The evening sky over Jiangnan City burned with streaks of orange and purple as the sun sank behind distant high-rises. Streetlights flickered on, casting golden reflections on the wet pavement from an earlier drizzle. The hum of cars and distant chatter filled the air, but to Li Feng, it was all just background noise—a modern city with veins of hidden energy waiting to be awakened.
He walked calmly down a narrow alley behind the school, the faint scent of grilled skewers from a nearby vendor mixing with the damp, earthy smell of rain-soaked concrete. Li Feng's dark eyes scanned the surroundings, quiet, calculating. Every passerby, every stray sound, was catalogued in his mind.
The world is weak… but potential lies hidden everywhere. Even in the smallest spark.
A sharp cry broke the rhythm of the evening. Li Feng's senses flickered, picking up a spike of fear and desperation from a side alley. He moved toward it.
There, a boy no older than fifteen was being cornered by three older youths. His uniform was torn, shoes scuffed, and yet his eyes blazed with defiance.
"Move, loser!" one thug barked, shoving him against the wall. "This alley isn't big enough for your pathetic face!"
The boy struggled, trying to push back, but the odds were clearly against him. Just as another thug raised his fist, a calm, soft voice cut through the tension:
"Stop."
The air seemed to still. Even the neon signs' buzzing faintly dimmed in Li Feng's presence. The thugs froze mid-motion, confusion written on their faces.
Li Feng stepped forward from the shadows, his posture relaxed, but his presence pressed like a weight they couldn't see. A subtle ripple of energy brushed against the alley walls, faint yet undeniable—a trace of the Starlight Immortal Sovereign hidden in a mortal body.
"Who are you?" one thug demanded, trying to mask his fear.
Li Feng's lips curved faintly. "Someone who doesn't like bullies."
The words landed lightly but carried the weight of authority. He took a single step, and the three thugs instinctively stumbled backward, their muscles tense as if invisible hands pushed them.
The boy stared wide-eyed. "Y-you… you're… strong!"
Li Feng crouched slightly, meeting the boy's gaze. "Strength is nothing without control, without understanding. You have potential, but left unchecked, it will be wasted. Do you want to waste your life, or seize it?"
The boy swallowed hard, determination flickering across his terrified face. "I… I want to learn! I want to be strong!"
Li Feng's calm eyes studied him for a moment before nodding. "Good. You will follow me. Discipline, patience, and obedience are your first lessons. Can you commit to that?"
"I… I will! I promise!" the boy said fervently, bowing his head.
Li Feng extended a hand, not touching him, but a faint pulse of spiritual energy brushed the boy, awakening latent potential in his body. Though the energy was minimal compared to true cultivation, it was enough to let the boy sense a new world of possibilities.
One spark can ignite a flame… and this boy may become the foundation of my first modern-day sect.
He released the three thugs, who stumbled backward, wide-eyed and silent. Fear had replaced their previous arrogance. Without another word, they scurried away, leaving the alley empty.
Li Feng's gaze returned to the boy. "From this moment, you are my disciple. You will address me as Master. Remember: training is not just about power—it is about strategy, foresight, and understanding the Dao hidden in all things."
"Yes! Master!" The boy's voice trembled with awe.
Li Feng straightened, glancing up at the neon-lit streets. The city pulsed around him, seemingly mundane, yet beneath its surface were veins of potential—martial families, hidden geniuses, and unsuspecting talent.
Step by step, Earth will remember me. This modern world may have been blind to cultivation, but I will awaken it. Sect by sect, disciple by disciple, the Starlight Immortal Sovereign will rise once more.
He began instructing his disciple, starting with the fundamentals: proper stance, controlled breathing, and awareness of the faint spiritual energy that permeated even this weak world. The boy's progress was slow but steady, his eyes growing brighter with every passing moment.
A faint ripple in the distance went unnoticed by ordinary mortals. High above the city, someone—or something—sensed the awakening. A presence long dormant stirred, aware that the sovereign had returned.
Meanwhile, Li Feng's mind was already planning the next step. This was merely the beginning. The disciple was the seed, and soon, he would plant more—young geniuses, hidden talents, and perhaps even allies who would one day become companions, confidantes, or more.
Tonight, Jiangnan City witnessed only the first spark of Li Feng's return. Tomorrow, the fire would grow.
The alley fell silent, the city lights shimmering around them, the future of a modern cultivation empire quietly beginning under the stars