"Have you ever wondered what actually lies in the cosmos? Are we alone? What do you guys think about it?"
For a moment the entire class went silent, lost in deep thoughts. wondering if they were truly alone. One student said, "Yes," and the other replied, "No."
The professor smirked, "It depends on your perspective. If you believe we are truly alone, so be it. However, if you think otherwise, there may be more to the universe than you ever anticipated."
The classroom buzzed with excitement as they explored the possibilities, igniting a curiosity that extended beyond their textbooks and into the vast unknown.
"Man, this new cultivation comic is insane. I really wish it was all real—the power, the fights… And damn, he built his own harem." it
"Aiden, what are you thinking about? Come on, share it loud," a female voice came from his back.
"Nah, I'll pass."
Yeah, Aiden, tell us about your thoughts." professor demanded.
But he gestured a no.
The professor then raised an eyebrow at Aiden's refusal and set the attendance sheet aside. He stepped away from the podium, hands clasped behind his back, and walked slowly between the rows of desks.
"You know, Aiden," he said, his voice calm and yet carrying a weight that made even the restless students settle down again, "sometimes the things we think about, like the foolish daydreams, might actually be glimpses or hints at something larger. Waiting for us to notice. Maybe not exactly as we imagine them, but in ways that shape who we actually become."
He paused beside Aiden's desk, looking not just at him but at everyone.
"You all are sitting here today; when you all finish your education, some of you will chase wealth. Some will chase fame, or knowledge, or etc. But no matter what path you choose, one truth will always bind you to this universe, and that is curiosity. What else is out there?"
He tapped his skull lightly. "This brain of ours is just tiny compared to the universe, which can contain entire worlds. We can imagine the impossible. Civilizations that reside among the stars, endless power, gods, and demons. Stories that outlive the flesh. And yet, we dismiss those thoughts as childish fantasies. We call people dreamers as if it's an insult.
Why?"
"I'll tell you something most people never say out loud: Everything you know today was once someone's impossible dream. Flying machines were classified as impossible until the Wright brothers proved them otherwise. Rockets were fantasy until they were used to kiss the moon. The internet, which we take for granted, was once the dream of futurists. And somewhere, perhaps even now, someone is imagining the next leap, something so absurd that people will laugh until they don't."
He turned and pointed towards the blackboard where faint chalk marks of equations and star charts still lingered. "Look at the cosmos. So vast, so empty, so alive. Do you really believe Earth is the only suitable place for life? Did you ever think about your minds being limited by flesh and time? Could someone truly grasp the full scope of existence? We're just ants trying to read the sky, and yet… we dare. And that is why, Aiden, it makes us different from the stones, the trees, and the beasts. We should dare to imagine the impossible, then write it down, and share it. If possible, we can build it, piece by piece."
He took a slow breath, letting his gaze roam across the room. Some students looked dazed, some inspired. Aiden stared back, trying to hide that his heart was suddenly beating fast for some reasons he didn't understand.
"So, laugh at your comics. Daydream about power, immortality, cultivation, or whatever you want. But never lose that spark. Because one day, someone will take what was once a comic, or a whisper, or a childish wish… and make it real. And when that day comes, the question won't be whether you believed it, but whether you were ready to face it."
The professor smiled, a sad, secret smile, and stepped back. "Now, where were we? Ah, attendance…"
Soon the bell rang; its cry marked the end of not just the session but an entire chapter of their lives. The students who moments ago were frozen in thought now erupted into a buzz of talks and laughter. Some hugged each other, while others scribbled final notes into each other's yearbooks. The air was thick with promises.
"Let's keep in touch; we'll meet again. Don't forget me."
Aiden stayed in his seat a moment longer, watching everyone. The professor's words still rang in his ears, louder than the noise around him. "One day someone will take what was once a comic, or a whisper, or a childish wish… and make it real. For some reason, that line stayed in his mind."
Ailsa poked him, pulling him back to reality. "Hey, space cadet. Come on, are you still out daydreaming?" She smiled; her eyes were bright. Even though he could see she was crying a little.
Aiden forced a grin and stood up while placing his bag over his shoulder. "Yeah, yeah. I'm coming."
Outside the lecture hall, the corridors were quite lively, with the students saying goodbye to professors and juniors peeking around corners hoping to catch one last glimpse of the seniors they looked up to. Some were taking selfies in the courtyard; caps already made them look awkward on their heads even though the ceremony wasn't until the next morning.
Aiden passed through it all like a ghost. He shook hands with his friends, slapped shoulders, and promised to stay in touch with people he knew he probably wouldn't see again. Meanwhile, the spark in his chest, the one that the professor had lit, kept flickering brighter.
When he finally stepped outside the main building, he turned around one last time. The old stone walls, the dusty windows, the half-broken clock tower that never showed the right time. He'd always thought he'd be glad to leave this place behind, but now, he felt a strange ache, as if he were about to lose something very precious to him, which he hadn't fully understood until now.
Alisa joined him again, pushing her hair behind her ear as she looked at the building too. "So, genius, what next?" she asked. "Going to conquer the world? Or are you just going to sit in your room and read those comics all day?"
Aiden laughed, softer than usual. "Maybe a bit of both." He hesitated, then pulled her in for a quick hug. "Hey… thanks for always yelling at me to focus, giving me your lunch, and for… just, you know, being here with me."
She pulled back, pretending to glare, but her eyes were shining again. "Don't get all sentimental now. I'll see you tomorrow at the ceremony, idiot. You better not be late."
He raised his hand in a lazy salute, watching her disappear into the crowd. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the last four years settle on his shoulders, and then, just like that, lifted away.
He then rode a bus to reach home. As the bus moved, Aiden's thoughts returned to the classroom. The professor's words still echoed in his mind, refusing to die out completely. We should dare to imagine the impossible.
But even as the spark lingered, doubt crawled in. He stared up at the evening sky with young stars, like little pins of light in an ocean of blackness. They looked so beautiful, but so impossibly far. So… empty.
What if there really is nothing out there? Aiden thought. What if it's all just us? No gods. No hidden civilizations. No cosmic beings waiting to pass on ancient secrets or mystical powers. No chance for someone like me to become something more.
He closed his eyes, picturing his favorite scenes from the cultivation comic—the hero rising from nothing, bending the world to his will, and crossing galaxies with the flick of a finger. Which looked so easy, yet absurd in reality.
The bus then stopped near his home, and he walked the familiar path. From somewhere a dog was barking at nothing.
Nothing, he thought again. There's nothing out there. Just endless cold and rock and gas. All these stories—aliens, ancient gods, hidden power. They're just illusions so we don't have to face how alone we really are.
He then arrived at the driveway of his small house. Warm yellow light spilled through the kitchen window. He paused, his hand resting on the doorknob, trying to shake off the heaviness in his chest. One more night, he told himself. Then the ceremony. Then….
He stepped inside. The familiar scent of his mother's cooking—tonight it was roast chicken and baked vegetables for dinner. The small living room was cozy, with warm lamps and soft cushions, the low hum of an old movie playing in the background.
"Aiden!" His mother looked up from the kitchen, where she was tossing a salad. Her eyes sparkled while crinkling the same way when she smiled. "Look at you, Mr. Graduate!" She walked over and gave him a big hug before he could protest.
His father, leaning back in his favorite armchair, raised a bottle of craft beer in greeting. "You are quite early; we thought you'd run off to celebrate early."
"Yeah, well…," Aiden mumbled, trying to smile back. He dropped his bag by the door and let himself sink onto the couch, suddenly exhausted.
His mom caressed his hair as she passed. "We're proud of you, you know that, right? All those late nights, all those half-finished projects, are now worth it." She bent over the coffee table and picked up a small box wrapped in simple gold paper. "And, well… we know tomorrow's the big ceremony, but we wanted to give you something tonight. A little graduation gift."
Aiden blinked. "You guys didn't have to…,"
His dad snorted. "Yeah, yeah, we know we didn't have to. Just open it already."
Aiden took the box, weighing it in his hands. It wasn't big—light, but oddly solid. He peeled off the wrapping and lifted the lid. Inside, nestled in a small velvet pouch, was a bracelet. Not fancy—just a simple band of polished metal, a dull dark silver that gleamed faintly under the warm light. Tiny symbols he didn't recognize were etched along the inside.
"It's… a bracelet?" he asked, confused but trying not to be ungrateful.
His mother sat down beside him, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's quite special, you know. It was given to us by a woman we met when you were just a baby. She told us to hold onto it for you when you were ready."
Aiden frowned, running his thumb over the metal. "What?"
His dad leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. "It's a strange story. We were traveling through this one small coastal town. You were barely a year old. It was quite late, and raining. This old woman stopped us, and she looked… well, I don't know, otherworldly. She said you had 'a road that would split the sky,' whatever that means. She gave us that bracelet and told us you'd need it one day."
Aiden let out a short laugh, trying to hide the shiver that ran down his spine. "So… what, you think it's a magical object?"
His mother shrugged, her eyes warm but serious. "Maybe it's just a story. Or maybe it's a reminder. That you're meant for something more—whether you see it now or not."
He slipped the bracelet over his wrist. It fit perfectly, like it had always belonged there. For a second, the metal felt warm—too warm. He blinked, but when he looked down again, it was just a piece of jewelry resting against his skin.
His dad clapped him on the shoulder, pulling him out of the moment. "Alright, enough mystical nonsense for tonight. Come on, dinner's getting cold. You'll need energy when you get to shake the dean's hand and pretend you care about his speech."
Aiden managed a grin and let himself be dragged to the dinner table. They ate, they laughed about old stories, his bad grades, his half-broken science fair projects, and the time he nearly set the garage on fire trying to build a rocket out of soda bottles.
But even as they talked and the house filled with warmth, a part of him couldn't stop thinking about the bracelet.
When dinner was done and his parents had sat off to watch their favorite old TV show, Aiden sat alone in his room. He turned off the lamp and lay back on his bed, staring at the bracelet in the faint glow of his phone screen.
There's nothing out there, he told himself one last time, a silent promise to let the dream die before it disappointed him. We're alone. Always have been. Always will be.
But then suddenly everything began to crumble, fading out of existence.
Only Aiden was able to see the event that had occurred. Then the bracelet on his arm, which was given as a gift by his parents, started glowing viciously. Before he could react, the sounds arose from everywhere, demanding Aiden.
"Did you think that there is nothing out in the cosmos?"
"Who's there? Aiden's eyes widened in fear.
Everything then froze. which made him struggle; for a moment he thought that we would be dead. Just then a figure emerged from the swirling void.
"I am the Dark Celestial. Absolute ruler of the void."
Aiden stared at him for a while, then, despite the fear strangling him, he blurted it all out.
"Do I, uh… bow, or… do you want me to clap or something?"
The Dark Celestial paused. The swirling darkness behind him seemed to stutter like a buffering video.
"What?" The ancient being rumbles.
Both of them just stood there, watching each other's faces.
"Enough games; my life force is about to end. And yours is a perfect match, which will soon be mine." With a wave of his hand, darkness engulfed Adien, which killed him instantly.
What Aiden didn't know was that this was just the beginning. A starting of something that he could never, ever have imagined. He was destined to shine like the brightest star out in the cosmos. The fate of the universe rests upon his shoulders.
…
Tian Yuan Galaxy
Qingchen Realm
Far inside the mountains, there was a hut. Yes, a hut, from where loud screams arose. Upon inspecting closer, there was a man walking vigorously in front of the hut; he was tense. Because his wife was about to give birth. Inside the hut, there was an old lady, who was helping to deliver their baby safely.
Then, with one final push, he was reborn. His cries were heard by his father, who soon ran towards the door. Just as he was about to open it, time stopped. Everything froze, from the birds in the sky to the fight that was happening in another realm.
A figure emerged from the sky, above the hut. Then it descended slowly; it watched the father, who was in a rush to see his baby, and made it smile a bit. The figure then transformed into a feminine body.
And finally, her feet touched the ground. She then gently walked towards the baby and finally stroked his head.
"I was late; he arrived before me, which was the cause of your death. Your physical body had decayed, which made your resurrection impossible. That's why you were reborn in this world, to fulfill your destiny and his dreams."
The lady then pressed her finger on his forehead. Then suddenly a book appeared in front of her, then went inside the baby's head.
"Be aware that once this book awakens, you will be targeted by him again, and this book contains the soul of that person, who will protect you."
Then she left the hut, and just as she was about to disappear, something sparked in her mind. She went towards the father and then whispered something in his ear. She then vanished while giggling. Time was resumed, and the birds started moving. The battle also began in another realm.
"Lihua… LIHUA..., how are you now? How is the baby?" The father came in a rush.
"Careful, Tiahai, they are alright; don't disturb them, and he is healthy," the old lady said calmly.
Upon hearing the words, he couldn't control his excitement, because a son was born. His first child. He then went outside and was signaling something through his hands. Then a group of assassins appeared before him.
"It's a boy," then hugged an assassin while sharing the joyful news
The assassins came at ease, then all of them sat together beside each other, enjoying the moment. One started dancing, while the other shared his experiences, and then finally one of the assassins asked Tiahai about the name of his son, and he answered.
"Ling Wuyin"
…
The name "Ling Wuyin" echoed around the cold mountain air, carried by the winds into the dark forest next to it. The assassins raised their cups of wine in unison, toasting under the dim moonlight under the treetops. Laughter and whispers of blessings filled the night, blending with the cries of the newborn from within the hut. Then he went towards the hut.
Inside, Tiahai sat by his wife's side, holding her hand as she rested. Mu Lihua's face was pale, but there was a faint smile on her lips as she stared at their son in her arms.
"He has your eyes," she whispered softly.
Tiahai chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. "No, they're yours, sharp and full of mischief."
Outside the hut, the assassins had formed a circle; some started sharpening their blades, while others shared ghost stories to pass the time. They were killers, shadows of the night, yet tonight they laughed like children.
Suddenly, the laughter faded as an old man with a cane approached through the mist. His steps were slow but carried a strange weight, forcing the men to stand aside in absolute silence.
He tapped the cane in his hand thrice on the frozen ground.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Then he peeked towards the hut, and then he entered. His eyes narrowing on the Wuyin's tiny face.
"So, this is the child?" The old man's voice was rough but carried a hidden power.
Tiahai stood up, his smile respectful but wary. "Yes, Elder Zhou."
Elder Zhou leaned closer, while his breath was mystifying in the cold. He raised his trembling finger and poked the baby's forehead. A spark of golden light flickered for an instant—too faint for the mortals around him to see.
"He will bring storms wherever he goes," the old man murmured. "Mountains will bow, rivers will rise or get dried. Protect him well, Ling Tiahai. Heaven is watching him."
Then Elder Zhou vanished into thin air after bidding his farewells to them.
Inside the hut, Mu Lihua shivered, clutching her baby tighter. "What did he mean by that?"
Tiahai forced a smile while holding her hand reassuringly. "Nothing. He's just an old person who just blabbered something. Get some sleep, Lihua. Rest for now."
But as he looked down at his son, Ling Tiahai felt it too, a strange warmth beneath the baby's skin, as if a tiny sun had been hidden inside this fragile new life.
Outside, the wind howled, carrying the cries of the newborn across the peak.
Qingchen Realm is never going to be the same as before.
The night then soon passed; it was now a new day, and all of them gathered up because they were leaving. The hut belonged to the old lady, who had offered to help them. They then bid farewell to her before going to their destination.
"Wait, you forgot this bracelet. Take this; it's a gift from me for your son." The old lady screamed while running.
The couple smiled while receiving it, and then they soon left in there.
Time again froze, but this time the old lady moved while giggling; she then turned into a white particle before disappearing. It was none other than the same lady who had appeared last night. It was just all her plan along to ensure the safety and birth of the destined child.
…
"Tiahai..., about yesterday, when did you call Elder Zhou?" Lihua asked while they were in their carriage.
"I didn't, but I felt his presence outside the hut. So, I immediately recognized him." Tiahai answered her vaguely.
Elder Zhao, or Zhao Taixuan, is the overseer of Qingchen Realm. He was a top-level expert from Qingling Realm who gave up his status there and decided to take care of his birth realm. Both the realms are almost similar because Qingchen is a mortal-grade world, whereas Qingling is a spirit-grade world.
"He is already at Domain Birth-Stage 9 realm, so he must have sensed our son's birth." Tiahai spoke.
"But still, about he said…," just as Lihua was about to continue, he interrupted her.
"It's ok, nothing will happen to our son," he reassured her, but deep down he also knew that his son wasn't going to have an ordinary life. Which might have made Elder Zhou appear there."
Both then spent some time together, reminiscing about their past and what would happen in the future. Hours had passed, and yet they were still traveling when one of the voices from outside spoke.
"We have arrived at Baiyun Village."
Baiyun Village
Baiyun Village was covered by misty mountains on all sides and surrounded by forests so thick that they almost blocked the sun's rays from falling on the ground. When looked at from afar, it looked as if white smoke was drifting lazily beneath the azure sky, which was living up to its name, the Village of White Clouds.
As the carriage carrying Ling Tiahai, Mu Lihua, and their newborn son passed through the narrow dirt path, the villagers peeked out from wooden windows and old stone doorways. They were simple farmers, herbalists, and craftsmen, yet their eyes carried some wisdom. They had seen many storms arise on these mountains, both natural and otherwise.
The assassins first scanned the area, then, blending with the shadows of trees, scouted the perimeter of the path. One by one, they emerged again, giving Tiahai subtle nods.
"All clear."
Inside the carriage, Mu Lihua cradled Ling Wuyin, humming a soft tune that her mother used to sing for her a long time ago. He was barely a day old in this world, yet he clenched his tiny fists as if grasping the invisible threads of fate.
They finally stopped before an old courtyard house at the village's edge. Though it had weathered away, the house was completely sturdy. Tiahai stepped out first; he glanced at the sky. The clouds were drifting lazily, but he felt something was behind him, as if watching them.
A watchful eye from beyond the mortal veil.
A young servant girl ran out to greet them, bowing deeply. "Master Ling, Mistress Mu—welcome back home."
Mu Lihua gave out a tired smile as she stepped down with Wuyin in her arms. "Thank you, Xue'er. It's been a long journey."
The assassins were watching everywhere, like wolves searching for their prey. Their presence felt as if invisible, yet deadly, to perfectly counter any threats that could arise. Tiahai then led his wife through the creaking wooden gates, inside the old house
That night, as the Ling family settled in the village, a strange breeze slipped through the cracks of the old courtyard. It rustled the prayer flags and made the oil lamps flicker.
Wuyin rotated in his crib. The bracelet, the same one that once glowed fiercely on his wrist while he was on earth, was now around his tiny ankle, loose and yet strangely fitting.
In his dreams, he was neither a baby nor a man, but something else entirely. He drifted among swirling galaxies, nebulas dancing like colored smoke. A voice, which was vast and echoing, called out to him through the void.
Did you think there was nothing out there in the cosmos?
He saw a figure cloaked in shadows, the Dark Celestial. But this time, it didn't appear as an enemy. Instead, the swirling void parted, revealing thousands of glowing eyes, which were stars orbiting around him.
Suddenly, a warmth bloomed beside him, a silhouette of the gentle light. The feminine figure who had stroked his head at birth stood there, her smile soft yet sorrowful.
He will come for you again. But this time you will not be alone and helpless.
She then pressed her palm against his chest, and symbols of stars, runes, and ancient scripts flared within him, which got embedded into his soul.
The sun then rose over Baiyun Village. Chickens clucked in the yards. Smoke came out of the chimneys as villagers prepared their morning meals.
Inside the Ling household, Mu Lihua was woken up to find Wuyin staring at her, wide-eyed, unblinking. For a moment, she could swear the baby's pupils flickered with starlight, but when she blinked, they were just innocent eyes again.
Tiahai entered, his sword over his waist, despite the peaceful village. He kissed his wife's forehead and looked at his son. Despite his calm expression, he was tensed up and then left the household for an important work.
Outside the village, Elder Zhou stood at the edge of the forest, unseen by all. He traced patterns in the air with his cane, ancient seals binding space and time together like threads.
He muttered, "You have to be prepared, Wuyin. Until my domain lasts, you are safe from any harm."