MTLNOVEL Chapter 2: Legend Of Cultivation
"Do you think we're ready?" I asked, doubt creeping into my voice. The tournament was known to be brutal. Only the strongest could pass. The weak were cast aside, and their dreams crushed. They become useless even to themselves.
I watch Yue Ling's expression soften, and her confidence unwavering unlike mine.
"We've trained hard.
We've mastered the Five Elemental Stances, and learned the basics of Qi Manipulation. But strength alone won't be enough. We need to stay focused. Only then can we overcome the trials." She said, and I admired her resolve.
Unlike me, Yue Ling was born with talent. She could manipulate spiritual energies with ease, her Qi energy flowing like water.
I, on the other hand, struggled to even form a basic shield. But I wouldn't give up. I couldn't. Not when the answers to my past seem to lay on that mountain.
*****
That same night, I sat by the old local shrine at the edge of the village, the jade pendant heavy around my neck. Its surface was smooth, but the symbols carved into it were ancient words, glowing faintly under the moonlight.
I saw Elder Zhao gently approaches me, with his wooden cane tapping softly against the stone path. He was the village's historian, the keeper of written legends, and stories of myths the village children always liked to listen to.
"Thinking about the tournament?" he asked, his voice gentle, and filled with concern.
I nodded slowly, my fingers tracing the pendant on my neck. "Its about finding who my parents were, and who I am." I said looking at him.
The old man's eyes softened with pity. "You carry a heavy burden, Li Tian. But sometimes, the past must remain in secret until one is ready to face it." His words hung heavy in the air, but I refused to back down.
"I am not afraid, uncle Zhao! I want to be ready. I want to know more about myself. I can't remain an outcast forever!" I said, my voice getting choked with emotions.
Elder Zhao sighed softly, he rubbed his white color beard before sitting beside me. "Very well. But remember, knowledge is a double-edged sword. It can grant power or lead to despair."He said, took a deep breath, his gaze distant.
"Long ago, before the rise of the Celestial Lotus Sect, this land was ruled by 'The Twelve Divine Clans', a descendants of the Celestial Beasts created by the Primordial Dragon. Each clan possessed unique powers tied to the elements of Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Lightning, and more. They were protectors of the Mortal Realm, keeping the balance between the worlds. But then like mortal men, greed, and ambition tore them apart. They turned on each other, seeking supremacy. Their war destroyed the land, and from their blood rose the first cultivators, mortals who learned to harness spiritual energies to protect themselves. This was the birth of cultivation." He explained, and I listened, fascinated by his words. I had heard tales of the Divine Clans, but this was the first time I learned about their fall.
"What happened to them?" I asked, my ear eager to hear more.
"They vanished," Elder Zhao whispered. "Some say they ascended to the Celestial Realm, while others believe they were cursed, their bloodlines washed over generations. But their power remains, hidden in ancient artifacts, and scattered across the realms."
"Artifacts?" I leaned closer, my eyes widens in curiosity.
He nodded. "The Twelve Celestial Artifacts, each containing the essence of a Divine Clan. Whoever gathers them all can awaken the power of the Primordial Dragon… and become a god." And my heart races fast.
"Then… could one of these artifacts be the key to finding my past?" I wondered silently.
Elder Zhao's eyes suddenly darkened, he seemed to hear my thoughts."Perhaps. But they are dangerous, cursed by the greed of those who sought after them. The Heavenly Emperor himself seized the most powerful artifact, the Chrono Tide, to control time, and bend fate. That is how he became ruler of the Celestial Realms." He said, and a chill ran down my spine. If the Heavenly Emperor wielded such power, then who could possibly stand against him?
"Li Tian," Uncle Zhao's voice suddenly went low. It's as if he is afraid of being heard by someone, by an invisible being. "The path you seek is perilous. The Chrono Tide is guarded by celestial beasts, and those who have sought it were never seen again. But if you truly wish to pursue this path, then you must start by mastering your own spirit energy."
Slowly, I looked down at the pendant on my neck, its symbols now glowing softly against the dark night. "What… what do they mean?"
Elder Zhao's gaze lingered on the jade, his face clouded with worry. "That… is the mark of the Primordial Celestial Dragon." My breath quicken, and the air grew cold. I felt a surge of power from the pendant, at this unexpected information, my heart beating fast.
"What… does that mean for me?" I said, anxious to know more.
Uncle Zhao slowly stood up, with his expression solemn. "It means that you are bound by fate to the Dragon's legacy… and its curse. If you truly wish to seek the truth, then go to Mount Tianxu. Enter the Celestial Lotus Sect, and learn to control the Shadow of Chaos. Only then will you be ready to face what lies beyond." Slowly he turned to leave, his figure fading into the darkness.
"Beware, Li Tian. The power of the Dragon is both creation, and destruction. And those who seek it… are always watched by the shadows." His voice echo in my mind. I remained seated, alone, the pendant glowing, its light flickering like a heartbeat.
"I was bound by destiny? By a past I can not even remember, and yet by a power that could reshape the cosmos. And then somewhere beyond the stars, something was watching… waiting… for me to make a move first? Hahaha…this is crazy!" I said laughing hard. Standing up to enter my abode inside the local shrine to sleep for the night and yet , I could not totally forget about the entire discussion with Uncle Zhao.
*********
THE VAST LANDS OF THE MORTAL REALM
The sun was already shining brightly when I woke up with Uncle Zhao's words still echoing in my mind. The Twelve Divine Clans… the Celestial Artifacts… the curse of the Primordial Dragon. Could I really be connected to such legends? Or was it just a coincidence?".
"Ready to leave?" Yue Ling's voice shook me from my thoughts. She stood with her pack slung over her shoulder, her eyes bright with excitement. "The tournament is only a week away. If we want to stand a chance, we need to get stronger."
I nodded my head on agreement with her words, while tightening my grip on my pendant. "This part of the village is cover with weak energy, we need to go where the spiritual energy is strongest. We need to train at the Forest of Whispering Shadows." I said and her eyes widened.
"You're serious? That place is cursed! They say those who enter are never seen again."
"Exactly. Which means it's the perfect place to grow stronger." My resolve hardened.
"I don't just want to participate in the tournament. I want to win." I said, my mind already made up. Yue Ling studied my face before breaking into a grin. "Then let's see if the shadows are as scary as the stories say."
With that, we set off, leaving the village behind. The path was long, and winding, it is carved through dense forests, and rocky hills. We passed through several smaller villages, each bustling with life. Where Farmers worked the fields, the children played by the riverbanks, and merchants hawked their wares in busy marketplaces.
Yet, beneath the surface of the quiet villags we passed through, one can still feels the tension in the air. The influence of the Celestial Lotus Sect was everywhere. Their banners flew over every village, bearing the emblem of the Lotus of Ascension. Disciples in silver robes patrolled the roads, their swords gleaming with spiritual energy. They were respected… and feared.
Yue Ling noticed my frown. "It wasn't always like this. The sect used to protect the people. But ever since the new Grand Elder took over, they've grow ruthless." And I clenched my fists.
"High power indeed corrupts men. Even those meant to guard the balance could fall to ambition. Was that what happened to the Heavenly Emperor? Would I be the same if I gained that kind of power?" I wondered silently