Grandpa Yanshen cradled the infant in his arms, gazing down at the newborn boy with a solemn smile, His lips trembled as he whispered:
"Oh, my sweet grandson… Bless the gods you've been given to our Tianxiu Clan."
A single tear escaped the corner of his eye, trailing slowly down his aged cheek. Though his immortal form remained untouched by time, there was no mistaking the fragile tenderness in his posture — not as a cultivator, but as a grandfather.
Prince Hu raised a brow. "Dad? Are you crying?"
He chuckled softly, unable to mask the warmth in his voice.
Lady Qinglian, ever graceful, placed a gentle hand on her husband's shoulder. "Oh, don't tease your father. And you," she turned to her father-in-law, "thank you. I appreciate everything."
Yanshen turned away slightly, embarrassed, and wiped his sleeve across his face. His arms still held the infant close, careful not to disturb the child's sleep.
"I'm proud of you," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Father-in-law and daughter embraced, the moment soft and golden. Prince Hu sat behind them, watching silently, his gaze calm and filled with peace.
A Few Days Later…
Now that the child had been bathed in spiritual herbs and fed the nectar of starlight, the time had come — the aptitude test, a sacred rite passed down since the Age of Ancients. Bloodline, constitution, and Dao sense would be revealed.
Still, Prince Hu's brow furrowed.
"Father… don't you think it's too early?" he asked. "He's only just opened his eyes."
Grandpa Yanshen waved the concern away like a puff of incense. "What's the harm? The test is safe. He'll barely feel a thing."
Hu pressed, more sternly now. "That's not it. It's not about safety — I just… I don't think he's ready."
"Not ready?" Yanshen's tone sharpened. "He's a Tianxiu. Our blood runs with the echoes of heaven. If he can't shed a single drop of blood for the truth of who he is — can he truly call himself one of us?"
Prince Hu fell silent, but his jaw tightened.
The elder softened slightly, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "I know what you're thinking. But believe me… that child is stronger than any of us understand. Trust me."
Hu held the gaze for a long moment. Then, with a slow exhale, he nodded and embraced his father.
"…Alright. Let's do it."
Inner Courtyard, Tianxiu Estate
I still can't believe it's been ten days since I woke up in this world… Zhen thought, or rather, remembered, from within his tiny body.
This body and I… we were once the same, weren't we? But something happened… and now I'm back?
He tried to move — a twitch of fingers, a shift of limbs — but alas, even the child of immortals was bound to the laws of growth. His tiny fists flailed in vain, constrained by his childish body.
"Still, this is amazing" he expressed, curiously gazing.
"Superhero? No — I could be a god here"
His thoughts drifted.
"And my mother… wow, she's stunning. And my dad — how tall is he?! Can I get that big too?"
He was so lost in his musings that he didn't even notice he had been lifted and carried out of the nursery, through golden halls and down into the ceremonial chamber. Outside, the air hummed with suppressed excitement.
All around the hall, figures stood in reverent silence — elders in flowing robes, sword saints, daoists, rogue cultivators, and even a few long-hidden recluses who had not shown their faces in centuries. Every corner of the immortal realm had sent witnesses for this child's test.
Because the skies had wept when he was born. The heavens had cried out, And now… they wanted to see why.
Prince Hu and Lady Qinglian stood near the center, Zhen resting in his mother's arms. The baby blinked slowly, his thoughts half-lost in wonder.
"Why is everyone staring? Did I do something wrong? Wait… is this that test thing Grandpa was talking about?"
A murmur rippled through the chamber.
"It's way Too early for the ritual…"
"Only fifteen days old?"
"The Pillar might not even respond…"
"I thinks that's enough" intervened a voice.
A sharp pulse of power cracked through the air — invisible, but heavy — and silence fell like snow. All eyes turned to the man who had released it: Immortal Emperor Taijin.
Tall, radiant, and draped in a robe woven from solar threads, the Emperor proceeds to sit on A throne with a half-smile.
"Forgive their whispers," he said calmly. "I am merely grateful to see my sworn brother's grandson alive and well."
The royal couple bowed. "Your Majesty. We thank you for your presence."
With a hearty laugh, Taijin leaned forward, then reached out — space itself bending around his hand — and in an instant, little Zhen vanished from his mother's arms and appeared in the emperor's grasp.
Lady Qinglian gasped softly. Hu's hand twitched toward her hands.
But Taijin just smiled, peering down at the child in wonder. "So this is the one who made the heavens cry…" He stared for a moment longer, brow furrowing. "Hmm. I can't quite tell why."
frustrated, he shook his head. "Even with all my years of pursuing the dao, never have my abilities failed like so. What a delightful mystery."
He returned Zhen gently to the couple. "I would like to perform the ritual."
A shockwave of murmurs broke through the crowd. "The emperor himself?"That was unheard of.
"No," came a firm voice. Grandpa Yanshen stepped forward, his eyes shining. "This is my grandson, and my right."
Taijin gave him a warm nod. "Then do the honors, my friend."
Yanshen approached and gently lifted Zhen from his daughter-in-law's arms. The baby looked up, smiled, and instinctively placed a hand on the grandpa shen's chest.
There was love there — deep and unspoken. The kind of bond only the heavens could forge.
Grandpa Shen walked forward, his steps measured. He stood before the ancient monolith and slowly knelt, placing Zhen gently at its base.
Zhen tilted his head, blinked at the pillar… then reached out a chubby hand and tapped it.
Nothing...
Then, suddenly—
WHOOM!
The crimson gemstone embedded at the pillar's core flared to life, its surface shattering into radiant fractals of rainbow light. Sacred runes ignited, spinning outward like constellations being born.
Gasps rippled through the chamber.
A massive golden character branded itself in the air above Zhen's head:
"天命 (Heaven's Mandate)."
One by one, the readings began to emerge, each carved in light across the air.
[Name: Zhen Tianxiu]
Age: 15 days
Cultivation: Body Refining Realm – Early Stage
Aptitude Analysis:
Dao Sense: 10/10 – Innate Dao Affinity
("Impossible," someone whispered. "Only Dao sovereigns have such an affinity…")
Constitution: Origin Celestial Body – Contains Innate Dao Seed
"Is that the innate Dao body?" Shockingly exclaimed a recluse sage.
Soul Depth: 🔒
Bloodline: Axis Bloom (🔒 Locked)
(Silence. A locked bloodline? Even the pillar cannot reveal it…
And then, more lines formed — gifts and insights, flooding the air like revelations from the heavens:
Gifts Identified:
– Innate Dao Seed
Dao Mastery:
-Chaos (Minor Attunement)
-Order (Minor Attunement)
-Time, Space, Life, Death, Fate, Creation, Destruction (all Minor)
– Heaven's Chosen
– Primordial Soul
– Martial God Potential
– Sword Dao Mastery (Innate)
– Alchemy Supreme Affinity
– Nine Extraordinary Meridians: Opened
By the time the last symbol faded into the light, the chamber was silent.
Not out of confusion. Not out of etiquette.
But because every single cultivator, noble,
and elder in that hall was stunned into absolute awe.
Even Emperor Taijin stared at the pillar with disbelief. "Not even the mythic geniuses of the Ancient Era… Not one of them had this many affinities at birth.
One of the elders fell to his knees. "Heaven's Chosen…"
A sword saint whispered, "This child is the convergence of all paths…"
Grandpa Yanshen said nothing. He stood, cradled the child again, and turned to face the assembly.
Zhen blinked up at him.
And smiled.