The morning sun barely pierced the thick veil of mist that clung to the foot of Mount Yuxian. Li Tianchen's breath came out in ragged clouds, his body still weak, but his spirit burning with newfound fire.
Clutching the spot on his palm where the mysterious veins had pulsed, he knew one thing — the path before him was no longer that of the powerless boy. It was the forbidden path. The Heavenless Path.
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Tianchen's mind replayed the words of the ancient voice echoing in his head.
"Break your limits. Absorb your pain. Use hatred to fuel rebirth."
He focused, trying to call upon this strange new power. But all he could feel was a faint warmth beneath his skin — nothing like the Qi flows the other cultivators had.
Determined not to give up, he ventured into the nearby forest, seeking any sign of spirit energy, anything he could use to awaken the codex's true power.
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As he moved deeper, the forest grew quiet — too quiet. The silence was suddenly broken by a low growl.
A wild Azurefang Wolf, its eyes glowing with malicious spirit energy, stepped from the shadows. Its snarling maw revealed sharp fangs dripping with venom.
Tianchen froze. This was no ordinary beast — it was a spirit beast, dangerous and powerful. Even the disciples of the Azure Dragon Sect feared such creatures.
The wolf charged.
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With no cultivated power to shield himself, Tianchen barely dodged the strike. The beast's claw tore through his sleeve, scratching his arm.
Pain seared, but then — something inside him flared.
The veins on his palm burned black as a dark aura erupted from his body. The Heavenless Codex answered.
A burst of forbidden energy surged from his fist, a shadowy flame that sizzled the air.
He swung wildly, more from instinct than skill.
The wolf yelped, staggered, and retreated with a growl.
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Panting and trembling, Tianchen stared at his hand. The power was raw, uncontrollable — but real.
For the first time, he felt hope.
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Suddenly, a soft light glimmered behind the trees.
He turned.
There, standing silently, was a figure cloaked in white — her eyes cold as ice, her long black hair flowing like a river.
It was Xue Lian.
Without a word, she stepped forward, the air around her chilling the ground.
Tianchen's heart skipped.
Who was she?
And why did he feel a strange pull toward her?
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Before he could ask, she spoke in a voice like the winter wind.
"Your path is dangerous, Tianchen. The world will try to crush you. But the Heavenless Codex is not the end — it is only the beginning."
With that, she vanished as mysteriously as she had appeared.
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Tianchen stood alone again, but stronger.
The world had exiled him.
But he would rise.
He would break the Heavens.
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