# Battle Through the Heavens Fanfic
## Volume 1: Awakening in Wutan City
### Chapter 1: The Fourth Son Awakens
The first rays of morning sunlight slipped through the thin paper windows of Xiao Lin's modest room, painting golden patterns on the wooden floor. Xiao Lin, the Xiao family patriarch's fourth son, lay awake, a lingering sense of unease stirring beneath his calm surface.
He pressed a palm against his forehead, willing away the whirlwind of images in his mind. He saw—no, remembered—things that defied explanation: the rush of modern cities, the chirp of notifications on a glowing screen, and, most distinctly, the intricate saga of "Battle Through the Heavens." As the memories settled, another notion echoed in his thoughts—a mysterious "Different World Shop System." A gentle bell chimed in his head:
> **Welcome, Host. All items within the system are free to obtain. Please browse at your leisure.**
His pulse raced. Xiao Lin sat up abruptly, glancing around as if expecting someone to witness his internal storm. He whispered in disbelief, "Is this… real?" The air in the room felt charged, as if the world were waiting, watching through silent walls.
Determined to test this newfound power, Xiao Lin shifted his awareness to the system. Instantly, rows of skills, bloodlines, and treasures appeared before his mental eye. He could feel their descriptions, their pulsing potential, as vivid as if he held them in his grasp. An involuntary smile broke across his lips.
> "I… I can change everything," he breathed, awe blooming in his chest.
He straightened his robes and walked quietly down the corridor, his footsteps nearly soundless on polished wood. The muted sounds of morning drifted in from the Xiao clan's outer training ground—laughter, shouts, the clang of wooden practice weapons.
Xiao Lin passed his father's open doorway. Inside, Xiao Zhan, the clan patriarch, advised several elders and retainers, his voice steady with authority. There was an air of gentle respect as the servants offered him their greetings, but Xiao Lin slipped past, unnoticed and unremarkable as always.
His thoughts remained on his older brother. Xiao Yan, once the pride of the clan, now bore the weight of lost glory—a victim of humiliation and whispers, his Dou Qi stunted for reasons unknown.
Xiao Lin found Xiao Yan in a small study, hunched over an old book. The mid-morning sun cut across Xiao Yan's face; his brow was drawn, his usually bright eyes clouded with disappointment.
Xiao Lin hovered at the threshold, suddenly unsure. He rapped softly—a gentle knock.
> **Xiao Yan:** (without lifting his head) "Who is it?"
> **Xiao Lin:** (quietly) "It's me, Xiao Lin. Can I come in?"
Xiao Yan's eyes flickered up in faint surprise. He gave a little shrug and closed his book.
> **Xiao Yan:** "Of course, Lin'er. What brings you here so early?"
>
> Xiao Lin stepped inside, taking a moment to study his brother's drawn features.
>
> **Xiao Lin:** "I… I just wanted to talk to you. Something happened to me, and I need your help. But it'll sound crazy."
Xiao Yan offered a tight smile and motioned for him to sit. The brothers rarely spoke at length; Xiao Lin sensed Xiao Yan's wariness.
> **Xiao Yan:** "Try me. It's been a long time since anything in this house could surprise me."
Drawing a deep breath, Xiao Lin glanced nervously at the door and spoke in a low, conspiratorial voice.
> **Xiao Lin:** "Brother, you must promise not to panic or think less of me. This is important."
>
> Xiao Yan's curiosity was piqued. "I promise. Just tell me."
>
> **Xiao Lin:** (leaning in, voice trembling with excitement and anxiety) "This morning, I remembered things—strange things. A different world, a story about you, about our family, everything. And… I have a power, a system in my mind. I can get anything—skills, treasures. It's as if the heavens themselves gave me a chance to rewrite our fate."
>
> Xiao Yan blinked, mouth opening and closing—confused amusement battling with skepticism.
>
> **Xiao Yan:** "A different world? Do you mean you're not... from here?"
>
> Xiao Lin shook his head, gazing desperately into his brother's eyes.
>
> **Xiao Lin:** "I was reborn. And I know… I know how hard these past years have been. But I can help you. We can help each other."
There was a silence heavy with meaning as Xiao Yan studied his younger brother. Xiao Lin held his breath.
> **Xiao Yan:** (voice cracking softly) "I don't know if I believe all this… but for the first time in a long time, I want to believe. And I want to trust you, Lin'er."
>
> Xiao Lin's face lit with relief. Without thinking, he reached for Xiao Yan's hand, grasping it firmly.
>
> **Xiao Lin:** "I'll never lie to you, big brother. Starting today—everything is different."
The moment hung suspended between them. Sunlight, previously muted, now seemed warmer; the tiny study became a sanctuary for hope restored.
> **Xiao Yan:** (after a long pause, squeezing Lin's hand) "Thank you, Xiao Lin. I… I haven't had anyone on my side in a long time."
>
> Xiao Lin smiled, eyes damp.
>
> **Xiao Lin:** "You've always been my hero, Yanzi. No matter what, we're together."
Outside, the sounds of the clan's daily bustle faded. The world shrank around the two brothers, and Xiao Lin felt, for the first time since awakening, an unshakeable certainty: he was exactly where he was meant to be.
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### Chapter 2: A Promise Beneath the Morning Light
The sun's angle crept steadily upward, painting the walls of Xiao Yan's small study with luminous gold. Xiao Lin and Xiao Yan still sat, hands joined across the low table, neither quite ready to let go of the fresh promise that now bound them closer than ever before.
A gentle breeze slipped in through the half-open window, carrying with it the fragrance of training grounds and fresh grass. For a while, neither brother spoke, content to simply breathe the same air, their earlier tension replaced by tentative hope.
> **Xiao Yan:** (eyes fixed on their linked hands) "Lin'er, what do you really want—now that you have this power?"
>
> **Xiao Lin:** (quietly, after thinking) "First, I want you to be happy again, big brother. Then… I want to see just how bright our family's star can shine."
>
> Xiao Yan's lips formed the smallest of smiles. "You make it sound so easy."
Xiao Lin's chest swelled with determination. He gave Xiao Yan's hand another squeeze, as if drawing a pact that neither would be left behind.
> **Xiao Lin:** "Maybe it can be—if we trust each other. Let's start today. With your permission, I want to show you what my system can do."
>
> Xiao Yan let a gentle laugh slip past, laced with the disbelief of a boy who had been let down all too often. "All right. Convince me, Lin'er."
#### Through the Courtyard
They moved together through the echoing corridors, Xiao Lin exuding a subtle confidence that seemed to rub off on his older brother. Outside, beneath the clan's old pear tree, the brothers found a quiet patch of earth kissed by dappled light.
> **Xiao Lin:** (casting a furtive look around) "Watch closely."
Closing his eyes, he focused inwardly. The system interface appeared again—intuitive and vast. His thoughts brushed against a particular entry: **Divine Holy Physique (Beginner Level)**.
> **System Announcement:** Congratulations, Host. Divine Holy Physique acquired.
A barely perceptible glow spread beneath Xiao Lin's skin. He exhaled, the pressure in his chest replaced by a refreshing surge of energy. Xiao Yan watched with fascinated skepticism as his younger brother looked suddenly stronger, his presence calm yet forceful.
> **Xiao Yan:** "You… really changed. I can feel it. Your Dou Qi is… different—full, almost unreal."
>
> **Xiao Lin:** (smiling) "And that's just the start. Here, give me your hand. You'll see for yourself."
Xiao Yan hesitated only a heartbeat before placing his palm atop Xiao Lin's, their fingers cool against each other. With a gentle pulse, Xiao Lin activated his system once more, focusing on granting his brother the same physique.
> **System:** Permission to bestow Divine Holy Physique (Beginner Level) on chosen recipient?
>
> **Xiao Lin's thought:** *Yes.*
For a moment, Xiao Yan's breath caught. Then he gasped as an unfamiliar fire rushed through him, gentle but invigorating—a cleansing heat that left him blinking in disbelief.
> **Xiao Yan:** (half-laughing, half-weeping) "What is this feeling? I haven't—my Dou Qi, it's moving again!"
>
> **Xiao Lin:** (reassuring, gentle) "You're not broken, Yanzi. You never were."
There was true awe now in Xiao Yan's gaze—wide-eyed and filled with tears he tried to blink away. He lunged forward, pulling Xiao Lin into a rare and heartfelt embrace.
> **Xiao Yan:** "Thank you, Lin'er. Thank you, thank you… I won't waste this chance."
The brothers stayed like that, arms entwined, as the rustle of leaves and distant sounds of training faded around them.
#### A New Day's Beginning
After a while, they parted, both smiling—uncertain but unburdened. The morning seemed brighter, possibilities unfolding before them. The healing that began in these moments would shape not only their futures, but the fate of the Xiao family itself.
> **Xiao Lin:** (voice steady) "Let's take things slow. There's much you need to learn about my system… and even more we can accomplish together."
>
> **Xiao Yan:** (grinning, more confident than he'd been in years) "I'm ready, little brother. Teach me—let's change our destiny, one day at a time."
The brothers turned back toward the heart of the Xiao estate, side by side. Their steps were light, their hearts even lighter. And for the first time in far too long, hope walked with them.
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### Chapter 4: The Mysterious Mentor Arrives
Evening cloaked the Xiao family estate in a soft indigo haze. Lanterns winked to life along the walkways, spreading golden pools of light on the ancient stones. Inside Xiao Yan's chamber, a rare stillness lingered—broken only by the subtle shuffling of pages and the quiet presence of two brothers, settled in the familiarity of shared space.
Xiao Lin gazed out the open window, watching the moon climb slowly above rooftop tiles. Across from him, Xiao Yan practiced simple Dou Qi meditations, his brows furrowed not with frustration but concentration—a change Xiao Lin delighted in observing.
Minutes ticked away in companionable silence until a sudden, subtle shimmering caught their attention. Both turned toward the old ring on Xiao Yan's finger. A faint, silvery glow pulsed and, before their astonished eyes, vapor coalesced midair. The mist condensed, swirling until a figure stood between them: a man in loose robes, his face sharp with wisdom and hard-won experience—Yao Lao.
> **Yao Lao:** (voice rich with unspent energy) "You did well to trust your instincts, Xiao Yan. Now, let's not waste this chance."
Xiao Yan's mouth fell open, his eyes wide in disbelief and awe. Xiao Lin, though prepared for this moment by memory and system, still found his heart thudding at the impossible sight.
> **Xiao Yan:** (stammering) "Senior… You—How are you—?"
>
> **Yao Lao:** (smiling, a flicker of amusement in his eyes) "You sensed my presence, and with your brother's help, you broke the seal. I am Yao Lao—your new teacher, or perhaps, your old friend."
With a graceful motion, Yao Lao seated himself, folding his robes with care. The atmosphere shifted—a sense of ancient wisdom settling like a mantle over the small room.
#### Sharing Truths
Xiao Yan looked fleetingly at Xiao Lin, as if drawing reassurance from his brother's calm demeanor.
> **Xiao Yan:** "Teacher Yao Lao, this is my younger brother, Xiao Lin. He… He's the reason I could feel hope again."
>
> **Yao Lao:** (regarding Xiao Lin thoughtfully) "I can sense it. The breath of something extraordinary clings to you, child. Are you also… gifted by fate?"
>
> **Xiao Lin:** (offering a respectful bow) "Teacher, I have some… abilities. But it's trust, not power, that binds us tonight."
A kind, knowing smile danced in Yao Lao's eyes. He nodded, as if the weight of unspoken secrets was an old friend.
> **Yao Lao:** "Good. Power without trust breaks faster than the weakest artifact. Since destiny brought us together, let us walk openly from this moment forward."
#### Building a New Future
The three spoke deep into the night. Yao Lao proved a patient listener, letting the brothers recount their struggles, the wounds inflicted by lost hope and stifled dreams. His wisdom was gentle and sharp, cutting to the root of both boys' quiet fears.
> **Yao Lao:** "Never let arrogance or despair poison your path. Dou Qi is cultivated first in the heart. Together, you will go far."
He guided them through simple techniques to harmonize Dou Qi, his hands demonstrating motions both novices mimicked with intent focus. Laughing softly at their initial clumsiness, Yao Lao's own reserves of warmth soon matched theirs.
As tiredness grew, Xiao Yan lay back, letting his teacher's words settle into his bones, a faint smile of peace on his lips. Xiao Lin, meanwhile, stoked the room's small brazier, happy in the simple comfort of camaraderie born anew.
#### A Night of Gentle Transformation
Finally, as the embers glowed low, Yao Lao addressed them both:
> **Yao Lao:** "Rest now. Tomorrow the world will seem smaller, and your future wider. But tonight—remember this feeling. Brothers by blood, allies by choice, and now, students together under the heavens."
The brothers exchanged a look, something unbreakable passing between them—a bond deepened by trust and hope. And as sleep at last claimed them, Xiao Lin felt, in the quiet hush after Yao Lao faded, that their story had only just begun.