CHAPTER 1: THE ORCHESTRATED PROTAGONIST

Deep within the Eastern Pole Continent, in the southeastern corner of the Jianghai Region, lay Greenheaven Village.[1]

This village had only twenty to thirty households. The only thing that stood out was the ancient parasol tree at the village entrance, exuding a rustic, timeless aura.

There had long been a legend about this place, claiming that a Heavenly Emperor had emerged from here prior to the start of the Heavenly Emperor Era.

One night, during the six thousandth year of the Heavenly Emperor Era, the spirit qi of heaven and earth underwent a sudden upheaval. The elements fell into chaos, resulting in dozens of glowing shards of all colors shooting up into the sky. One of them happened to land just outside the village.

Blindman Lu had been quietly playing his guqin[2] beneath the ancient parasol tree when he suddenly started to behave a little strangely. He carefully packed up his instrument and walked out of the village. No one knew what had happened beyond the village that night.

The next day, Blindman Lu went on playing and singing as usual. The only difference was that he now carried a baby on his back.

That child was named Lu Chen.

Across the continent, there was a common saying: "Ten years to absorb qi, followed by a hundred years to regulate it." And indeed, by the time Lu Chen turned eighteen, most of his peers were already nearing the Qi Regulation Realm. Yet, Lu Chen... hadn't even stepped onto the path of cultivation. If he failed to enter the Qi Absorption Realm before the end of his eighteenth year, his Heavenly Pool would be permanently sealed, and any chance of cultivating would be lost forever.

He had always been different from the other children. For one, he was exceptionally bright and could grasp anything the moment he learned it. For another, even as a child, he would dream at night of powerful cultivators locked in battle. Those cultivators told him that he too would become one of them and that they would be waiting for him from the Outside.

But everything changed when he was nine. That year marked the first time he went through his baptism test, and he failed.

From then on, the people in the village mocked him, calling him delusional and saying he was chasing wild dreams. At first, Lu Chen tried to defend himself, but over time, he grew quiet and withdrawn. His only companions were his neighbour, Little Pup, and the twin-fish jade medallion he had worn since birth.

Later on, Blindman Lu told him that if he could understand the true meaning behind two phrases—"What is Heaven and Earth?" and "What is cultivation?"—within ten years, he would help Lu Chen step onto the path of cultivation. But if, after ten years, Lu Chen still hadn't figured it out and still couldn't pass the baptism test, then he would have no choice but to live the rest of his life as an ordinary person.

Those two questions followed him through the next nine years. Along the way, he set goal after goal for his cultivation.

Cultivate to roam the world. Failed baptism. Mocked.

Cultivate for justice. Failed baptism. Mocked.

Cultivate out of love for the world. Failed baptism. Mocked.

For wisdom... for love... for ruling the world...

All of them ended in failure. And the ridicule never stopped. But because the people of Greenheaven Village had also cared for him, he eventually let it go. Over time, his heart grew calm.

This year marked the tenth. In two days, he would face his final chance. If he still couldn't succeed in cultivating, he would truly become a laughingstock. The phrase "ten years to absorb qi" had become a nightmare, haunting his mind.

Lu Chen cried as he knelt before the ancient parasol tree. "Aaaah! What exactly is it? I really want to cultivate! Heavenly Emperor, if you can hear me, please give me a sign!"

Just then, the twin-fish jade medallion he had worn all his life suddenly lit up with a red glow, casting its light over an anthill beneath the tree.

One by one, ants crawled up the tree, only to fall. They climbed again and fell again. Some eventually reached the top, while others died of exhaustion on the ground. Yet, countless others kept climbing.

Seeing this, Lu Chen's eyes suddenly lit up. He shouted, "Grandpa! I get it now! Cultivation means to struggle against heaven, against earth, and against all things!"

At that moment, dark clouds gathered overhead. Thunder rumbled, and lightning cracked across the sky.

Blindman Lu glanced at Lu Chen and shook his head. He listened to the thunder outside but didn't respond. He simply said, "Looks like heavy rain's coming. Go get ready for the baptism test in two days."

Right as he finished speaking, the downpour began.

Lu Chen had no idea why his grandfather didn't answer this time. He just assumed he was right and cheerfully went back to his room.

At dusk, Blindman Lu stood on the back hill, gazing toward Lu Chen's room. He said softly, "Everything's ready, isn't it? Tonight is the final night. We can't afford a single mistake."

A voice came from behind. "Yes, my lord. Everything has been prepared. Tonight, we'll complete the final enhancement of the Heavenly Pool, and the Twin-Fish Medallion will merge with the young master."[3]

Had Lu Chen been there, he would've instantly recognized the speaker. It was Little Pup, who had been through all the ups and downs with him.

Blindman Lu nodded at his words. "It's already been eighteen years, hasn't it? Time flies."

"Yes, my lord," the voice replied. "It's been eighteen years. Ever since our Emperor broke through the domain and ascended, we've waited here for the young master's arrival. Now, our first step is finally about to be fulfilled. We no longer need to pretend to be ordinary."

Blindman Lu glanced back at the speaker and said, "Don't get careless. Use the last few days well. We must prepare for the next step."

"Yes, my lord."

***

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. Lu Chen bade farewell to the villagers and followed Blindman Lu to the town's designated site for the baptism test.

Just as noon arrived, three cultivators in Daoist robes appeared by the Heavenly Pool Lake. They stood there for a few moments, taking a look at the crowd. These three were sent by a nearby sect to assess whether the children who had just turned nine showed talent for cultivation. They would select the most gifted among them to bring them back to their sect to be nurtured.

The three cultivators looked over at the children who were waiting to be baptized. This year, more kids had come to take the baptism test than usual. Still, they knew very well that only about one in ten, or maybe as few as one in a hundred, would truly have the potential to cultivate.

The lead cultivator then spotted Lu Chen and sighed softly. Ten years... This boy's persistence is remarkable, but this will be his last chance.

Lu Chen gazed at the vast Heavenly Pool Lake. This wasn't his first time here. In fact, he probably knew the whole process better than anyone else on the continent.

Facing the lake, he shouted loudly, "I, Lu Chen of Greenheaven Village, will become a cultivator of immortality. I will challenge the heavens and defy the earth!"

His voice drew attention. Someone recognized him and sneered, "Hey, isn't that the useless kid who's failed to become a cultivator for ten years? Still trying after all this time? Not scared of failing again?"

But Lu Chen was no longer the same weak-hearted boy he had been years ago. He ignored the jeers.

Seeing that Lu Chen didn't respond, the taunter grew even more sarcastic. "Oh? The piece of trash has a temper now? Give it up. Trash will always be trash, no matter how long you try."

At that moment, the lead cultivator stepped in to stop the noise. "I am Daoist Rufa of the Heavenly Flame Sect. I will be overseeing this year's baptism test. These two beside me are young disciples of our sect. We were sent here to select the most outstanding youths. Those with exceptional talent may choose one of our sect's branches to begin their training."

As Daoist Rufa began his speech, Lu Chen already knew what was coming and mouthed along word for word. It seemed to be the only thing he had learned in the past ten years. Though it was just the most basic cultivation framework and method, he had memorized it perfectly.

"Same lines every year, so boring," Lu Chen muttered, then sat down beside Blindman Lu to rest while Daoist Rufa continued.

Four hours later, Daoist Rufa finished speaking. He instructed all the participants to enter the lake and prepare for the baptism.

When it was Lu Chen's turn, Daoist Rufa looked at him with some sympathy. He gently reminded Lu Chen to relax once inside and to focus on what he saw. If Lu Chen had the talent, Daoist Rufa would personally bring him to the sect. If not, then living a peaceful life as an ordinary person wasn't so bad either.

Lu Chen looked at Rufa and nodded firmly in gratitude. Over the past ten years, Daoist Rufa had helped him more than once. He held a certain respect for the man.

Once everyone entered the lake, the three cultivators exchanged nods. They aimed their Heavenly Spirit-Gathering Disks at the water and performed hand seals. The lake's surface churned violently, then thick mist rose and hid everything beneath.

Having completed their part, the three cultivators sat down and began meditating, waiting for the baptism to end.

Inside the lake, Lu Chen found himself in a completely different world. It wasn't like anything he had seen before during past baptisms. The space around him was empty and silent, and he was completely alone.

Lu Chen drifted aimlessly across the lake, until suddenly, a light flared before him.

A massive stone stele emerged at the center of the lake. A grand image was carved across its surface, and beside it were the words: “The Heavenly Emperor's Rebellion—A New Era Begins.”

Lu Chen studied the image closely, trying to understand what it was. Slowly, the image started to twist and change.

Blazing flames engulfed the land. Countless people fled in panic. In the skies above, seven young children lifted a colossal disk, releasing a beam of light at a terrifying demon with a twisted face and razor-sharp fangs.[4]

Just as Lu Chen prepared to study the next part, the image changed again. Thousands, tens of thousands, of cultivators rose into the sky, each holding their own enchanted artifacts and releasing spirit beasts through the artifact. Their power linked the colossal disk to the earth, and light poured out in waves.

The image changed once more. The cultivators disappeared, replaced by lakes and vibrant lands. The continent came to life, and cultivators began to flourish again.

As Lu Chen watched, he recalled his dream. The scene was almost identical, but what he had seen in the dream was far more brutal.

Suddenly, a wave of heat surged through his body, as if something inside was trying to break free.

He clutched his chest and started trembling. Red light burst from his brows, waist, abdomen, and ankles, circling around him before connecting to the disk above.

His body twisted more and more violently. Minutes passed. The red light grew stronger, wrapping completely around him. However, he gritted his teeth and held on.

Outside the lake, someone was watching him closely.

It was Blindman Lu. No one knew what technique he had used, but it caused a faint light to glow between his brows, and it allowed him to see clearly what was going on.

He saw Lu Chen engulfed in red light, shook his head, and muttered, "Looks like it failed again. I'll have to find another way."

But just as he was about to stop using his technique, Lu Chen's movements caught his eye. His gaze lit up, and he whispered, "No, that's enough. He activated the Twin-Fish Medallion on his own, without any outside force."

Blindman Lu began playing his instrument again. It was a melody he had prepared long ago, meant to help Lu Chen successfully open the Heavenly Pool. The warm and gentle music drifted straight into the lake.

Inside the lake, Lu Chen was still holding on. Just as he was about to lose consciousness, his hand twitched and suddenly grabbed the Twin-Fish Medallion on his chest.

It was as if he had seized the last thread of hope, or perhaps it was his unwillingness to accept being unable to cultivate even after ten years of trying. He shouted, "My name is Lu Chen! Lu Chen of Greenheaven Village! I will become a cultivator of immortality!" Then he passed out.

The Twin-Fish Medallion seemed to respond to his cry. A red light burst from the eyes of the fish, wrapping around his entire body. It cut off the other red beams, and his convulsing body slowly relaxed.

At this moment, the warm and gentle melody drifted in from outside the lake. The sound reached Lu Chen and lingered around him, no longer spreading outward.

A few minutes later, Lu Chen slowly woke up. The light on the Twin-Fish Medallion faded.

He rubbed his head. "That's the sound of Grandpa's guqin... but I've never heard this song before."

Looking around, he saw the area was now crowded with people. Everything from earlier—the island, the stone stele—was gone. Other than the pounding in his head, it all felt like a hallucination. Now, everything looked just like the baptism scenes from the past ten years.

Lu Chen found it strange. He didn't understand why that illusion had appeared. For now, all he could do was check his body and wait for the baptism to end.

He noticed some changes. His body felt a bit stronger, his strength a little greater. More importantly, he felt a faint connection with the world; he felt that he was able to sense the movement of all things around him. Other than that, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

After finishing his check, Lu Chen closed his eyes and rested.

He thought he had finally unlocked the Heavenly Pool. But what he didn't know was that the real tragedy was just beginning. This was only the first step in the path already set for him.

1. Originally, the author uses three different but very similar words to refer to this place. For clarity purposes, we changed all of them to the same Greenheaven Village. ☜

2. The guqin is a traditional Chinese six-string zither, and playing it is considered one of the four scholarly arts—guqin, Go, calligraphy, and painting. ☜

3. Blindman Lu is referred to as “Lord of Rituals” in the raw text. However, for smoother dialogue and better readability, this has been replaced with “my lord” in the translation. ☜

4. The “disk” is like a Chinese geomantic compass used in Feng Shui that is known as 罗盘 (luopan). The luopan points at the south and has a complex dial that allows the user to find the appropriate/auspicious direction in which to travel, search for something, build something, or place an item. ☜