Chapter 1: The Orphan of Hidden Mist Valley
In the desolate Hidden Mist Valley, where fog clung to jagged cliffs like a shroud, Li Wei knelt in the dirt, his hands raw from digging for roots. At sixteen, he was a wisp of a boy—scrawny, with unkempt black hair and eyes that held a stubborn glint despite years of hunger. The villagers of Hidden Mist pitied him, an orphan raised on scraps, but they also feared his strangeness. Li Wei often wandered alone, drawn to the wild places where others dared not tread.
Tonight, the sky roared with fury. Thunder split the heavens, and rain turned the earth to mud. Li Wei, caught in the storm while foraging, stumbled into a cave nestled in the valley's cliffs. Lightning flashed, revealing walls etched with faded runes. His breath caught as he noticed a faint green glow emanating from a crevice. Curiosity, sharper than his hunger, urged him forward.
The glow came from a jade tablet, half-buried in stone. Its surface pulsed with warmth, and as Li Wei's trembling fingers brushed it, a jolt seared through him. His vision blurred, and images flooded his mind: nine worlds stacked like celestial tiers, each vibrant with qi—rivers of light, mountains that touched the stars, and cultivators who wielded power to shatter skies. A voice, ancient and resonant, echoed in his soul: "The Nine Worlds Ascension Art. Seek the path to immortality, but beware the trials."
The tablet crumbled to dust, leaving behind a scroll of shimmering silk. Unrolling it, Li Wei found a cultivation manual, its characters glowing faintly. The Nine Worlds Ascension Art detailed techniques to absorb qi, refine the body, and ascend through the realms—from the Mortal Realm to the Divine Immortal Apex. Each world held greater power, but also greater dangers: demonic beasts, rival sects, and the Heavenly Tribulation that tested one's soul.
Li Wei's heart pounded. He had nothing—no family, no wealth—but now, he had a chance. Clutching the scroll, he vowed to rise above his fate. The storm outside raged on, but within the cave, a spark ignited in his dantian, the first flicker of qi.