As Zhen slept soundly…
The Tianxiu Clan convened for an important meeting—it was time to begin his cultivation journey.
The meeting was held at the Blooming Ash Sect, a mid-grade immortal sect founded thousands of years ago by a rogue cultivator who had once sworn an oath to the Tianxiu Clan's founder.
Zhen's mother, Lady Liu Yunxi, was a direct descendant of that cultivator and the only daughter of the current sect leader.
Gathered in the main hall were Zhen's mother, father, maternal grandfather, and paternal grandfather.
Also present were the high elders of both the Tianxiu Clan and the Blooming Ash Sect.
They were united by one goal:
"We must find zhen a tutor who will out smart him or atleast contain him".
But everyone knew this wouldn't be simple.
With Zhen's intelligence and temperament, it was only a matter of time before he chased away another teacher.
Inside the Meeting Hall
Lady Yunxi (Zhen's mother):
"Brother, Father, Father-in-law… I cannot apologize enough for Zhen'er's behavior."
Her voice trembled.
"It's my fault. I spoiled him, I doted on him… I never disciplined him properly."
Pain clouded her eyes—she was a mother who only wanted the best for her son.
Hu (Zhen's father):
"It's alright, dear. Father has already found a solution. I understand where you're coming from."
He smiled faintly.
"After all, it did take him 300 years to finally want to meet us."
The mood in the room darkened until a voice broke through.
Liu Moyuan (father of Liu Yunxi and Sect Leader of Blooming Ash):
"If we all agree that no tutor is qualified… why not hand him to someone who is?"
Grandpa Shen:
"Well? What are you suggesting?"
Grandpa Mo:
"Don't you remember that one sage? That old monster. What If we put two monsters together, something's bound to work out."
"That's not a bad idea".
one elder muttered.
Grandpa Shen:
"Then it's decided. I will send him a request."
With the matter settled, the meeting shifted to other affairs.
In the blooming ash sect, A small rumor began to circulate:
"Did you hear? They finally decided to send him away. Don't you know what this means? This is our chance to try and gain recognition".
A low-ranked disciple whispered—slowly poisoning minds with curiosity.
But that… is a tale for another time.
~Heaven's Scripture Pavilion~
Standing over 10,000 meters tall, the Heaven's Scripture Pavilion was the grandest scroll-holding structure in the Immortal Realm.
Built inside the Tianxiu Clan's secret realm, it served as a place of enlightenment and opportunity for all clan members, regardless of status or cultivation.
The Pavilion housed 10 floors, each more difficult to access than the last.
In the clan's history, only five people had ever reached the 9th floor—each of them long gone, having ventured to [🔒].
The youngest of them?
Zhen's grandmother, a legendary cultivator who had even surpassed the Immortal Emperor.
To enter the first floor, one had to reach the 9th stage of the Body Tempering Realm.
At its center stood a colossal stone pillar, created by the ancestors of the Tianxiu Clan. It recorded the names, cultivation levels, and ranks of all who entered—an anti-infiltration safeguard against demons.
Now 15 years old…
Zhen sat cross-legged on the first floor, surrounded by scrolls.
His goal?
To understand the Immortal Realm for himself.
While he could've asked his grandfather, Zhen preferred firsthand knowledge—it felt more authentic, more useful for future adventures.
To his left stood his loyal bodyguard, Qin Haoran, wearing his usual peaceful smile.
To his right, his maid—whom he affectionately called Meimei—gently dusted scrolls and served him tea.
Suddenly, a familiar silhouette approached. Zhen leapt up and hugged the figure—it was his Fourth Uncle.
After a brief reunion, his uncle delivered unexpected news:
"You leave in two days. Be ready."
Zhen tried everything to trick out more details, but his uncle remained silent.
With no other choice, Zhen waited.
~Day of Departure~
The night before leaving, Zhen was called by both his parents.
They poured out their hearts, especially his mother—whose four-hour lecture on safety ended in tears and a rare group hug.
On the day itself, Zhen received sealed gifts he was instructed not to open until his return.
He would travel for one day with his maternal grandfather, Grandpa Mo.
But along the way… something strange happened.
Zhen's cultivation began to regress.
His body, once 15, slowly returned to its younger state.
Confused, Zhen asked his grandfather what was happening.
After a deep inspection, Grandpa Mo's cheerful eyes turned serious. He descended to the ground with Zhen, his qi darkening.
Then suddenly—he laughed.
Grandpa Mo:
"Hmm… as for what I can see there's nothing wrong with your body or soul."
Zhen stared up, silently begging for answers.
Grandpa Mo (smiling):
"When you had your Dao battle, it seems the heavens accepted your insight."
He rubbed his beard thoughtfully.
Grandpa Mo:
"It's likely your body wasn't yet strong enough to house that kind of spiritual qi… so Heaven gave you a temporary vessel."
"What we're seeing now… is simply the excess qi leaving your body."
Zhen's heart sank.
He had just escaped childhood—only to be dragged back.
But then a thought sparked.
He had struggled, learned and died…he managed to survive 23 years as a crippled.
What were a few more years?
And besides, in this world of cultivation… maybe he could live forever.
Grandpa Mo remained still, giving Zhen space to sort through his thoughts.
Within a quick second Zhen stood and made a quiet declaration:
Zhen:
"Grandpa… I was too complacent. Being born in the Tianxiu Clan made me think I didn't need to cultivate."
Grandpa Mo:
" what changed?"
Zhen:
"I realized… if I try hard enough, I can reach any goal. I won't hide anymore."
Grandpa Mo:
"Hahaha! That's my grandson. The pride of the Tianxiu and Liu Clans!"
He patted Zhen's head with pride.
"No matter what path you take—you must have the strength to see it through."
Zhen (grinning):
"Don't worry. I'll surpass even the Immortal Emperor one day."
Grandpa Mo (chuckling):
"Even your other grandpa hasn't done that yet… and you plan to?"
Their laughter faded into the wind as they continued toward their destination.
~Arrival at the Cave~
After three more hours of flight, they reached a towering mystical forest cave layered in ancient formations—defensive, illusionary, and powerful enough to trap an Immortal Emperor for six million years.
Zhen was told only the approved could enter.
Grandpa Mo left to speak with the old rogue cultivator, leaving Zhen behind with instructions:
"Walk to the center. No matter what, Don't close your eyes."
With a nod of
acknowledgement, zhen took his first step toward the forest
Now physically 10 years old, Zhen stepped into the forest, fully committed to walking the path of cultivation.
Unbeknownst to him, his cultivation had regressed to the Unawakened State.
He faced 10,000 illusions—some from this life, others from a forgotten past.
Their purpose?
To corrupt his foundation and shatter his will.
But Zhen…
Zhen watched the illusions playfully—even experimenting with making his own.
After all, what young man wouldn't want to create illusions?
As he continued forward, spiritual qi from the forest began to seep into him.
Suddenly, a sharp pain surged through his core.
Zhen remembered one of his useless tutors' word.
"If it stings, your dantian's awakening. Sit. Meditate. Make that qi yours."
Looking to find a cool tree- zhen would spend 20 minutes finding his "cool tree"
He sat beneath a large tree, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes.
For the first time… he focused.
In moments, his dantian began pulling in qi—without even being awakened yet.
Three minutes passe
His qi refined was effortlessly refined.
As a result- zhens dantian began fluctuating. Step by step- it became more and more refined.
At the final refinement, zhens dantian would begin to have a small line imbedded in the dantian.
Not knowing what it did, he chose to ignore it for now and focused on the sharp pain.
Soon the pain was no long there. All that followed was the extreme warmth of qi.
Zhen awakened his dantian amd had opened 2 of the 108 meridian and stepped into the 1st stage of the Body Tempering Realm.