A faint groan escaped from the boy lying on the wide bed. The soft morning light filtered through the carved wooden windows, bathing the spacious room in a warm glow. Xiao Yan opened his eyes slowly, his dark pupils flickering with a dazed confusion before clarity returned.
The twelve-year-old body he inhabited felt both familiar and foreign. His limbs were small, slightly thin, yet brimming with the vitality of youth. But what drew his attention wasn't the body's weakness — it was the torrent of memories crashing inside his mind.
Battle Through the Heavens…?
He sat up abruptly, his breath quickening. In an instant, countless images, plots, and characters from the story he had once read in another world came rushing back. Xiao Yan — the once dazzling genius of the Xiao clan, reduced to a "trash" when his cultivation regressed at twelve. His humiliation, the broken engagement with Nalan Yanran, the discovery of the ancient spirit Yao Lao within the ring, and eventually… the endless rise against the heavens.
And now, he was Xiao Yan.
The boy clenched his fists tightly, feeling the faint Dou Qi sluggishly circulating through his meridians. Compared to the prodigy reputation this body had earned in earlier years, the decline was already evident. He could sense it clearly: his cultivation had slipped, unstable and fragile. This was the beginning of that bitter period when the world would laugh at him.
But unlike the Xiao Yan in the novel, he had knowledge of the entire future.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm within. "So this is where it starts… the fall of the genius. But if I play it right, this fall won't be as deep — and the rise will be even higher."
---
Memories and Resolve
He closed his eyes again, sorting through the key events he remembered.
Yao Lao wouldn't awaken from the ring until a few years later. Until then, he would remain helpless to resist the ridicule.
Nalan Yanran would arrive at the Xiao clan to annul the engagement when he was fifteen. That humiliation would ignite his determination.
The treasures hidden across the Jia Ma Empire, the schemes of Misty Cloud Sect, the lurking threat of the Soul Hall… all lay in the distance.
With this knowledge, he wasn't merely a helpless boy. He was someone who could prepare.
But he also knew he couldn't act rashly. At twelve years old, openly declaring wisdom or sudden strength would only make others suspicious. No one would believe a child who suddenly spoke like an old sage. He had to move carefully — every step calculated.
Morning in the Xiao Clan
After washing and dressing, Xiao Yan stepped into the courtyard. The air of Wu Tan City carried a faint mix of morning mist and the bustle of awakening markets in the distance. The Xiao clan estate spread out around him — grand buildings, training grounds, and the presence of countless clan members.
Some servants greeted him politely, their voices laced with respect. After all, despite the whispers of decline, he was still the clan leader's son and once the pride of the younger generation. But beneath their politeness, Xiao Yan noticed subtle changes in their eyes — pity, curiosity, and even a trace of mockery hidden in the corners of their smiles.
He pretended not to notice. Inwardly, he sneered. So it begins. The same expressions that once made the original Xiao Yan's heart bleed. But to me, this is nothing. I've already read how far this road goes.
He walked toward the training grounds, where many clan youths were already cultivating. His cousin Xiao Ning was among them, standing tall with a faint air of arrogance. When Xiao Yan approached, a few gazes shifted toward him, their whispers barely suppressed.
"That's Xiao Yan… used to be a genius, now look at him."
"Such a pity. Who would've thought the number one talent would fall like this?"
"He's just twelve. Maybe he'll never recover."
Xiao Yan kept walking calmly, as if the words were nothing but wind. Yet deep inside, his determination only grew sharper.
Mock me now. When the time comes, I'll make the world choke on its own laughter.
---
Reflection and Plans
Later, Xiao Yan sat quietly under an old tree in the courtyard, watching the sunlight filter through the leaves. His mind worked rapidly, piecing together the timeline of the story he remembered.
The first major opportunity he could realistically grasp wouldn't come until Yao Lao's awakening. Until then, he had to ensure he was strong enough to endure three long years of ridicule. But he also remembered smaller details — the locations of herbs, techniques, and minor encounters that could help him in the meantime.
He pressed his palm against the ring on his finger, the one that hid Yao Lao's soul. It was silent now, just an ordinary black ring. Yet to him, it was a beacon of certainty. He didn't need to panic. The mentor he once admired as a reader would eventually awaken.
Until then, he would quietly prepare, avoid unnecessary attention, and build a foundation.
Opportunities are like stars in the sky. In the novel, Xiao Yan only grabbed a handful. This time, I'll gather constellations.
---
A Child with Hidden Depths
In the evening, his father Xiao Zhan visited. The tall, broad-shouldered clan leader looked at his son with concern hidden behind stern eyes.
"Yan'er," Xiao Zhan said, his voice steady, "how was your training today?"
The boy lowered his head slightly, showing a trace of the frustration that any twelve-year-old would naturally feel. "It's… not very good, Father. My Dou Qi still feels weak."
Xiao Zhan's brows furrowed. He placed a heavy hand on Xiao Yan's shoulder, sighing softly. "Don't lose heart. A setback doesn't mean failure. You are my son — the blood of the Xiao clan. Even if your talent falters, I'll always support you."
Xiao Yan forced a small smile, warmth flickering in his chest. In the novel, this father had carried so much for him. This time, Xiao Yan swore to himself: I'll not only carry my own weight, I'll carry his burdens too.
"Thank you, Father," he said sincerely.
When Xiao Zhan left, Xiao Yan gazed at the darkening sky. Stars blinked faintly above, distant yet eternal.
This is the beginning, he thought. The world thinks I'm falling. Let them. They'll see soon enough — Xiao Yan has only just begun to rise.