Five years.
To a cultivator, five years was nothing more than a blink of an eye—a single meditation session for an old monster secluded in a mountain cave. But for Lin Kai, these five years had been a whirlwind of growth, discovery, and the agonizing reality of being a toddler with the mind of a college student.
He was now five years old. His baby fat had thinned out slightly, revealing a sharp jawline that hinted at his future handsomeness. He wore a miniature version of the Lin Clan's training robes, white with blue trimming, and his unique black hair with its jagged red strips was tied back in a small ponytail.
Currently, he was sitting in the Crimson Cloud Pavilion, his legs dangling off a chair that was too big for him, staring intently at a massive scroll spread out on the table.
"Pay attention, Kai'er," Yu Yue's voice was soft but commanding. She tapped a section of the map with a long, jade pointer. "The world is not just what you see from the floating islands."
"I know, Mother," Lin Kai said, his voice childish but his eyes sharp. "That is the Spirit Land. And that one is the Vermillion Sage Continent."
Yu Yue smiled, a rare, genuine expression that she only showed to him. "Correct. But do you know who lives there?"
Lin Kai leaned forward. This was the part he loved. The lore dump.
"Humans are the most populous," Yu Yue explained, her finger gliding over the map like a phantom. "But we are not the strongest by birth. In the Spirit Land, the Ancient Beast Clans rule. They are born with bodies tough enough to crush steel. In the Vermillion Sage Continent, the Alchemist Guilds hold power, but they trade with the Celestials."
"Celestials?" Lin Kai asked.
"Beings born of pure energy," Yu Yue said, her eyes darkening slightly. "Arrogant. Powerful. They believe they are the descendants of the stars. Then there are the Fairies of the forest domains, masters of illusion. And the Angels of the Western Sanctum, who wield Light Qi."
Lin Kai absorbed this information like a sponge. 'So it's a standard high-fantasy setup, but mixed with cultivation. Celestials, Angels, Beasts... wait, if there are Angels, are there Demons?'
"Mother," Lin Kai asked, pointing to a dark, swirling patch on the map that had no name. "You told me about Aether Qi, which makes up the air we breathe. You said there is Stellar Qi from the stars, and Elemental Qi like Fire and Water. But what is that?"
He pointed to the dark patch.
Yu Yue's hand paused. The room seemed to drop a few degrees in temperature.
"That," she said quietly, "is where the Demonic Qi and Nether Qi gather."
"What's the difference?" Lin Kai pressed, his curiosity piqued.
Yu Yue looked at him, her violet eyes searching his face. "Think of Aether as the sun. It is warm, life-giving, and orderly. Most of the righteous sects cultivate this. Demonic Qi is chaotic; it is the energy of bloodlust and madness, used by the Demonic Beasts and Berserkers."
She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "But Nether Qi... that is different. Nether is not madness. It is silence. It is the cold of the grave, the shadow behind the light. It is forbidden because it consumes Aether."
"Forbidden?" Lin Kai raised an eyebrow. "So, no one uses it?"
Yu Yue chuckled, a sound that lacked humor. "Oh, my silly son. In this world, power is the only truth. The 'Righteous' Clans call it forbidden to the commoners, but in the shadows? Many top hidden clans—even few Elders in our clan—study it in secret. Darkness is just another weapon, Kai'er. It is only evil if the wielder is weak."
Lin Kai nodded slowly. 'Darkness is just a weapon. Noted. Sounds like foreshadowing.'
"So," Lin Kai asked, swinging his legs, "what rank of cultivation do you need to use it? I'm stuck at the 4th Stage of Mortal Foundation. When do I get to the cool stuff? What comes after Mortal Foundation?"
Yu Yue tapped him lightly on the forehead with the jade pointer. Thwack.
"Ouch!"
"Don't be greedy," she scolded gently. "Knowing the higher realms before you are ready will only breed a Heart Demon. It is dangerous to look at the summit when you haven't even climbed the first step. Just know that the sky is higher than you can imagine."
Lin Kai rubbed his forehead, pouting. 'Typical cultivation trope. 'You are too weak to know.' Fine.'
To be fair, he shouldn't be complaining. At five years old, being at the 4th Stage of Mortal Foundation was terrifying. Most children didn't even sense Qi until they were seven. He was a certified genius.
However...
BANG!
The heavy oak doors of the pavilion shook as if hit by a battering ram.
"Kai-Kai! Wake uuuup!"
Lin Kai flinched. He knew that voice. He knew the impending doom.
The door flew open, and a small hurricane in pink robes stormed in. It was Lin Yan'er.
She was six years old now, and the "cute doll" phase was evolving into the "tyrannical princess" phase. Her hair was tied in high twin-tails, and her skin glowed with a faint, healthy luster—evidence of the countless medicinal baths she had been soaked in.
Behind her, the poor nanny looked exhausted, bowing apologetically to Yu Yue. "Young Miss, please, slow down..."
"Training time!" Yan'er declared, marching up to Lin Kai and grabbing his arm. Her grip was like an iron pincer.
"Yan'er, I'm studying..." Lin Kai tried to protest, digging his heels in.
"Studying is boring! Daddy said muscles are better than books!" She yanked him.
Lin Kai looked at his mother with pleading eyes. 'Save me. Please. She hits really hard.'
Yu Yue just smiled, sipping her tea. "Go on, Kai'er. Don't be lazy. A man must have a strong body. I will cultivate while you are gone."
She turned to the nanny, her gaze sharpening. "Take care of him."
"Of course, Madam," the nanny said, bowing deeply.
Lin Kai slumped his shoulders in defeat. "Fine. Let's go."
"Yay! I'm going to teach you the Crushing Rock Fist today!" Yan'er cheered, dragging him out of the room.
As they left, Lin Kai sighed. He hated physical training. His adult mind found the repetitive motions tedious, and his child body found them painful. But in the Lin Clan, if you didn't train, you were trash.
They arrived at the Junior Training Square, a vast courtyard paved with bluestone. Dozens of children, ranging from five to ten years old, were already there. These were the heirs of the branch families and the elite inner disciples.
The moment Lin Kai arrived, heads turned.
"It's the Little Genius!"
"And the Princess!"
Despite his internal grumbling, Lin Kai was popular. He was the son of the Third Elder, and he was undeniably talented.
"Alright everyone!" Yan'er shouted, climbing onto a stone platform. "Pair up! Sparring time!"
Lin Kai tried to hide behind a stone pillar, but a shadow loomed over him.
"Hey, Lin Kai!"
It was Lin Bo, a seven-year-old from a branch family. He was built like a brick, with a runny nose and a permanent scowl. He was stuck at the 3rd Stage of Mortal Foundation and had always been jealous of Lin Kai.
"Fight me!" Lin Bo shouted, swinging a clumsy fist.
Lin Kai didn't even blink. 'Seriously? A haymaker? What are you, a bar brawler?'
Lin Kai stepped to the left, pivoting on his heel. He didn't use strength; he used geometry. As Lin Bo lunged past him, Lin Kai stuck out his foot and tapped Lin Bo's ankle.
Thud!
Lin Bo face-planted into the bluestone.
"Argh!" Lin Bo cried, scrambling up, red-faced. "You cheated! You didn't use Qi!"
"I used my brain," Lin Kai yawned. "You should try it sometime. It's a useful muscle."
The other kids laughed. Lin Kai shook his head. He usually held back, but sometimes, putting a brat in his place was satisfying.
"Kai-Kai! You won!" Yan'er appeared out of nowhere, her eyes sparkling. "Now fight me! Fight me!"
Lin Kai's face went pale. "No, Sister Yan'er, I—"
Too late. She pounced.
Lin Yan'er was at the 7th Stage of Mortal Foundation. The difference between Stage 4 and Stage 7 was like the difference between a bicycle and a tank.
For the next ten minutes, the other children watched in awe as the "Little Genius" was tossed around like a ragdoll by the giggling girl in pink.
'I hate this world,' Lin Kai thought as he landed on his butt for the tenth time. 'When I grow up, I'm going to enact revenge. I swear.'
But even as he groaned, he got back up. He dusted off his robes and settled into a stance. He wouldn't give up. That wasn't in his nature.
While the children played at war, the adults were planning a real one.
High above the training grounds, in the suspended Hall of Heavenly Decisions, the atmosphere was heavy enough to crush bone.
The hall was dark, lit only by floating blue flames that cast long, eerie shadows against the obsidian walls. At the far end sat a throne carved from the skull of a Dragon-Elephant.
On the throne sat Lin Yang, the Clan Leader. His presence was vast, expanding to fill every corner of the room.
Lined up on either side were the Elders and Grand Elders, ancient figures whose auras rippled the air. Lin Feng, Kai's father, sat on the right, his face grim.
"The report from the Southern Trade Route is in," an Elder with a hawk-nose spoke. "The supply of Spirit Herbs from the lower realms is dwindling. The bottleneck... is tightening."
Silence followed. Everyone knew what "the bottleneck" meant. The Lin Clan was powerful, but they were stuck. The upper echelons couldn't break through. They lacked the resources, specifically, an ancient token lost thousands of years ago.
"So," Lin Yang spoke, his voice resonating like a deep bell. "What do you think of the plan?"
A heavy silence.
"It is... risky," one Elder muttered. "The Human Greatland is far away. And sending a child? Why her? Why the Young Miss?"
"Because she is my daughter," Lin Yang said, his eyes cold and unyielding. "She is seven years old, but her mind is sharp. She is a genius of the 7th Stage. More importantly... she is unassuming."
He leaned forward. "If we send an Elder, the Guardians of the Human Greatland will detect our cultivation suppression. They will attack. It would start a war we do not need. But a child? A lost child seeking her 'distant relatives'? Who would suspect a spy?"
"But the morality..." another Elder hesitated. "That distant branch... the Ling Clan... they are our blood. They broke away three thousand years ago, yes, but to steal from them..."
"We are not stealing," Lin Feng spoke up.
All eyes turned to Lin Kai's father.
Lin Feng looked calm, but his knuckles were white as he gripped his armrest. "We are... reclaiming. We all know that token belongs to the Main Line. It is wasted in the Human Greatland, rotting in a low-Qi environment. We cannot use force on our own kin—that is the bottom line. We will not slaughter them. Yan'er will go, she will integrate, and she will find the token. If they give it willingly, we reward them. If not... she takes it quietly."
The Elders nodded slowly. It was a convenient lie to soothe their conscience. 'We aren't bandits. We are reclaimers.'
"Then it is decided," Lin Yang announced. "When she turns eight, next year, Yan'er will depart for the Human Greatland. Prepare the Void Ships. Prepare the shadow guards."
"Dismissed."
The Elders bowed and faded away, disappearing in flashes of light. Soon, only the two brothers remained.
The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.
"Brother," Lin Feng broke the silence. "Is this really necessary? Sending your only daughter?"
"We are stuck, Feng," Lin Yang sighed, rubbing his temples. The mask of the imperious leader slipped, revealing a tired man. "Without that token, I cannot breakthrough. If I don't breakthrough, the Vermillion Sage Sects will overtake us within a millenium. I am doing this for the Clan."
"I know," Lin Feng murmured. "I know."
"Speaking of power..." Lin Yang stood up and walked down the steps of the throne. He stopped right in front of Lin Feng. "How is your wife? How is Yu Yue?"
Lin Feng froze. "She is... fine. Teaching Kai'er. Why?"
Lin Yang stared into his brother's eyes. "Do not play the fool with me, Feng. I sensed the fluctuation five years ago during the birth. And I sensed it again yesterday. The density of Aether around your pavilion... it's unnatural."
Lin Feng swallowed. "She is talented. That is why I married her."
"Be careful, brother," Lin Yang whispered, his voice dropping to a hiss. "I think she is not just 'talented'. I think she is very near to That Realm. Maybe even closer than I am."
Lin Feng's eyes widened. A flash of emotion crossed his face—not fear, but greed. Pure, unadulterated ambition.
"No," Lin Feng lied smoothly, his face composing itself into a mask of loyal ignorance. "I think she is just a little stronger than me. She is a good wife. She wouldn't hide things."
Lin Yang studied him for a long, agonizing second. Then, he chuckled.
"Good. Keep it that way. But watch her, Feng. If a tiger sleeps in your bed, make sure you are the one holding the leash."
"Always," Lin Feng replied.
He bowed and turned to leave. But as he walked out of the dark hall, the smile on Lin Feng's face vanished, replaced by a look of twisted calculation.
'Close to That Realm?' Lin Feng thought, his heart pounding against his ribs. 'If she is that strong... then her blood... her essence...'
He licked his lips, casting a glance back at the throne room, and then towards the direction of the Crimson Cloud Pavilion.
'The Clan wants the token. I want the power. Everyone is playing a game. Let's see who wins.'
Back in the training square, Lin Kai sneezed.
"Are you okay?" Yan'er asked, pausing her assault.
"Yeah," Lin Kai rubbed his nose, looking up at the sky where dark clouds were gathering. "Just got a sudden chill. Like someone walked over my grave."
"Weirdo," Yan'er giggled. "Come on! One more round!"
"Please, no..."