It's been a month since the night I overheard the argument between Uncle Hao and Grandpa Wei.
A lot has changed in that time.
The day after the incident, I was confronted by Father. He demanded to know why I was upset, after I had ignored his gentler attempts to get answers. Even when he raised his voice, I still refused to speak.
That day marked the first time I saw Father look at me with something other than pride or love.
He was angry—truly angry—and he showed it.
He shouted.
He thought I had been bullied by an older disciple and was keeping quiet out of wounded pride. He said I couldn't allow anyone to see me like that. That showing weakness, especially so openly, was disgraceful for the future heir of the clan.
Thankfully, Mother stepped in before things got worse. She came to me gently and, instead of asking what had happened, she simply said she loved me—and that she'd always be there to listen to my worries.
I wanted so badly to tell her everything.
To reveal the truth so the Clear Sky Clan and the Breaking Clan could prosper instead of being pushed into a corner.
But I couldn't.
Because if I did, all the love I had received… would vanish in an instant.
So I stayed quiet. And endured.
I continued with the schedule that had been planned earlier—observing Father and Grandfather as they worked. At the end of each day, they would quiz me, asking why they made certain decisions or how I interpreted their actions. I always answered correctly, but even so, I could tell that both of them—despite our fight—were still concerned about me.
I think they believe my low energy is caused by the other major change since that night.
Uncle Hao was expelled from the Sect.
It wasn't publicly announced to the world, but within the Sect, everyone knew. And it brought intense scrutiny onto our family.
Where once the disciples looked at me with envy, they now observed me with thinly veiled contempt.
It was an expected reaction. For someone to be expelled, they must have committed a grave crime—one so severe it could endanger the entire Sect. The only punishments worse than expulsion were having your cultivation abolished, or death for outright betrayal.
No one knew the full reason, but they knew enough to make assumptions. Uncle Hao had gotten the Sect into serious trouble, and for many, that was reason enough to believe I might do the same.
After all, he had been my instructor for a year when I was three. Add to that the fact that children are easily influenced, and their accusations shift from baseless to a real—if small—risk.
Thankfully, Father and Grandfather were able to silence the loudest murmurs, but whispers still made their way to my ears.
I didn't care much about the insults toward me. I was still a member of the clan, and no amount of talk could strip away my title as future heir—unless the Sect itself was truly harmed.
My mother, however, was a different story.
She became invisible.
People stopped greeting her. Stopped speaking to her. They even ignored her when she initiated conversation.
I saw it happen with my own eyes. Furious, I tried to tell Father about it, but Mother stopped me. She smiled softly—sadly—and said:
"Don't bother your father, Xiao Long. I've always been an outsider… and I've come to accept it. As long as I have you and your father by my side, I'm happy."
That quiet smile shattered me.
I threw myself into her arms and kept repeating how much I loved her. I promised that I'd stay by her side forever.
All of these small cuts—these little moments—started to wear me down in ways I didn't want to admit.
Day by day, I started to lose my sense of belonging in this place.
The only thing anchoring me now...
was my family.
And the kind elders who still stood by Father and believed in us.
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Tonight was a night like any other.
I was reviewing the day's events and compiling a small report—just a brief reflection to gather my thoughts.
As I was writing, I heard a knock at the door to my room.
The only person who usually visits me at this hour is Mother, so I responded without looking up.
"You can come in."
The door creaked open, and I waited to hear her familiar voice.
But instead, I heard someone I hadn't seen or spoken to since that day.
"It's been a while, Xiao Long. How has your studying been?"
I dropped my pen and turned around quickly, only to be greeted by the smiling face of my aunt.
"Aunt Yuehua! I haven't seen you since we came back. I thought you were busy."
Even as I spoke, I couldn't stop the happiness from showing on my face. I had missed her deeply. It might sound strange, but I always saw Aunt Yuehua as a second mother. She had supported and taught me for a year, and her gentle demeanor made her so easy to talk to.
"I was busy," she said with a nod. "I only returned today—and I wanted to talk to you for a bit."
"Of course, Auntie. What did you want to talk about?"
"You heard them, didn't you?"
The moment she said that, my heart stopped.
Aunt Yuehua was clever—you had to be, to deal with nobles—but wasn't this a bit too fast? From what she said, she had just returned. How had she figured it out so quickly?
I tilted my head and tried to play dumb. "What are you talking about, Auntie?"
"Did you forget who taught you those tricks?" she asked gently. "Don't lie to me. Please. You heard them—Father and Brother Hao—when they argued. That's why you've been like this, hasn't it?"
Her words pierced straight through me.
The room seemed to spin.
I didn't want anyone to know. I didn't want them to worry about me—especially not when Uncle Hao was out there, alone.
"You poor child," Aunt Yuehua said as she wrapped her arms around me. "You must've been scared. Carrying this all by yourself. Knowing what happened but staying quiet, just so you wouldn't worry your parents. Your aunt understands. It's okay. I'm here now. You can talk to me."
Every word she said broke down the walls I'd built around myself.
Not even my mother had figured it out.
But Aunt Yuehua... she knew everything. Even the reason behind my silence.
Had she gone through something similar?
She was stuck at level 9, unable to advance to Spirit Master. Maybe that's why she understood how I felt.
"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I didn't mean to hide it. I didn't know what to do. I was so scared. I'm sorry."
I broke down in her arms.
And I told her everything.
Everything I'd bottled up—my fear of worrying my parents, my anxiety about the future if Uncle Hao's actions were discovered.
That night, I opened up completely.
And Aunt Yuehua became the only person I could truly confide in.
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Clear Sky Sect, Main Hall
Today is a very special day for me.
It's the day I awaken my martial spirit.
It has been a year since that day.
The ceremony is similar to the one I underwent when I was just a baby. But since I'm the future successor of the sect, a banquet is being held in my honor.
I've already walked around the hall with my parents, greeting the guests. Now, it's time.
I'm going to awaken my martial spirit.
Excitement bubbles in my chest, and having my family here makes it all the more meaningful.
After speaking with Aunt Yuehua about everything that's been weighing on me, she told me to talk to my parents—assured me they would understand. I was hesitant at first, but after several late-night talks with her, she finally convinced me. So I told them the whole story.
My father apologized and said he was proud of me for wanting to protect our family in my own way. My mother pulled me into a tight hug and told me it was too soon to carry such burdens—that I should leave such things to the adults. Their words brought a warmth back into my heart. And with no news from the outside about Uncle Hao, life returned to some semblance of normalcy. Or at least, as normal as it could be without him.
Now, I stand in the middle of a circle formed by six black stones. My father kneels before me, placing his hand on my shoulder as he summons his martial spirit.
"Are you ready, little dragon? Your journey as a spirit master starts today."
"I'm ready, Dad."
His eyes widened slightly, then his smile grew.
"All right then. Wait for your grandfather to announce the beginning of the ceremony. When he does, don't resist. Just extend your right hand and focus on the sensation you feel."
I nodded. He nodded back and turned to look at my grandfather.
Grandpa stood and spoke in a deep, booming voice.
"Today, we are gathered here to witness the awakening of my grandson, Tang Zhenlong. This awakening marks the beginning of his path as a spirit master—and as the young master of the Clear Sky Sect. Tang Xiao, as Sect Master, I order you: awaken his spirit so he may claim his birthright."
As soon as Grandfather's words ended, I felt it.
A warm sensation coursing through my veins, flowing directly to my right hand.
I extended it, as instructed, and closed my eyes to better sense the energy.
That's when I felt something else—something different.
I tried to guide it, but it wouldn't move, compared to the energy the was steadily and smoothly flowing towards my hand, it was... stuck.
Suddenly, something heavy materialized in my hand, forcing my eyes open.
It wasn't a hammer.
Not even close.
In my hand was a halberd.
A light, yet massive halberd stretching nearly two meters long. Its shaft was a deep crimson red. At the bottom end was a golden spearhead, while at the top rested the axe blade, a back spike, and a spear tip—each forged in the same gleaming gold. Sky-blue accents traced along the blades, and embedded at the center where all three parts met was a violet gem—uncannily similar to the one on the Violet Sun Necklace.
I stared in awe at the weapon—until the silence surrounding me registered.
Every guest, young and old, stared slack-jawed. The elders beside my grandfather wore expressions of sadness. My father... he tried to smile, but I could feel it.
The negative emotions rolling off him.
Somehow, I could feel everyone's emotions. I didn't know how. But I did.
They were all surrounded by colored shadows I couldn't quite decipher.
Among them all, the strongest emotion I felt… was disappointment.
Their looks pierced me like daggers.
Why were they staring at me like that?
Why did the light in my father's eyes vanish?
My head spun. The emotions that fascinated me moments ago now slammed into me like a tidal wave.
The sky felt like it was falling.
Just as my knees buckled—
Boom.
"Sect Master! Emergency!"
My grandfather regained composure quickly. "Why are you interrupting a sacred awakening ceremony?! You better have a good reason—or you'll be severely punished!"
The disciple bowed hastily and spoke, voice trembling but loud enough to echo throughout the hall:
"It's Tang Hao. He's killed the Pope. The Pope of Spirit Hall is dead—and Tang Hao was the one who killed him!"
Chaos erupted.
Voices shouted over each other. Curses and cries rang through the hall like thunder.
Until Grandfather stood and roared:
"Enough!"
Silence returned, thick and cold.
He scanned the room before speaking.
"The Clear Sky Sect will officially go into seclusion. We have no other choice. My father has vanished from the continent, and Qian Daoliu remains powerful. He will come to avenge his son. I will offer my life in exchange for the safety of our clan."
Fury burned in the eyes of our sect members, but no one could refute his words.
They knew the truth.
Without Tang Chen, we couldn't fight Spirit Hall.
Father tried to argue, but Grandfather silenced him with a raised hand.
"Elders and disciples, bear witness as I give my final order as Sect Master. From this day forward, leadership of our clan passes to Tang Xiao. He will guide the sect after my death—and perhaps, one day, lead it back into the light. Now, begin preparations. We cannot remain idle."
Everyone rushed off, following his commands without hesitation.
I felt my father grab my hand, preparing to lead me away—until my grandfather's voice stopped him.
"Leave him here. He will not go with the rest."
His words froze us both.
Father turned, shocked. "What are you saying, Father?! Xiao Long is my son. I can't just leave him here!"
"You will. That is an order from the current Sect Master. I am not dead yet. You will follow my command. Tang Zhenlong will be taken by Tang Yuehua to Heaven Dou City. He is not allowed to return until he becomes a Spirit Saint."
"But—"
"Enough! Hand him over to your sister and fulfill your duties, Vice-Sect Master."
There was a long pause before my father turned to me.
"Go find your aunt. She'll take care of you now. Listen to her, all right? I love you, Xiao Long. Stay safe."
Before I could speak, he was gone.
I was breaking.
This was too much.
Grandfather remained still. Calm. As if he had foreseen it all.
But I could feel it—behind the stoicism.
His sadness.
With everything spinning around me—my father leaving, my grandfather's sorrow, the shocked sect members—everything became a blur.
I barely remember Aunt Yuehua grabbing me, telling me to move.
The last look my grandfather gave me from his throne.
The elders scrambling like lost chickens.
The sound of thunder cracking as I stepped outside.
The sight of my mother's tear-streaked face as she embraced me, whispering that she loved me.
And then—
I woke up.
I was in a carriage.
Across from me sat Aunt Yuehua, her expression grave.
I turned toward the window.
My reflection stared back, face covered in snot and tears.
Everything replayed in my mind, again and again.
And I don't know how I knew, but I knew—
Today would be the last day I'd ever see my mother.
I never got to say I loved her back.
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Author's notes:
And that, ladies and gentlemen, marks the end of Volume 1: The Beginning.
A lot happened in this chapter, so I'm going to break down my thought process one last time. From this point forward, any questions about writing style, potential plot holes, or anything else should be asked in the discussion chapter of the auxiliary volume.
Let's break it down into three parts:
Part 1: Character Interactions
The interaction with Tang Xiao was written to highlight his priorities—duty over sentiment, even if it hurts.
The moment with the MC's mother might seem inconsistent compared to her previous behavior, but it's actually driven by maternal instinct. If your usually upbeat child suddenly becomes quiet and sad, your response naturally softens. It's human.
The scenes involving his mother's interaction with sect members and the MC's relationships with fellow disciples are setups for future developments, so I'll remain quiet on that front for now.
Part 2: Tang Yuehua's Role
This chapter reveals Tang Yuehua's importance in the MC's life. Her role is to provide emotional grounding during the early stages of his journey.
Among the adults in the world, she and Yu Xiaogang are the only ones who try to help in a different, non-combat way and actually understand what it's like to be weak while being surrounded by the strong. And let's be real—Yu Xiaogang is not the best person to get advice from.
I don't want my MC to spiral into a "dark, emo, hates-the-world" stereotype. Tang Yuehua will serve as a maternal figure, offering emotional support and wisdom following the tragedy.
Part 3: Ceremony, Power Setups, and Mental Conditioning
The ceremony was first mentioned back in Chapter 2. This version is more extravagant due to the MC being from the main family. The sect has big plans for him—hence, the banquet.
Tang Xiao's surprise at being called "Dad" is tied to a subtle shift in writing style. The MC is becoming stoic, revealing emotion only to his aunt.
The mysterious energy and the MC's emotional sensitivity will be explained later. If you're impatient, the title, cover pic, or discussion/status sheet might give you some clues.
Tang Wei wasn't caught off guard because he had been monitoring Tang Hao closely.
Tang Xiao's quick departure reflects his priorities. A subtle but significant moment: he no longer tells the protagonist he's proud of him, like he used to. That silence is the final nail.
The grandfather's sadness? That'll be addressed much later.
As for the MC's mother—there were no dramatic goodbyes on purpose. I want this moment to leave a psychological mark on the MC. That trauma is a turning point: it pushes him toward a mindset where killing becomes possible, and where he becomes fiercely protective of those he loves.
I always found it unrealistic when Earth-born protagonists turn into cold-blooded warriors overnight. That's why I'm focusing on gradually strengthening his mentality, step by step.
That's everything. I hope you enjoyed Volume 1. The next chapter will be for final thoughts, reader opinions, and questions.
See you there!