The Being Forgotten by Time

Chapter 2 – The Shining City of Tianhai

Dawn painted the skies with a soft golden hue as the first rays of sunlight passed over the imposing rooftops of the duchy city of Tianhai. It was a vibrant city, where the scent of spices mingled with the metallic aroma of the forges and the fresh breeze that drifted from the distant mountains.

The stone streets were always bustling with life. Merchants called out to customers with loud and cheerful voices, cultivators dressed in luxurious or simple robes hurried in all directions, market stalls sold all kinds of goods, and the sounds of martial sparring echoed from the many training courtyards scattered throughout the city.

Tianhai was the heart of the territory ruled by the Lan Household, one of the noble families of the Zhenlong Empire. The Lan were respected throughout the region, known for their lineage of talented cultivators and their mastery of Spiritual Forging—the art of crafting weapons and spiritual artifacts infused with internal energy.

The swords, spears, and armor forged by the Lan were coveted by warriors and cultivators from all over, and their blacksmiths were considered the finest in the empire.

At the top of the Celestial Palace, the Lan family's residence, a young girl sat on the terrace of her room, watching the city's movements with a serene gaze. Lan Yue, the youngest daughter of Duke Lan Feng and Duchess Mei Lian, was a cultivation prodigy, even at her tender age of just ten years.

Unlike most children who were only beginning to understand the principles of cultivation, Lan Yue had already broken through the first level and entered the first layer of the Qi Condensation Realm, something few achieved before the age of twelve. Her talent came from her Celestial Ice Spiritual Root, a rare and extremely powerful affinity that granted her natural control over the element of ice.

Since ancient times, when the first humans faced mystical beasts to survive, they discovered that almost everyone was born with a Spiritual Root—the foundation that allowed them to absorb and store internal energy, known as Qi.

With this energy, humans developed techniques to strengthen their bodies, minds, and spirits, enabling them to challenge even the most powerful creatures.

The path of cultivation was long and arduous, divided into multiple realms, each containing nine layers within them, marked by significant advancements in Qi manipulation:

Spiritual Foundation Realm, the first step, where the cultivator learns to absorb Qi from the environment and strengthen their body.

Qi Condensation Realm, the stage where Qi begins to condense into a liquid form within the dantian, enhancing attacks and abilities.

Golden Core Realm, where internal energy takes the form of a core inside the cultivator, drastically increasing their strength and longevity.

Ascending Soul Realm, where cultivators at this level begin to manifest spiritual projections and superior abilities.

Heavenly Dao Realm, where masters of this level transcend human limits and can even challenge ancient mystical beasts.

Within this vast path, Lan Yue was only at the beginning. But her potential was undeniable.

Lan Yue rose from the terrace and descended the stairs toward the mansion's main hall. Her delicate face, with almost ethereal features, contrasted with her determined eyes. Her long black hair was tied up in a simple bun, and her light blue robes, embroidered with ice patterns, shimmered under the morning light.

As she walked through the corridors, the servants and guards bowed their heads slightly in respect. Even at such a young age, her talent had already granted her an elevated status within the Lan family.

Upon reaching the hall, her father, Lan Feng, was already at the table, examining scrolls with maps and documents. He was an imposing man, with a strong presence, dressed in a tunic adorned with golden details. Beside him, Mei Lian calmly served tea, her gentle gaze resting on her daughter.

"Yue'er, did you sleep well?" her mother asked, smiling softly.

Lan Yue nodded, sitting at the table.

"Yes, mother. I dreamed about the story you told me last night. About the Being that existed before time..." Mei Lian chuckled lightly.

"Ah, so Tian Xuan already inhabits your dreams? Perhaps it is a sign that you are destined for great things," Mei Lian said, smiling.

Lan Feng raised an eyebrow, observing his daughter with interest.

"Speaking of destiny... it is time to test your progress. I want to see how far your spiritual foundation has developed." Lan Yue's eyes sparkled with excitement upon hearing her father's words.

She knew that day would not be an ordinary one.

The Training Courtyard of the Lan Mansion was a majestic place, designed to cultivate the strength and discipline of the Lan lineage descendants. Located at the back of the vast estate, the space was expansive, surrounded by pillars intricately carved with depictions of the family's great warriors.

The training platform was made of black jade, a rare and resilient stone that absorbed residual spiritual energy, making the ground ideal for cultivation practice. Its opaque glow contrasted with the golden rays of the afternoon sun, creating a cold and imposing reflection.

The air carried an invisible weight. Tension hung over the servants and guards lined along the courtyard, watching in silence. Lan Feng, the Duke of the Lan Household, stood motionless at the center of the platform, his sharp eyes assessing his daughter standing before him.

Lan Yue, only ten years old, stood firm, her posture impeccable. Despite her young age, she already exuded the aura of a talented cultivator.

"Bring the spiritual measurement crystal," Lan Feng ordered, his voice echoing across the courtyard.

A servant stepped forward, carefully carrying a translucent, slightly blue orb, about the size of a fist. This was the Spiritual Measurement Crystal, a precious artifact that identified and classified a cultivator's internal energy.

When an individual channeled their Qi into the crystal, it would change color according to the density and purity of their cultivation.

The cultivation levels were divided as follows:

Gray: No cultivation or insignificant talent.

Red: Beginner, unstable spiritual energy.

Orange: Common cultivator, without great potential.

Yellow: Average cultivator, where most of the population ranks.

Green: Talented, capable of standing out among common warriors.

Blue: Prodigy, few reach this level in their lifetime.

Violet: Genius, only legends attain this level.

Gold: One in a million, usually only beings of divine lineage reach this point.

Lan Yue brought her hands close to the crystal and closed her eyes. A wave of spiritual energy emerged from her body and flowed into the orb. Instantly, a vibrant blue light spread across the surface of the crystal, shimmering with small silver reflections. A hushed murmur ran through the servants and even the most experienced guards.

Lan Feng raised his eyebrows, surprised. Pure blue? And with silver streaks? His daughter's spiritual energy quality was incredibly refined for her age.

Her potential exceeded expectations. However, he restrained his expression and merely nodded.

"Very well," he said, his voice firm.

"But measuring potential means nothing if you don't know how to use it. Let's assess your combat skills. Come, attack me."

Lan Yue took a deep breath, assuming a battle stance. Her father, a veteran warrior, maintained a relaxed posture as if the confrontation was trivial.

But Lan Yue knew that any mistake could be punished. In an instant, she advanced.

Her body slid across the ground like a snowflake in the wind. She struck with a direct punch, imbued with her spiritual energy. A thin layer of ice crystallized on her skin, amplifying the impact. Lan Feng blocked with the palm of his hand, feeling the penetrating cold. He smiled slightly.

Lan Yue spun, using the momentum to launch a kick. The air around her cooled drastically, small ice sparks forming in the air. Lan Feng dodged at the last moment, but his sleeve was covered by a thin layer of frost. Lan Yue's innate ability with the Celestial Ice Spiritual Root was already manifesting impressively.

However, her father was not just defending. In a swift motion, he extended his hand and lightly touched Lan Yue's shoulder. Before she could react, a wave of force pushed her back, making her slide across the black jade platform. She fell to her knees, panting, but her eyes shone with determination.

"Not bad," said Lan Feng.

"But you still hesitate before attacking. Your control over ice is natural, but you need to learn to flow with it. Let's try something different."

He took a step back and raised his hand, forming a seal with his fingers. A light pressure filled the courtyard.

"Unleash your strongest technique against me. I want to see how far you can go."

Lan Yue took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment. Then, she raised her palms, channeling her spiritual energy. The air around her grew heavy, and a thin layer of ice spread across the ground. Small snow crystals began to form around her, slowly swirling in a spiral. She was activating her technique.

"Lunar Blizzard."

With a firm movement, Lan Yue released the accumulated energy toward her father. The ground instantly froze around her, and a storm of cutting ice shot toward Lan Feng. At the last moment, he raised a Qi shield and blocked the attack, but his face showed satisfaction.

From afar, a shadowy figure watched the scene from the top of the mansion’s roof. Their piercing eyes gleamed, evaluating each movement of the young cultivator. With a discreet smile, the figure vanished into the shadows.

Lan Yue did not yet know, but her display of talent had caught the attention of forces plotting against her family.