Many people long to be born in a family of prominent cultivators, endowed with great power and abundant resources from birth.
However, for Tian Fan, he actually yearns to be born into an ordinary family, living an ordinary life, free and at ease. Yet, he was born into an imperial family, the Soaring Dragon Dynasty, one of the seven great cultivator holy lands, as the seventh prince of the current emperor.
“Seventh Prince, His Majesty has summoned you. The National Teacher has returned and requests your attendance.” A guard standing outside the door called in, with no trace of respect in his demeanor.
“Understood, you may leave.”
A faint voice came from within the room.
The guard snorted dismissively and left casually.
In the center of the room, a young man in a purple robe stood quietly. He was not particularly robust and had a somewhat frail appearance. His delicate and somewhat handsome face was framed by long, dense hair that fell gently down his back. He was Tian Fan, the seventh prince of the Soaring Dragon Dynasty. Since birth, he has been unable to cultivate, and over the past twenty years, he has been subjected to indifferent and disdainful gazes within the Soaring Dragon Dynasty.
At this moment, Tian Fan was reading a book. Upon hearing the guard’s message, he lightly frowned, put down his book, “On the Path”, and walked outside.
When he arrived at the main hall, the middle-aged emperor, Long Aotian, dressed in golden dragon robes, was smiling and conversing with an elderly man.
Three young men in purple and gold robes stood there, all in good physical condition, with sharp eyes. Two of them were even cultivators of the Cloud Heaven Realm. Although they were only at the initial stage of Cloud Heaven, they were still outstanding.
The cultivation levels of the Divine Martial Continent are divided into: Foundation Establishment, Spirit Condensation, Cloud Heaven, Primordial Unity, and Immortal Ascension.
Long Aotian had reached the pinnacle of Primordial Unity.
“Greetings, Father Emperor! Greetings, National Teacher!” Tian Fan entered the hall and bowed to the two men, his tone indifferent.
Long Aotian’s gaze swept over him without any sign of acknowledgment. Two of the princes clearly showed disdain, and one of them even gave Tian Fan a mischievous smile.
“Alright, the reason I summoned you today is to meet the National Teacher. Furthermore, in a few days, we will hold a ceremony to honor our ancestors. You all need to prepare well for this. Do you understand?” Long Aotian said.
“Yes, Father Emperor! But there is one matter I must address. I believe it is unnecessary to bring him along; it would be disrespectful to our ancestors!”
The princes answered respectfully, with the first prince, Long Batian, casting a disdainful glance at Tian Fan. The second prince, Long Youtian, also looked at Tian Fan with contempt.
“No, Father Emperor, how can you exclude Seventh Brother? I disagree. Eldest Brother, Second Brother, we are siblings. Please do not speak this way!” The youngest prince, Long Yuyun, said urgently upon hearing the other two princes.
“Little Eight, do not compare that waste to us; it’s embarrassing!” Long Batian said.
“Yes, Little Eight, do you know why he is only called Tian Fan and not Long Tianfan? Because he is not worthy of the surname ‘Long’!” Second Prince Long Youtian said disdainfully, his words laced with sarcasm. (G: honestly, there is no real difference between Tian Fan and Tianfan. I’m just keeping it this way to create that sense of distance.)
“You!” The youngest prince wanted to say more but was stopped by someone.
Tian Fan gave him a slight smile, signaling him not to argue with the others.
Although born in the Soaring Dragon Dynasty, Tian Fan was destined to have no connection with the surname “Long” due to his inability to cultivate since birth. Instead, he faced many constraints. Not only the half-brothers but even his own father, Long Aotian, looked down on him.
Tian Fan chose his own name because he wished to live in an ordinary family. Thus, he did not take the surname “Long” and was simply named “Tian Fan.”
He looked at the two princes with a cold expression. If he could cultivate, he would definitely have beaten them severely!
“Alright, enough of this. Do as I instructed,” Long Aotian said, never once looking at Tian Fan. In his eyes, that person had always been nonexistent.
***
Three days later, five golden iron war chariots ascended from the Soaring Dragon Dynasty.
“Farewell, Emperor! Farewell, National Teacher! Farewell, Princes and Princesses! Soaring Dragon is invincible!!!”
The thunderous roar rose from the ground, with tens of thousands of iron cavalrymen raising their swords, spears, and halberds.
The sound reverberated through the sky.
“Boom…”
The five war chariots blazed with light, their intense brilliance blinding, shooting toward the sky and disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Tian Fan thought that if he could leave forever, it would be a very pleasant thing for him.
As the chariots began to descend, he looked at the ancient forest ahead, feeling a strange sensation in his heart. Every time he came here, Tian Fan felt an inexplicable sense that something related to him was in that forest.
Ahead was a grand altar with a huge statue on it—a mighty middle-aged man holding a square-headed halberd, his gaze forward. Though merely a statue, it exuded an aura of imperial majesty and supreme authority.
Long Aotian and the others walked to the base of the altar, kneeling respectfully and performing the grand ceremony.
The old National Teacher did not kneel before the statue but remained solemn, bowing deeply to the statue of the man with great reverence. In that dark and tumultuous era, founding such a vast martial arts holy land with one’s own strength required not only powerful abilities but also extraordinary wisdom.
“Yin and Yang give birth, accompanying the heavens, Immortal gods without soul, Tai Chi calms the heart, the gate of rebirth, Six Paths of Bliss, transcending the mortal world…”
Before the altar, several people sat cross-legged, their expressions solemn and composed, reciting an enigmatic scripture. A holy and serene aura filled the surroundings, purifying the soul.
Eventually, everything quieted down, and the sky full of scriptures disappeared. Long Aotian stood up and bowed deeply once more to the statue of the man with the square-headed halberd. The princes also slowly stood up. Even the usually mischievous and disrespectful princess, Long Yueying, stood quietly by the side.
“This scripture is very good, truly extraordinary…”
The old National Teacher said solemnly after quietly observing the entire process.
“National Teacher, if you wish to comprehend it, I will give it to you.”
Long Aotian was taken aback. He had always regarded this as merely a ceremonial scripture and had not given it much importance. The previous emperors had felt the same way. But he did not expect this inscrutable National Teacher to give such an evaluation. Perhaps he should spend some time studying this Soul-purifying Scripture.
“No need, it is of no use to me,” the old National Teacher said, his gaze moving past the altar to the mist-covered ancient forest ahead. “Are you ready?”
Long Aotian nodded solemnly, turning his gaze toward the forest ahead.
Tian Fan walked a few steps, and the feeling became even stronger.
The Enchanted Forest, shrouded in mist year-round, now emitted waves of mysterious fluctuations, as if something was calling out to him.