Feng Chan clenched his fists tightly. His heart burned — not just with ambition, but with a deep, fierce determination.
Ying Yue's final words echoed in his mind like a relentless storm.
> "Until you carve your name into the lands of the Mainland... you and I have no relation. I don't even know you."
He could still feel the coldness in her voice, the firm resolve.
It wasn't just a rejection. It was a challenge.
Feng Chan took a deep breath, standing alone in the wilderness.
He had already made his decision — he would not turn back.
---
Morning had barely broken.
A faint silver mist curled through the ancient forest. Feng Chan sat cross-legged on the ground, treating the wounds he had sustained in his last battle.
His body was bruised and bleeding, but his spirit —
It was indestructible now.
Just as he was tying a cloth over his arm, the air shifted.
It was subtle at first, like a breeze changing direction. But then it grew... heavier. As if the world itself was bowing to the arrival of something... someone.
Feng Chan's instincts screamed at him.
He immediately stood, eyes scanning the dense forest around him.
And then —
A figure appeared.
---
A man.
Tall, shrouded in a simple black robe. No ornaments. No luxurious aura.
But somehow... the space around him twisted slightly, as if reality itself bent to his presence.
The man's face was calm, but his eyes —
They were deep. Endless. Like the ocean at night, hiding storms beneath a tranquil surface.
Feng Chan's heart skipped a beat.
Without thinking, he knelt down respectfully and said,
> "Senior... who are you?"
The man did not answer immediately.
He simply observed Feng Chan for a long moment — like he was looking straight into his soul.
Finally, he spoke in a calm, deep voice:
> "You may call me Tianyi Master."
Tianyi Master.
A name Feng Chan had never heard.
A name that didn't belong to any sect, any legend, or any scripture he had ever studied.
But somehow... Feng Chan felt the weight behind it.
The kind of weight that could crush mountains or hold the heavens themselves at bay.
---
Master Tianyi extended a hand.
> "Feng Chan... are you ready? To walk a path few dare to tread?"
Feng Chan's heart thundered in his chest.
He didn't know who this man truly was.
He didn't know what path he meant.
But in this moment, there was no hesitation.
Without a second thought, he grasped the Master's hand.
A blinding light engulfed them both, and the world disappeared.
---
When Feng Chan opened his eyes, he was somewhere else.
The sky above was violet.
The earth below shimmered silver.
Ancient mantras echoed faintly in the air.
They had arrived in a place that was not of the mortal world — a Hidden Realm.
Master Tianyi stood before him, hands clasped behind his back.
> "This place," he said, his voice reverberating through the strange space, "is where the worthy are forged. Where weakness is stripped away. Where destiny is tested."
Feng Chan listened intently.
He knew, deep down, that his real journey was only just beginning.
---
Master Tianyi turned and pointed towards a swirling black vortex that had appeared a few steps away.
> "Enter," he instructed.
> "Inside, you will confront your greatest enemy."
Feng Chan swallowed hard.
> "Who is my greatest enemy, Master?" he asked.
Tianyi Master's lips curved into a knowing smile.
> "You."
Without another word, Master Tianyi gestured — and Feng Chan was pulled into the vortex.
---
Inside the Trial: Facing Himself
Darkness.
Silence.
An endless, oppressive void.
Feng Chan floated alone, unsure of which way was up or down.
And then, suddenly —
A figure emerged before him.
Himself.
But not as he was now.
This Feng Chan was broken, defeated, humiliated.
His other self smirked coldly and said,
> "You will never be anything. Ying Yue will never recognize you. You are nothing but a failure."
Each word stabbed deeper than any weapon.
Feng Chan felt the heavy pressure of despair clawing at him.
But then —
He gritted his teeth.
> "No," he growled.
"I am not a failure. I am not destined to lose."
He charged forward, fists flying, determination blazing from his soul.
The battle wasn't physical — it was a clash of wills.
Strike after strike, he shattered the illusions of fear and doubt.
Finally, with a mighty roar, Feng Chan drove a punch straight into his dark counterpart —
and the shadow exploded into dust.
---
The void collapsed.
Light returned.
And Feng Chan found himself kneeling in the Hidden Realm once more, breathing hard but victorious.
Master Tianyi approached him slowly.
There was a faint glimmer of approval in his ancient eyes.
> "Good," Tianyi Master said softly.
"You have conquered your first trial. But remember — this is just the beginning."
From within his robe, Tianyi Master produced a small talisman.
It pulsed with black and gold light, radiating pure, raw power.
> "Take this. It will speed up your cultivation. But remember... true power is not given. It must be earned."
Feng Chan took the talisman with both hands, his heart filled with gratitude.
> "Thank you, Master Tianyi," he said, bowing deeply.
The Master simply smiled.
> "No need for thanks. Just survive... and make the world remember your name."
---
A New Portal Opened.
The portal to the Mainland.
The true battlefield.
Master Tianyi gestured towards it.
> "Your journey begins now, Feng Chan."
And with that, Master Tianyi vanished —
leaving no trace, no clue about his origins, only endless mystery.
Feng Chan took one last look at the violet sky and silver earth, then stepped through the portal without hesitation.
---
Mainland...
A land ruled by the strong.
A place where the weak were nothing but stepping stones.
A world where legends were forged in blood.
Feng Chan clenched his fists as he stepped into this new world.
One name burned in his heart:
> "Ying Yue... I will rise. I will prove myself. I will carve my destiny into the stars themselves."
And so, with the winds of fate howling around him,
Feng Chan's real journey finally began.
Stepping into the Land of Legends
As Feng Chan stepped through the portal, a sensation like plunging into an icy river overwhelmed him.
Cold.
Sharp.
Relentless.
He clenched his teeth, enduring the force tearing at his body.
And then — light.
Blinding, fierce light.
He stumbled forward, falling onto solid ground.
---
The Mainland.
The land where sects ruled with iron fists.
Where cultivation dynasties soared above mortal empires.
Where ancient beasts roamed and inheritance grounds awaited brave souls.
Feng Chan slowly stood up, his body still adjusting to the heavy spiritual energy around him.
The air was thick — so rich in qi that it almost seemed tangible.
Just breathing here made his body tremble slightly.
Every cell screamed with hunger, desperate to absorb this dense energy.
> "This is the real world of cultivators..."
"Not the Lower Territories, but the true battlefield where dragons and phoenixes are born."
His heart pounded with excitement.
But he quickly calmed himself.
Dreaming wouldn't make him strong.
Only action would.
---
Feng Chan glanced around.
He had emerged near a small, rugged town nestled at the base of a massive mountain range.
The town was bustling with people — traders, wandering cultivators, mercenaries, and even young disciples wearing the robes of minor sects.
Above the town, banners fluttered.
Each banner bore different emblems: swords, phoenixes, lightning bolts, and other mystical symbols.
> "Sect recruitment is happening here..." Feng Chan realized instantly.
And not just small sects.
He sensed it in the atmosphere — a tension, a fierce undercurrent of competition.
Big players were watching.
---
As he walked into the town, ignoring the curious glances thrown his way, Feng Chan's mind sharpened.
> "I can't reveal too much about myself yet."
"First, I need a foothold. A place to cultivate, to learn, to grow strong enough to challenge the Nine Sects' competitions."
His goal was clear.
The Nine Sects — the greatest forces of the Mainland — held a grand competition once every ten years.
And Feng Chan?
He needed to stand among the best.
---
At the Central Plaza
Feng Chan found himself amidst a huge crowd.
A makeshift stage had been erected, where several sect recruiters stood, shouting over the noise.
> "Join the Thunder Flame Sect! Those who show talent will be nurtured like heirs!"
> "The Violet Moon Pavilion seeks new blood! Alchemists, warriors, beast tamers — all welcome!"
The crowd was buzzing with excitement.
Young men and women lined up, showing off their cultivation talents, hoping to be selected.
Each recruiter had a small crystal orb.
Those who touched it and lit it up were considered for acceptance.
Some orbs glowed brightly — causing recruiters to fight over the candidates.
Others barely flickered — earning nothing but cold snorts and dismissal.
---
Feng Chan watched silently.
> "If I want to climb up... I'll need to start from somewhere. But..."
He narrowed his eyes.
Most of these sects were mid-tier or low-tier forces.
They couldn't truly match the Nine Sects — let alone the hidden ancient powers that his Master hinted existed.
> "Joining just any sect won't help me."
"I must find the right opportunity."
But for now, he needed to test the waters.
He slowly approached one of the booths where no one seemed to be paying much attention.
An old man, yawning lazily, sat behind the table.
He wore dull gray robes — no sect symbol visible.
> "Name," the old man said without even looking up.
> "Feng Chan," he replied, voice calm.
The old man gestured to the crystal orb casually.
> "Touch it. If you can't light it, move along."
---
Feng Chan reached out.
He pressed his hand against the orb.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Some nearby youths snickered.
> "Another trash..."
"Can't even light up a basic orb..."
But then —
BOOM!
The orb erupted in golden light, blinding everyone nearby.
The ground trembled slightly.
The old man's chair toppled backward as he scrambled to his feet, eyes wide.
The recruiters at other booths turned to look.
The noisy plaza fell into dead silence for a few seconds.
---
The old man, now fully awake, stared at Feng Chan like he had seen a ghost.
> "Y-You...! Where did you cultivate?!"
Feng Chan calmly withdrew his hand.
> "Is this enough for consideration?" he asked lightly.
The old man nodded frantically.
> "More than enough! In fact, if you want, I can recommend you directly to our inner sect trials!"
But Feng Chan simply smiled faintly.
> "Thank you, Senior. But I'm looking for something... else."
He turned and walked away, leaving behind stunned faces and whispers.
---
In a Hidden Balcony Above the Plaza
Two figures watched everything unfold.
Both wore masks, hiding their features.
Their robes were embroidered with subtle, golden symbols — the mark of one of the Nine Great Sects.
> "Interesting," murmured one.
> "A new talent... but he's hiding his real strength."
> "Should we approach him?"
> "No. Let's watch a little longer. A beast that has just entered the jungle will either roar... or be devoured."
They melted back into the shadows.
Unaware, Feng Chan continued walking, feeling the weight of countless unseen eyes upon him.
He knew.
From now on — every step he took would be watched.
Every choice he made would either lead him closer to power...
...or closer to death.
---
At the Edge of Town
Night had fallen.
Feng Chan sat beneath a tree, quietly cultivating with the talisman given by Master Tianyi.
Silver threads of qi rushed into his meridians.
His body shook as his cultivation base surged forward, crossing another minor realm barrier.
> "Not enough," he muttered, gritting his teeth.
He needed more.
More strength.
More resources.
More experience.
Only then could he stand before Ying Yue again —
not as a forgotten figure of the past...
...but as a man whose very name shook the heavens.
---
Far Away, In a Shadowed Realm
Master Tianyi sat cross-legged in the void, gazing into a misty pool that reflected Feng Chan's struggles.
A faint, rare smile touched his lips.
> "Good," he whispered to himself.
"Struggle, boy. Bleed. Rise. Only through pain will you become what you must be."
No one knew his true intentions.
Not Feng Chan.
Not the Nine Sects.
Not even the ancient powers hiding deep in the Mainland.
Master Tianyi's goals were buried in layers of mystery.
And one day...
those secrets would change the fate of the entire world.