SAITANRAJ KINGDOM, PATILPUR CONTINENT.
In the deep heart of the dark forest that stretched across the southern lands of the Saitanraj Kingdom, something monumental occurred—a structure so vast that it rivaled the capital itself appeared overnight. A massive stone gate stood tall, carved with ancient runes that glowed faintly under the moonlight. At its peak, three words shimmered with golden light: "Heaven Defying Academy."
There had been no sounds. No tremors. No signs. Just silence—and then, the impossible.
The next morning, the entire kingdom was shaken. Word spread like wildfire, from the poorest villages to the royal court. Cultivators, merchants, beggars, scholars, and nobles—none had ever heard of such a place. Yet it stood, majestic and terrifying.
The academy rested at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, a place avoided even by seasoned cultivators. It was a domain where the sun rarely touched the ground and spiritual beasts roamed unchecked. Now, something far more profound had taken root within its depths.
Rumors whispered of an immortal sect returning. Others said it was a divine punishment, or perhaps a trap laid by a malevolent spirit. But all who saw the gate felt the same: reverence... and fear.
Days passed, and none dared approach. Until one morning.
A frail boy, no older than thirteen, dragged his half-starved body through the dense forest. His clothes were torn rags, his bones visible beneath thin skin. His eyes, however, still had a trace of life. Hunger pushed him forward—hope a distant flame.
He stumbled upon the great gate, eyes widening at the sight. Towering spires rose beyond, shrouded in fog. He expected guards or beasts, but instead, silence greeted him.
Stepping forward, he saw a lone figure resting under the shade of a large tree near the gate—a young man, dressed simply, lying on a bench with a straw hat over his face. He snored lightly.
The boy hesitated, then approached timidly.
"E-excuse me, sir…" he whispered, clutching his stomach. "May I have something to eat?"
The man shifted slightly, lifting the brim of his hat just enough to reveal his glowing amber eyes. The boy shivered.
"You're too noisy," the man said with a yawn. "Go through the lobby, first right. You'll find the kitchen. Eat what you want. Don't disturb me again."
"Thank you…" the boy muttered, bowing gratefully.
As instructed, he entered the academy through an open marble hall lined with floating lanterns and portraits of people he didn't recognize. The place felt… alive. Energy pulsed through the air like music. When he turned right, he found a kitchen—old, dusty, but real.
Inside were simple foods: apples and potatoes. Desperate, he took a bite of an apple. It was oddly sweet, with warmth spreading through his body.
Suddenly—light erupted from within him.
His body spasmed, and an unseen force surged through his veins. Bones cracked, muscles swelled, skin regained color. Before he knew it, he had stepped into the Nascent Soul realm—a level of cultivation that countless dream of, achieved in an instant.
Unknowingly, the boy had stepped onto the path of immortality.
Outside, the young man chuckled beneath his straw hat.
"One apple was enough, huh?" he muttered to himself, eyes twinkling with ancient wisdom. "Let's see what kind of monster you become, little one."
And thus, the first disciple of the Heaven Defying Academy had been chosen—not by tests or lineage, but by fate, and a bite of destiny.