Bai Tian woke up early in the morning, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement about the days ahead. The soft glow of dawn bathed the village in a gentle light, and the mist from the nearby sea clung to the earth like a pale veil.
Without wasting a moment, he sprinted toward the massive ancient tree standing at the edge of the village. Its gnarled branches reached skyward, and beneath it, Uncle Xiao's figure moved like a shadow, his sword flickering through the morning mist.
Each strike and movement was steady, sharp, and precise. The faint sound of the blade cutting through air gave the impression of a predator stalking its prey. Bai Tian had often heard Granny Yu say that Uncle Xiao was already at the peak of the Merdian Opening, merely a step away from breaking into the legendary Foundation Realm. Yet the gap between the Great Circle and Foundation Establishment was like a vast chasm — one that most could never cross.
Upon noticing Bai Tian's arrival, Uncle Xiao sheathed his sword with a soft click and turned around, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his usually stern face.
"So, you're up early," Uncle Xiao remarked, wiping sweat from his brow. "Good. From today, you'll be training with me for ten days before you head to Misty Rain Island. You'll need every bit of strength you can muster."
"Before we begin," Uncle Xiao said, lowering his sword and fixing Bai Tian with a steady gaze, "there's something I want to ask you."
He crouched down to meet the boy's eyes, his tone turning gentle but firm.
"Little Bai, a man should always dream big . When I was your age, I would lie under the stars, listening to the tales of cultivators soaring through the skies on their swords. And I swore to myself… one day, I'd be one of them. I was lucky your grandfather took me in, but without the will to chase that dream, I'd have stayed nothing more than an orphan with a dull blade."
His voice trailed off, eyes clouding with old memories.
Uncle Xiao — Xiao Zhen — was born on Blue Wave Island, one of the seven great sovereign islands of the Azure Alliance. Unlike the other Tier 1 islands, Blue Wave Island was a land of hunters, mercenaries, and fishermen, where survival came before cultivation. In his youth, Xiao Zhen had hunted spiritual fish to feed himself and his little sister.
But fate had other plans. One day, while fishing beyond the safe waters near the unpatrolled zone, a monstrous sea beast attacked his boat. Just as he resigned himself to death, a massive black ship appeared, its sails bearing the crest of Misty Region's navy. The man who saved him was none other than Bai Tian's grandfather, a ship commander of the Misty Region.
"I still remember that day," Uncle Xiao murmured with a nostalgic smile. "Your grandfather pulling me out of that wreck, his hand as steady as stone, carrying me aboard the Black Tide. That's where I met your father. The two of us — orphans with nothing, brought together by a man who treated us like his own sons."
From that day, their lives intertwined. Xiao Zhen showed promise in cultivation and was sent to Greenwood Academy. Bai Yi, Bai Tian's father, though blessed with incredible physical strength, could not sense astral energy. Still, the old ship commander kept him close, valuing strength of heart over talent alone.
"I want to be a ship commander too," Bai Tian blurted out. "Just like grandfather."
He had never met the legendary man himself, but every tale Granny Yu told painted him as a giant among men. A man who conquered the seas, commanded ships, and explored the unknown, carving his name across the Misty Sea.
Uncle Xiao chuckled softly. "Good. Hold on to that. A man's dreams are the compass that guide his fate."
The Azure Alliance, formed by the seven sovereign islands, was ruled by seven Island Lords, each controlling vast territories and powerful factions. Beneath them, a formidable navy patrolled the seas, led by seven ship commanders — one for each sovereign region. Bai Tian's grandfather had once been the Ship Commander of the Misty Region, a title earned through strength, courage, and countless battles at sea.
After his retirement, he brought Bai Yi to Mistveil Island. Later, Bai Yi married Bai Qing, the carefree daughter of his grandfather, Bai Heng. But their happiness was short-lived.
"Everything changed after you were born," Uncle Xiao's voice turned quiet. "Your mother… she fell gravely ill. The apothecaries of Misty Rain Island couldn't cure her, not even the Foundation Stage healers from Driftwood Island."
Bai Tian's throat tightened. He had heard pieces of this story, but never from Uncle Xiao himself.
"Your grandfather and father left the island, chasing rumors of a legendary medicine across the seas. They promised to return. But two years passed… and they never did."
His mother passed away soon after, leaving Granny Yu to raise him while Uncle Xiao watched over them.
After hearing all this, Bai Tian also learned that Uncle Xiao eventually took over as the Supervisor of Mistveil Island after Bai Yi and the old commander disappeared. In time, he married Xiao Ya's mother, the granddaughter of Granny Yu, and the two of them raised Bai Tian as their own, never letting him feel the absence of a family.
...
By the time noon arrived, Uncle Xiao had already left to tend to his duties at the island's council hall. Under the shade of the massive tree, Bai Tian remained behind, his hands calloused as he swung his old wooden sword again and again, sweat dampening his clothes.
Nearby, a soft sniffle reached his ears.
He turned his head and saw a little girl with puffy eyes sitting cross-legged on the grass, her tiny face scrunched up in frustration.
It was Xiao Ya.
She rubbed her eyes and pouted, "You promised you'd take me fishing three times, and you haven't even once!"
Bai Tian sighed, sheathing his wooden sword with an exaggerated flourish. "Alright, alright, you little bandit," he chuckled. "Let's go catch some fish."
A smile immediately lit up the girl's face as she clung to his arm.
He carried her in one hand, grabbing a fishing pole, a woven fishing net, and a small cloth bag filled with different kinds of bait from the house. Granny Yu's voice came from the kitchen, warning them not to go too far down the river.
The two made their way to the riverbank that lay to the east of the village. The water shimmered in the sunlight, its surface catching glints of gold and silver as spirit fish occasionally
leapt from the water.
Bai Tian found a familiar flat rock under the shade of a willow tree. He set Xiao Ya down beside
him, baited the hook, and cast the line.
Xiao Ya clapped her hands excitedly. "I'll catch the biggest fish!"
"We'll see about that."
They spent the afternoon by the riverside, the gentle lapping of water mixing with the rustling of leaves. Bai Tian caught a couple of fat river trout, while Xiao Ya's enthusiasm managed to snag a slippery, golden-scaled fish, which sent her shrieking in delight as it wriggled in the net.
As the sun dipped lower, the sky blushed with hues of orange and pink. Bai Tian lay back on the grass, feeling the warmth of the fading day on his face. The fishing pole rested beside him, while Xiao Ya continued chasing dragonflies nearby.
The day passed quietly, filled with simple joys.
By evening, they returned home with a basket of fish, tired but content. Granny Yu scolded them lightly for staying out so long, then aunt Xiao prepared a hot meal of grilled fish and steamed rice.
After eating, Bai Tian sat by the window, watching the twilight spread across the sky. The stars began to blink into view one by one, and far out at sea, the glow of a patrolling ship's lantern could be seen on the horizon.
He knew that those were navy ships under Misty Rain Isle, responsible for protecting the region from the aquatic beasts and water monsters.
That night, as the oil lamp flickered gently in the corner of his room, Bai Tian sat by the window, watching the stars shimmer in the ink-black sky. The cool breeze carried the scent of salt and earth, and in the distance, the faint rhythm of waves lapping against the shore could be heard.
He absently traced his finger along the wooden frame of the window, his thoughts adrift like a lone boat on the Misty Sea.
Tomorrow was his fifteenth birthday.
It wasn't something he had planned to celebrate. In truth, birthdays hadn't meant much to him since his mother passed away. Granny Yu would always prepare a simple meal — steamed river trout and longevity noodles — and Xiao Ya would drag him down to the riverside for fishing or stone-skipping. But to Bai Tian, it was just another day, another reminder of the years slipping by without the faces he longed to see.
He let out a soft sigh.
Fifteen.
In the village, boys of fifteen were expected to begin their true path — either try for Greenwood Academy if they could sense astral energy, or choose a profession among the common folk. Most became fishermen, casting their nets for spiritual fish in the Misty Sea. Some apprenticed under craftsmen, learning to build boats, weave nets, or shape weapons. A few bold ones joined merchant caravans that traveled between islands, while the strongest, those with steady arms and brave hearts, took up arms as village guards. And for those without a place, mercenary work remained a perilous but ever-available road.
As he sat there, the door creaked open.
"Still awake, boy?" a familiar, raspy voice called.
Granny Yu stepped inside, a thin shawl draped over her hunched shoulders. Her hair, once as dark as midnight, was now streaked with white, tied into a simple bun. The deep lines etched into her weathered face spoke of countless storms braved and sorrows endured, yet her eyes still held a sharp glint, like a wolf that refused to grow old.
"I… couldn't sleep," Bai Tian admitted.
Granny Yu grunted, shaking her head. "Bah, worrying about tomorrow already? You're the exact opposite of your mother. She never thought about the future. On her fifteenth birthday, she spent the whole day by the river, carefree, chasing butterflies and laughing as if the world had no weight."
She sighed, a faint smile on her lips. "Your father, though, he was steady, quiet, with a fire in his eyes. Bai Heng used to say he had the heart of a ship commander, even if the stars never guided him."
A faint, sad smile tugged at Bai Tian's lips. He always loved hearing stories of his parents, though Granny Yu seldom spoke of them unless prompted.
She came over and placed a rough, calloused hand on his head.
"Fifteen years, eh?" she muttered. "Time flies. I still remember the day you were born… loudest baby this island's ever seen. Your mother nearly smacked your father for crying harder than you."
Bai Tian chuckled softly, the heaviness in his chest easing for a moment.
"You've grown well," Granny Yu continued, her voice quieter now. "You may not have your father's strength, or your mother's eyes, but you've got a stubborn heart. And sometimes, boy, that's worth more than talent."
She reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small, cloth-wrapped bundle.
"Here. It's not much, but it belonged to your mother. She wanted you to have it on your fifteenth."
Bai Tian took the bundle carefully, unwrapping it to reveal a small, silver pendant — a simple thing shaped like a teardrop, with an old engraving he didn't recognize.
Granny Yu gave him a crooked smile. "Your mother wore that the day she married your father. Said it brought her luck. Keep it close."
His throat tightened as he clutched the pendant in his palm.
"Thank you, Granny," he whispered.
"Bah. Don't get all soft on me now," she snorted, though her eyes shimmered faintly in the lamplight. "Sleep well. Tomorrow's the start of a new chapter for you, boy. And remember… no matter what storm comes, you've still got a home here."
With that, Granny Yu turned and shuffled out of the room, leaving the scent of herbal salves and old wood lingering behind.
Bai Tian stared down at the pendant one last time before slipping it around his neck. It felt strangely warm against his skin.
He lay back on his bed, the stars above watching over him.
Tomorrow, he would turn fifteen. And soon after he would leave the only home he'd ever known.