Wei Tian

China.

In an old temple in the province of Henan, around twenty men and women were running in the training chambers. The place was spacious but rudimentary, like the ancient temple: dirt floor, some stone and wooden columns and an opening in the ceiling responsible for lighting the place.

In the far left corner of the room, dozens of shelves were filled with cold weapons; weapons that once gathered dust and rusted, but now gleamed in the sunlight, sharp. Shields, swords, sabers, greatswords, bows, knives and axes, and a multitude of medieval or historical weapons felt like new in the hands of those who wielded them.

Occasional clashes rang throughout the training chamber as people attacked and paired tirelessly, constantly improving their handling of the weapons. The people, around twenty, wore tattered red clothes and, instead of the depressive feeling they used to have weeks ago, they now trained with a huge smile on their faces. They've never been so energetic!

They were the Wei family.

The Wei family was an ancestral one, dating back to when the country wasn't even called China. From the remaining files, not many, they knew that the old family fought many battles. History that was hidden from the rest of the country, lost in time. Great wars for or against emperors; against external invaders and internal traitors. In the past, the Wei family used to command a legion and had many strongholds, but now it was just a small part of what it used to be.

A little dust waiting to be swept away by the breeze of time.

Fortunately, that breeze brought good news: two weeks ago, they felt new energy coursing through their veins as God blessed the Earth with Qi once again! Just like the myths they read in the family archive, they soon discovered that their techniques, previously considered useless in the modern world, were capable of granting them the power they claimed!

Because of that, the family went into an uproar, no longer wasting time like before. Now they trained hard, day and night were spent cultivating or training martial arts. Their eyes shone with hope, they looked forward to the time when their family would rise again!

They sharpened their swords and mastered the martial arts. The family's misfortune must be paid with blood!

Qi revolved incessantly in the training chamber. Any newer cultivator would be scared shitless from this scene, almost everyone in the training chambers had already achieved the Second Stage of Body Tempering!

Not only that, but a middle aged man stood tall in the center of that chamber, giving out commands and incessantly teaching the group, correcting their techniques. He was the martial master of the family, the power contained within his body emitted signs of breaking into the Third Stage of Body Tempering!

He had broad shoulders, long black hair that went down to these shoulders, a piercing gaze that constantly sized up the people around him. He was an imposing man of arms.

This apparent speed at which the family was able to advance their Qi was not unexpected, in reality they had been trying to absorb the non-existent Qi for their whole lives. Now, their bodies were just like dry soils that had found water.

Amidst the intensive training with weapons, the doorbell rang.

"Who should be this time? Wei Xuafeng, go check it!" The martial artist instructor called out a name and ordered.

"Alright!" Immediately a skinny youngster with dark eyes answered and ran out of the training chamber.

Leaving the chamber, Wei Xuafeng passed one corridor after another. The temple was almost a labyrinth, as old as time, and only the family knew how to navigate inside.

Moments later he reached his destination. As he opened the door, he found a young man standing tall. He was about eighteen years old, wore fashionable black jeans, a white T-shirt and a gold watch in his right arm.

"Oh, if it isn't Mr. Lingxin?" Wei Xuafeng greeted amicably, but his tone was rude and his smile was clearly false.

In fact, he hated that man!

"Oh, greetings Xuafeng. I'm here to talk about the marriage between me and Mei. Where is the old man?" The rich young man said arrogantly, referring to the grandfather of the family in a clear mocked tone.

Gritting his teeth trying to control the fury in his eyes, Wei Xuafeng answered as politely as he could. If it weren't for the fact that grandpa asked them not to show their strength yet, Wei Xuafeng would have already punched him in the face.

"Our Grandmaster is sick and won't be able to receive you this time. Please return another day."

"Is that so? No problem then…" The other man smiled lightly, it was always good to make fun of the Wei family. "But let me try to convince you otherwise: This is part of what I plan on giving as the marriage gift, here, look!"

Han Lingxing took something for his purse and revealed it.

Wei Xuanfeng widened his eyes in surprise. The young man was holding a mysterious old book with a purple cover! Even though his family was reclusive, Xuanfeng knew a little bit about what was going on around the world, mainly because of the internet. However, until now, he thought the news involving the books were fake.

[Must tell grandfather about it!] If anyone could really use cultivation techniques to become stronger, the implications of it were huge. Perhaps their family's plans would have to change!

"It seems you're not so dumb after all…" Noticing the surprise in Xuafeng's eyes, Han Lingxing smiled, conceited. "My father got his hands on a couple of those. These are just a few benefits of marrying Mei to me..."

Lingxing turned around, leaving the words hanging in the air. After a few steps, however, he looked back and added in a serious tone.

"I'm already giving the Wei family enough face into this matter, I hope it's solved soon or there will be serious consequences…" Without looking back, he strode forward and entered a limousine waiting further away.

Wei Xuanfeng raised his middle finger at the man's back.

*********

Sitting in a small chamber filled with ancient scrolls, a white-haired man had fire in his eyes. Ever since they discovered that the Qi blessed Earth once again, he had been looking through the old family records. If the cultivation manual really worked, wouldn't that mean that the other techniques were also true?

Unfortunately, many of the parchments were old and corroded by time or were lost as the family declined. Now, some techniques were only cited in the notes. However, that was not what bothered the family head at the moment.

The grandfather wore a shabby blue robe, and his bald head and round brown eyes made him look like an old monk. Yet, he seemed younger than before.

In front of him, Wei Xuafeng was kneeling and had just finished the report.

"That shitty bastard!!" The old man hit the table hard, the sound echoed through the small chamber and made Xuefeng dizzy.

After a small amount of time, the patriarch controlled his furry and added between breaths:

"Our family has been waiting for a millennia, but soon we will show the world what we are capable of!" Wei Xuafeng looked at the patriarch, unsure if the old man was saying it to him or himself. "Those who despised our family will be destroyed! So what if his father is the governor?"

The old man fixed his gaze into Wei Xuafeng once again.

"My plan cannot be anticipated, we need time to gather our strength before acting. We will be unstoppable!" The old man smiled at that thought.

"But, now that they have the book's…" Xuafeng started, concerned, he was already at the Second Stage of Body Tempering and understood very well about the power of a cultivator.

"I'll send someone to investigate these books." The patriarch nodded and reassured the youngster. "But care not, our family has many ancient techniques, not only cultivation ones. So what if they can also cultivate?"

"Right!" Xuafeng nodded. "A strong man without technique is like a bull without horns!"

"That's a good quote. Also, do not spread this matter to anyone! Especially to Wei Tian, he can not be distracted now…" The man added in a serious tone and waved his hand signaling him to leave.

"Yes, grandfather!"

***********

In another chamber not far from there, a young man in his twenties was seated in a lotus position. He had short black hair and was wearing the same old tattered red robe. Even with his eyes closed in meditation, his disposition was way greater than any other men in the training grounds. It was like he was a King waiting for his subordinates.

Suddenly, the Qi inside the chamber revolved wildly and went towards the boy.

"Bang!" a huge pressure exploded inside his head, his bones cracked and a weird black gooze was expelled from his pores.

Opening his eyes in delight he got up slowly. The feeling of breakthrough was amazing!

[Finally, Body Tempering Stage-4! It won't take longer before grandfather starts his plan…] Wei Tian thought while stretching his muscles.