The moon hung high like a silver plate, and stars filled the vast sky.
At the summit of a quiet cliff, a young man with a handsome face, sharp brows, and star-like eyes lay on the grass. A strand of green grass hung from the corner of his mouth as he gently chewed on it, letting its bitter taste slowly spread across his tongue.
He raised a pale palm and held it in front of his face, letting only slivers of moonlight pass through the gaps between his fingers as he gazed at the glowing silver disc in the sky.
"Fourteen years already, huh?" a soft voice escaped from the young man's lips, seemingly without warning.
This young man was Shen Tian, and in his heart, he held a secret that no one else knew—he was not originally from this world. More accurately, his soul wasn't. He came from a blue planet known as Earth. As for the mystery of how or why he came here, he had no answers. But after some time, he came to accept it—he had transmigrated into another world and awakened a Sign-In System.
Yet, after the first sign-in, there were no further sign-ins. The only truly valuable items he received were the **Body Tempering Spiritual Liquid and the Yin-Yang Mysterious Heart Pendant, both extremely helpful during the Dou Zhi Qi stage.
Although Shen Tian possessed a system, he never wanted to rely on it completely. So he devised another strategy: latch onto a powerful "thigh" for support. He remembered that the noble daughter of an ancient clan, Gu Xun'er—now going by Xiao Xun'er—had come to the Xiao family for the Tuo She Ancient Emperor's Jade.
Luckily, Shen Tian remembered the plot of Battle Through the Heavens well. He knew that Xun'er's father was a terrifying Nine-Star Dou Sheng. That kind of "thigh" was not to be underestimated. Xiao Xun'er herself was a top-tier protective charm!
From the moment Xiao Xun'er arrived in the Xiao family, Shen Tian had stayed close to her. He trained hard by day, and at night, he would sneak into her room to help warm her body with Dou Qi. By now, he dared to claim that no one in the entire Xiao family had a more important place in her heart than he did—not even Xiao Yan!
Of course, as the son of a servant, it had been extremely difficult to get close to her at the beginning. But Shen Tian was clever and diligent, and in the end, his efforts paid off.
Recalling the past years, Shen Tian's lips curled into a warm smile—just as the sound of light footsteps came from behind him.
"Guess who I am?" A pair of soft white hands covered his eyes, and a playful voice rang out from behind.
Shen Tian, recognizing the clear, oriole-like voice, pretended not to know. "Hmm… Who could it be?"
"Can't you guess?" the girl said with a soft giggle.
"Could it be… Xun'er?" Shen Tian guessed, then swiftly pulled her around to face him.
Looking at her beautiful face tinged with a rare blush, Shen Tian was momentarily dazed.
Seeing his gaze linger, Xiao Xun'er playfully pouted. "Brother Shen Tian is becoming naughty!"
Shen Tian quickly averted his gaze, wiped imaginary drool from the corner of his mouth, and laughed awkwardly. "So, what brings Xun'er here?"
Xiao Xun'er sat down beside him, gazing at the moon in the sky. "Every time Brother Shen Tian is in a bad mood… he comes here. I didn't understand before, but I'm older now. Can you tell me what's troubling you?"
Shen Tian blinked in surprise.
She really came because she sensed he was upset?
He thought he had hidden his feelings well, but apparently this little girl saw right through him. He always came here to look at the moon whenever he missed home—it helped soothe the longing.
Shen Tian smiled softly. "I miss home."
"Miss home? But isn't this your home?" Xun'er asked innocently. But then her tone lowered slightly. "Actually… I miss home a little too."
A pang of guilt hit Shen Tian. He had forgotten that Xun'er also came to the Xiao family alone as a child. Mentioning homesickness would only deepen her own.
As he struggled to find comforting words, Xun'er suddenly lifted her head with a bright smile. "Brother Shen Tian, I've reached the Ninth Stage of Dou Zhi Qi!"
Shen Tian raised an eyebrow. He could feel the powerful surge of Dou Qi in her body—she was telling the truth!
"Want to guess my current level?" he teased with a grin.
Xun'er pouted again and huffed, "I won't guess. Even with my Ninth Stage, I can't see through your strength. I bet you're already stronger than me—Brother Shen Tian must be a Dou Zhe!"
"Haha, you'll find out tomorrow anyway," Shen Tian chuckled.
Tomorrow was the family strength test, held annually by the Xiao family. Though Shen Tian was the son of a servant, his growing talent had not gone unnoticed, earning him the right to participate.
Shen Tian also knew that tomorrow might be the last day Xiao Yan was ridiculed. Soon, that boy would rise and show the world what a protagonist truly looked like.
Xiao Xun'er stood up from the boulder. Dressed in a flowing green gown, she resembled a blooming lotus. Looking at Shen Tian, she smiled gently. "Then I'll look forward to the surprise Brother Shen Tian will bring!"
"Let's go, time to head back." Shen Tian smiled and stood, jumping down from the boulder. Turning back, he opened his arms and caught Xun'er as she leapt down. The motion was fluid and natural, as if they'd done it a hundred times.
Back at the Xiao residence, the two went their separate ways. Shen Tian returned to his own courtyard. Ever since his talent was recognized, he had been granted resources and his own room. His mother, too, received a better living space because of him.
Xiao Yan's courtyard was next to his. Though the lights there were out, Shen Tian knew that Xiao Yan was still training—struggling to prove himself, even if it was in vain.
Shen Tian sighed, shook his head, and stepped into his room.
Once on the bed, he closed his eyes and sat cross-legged, forming seals with his hands as he began to cultivate. Although he sought powerful allies, his talent—blessed by an Immortal Bloodline—was nothing to scoff at.
In this world, strength was everything.
Only by being strong could one truly stand tall.
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I hope you guys liked this chapter!🙂