was about to awaken within one of their own.
Sixteen-year-old Feng Yan stood alone atop the jagged northern ridge. His dark eyes were fixed on the horizon, sharp and perceptive. To any ordinary observer, he was just a mortal boy, slender and seemingly fragile. Yet within him, something ancient, chaotic, and incomprehensibly powerful stirred—the Heaven Devouring Pearl, the artifact that had fallen from the heavens sixteen years ago, now embedded in his very being.
A faint tremor ran through the air, subtle yet undeniable. Feng Yan inhaled deeply. The Pearl pulsed, resonating with his spirit. It was as if it recognized him, acknowledging the first stirrings of a destiny that could shake heavens, devour stars, and even challenge gods themselves.
---
The First Pulse
Feng Yan's gaze fell to his chest, where a faint glow shimmered beneath his mortal skin. Though he had grown up unaware of the Pearl's true power, he had always felt its presence, a faint hum guiding his thoughts, sharpening his mind beyond normal human limits.
He closed his eyes and let the energy flow through him. At first, it was subtle—like a breeze brushing over a still pond. Then it intensified, rippling through his veins like fire. His mind expanded, taking in not just the world around him, but patterns, energy flows, and the hidden pulses of life itself.
"This… this is real," he whispered. "Not just power… knowledge, instinct… everything."
For the first time, Feng Yan truly understood the gift—and the burden—he had been given.
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First Test – The Forest Challenge
The forest bordering Qingyu Village had always been considered dangerous, full of wild beasts and restless spirits. Most villagers avoided it, but for Feng Yan, it was the perfect first test.
He stepped lightly onto the moss-covered ground, the Pearl's energy flowing through him. He could feel the energy in every tree, every rock, every leaf. Even the faintest movement in the shadows registered in his mind.
A rustle in the underbrush drew his attention. A massive, wolf-like creature with glowing eyes emerged, larger and more feral than any mortal animal. Its body crackled with latent energy, clearly influenced by the chaotic aura of the Pearl that had fallen into the mortal world.
Most mortals would have fled in terror. But Feng Yan remained calm. He extended his hand, and the Pearl's energy radiated outward in a faint aura, subtly manipulating the environment around him. With a flick of his wrist and a thought, he redirected the creature's momentum, sending it crashing into a tree. It snarled and retreated, no longer a threat.
---
The Rival Appears
From the edge of the forest, a shadowy figure watched him silently—a boy slightly older, with a faint cultivator aura. His eyes narrowed as he observed Feng Yan's calm, calculated movements.
"You… this mortal," the boy said with a smirk. "You are weak, yet… different. I've never sensed such a presence in a human before."
Feng Yan turned slowly, his dark eyes cold and piercing. "I am mortal, yes. Weak, perhaps. But I will not stay that way. Observe closely, for I will surpass every expectation you have of me—and of mortals in general."
The rival's expression changed, a mix of irritation and awe forming on his face. This boy was different… dangerous. And the seed of rivalry was planted.
---
First Sparks of Cultivation
After the encounter, Feng Yan knelt by the stream, letting the Pearl's energy flow through him fully for the first time. His consciousness expanded beyond the limits of his mortal body. He sensed the forest's energy, the river's flow, even the subtle life force of insects and animals around him.
The Pearl whispered to him, guiding his thoughts:
- Sense energy in all living things.
- Manipulate subtle forces in nature.
- React, predict, and control with perfect precision.
Though he had no formal cultivation training, Feng Yan's mind was already forming the first rudimentary technique—the Observation Method, a skill that allowed him to predict movement, manipulate energy flows, and sharpen his reflexes beyond human capability.
"This is only the beginning," he whispered. "All paths… Dao, Demon, Celestial, Eternal… every path will be mine. And I will not bow to heaven, ghost, or man."
---
The Pearl's Influence
The Pearl's chaotic energy pulsed faintly, responding to Feng Yan's words. It was not just a power source—it was alive, a fragment of something ancient, ruthless, and beyond comprehension. The artifact's chaotic aura would awaken slowly, but already, it fed knowledge and instinct to its bearer.
High above, unseen by mortal eyes, Lian Mei, Daughter of Heaven, drifted among the clouds. She watched the mortal boy with curiosity, her luminous eyes reflecting the Pearl's chaotic aura. "So he awakens," she murmured softly. "The one who will walk all paths… defy fate… challenge even the heavens themselves."
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Foreshadowing Rival Cultivators
The shadowed boy from the forest disappeared as silently as he had arrived, but his eyes burned with a mixture of envy and interest. There were many in the world who would see Feng Yan as a threat:
- Rival cultivators from distant sects.
- Female villains envious of his potential.
- Male enemies waiting for any sign of weakness.
Even now, the threads of destiny began weaving around Feng Yan, preparing for battles, betrayals, and paths that would span five thousand years and beyond.
---
A Mortal Boy's Resolve
Feng Yan returned to his village home, sitting at his wooden table with the faint glow of the Pearl visible beneath his skin. His parents, oblivious to the energy stirring within their son, spoke of mundane matters, of crops, and the coming season.
Feng Yan's lips curved slightly. "Mortal weak I may be, but the Pearl has chosen me. I will awaken, walk all paths, defy heaven, and surpass all. No one—neither ghost, mortal, nor god—will ever stand above me."
And with that, the first step of the Heavenless Immortal had been taken.