"Just one last push, Madam!"
Somewhere in the vast and ancient continent, within a towering manor nestled among the mountains, the sound of a woman's moan echoed through the halls. The air, usually crisp with the scent of pine and distant sakura, was thick with anticipation and the raw tang of effort.
"UGGHHH!"
"Yes, yes, just one last push, Madam! Just one more!" a gentle yet hoarse voice urged, thick with urgency. It was the voice of Elder Mei, the most respected midwife in the entire region, her face a map of concern and experience. Her weathered hands expertly guided the mother through each painful contraction.
With a final, desperate cry, the woman arched her back, her fingers digging into the ornate bedposts as she bit down hard, pain etched into every trembling muscle. Sweat drenched her body, glistening against her warm, glowing skin, a testament to the immense power she wielded even in her vulnerable state. Her long, black hair, usually immaculately coiffed, lay matted against her temples.
"UAAHH!!"
A newborn's cry pierced the air. It was a thin, reedy sound, yet it resonated with an unexpected strength. Outside the chamber, those who had been waiting—the formidable warriors of the Chen family, loyal retainers, and anxious distant relatives—exhaled in relief, their tense expressions easing into smiles. The head of the Chen family, a man whose presence usually commanded silent reverence, allowed a small, almost imperceptible smile to grace his stern features.
But then, the sky changed.
What had been a bright and cloudless day, where the sun had just begun its descent, painting the western horizon in hues of orange and pink, turned pitch black, as if night had suddenly devoured the world. The familiar chirping of cicadas and the distant calls of mountain birds ceased abruptly. An unnatural silence descended, broken only by the rising wind.
"Quick! Find the one who dares cause this! They court death to disturb the moment my son is born!" The voice was the Patriarch's, now booming with renewed ferocity, his relief instantly replaced by protective wrath. He stood outside the chamber, his hand resting on the hilt of a sheathed sword, his eyes scanning the tumultuous heavens.
"Yes, Patriarch!" A chorus of firm replies echoed from his personal guard, elite cultivators who immediately launched into the darkened sky, their spiritual energy flaring like beacons against the encroaching gloom.
Suddenly, a thunderous boom shook the earth. It wasn't the sound of thunder, but something far more primal, as if the very fabric of reality had been struck. A black bolt of lightning, thicker than the largest ancient tree, streaked across the heavens, followed by a radiant, purplish aura that spread through the sky like a curtain unfurling across the firmament, consuming the last vestiges of daylight.
"Purple Aura!" the man gasped, his eyes widening in recognition and awe. His hand slipped from his sword, now forgotten. This was no ordinary disturbance. Then, without hesitation, he barked, "Cease all operations at once!"
A respectful voice answered from above, "Yes." The guards, now tiny specks against the magnificent purple, instantly halted their pursuit, their expressions morphing from determination to bewildered reverence.
"An auspicious sign…" the man thought, his mind racing through ancient prophecies and legends. Such a phenomenon had not been recorded for millennia.
As though to confirm his thoughts, the darkened heavens brightened, not with the return of the sun, but with an otherworldly glow. A colossal, golden bell emerged from the sky, slowly descending, its immense form dwarfing the highest peaks. Its surface shimmered with divine luster, intricate carvings of celestial beings and ancient symbols pulsing with energy, casting golden light across every corner of the world, transforming the ominous purple into a backdrop of regal splendor.
Far away in the plains, where farmers tended their rice paddies and fishing boats dotted the shimmering bays, they dropped their tools in fear, staring at the sky. The black clouds, the lightning, the aura—none prepared them for the sight of the bell. As it appeared, tears welled in their eyes. They fell to their knees, their hands pressed together in spontaneous prayer.
"H-Hail the Heavens!" they cried in unison, their voices filled with a mixture of terror and overwhelming reverence. Even the typically boisterous market hawkers in the bustling capital city fell silent, gazing upwards with open mouths.
BANG!
The bell rang once. The sound was not deafening, but deep and resonant, vibrating through the very bones of all living things. The spiritual energy of the world thickened, growing denser than ever before. It was as if the air itself became a nourishing elixir, instantly invigorating every plant, animal, and human.
BANG!
The second toll. Fruits on trees swelled and ripened in moments, their flavors intensifying beyond imagination. Wild beasts in the deepest forests began to transform—some growing larger and more powerful, their fur gleaming, their eyes sparking with nascent intelligence. Even ancient, petrified trees slowly began to sprout new leaves—some even awakened consciousness, their ancient wisdom stirring from a long slumber.
BANG!
The third toll shattered unseen shackles. Restrictive forces on spiritual cultivation, burdens on the flow of elemental energy, all dissolved as if they were never there. A sense of liberation swept across the land.
BANG!
The fourth—across the continent, countless cultivators broke through their limits, their meridians expanding, their dantian cores glowing with newfound power. Even ancient ancestors long thought stagnant in their cultivation, their lives nearing their end, suddenly felt a surge of vitality, their cultivation realms ascending several stages in an instant. Whispers of breakthroughs echoed from hidden caves and secluded hermitages.
BANG!
The fifth—epiphanies bloomed in the minds of the wise. Scholars found answers to long-standing paradoxes, martial artists suddenly grasped the true essence of their techniques, and philosophers attained profound insights into the nature of existence. Knowledge flowed freely, illuminating minds.
BANG!
The sixth—hidden ruins of old, forgotten by time and swallowed by earth, slowly emerged from the ground. Ancient cities, temples dedicated to long-lost deities, and sealed treasuries, all revealed their secrets, shimmering into existence from beneath layers of soil and rock.
BANG!
The seventh... A wave of peace washed over the land, calming agitated spirits and healing ancient wounds.
BANG!
BANG!
And then the final toll. The sound seemed to reverberate in every fiber of existence, a grand crescendo of divine power.
The world was bathed in gold. Time seemed to halt. The heavens held their breath, waiting. The air shimmered with an almost tangible sanctity.
Then, the sound of a child's cry echoed across the world. Not just the manor, not just the city—
The entire world heard it. It was no longer a reedy wail, but a clear, pure sound, imbued with a strange, compelling power.
"Was that… a baby?" many whispered, confused and awed, gazing up at the golden bell, then scanning the horizon, trying to pinpoint the source of the miraculous sound.
An elderly voice spoke gently, reverently, within the birthing chamber, oblivious to the world-changing events outside, her focus entirely on the precious life in her arms.
"Madam, well done. You have successfully brought your son into this world. His skin is fair and healthy, his cheeks carry the bloom of roses. His features… delicate and precious. He truly takes after you both." Elder Mei's voice trembled with a mixture of exhaustion and profound joy as she presented the swaddled infant to his mother.
The room was silent, save for her labored breaths. With trembling lips, the mother replied, her eyes, though heavy-lidded, alight with maternal love:
"L-Lin Chen… He will be Lin Chen. My husband and I… we chose this name long ago. Lin for the deep forest, Chen for the morning star."
"Then Lin Chen shall be. Lin Chen, of the Chen Family—the first successor of the noble and grand Chen family!" Elder Mei announced, her voice filled with pride.
And somehow, that entire exchange—the mother's soft words, the midwife's declaration—echoed across the world, carried by the wind and spirit, heard by every living soul beneath the golden bell.
Suddenly, the bell rang once more. Neither the mother nor the midwife noticed the heaven auspicious event shift at first; it was as if they were in a different dimension, a bubble of peace and new life.
Their gaze focused only on the crying toddler, so small and perfect, but then—
The baby's body began to shine—bathed in golden light. It wasn't just a reflection, but an emanation, a soft, warm glow radiating from within him.
"W-What's happening?!" the midwife gasped, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and wonder.
But a calm voice answered, stepping forward from the shadows of the chamber. It was the Patriarch, his face now etched with a profound understanding, his earlier anger replaced by serene awe. He had somehow bypassed the guards and entered the sacred space.
"Don't fret. It is Heaven's blessing… for my son." His voice was soft, reverent, yet held an undeniable authority.
The golden glow enveloped the infant, caressing him with divine warmth. Then, the purple aura from the heavens, which had adorned the sky, surged downward, a majestic river of pure energy, merging with the golden light emanating from the child. It was a spectacular fusion of celestial power, concentrating on the tiny form.
The child absorbed it all. The golden light intensified, then slowly receded, followed by the purple. It was as if the very essence of the heavens had poured into him.
When the phenomenon ended, the clouds slowly parted. The golden bell, having fulfilled its purpose, ascended back into the heavens, fading from sight. The purple aura dissipated. The signs faded. The world returned to its calm, though forever changed, forever blessed.
This was the day the one who would change the world…
was born.
And his name...
Lin Chen