In the dark void of nothingness, a tiny speck of light appeared far off in the distance.
It cut through the darkness like a blade, its glow faint but undeniable. Slowly, the light grew, becoming brighter and more distinct, as if it had a purpose to fulfill.
A pair of eyes blinked open in the stillness. Li Hao found himself lying in an unfamiliar place, his tiny form sprawled out on the ground.
His blue eyes, large and innocent, had yet to gain the sharpness and clarity they would in time.
At that moment, they were filled with the wide-eyed wonder of a child who had just come into being.
The first thing his gaze settled on was a girl, no older than twenty, with hair like the snow that capped mountain peaks in winter.
Her eyes, a striking shade of blue, held the calmness of the vast skies. She was beautiful, her features delicate and soft, exuding an air of grace and power.
Dressed in a simple yet elegant gown, she looked like someone who belonged to another world—an ethereal existence.
Li Hao gazed at her, feeling an inexplicable sense of warmth and safety. She was his mother, yet he could not understand the bond they shared fully. She knelt down beside him, her smile gentle, filled with love.
"Little one," she cooed softly as she stroked his white hair, "I've just given birth to you, and yet, you've already stolen my heart. You're so cute that I could kiss you all day."
Li Hao's small hand reached up, grasping at her finger with an infant's innocent curiosity.
Her eyes twinkled with love, but there was a hint of sorrow in her gaze as well. She stroked his hair thoughtfully.
"What should your name be?" she mused aloud, a warm smile tugging at her lips. "Yes, Hao. That shall be your name."
But then, a shadow crossed her face, and her voice softened. "Alas, your father isn't here..."
The words seemed to hang in the air, their meaning slipping away before Li Hao could grasp it fully.
His vision blurred as his tiny body grew weary, and before he could ask anything, darkness claimed him again, his consciousness fading into oblivion.
The next day, Li Hao awoke in a dimly lit room. The rays of sunlight pierced the small window, casting a warm glow over the room.
The air was thick with the scent of old wood, and the faint rustle of leaves could be heard outside.
As his vision cleared, Li Hao noticed his small body lying on a bed surrounded by portraits of his mother and father.
"Did I reincarnate...?" he wondered, his mind racing with possibilities. "Why does everything look so old? This place, it feels like the 1600s in China... Are these relics of another time?"
The familiar sense of being reborn flooded his mind. Li Hao had read countless novels about reincarnation in his past life, but now, as he found himself in the body of an infant, the feeling was surreal.
In his previous life, Li Hao had been an introvert, a solitary soul who found solace in his writing.
He'd never had many friends, and school was a place of isolation for him. He was often the target of bullying, an easy victim for those who couldn't understand his quiet nature.
The world of fiction had been his escape, a realm where he could craft characters, build worlds, and live through the adventures of others.
But in the end, that world had betrayed him. Struggling with loneliness and despair, Li Hao had taken his own life.
He had hoped that in another life, he could find peace, find a place where he truly belonged.
Now, it seemed that hope had come to fruition, and he was reborn in a world of cultivation and power.
Li Hao stretched his tiny limbs, marveling at his new body. His previous wish had always been for immortality, to escape the limitations of life and death. The thought of it now seemed closer than ever.
A sudden beep interrupted his thoughts as a system interface appeared before him, floating in the air. It was like a golden opportunity being handed to him on a silver platter.
[Name: Li Hao
Title: None
Age: 1 day
Realm: None
Lifespan: 64 years
Immortal Art: None
Mythical Power: None
Heavenly Weapon: None]
Li Hao stared at the interface, his heart pounding with excitement and awe. This was no ordinary system; this was the legendary "golden finger" that many of the novels he read had described. The key to his future, his path to immortality.
He barely had time to process it before another notification popped up beneath the initial screen.
[Ding! First-time birth! Special gift for the host:
Star Essence Nourishing Art. This technique cultivates the essence of stars to nourish the body, soul, and spirit.]
Li Hao blinked, his mind racing. Star Essence Nourishing Art. He didn't recognize the technique, but its description seemed simple enough.
The power to refine the body, to nourish the soul with spiritual energy, was exactly what he needed.
His choices appeared before him: [Accept] or [Store].
After a brief moment of contemplation, Li Hao made his decision. "Accept."
As soon as the words left his mouth, an overwhelming rush of knowledge flooded his mind.
His thoughts swirled with the intricacies of the technique, like the mental blueprint of a master craftsman.
The technique was in its early stages, meant for those just starting their journey into cultivation.
Li Hao could sense that this technique was essential for strengthening the body before stepping onto the immortal path.
It had five levels, each more challenging than the last. The first was skin forging, where one could refine and harden the skin with spiritual energy.
The second stage was organ forging, followed by bone refining, soul strengthening, and the final, most difficult stage—spirit will.
Each stage required mastery, patience, and a deep connection to the energy of the heavens and earth.
Li Hao began the process immediately, focusing all of his infant mind on gathering spiritual power from the environment around him.
Slowly, he drew the power into his body, willing it to enter through his skin, his organs, and into his bones.
The first step was refining his skin. It was slow at first, but over time, Li Hao could feel his body growing stronger.
His once-soft, delicate skin began to toughen, becoming as resilient as copper yet smooth like jade.
The process was painstaking, but he could sense the improvement with each passing moment.
One week later, his skin had completed the refining process, as tough and smooth as jade.
It was the first significant achievement in his journey, a small but meaningful step.
Li Hao moved on to the second stage—the organ forging. Using the sun's essence, he focused on his internal organs.
He could feel his liver, heart, and lungs growing stronger, the very fibers of his body infused with spiritual energy.
His body was slowly becoming like a furnace, generating warmth and power, even though he was still just a baby.
Days turned into weeks, and Li Hao's body transformed. His bones were the next target. With each refinement, his bones became as tough as ascension steel, his inner structure growing stronger, his muscles growing denser.
Three months later, Li Hao had nearly completed the second stage of his technique.
His organs were fully refined, and his bones were nearing completion. His strength had grown exponentially, though he was still confined to the body of a baby.
But something unexpected happened during this period.
One afternoon, as Li Hao continued his cultivation, a figure appeared in his room.
At first, he paid little attention, but then his sharp, infant eyes caught sight of her—a little girl, not even three years old, with long black hair and dark eyes.
She approached him cautiously, her gaze filled with curiosity. She called out, her voice soft, "Bro... ther?"
Li Hao paused, his cultivation interrupted by her unexpected presence.
His mind, still sharp for someone so young, analyzed the situation. She was harmless—just a toddler. But something in his chest tightened as he realized that she might be more important than she seemed.
Her sudden appearance brought a strange sense of warmth, and for a moment, Li Hao allowed himself to be distracted.
Yet, his cultivation was more important, and he returned to his training, pushing her from his mind.
As the months continued to pass, Li Hao's body grew stronger, and his cultivation continued to advance.
His bones were fully refined by the six-month mark, and the energy within him surged, becoming as powerful as that of a young adult.
On his first birthday, his father came to visit, holding him in his arms. Li Hao's father, a craftsman of great renown in the city, had always been a hardworking man, providing for his family through his skill with metal.
He was known for creating weapons for the local cultivators, even if they were of lesser quality.
Li Hao's father smiled warmly as he looked down at his son. "Little one, you're just one year old now. Your father has saved money for you, money that will allow you to enter the martial hall. When you reach the age of five, you'll begin your martial arts training. From there, your path will unfold."
Li Hao listened carefully, understanding the weight of his father's words. They were laying the foundation for his future.
It was clear that his family, especially his father, wanted him to have a good life. But Li Hao, now more aware of his surroundings, made a promise to himself.
"I'll protect them," he thought. "I will protect them, even when I leave."
As his father put him back to bed, Li Hao continued his cultivation, his body and soul growing stronger with each passing day.
With the power of the system and his indomitable will, he knew that his journey was just beginning.