By IMERPUS RELUR
--
Across the edge of the cosmos, where the heavens cast only faint glances, lies a land forgotten by the stars—a place where even cultivation itself thins to embers.
This was the Emberdust Realm, a cracked shard of reality adrift in the Lower Thousand Worlds, far below the gaze of immortals.
And in a dirt-walled hut on the edge of a village no map marked… a boy knelt in silence.
His name was Liang Chen.
---
He was fifteen years old. Small for his age, shoulders lean, hands worn from fieldwork. He wore a patched gray tunic, and his eyes—dark and steady—had seen too much for a child who had never even drawn qi.
Today was the Spirit Root Awakening Ceremony. Sects from nearby regions came once every few years to scout youth from poor mortal lands. Only children aged 10 to 16 could qualify.
A single test would determine everything.
"Chen'er," called a voice behind him.
Liang Chen turned. Grandfather Yun, the village elder, stood with a cane in hand.
"It's time."
Liang Chen gave a silent nod and walked with him toward the village square.
---
Spirit Root Testing Grounds — Red Ember Village
A faded stone platform stood in the center, its runes long worn. Dozens of children lined up, eyes filled with hope and fear. In front of them glowed a translucent Spirit Testing Crystal—its pale light dim, like it barely wished to do its job.
One by one, the children placed their hands upon it.
"Low-Grade Water Root!"
"Mid-Grade Earth Root!"
"High-Grade Fire Root!"
Cheers erupted when Yin Kuo, the village's favored son, placed his palm on the crystal.
The light flared crimson.
> [Result: High-Grade Fire Root – Qi Refining Stage (Early)]
The elders whispered excitedly.
"The Ironroot Sect will take him for sure."
Then came silence.
All eyes turned to the last in line.
Liang Chen stepped forward and pressed his palm to the crystal.
Nothing.
Then… the crystal dimmed—completely.
It didn't reject him.
It simply went dark.
> [Result: Spirit Root Grade – None Detected. Status: Crippled]
Snickers echoed.
"A rootless waste…"
"He's just like his father."
"No path, no future."
Yin Kuo smirked. "Even trash has a smell, you know."
Liang Chen bowed, said nothing, and walked away.
But beneath his sleeve, something pulsed softly. A mark shaped like a black stone, carved into his arm like fate itself.
---
That Night – Liang Chen's Hut
Moonlight filtered through the cracks in the roof. Liang Chen sat cross-legged, staring at a broken weapon laid before him—a common iron sword, chipped and rusted, once wielded by his disgraced father.
Beside it lay a single Low-Grade Spirit Stone, cracked and faintly glowing.
He had no cultivation.
No spirit root.
No place in this world.
But when his fingers brushed the spirit stone—
—and it touched the mark on his forearm—
Golden runes exploded into his vision.
> [Upgrade Interface Activated]
Target: Common Sword
Current Grade: Common Weapon
Upgrade Available: → Mortal-Grade Weapon (Low Tier)
Required: 1 Low-Grade Spirit Stone
Proceed? [Y/N]
His eyes widened.
His breath caught.
And he willed: [Yes].
Light surged. The sword lifted from the floor, shuddering midair. Rust fell like ash. Cracks sealed. The edge sharpened itself until it hummed with force.
When the light dimmed, a completely transformed weapon remained.
> [Upgrade Complete]
Current Grade: Mortal-Grade Weapon (Low Tier)
Status: Spiritual Pressure Active
Liang Chen grasped the hilt.
It was real.
Not a dream. Not a hallucination.
Not a gift from the heavens—
—but something he made possible with a single stone.
He looked up at the night sky.
Beyond the clouds lay the Blazing Ash Heaven, the Middle Thousand World that ruled over the Emberdust Realm. And far beyond that… the Crimson Crown World, a Great Thousand World ruled by Immortals.
"I don't need your roots," he whispered.
"I'll feed the heavens stones… until they kneel."