The void was a lonely place, an abyssal silence where even the concept of time seemed nonexistent. Long Tianyu's soul lingered, battered and torn. In his final moments, the betrayal replayed endlessly—a banquet in the 9th Heavenly Realm, wine flowing freely, masks of friendship concealing daggers of envy. As the celestial heavens trembled under their treachery, the echoes of his name vanished with his power. But Tianyu's spirit was unyielding.
"Fate will not extinguish me," he vowed, his voice a mere whisper lost in the vastness. "The heavens may forget, but I shall return."
Through sheer will, his fragmented soul defied obliteration. Amidst swirling streams of reincarnation energy, his essence was pulled into a new vessel.
---
Tianyu awoke to the muffled cries of a woman and the hazy outlines of a straw-roofed ceiling. Pain gripped his fragile body as his newborn lungs fought for air. The woman's voice, strained yet soothing, called out, "He's beautiful... Our little Wen Yu."
For a moment, Tianyu struggled to process his situation. Gone were his celestial robes and the fierce dragon essence that once filled his veins. He was now an infant, his divine soul trapped in a weak mortal shell. The realization brought a mix of despair and determination.
The man beside the woman laughed heartily. "Wen Yu will grow strong, just like his father!" He cradled Tianyu gently, his rough hands belying his tenderness.
It was then that Tianyu felt it—the faint, delicate threads of Qi coursing through his body. Though a mere shadow of the overwhelming force he once wielded, it was enough to ignite hope.
Tianyu realized his memories of the higher realms would give him insight into the complexities of cultivation. But he also understood that he would have to start from scratch, carefully navigating this new world as he rebuilt his strength.
The Wen family's modest farm became Tianyu's sanctuary. His parents, Wen Qiang and Wen Mei, were humble people who worked tirelessly to provide for their son. While Tianyu cherished their love, he knew that exposing them to his celestial past would place them in grave danger.
As a newborn, Tianyu observed the Qi around him. The Jade Creek region was rich in Earth and Wood Qi, making it ideal for farming and herbal cultivation. Villagers relied on simple techniques, only a fraction of what Tianyu once mastered.
By the time he was five, Tianyu began practicing basic cultivation exercises in secret. His progress was slow but steady—restoring even a fraction of his previous strength required meticulous care. He couldn't risk alerting the local elders or drawing attention to himself.
One fateful evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, young Tianyu sat by the stream near his home. The waters reflected the fiery hues of the sky, and the air was thick with the scent of blooming wildflowers.
"Even in this humble place," he murmured, "the Dao flows boundless."
A rustling sound broke his thoughts. Turning, he saw his father approaching with a worn sword. Wen Qiang's expression was serious yet kind.
"Yu'er," he said, handing over the blade, "a man must be strong to protect what he loves. It's time you learned to defend yourself."
Tianyu hid a smirk. Little did his father know, he was already far beyond the training of mortals. But he nodded respectfully, taking the sword. "Thank you, Father. I will make you proud."
As the years passed, Tianyu trained under his father's guidance during the day and pursued his secret cultivation at night. Each evening, he meditated, gathering the faint Qi of the earth and sky. He began to grasp the essence of the Foundation Embers stage, reigniting the spark of the dragon within him.