"It should be today... right?" he whispered in the closed, silent room.
In this closed and silent room sat a man cross legged on a cultivation mat, his body still in the lotus position. His eyes were closed, his breathing slow but steady. The air around him carried a mystical aura.
He appeared to be in the twilight of his twenties, just entering his early thirties. From time to time, his skin grew even paler, only to gradually return to its usual tone. Then, without warning, the man opened his eyes.
They glowed a luminous yellow, shining faintly in the dim room. He tilted his head toward the ceiling, yet, in truth, he wasn't looking at it. His eyes, now distant, reflected the image of a starless night sky.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, a small, dirty-golden figure emerged from the center of his glabella. The tiny figure shimmered faintly, then vanished in an instant, reappearing outside, floating above a vast mansion.
The dirty golden figure turned to face the north, where a large courtyard stood. Within it were three great pavilions and a solitary mansion perched high atop a mountain.
Staring at the lone mountaintop mansion, the dirty golden figure raised its small hand. With a wave, it vanished and instantly reappeared before the mansion's entrance. Another wave of its hand brought it inside, to a bureau where a young man sat.
This man, seemingly in his early twenties, sat at a desk surrounded by numerous recording plates. He had long black hair and bright yellow eyes, eyes that shimmered with the same glow as the small dirty golden figure's.
Lifting his head, the young man looked surprised for a moment. He raised an eyebrow, then offered a faint smile.
"Greetings, Third Brother. To what do I owe the honor of this unexpected visit?"
As he spoke, the small, dirty-golden figure stared into his eyes. The figure's yellow gaze held a hint of sadness, tired and heavy.
"Little Fifteen," the third brother said quietly, "isn't today the day your first child is to be born? Why aren't you there to meet your child?"
The young man's smile disappeared instantly. His warm expression twisted into one of burning fury. He snorted at the question, his voice became sharp and cold.
"Why should I meet that bastard? To be humiliated again? To hear more lies? Sorry to disappoint you, Third Brother, but I can't and I won't!"
His voice rose with every word until he was nearly shouting. The third brother remained silent, unable to respond. He lowered his head and sighed, nodding slowly.
"I understand. But remember, though that child may be born of a deceiving woman, he still carries the bloodline of our Ling Clan. He is innocent of his parents' sins. Don't let your anger toward her fall upon the child."
Little Fifteen said nothing. Though his brother's words reached his heart, he couldn't bring himself to accept them. He turned away, refusing to face the truth.
After a few moments of silence, a deep sigh escaped the third brother. He looked downward, his glowing yellow eyes piercing through the walls of the mansion, until his gaze settled on a large bedroom.
Inside, a woman lay on a bed, flanked by two maids. One of them held a small, swaddled infant in her arms.
"It's a boy," the third brother said softly, informing his younger brother of the child's gender.
But Little Fifteen didn't respond. He turned his eyes to the window, where the night sky stretched out, empty and starless. Realization struck him like a blade, and he gritted his teeth, rage flickering in his eyes as the weight of truth settled in.
"His name is Ling Yang. A good name," the third brother added gently.
But those words only stoked the fire. The younger brother's eyes narrowed, and a bitter chuckle slipped from his lips.
"Ling Yang? Hah! Soaring Day?" He sneered. "He should be named Ling Ye."
The golden figure fell silent, sighing deeply at the spiteful suggestion. After a long pause, the third brother gave no reply, he simply shook his small head a few times in quiet disappointment.
Though his heart ached, he did not argue. He didn't look at the newborn again, not at Ling Yang, nor at the woman. Instead, his gaze rested on his little brother, filled with seriousness, changing the once sad moment to an serious one.
Seeing the serious expression in his third brother's eyes, the younger brother's demeanor shifted at once. He set aside the painful thoughts from earlier and straightened his posture.
"You've now reached the Soul Nurturing Realm," the third brother said calmly. "Your status will change. You will no longer be just a young master, it's time to shoulder greater responsibility for the clan. In a few years, when the Heaven and Earth Tournament arrives, you will take part."
Hearing this, Little Fifteen simply nodded. He had expected these words. Rising from his seat, he bowed deeply and offered a respectful salute.
"As Junior, I will bring honor to the Ling Clan and will not disappoint Third Grand Elder!"
At that declaration, the third elder nodded slowly, accepting the salute in silence. Without another word, his small, dirty golden figure faded from sight and disappeared into the air.
As soon as the figure vanished, the fifteenth brother let out a long, weary sigh and sank back into his chair.
The chair was comfortable, and he leaned into it, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling. A faint smile curled his lips as his brother's words echoed in his mind.
Heaven and Earth Tournament...
"Li Feng," he whispered, his voice low and cold, "this time, you'll feel it… heh."
His yellow eyes darkened as a low chuckle escaped his throat, quiet and ominous.
At the same time, in the sealed chamber of the third brother, his yellow eyes slowly opened. He let out a long sigh as his thoughts returned to the name his younger brother had given the newborn.
"Ling Ye... what a dark and heavy name," he murmured. "Instead of soaring under the light of day, he's destined to rise in the night and vanish into it. Truly, little brother… your path grows colder with each passing year."
He stood from the cultivation mat and stepped toward the door. The moment it opened, an old man appeared outside, his posture upright and respectful. Like the third brother, his eyes gleamed with the same golden hue, though his hair was brown rather than black.
"Old servant greets the Third Grand Elder!" the man said, bowing deeply in salute.
The third brother showed no change in expression. He simply gave a small nod, as if such formality were routine.
"Old Wang," he said after a moment, "your lifespan nears its end. What will you do with the little time you have left?"
The question struck Old Wang like thunder. His eyes widened in surprise, it had come so suddenly that he didn't know what to say.
After a brief pause for thought, he straightened and replied with the solemn dignity of a lifelong servant.
"This old man has served the Ling Clan since birth. Though my bloodline and cultivation were never strong or profound, I witnessed the Third Grand Elder's childhood with my own eyes. I was a playmate and companion to the late Second Young Master. So I wish to follow his example, living and dying in service to the Ling Clan."
At the mention of his older brother, a flicker of sorrow passed through the Third Grand Elder's eyes. He closed them briefly, recalling joyful memories long gone. When he opened them again, a small, wistful smile touched his face.
"If that is your will, then I assign you to serve and guide Little Fifteen's child. Protect him from harm and guide him."
The words were spoken with quiet finality.
Old Wang bowed once more, dropping to one knee.
"This old servant accepts and shall carry out the order. From this day forward, I will follow the Third Grand Elder's nephew, living and dying for the young master!"
With that, Old Wang turned and departed from the Third Grand Elder, making his way toward the Library Courtyard.
As the old servant's figure slowly faded into the distance, the Third Grand Elder let out a deep, weary sigh and muttered to himself, "At least one person will truly wish to see him grow up… There's nothing more I can do, except watch over him from the shadows."
With those quiet words, he raised his hand and vanished from where he stood.
The door, which had remained wide open behind him, shut in an instant. Dozens of glowing circles of light spun into existence across its surface, sealing it completely once more.
Fifteen years had passed since the birth of Ling Ye.
Inside a quiet hall, three elders walked together through the passageways of the Hall of Spirituality. Among them was a middle-aged man with a few streaks of white in his hair. He glanced at the elderly figure beside him and offered a small smile.
"Clan Head, do you think there are any promising seedlings this year?" he asked.
The Clan Head let out a soft chuckle. Though age had marked his face, his eyes still shone with youthful ambition.
"Promising seedlings?" he echoed. "Naturally. This year, Ling Ye, the bookworm of the Library Courtyard, is to be tested. He's the first son of my fifteenth little brother. Although that brother of mine never truly cared for the boy, especially after the death of that woman… still, from what I know of Third Brother's final arrangements before he passed, I can only hope that something comes of them. Perhaps his legacy may yet have a successor."
The two elders nodded, slow, thoughtful gestures that said everything without a word.
"Indeed," one said. "It would be wonderful to see a second 'Third Grand Elder' rise. I believe even the Grand Elder himself would smile down on us from the heavens."
"Indeed, indeed!" the others echoed.
The Clan Head gave a soft chuckle, though his smile carried a hint of bitterness and regret.
At the same time, in a quiet courtyard, Ling Ye sat on the balcony outside his room, on his hand a book, his gaze staring up at the shining white stars. A gentle smile rested on his lips. Behind him stood a young woman, only a few years older than him, her presence quiet and familiar.
She watched him with warmth in her eyes, her own smile soft and gentle. After a brief sigh, Ling Ye immediately sensed her presence.
"Young Master, you should get some rest," she said kindly. "Tomorrow is an important day."
Ling Ye nodded and stood up, stretching lightly. He turned to her with a soft smile, but just as she began to step away from the balcony, he asked quietly, "Sister Wang… do you think Father will come with us tomorrow?"
Wang Xin froze in place, her hand still on the balcony railing. She turned to look at him, at his calm, handsome face, his shoulder length black hair, and those deep, thoughtful eyes.
She had known him since the day her grandfather passed away. Since then, she had served him faithfully and knew well the complicated relationship between Ling Ye and his father.
"Haah…" Wang Xin let out a quite sigh, unsure of how to respond. Then, with a practiced, reassuring smile, she said, "Young Master, don't worry. The Court Lord will surely attend your Spiritual Awakening. After all, you are still his son. He must care for you in his heart, he just struggles to show it. So don't worry, alright?"
Hearing her words, Ling Ye's smile widened. The faint gloom that had clouded his expression vanished, replaced by bright laughter.
"That's good! I'll make Father proud and become just like Second Uncle. After all, becoming a hero of the Ling Family and bringing glory to the clan is the life goal of everyone who bears the surname Ling!"
Wang Xin chuckled softly, her eyes glowing with pride.
"Indeed. My grandfather would be overjoyed to hear the young master speak with such spirit. To follow in the footsteps of the legendary Second Young Master, Ling Tian… So go now, rest well. And tomorrow, awaken your spiritual root like your uncle once did, and begin your path as a cultivator."
"Yes, Sister Wang!" Ling Ye said with a grin.
With that, they stepped back into the bedroom. Ling Ye climbed into bed, his heart full of excitement for what awaited him on the Day of Spirituality. Sleep took him quickly, guided by dreams of glory.