Awakening of the Void

 The winds howled through the mountains, carrying with them the scent of earth and rain. High above the treetops, the stars glittered faintly through the storm clouds, casting dim light on a small, humble village nestled in the valley. The people here lived simple lives, far removed from the bustling sects and immortal cultivators that dominated the land.

Liang Feng, a young boy of sixteen summers, stared out from the worn wooden doorway of his home. His mother had always warned him not to wander too far from the village after dark, but something about this night was different. The air felt heavy, charged with energy he couldn't quite understand. His heart raced, a strange feeling tugging at the edges of his consciousness, as though the world itself was calling out to him.

"Liang, come inside," his mother's voice called from within their modest home. "The storm's coming. You shouldn't be out there."

Reluctantly, Liang turned to obey. He'd always been curious about the world beyond their village, but his mother's strict gaze was enough to keep him from asking too many questions. She had raised him alone, ever since his father disappeared when he was just a baby. All she ever told him was that his father was an adventurer, but Liang had long suspected there was more to the story.

Just as he was about to step inside, a distant rumble of thunder echoed through the valley. In that instant, Liang froze. The feeling in the air intensified, and then he saw it—a faint, glowing light descending from the mountains like a falling star. His eyes widened as it grew closer, streaking across the night sky, heading straight for the forest on the outskirts of the village.

Without thinking, Liang dashed out into the rain, ignoring his mother's protests. His feet pounded against the wet earth as he made his way toward the forest, driven by an instinct he couldn't explain. The light had landed deep within the woods, far beyond where he had ever ventured, but something inside him urged him onward.

By the time he reached the edge of the forest, the rain had become a torrential downpour, but Liang didn't care. His clothes were soaked, his breath came in ragged gasps, yet the strange light called to him. He pushed through the dense underbrush, branches scraping against his skin, until finally, he came upon a small clearing.

There, in the center of the clearing, lay a figure cloaked in darkness. Lightning flashed overhead, illuminating the scene for just a moment. It was an old man, his robes tattered and stained with blood. He was breathing, but only just. The strange light that had led Liang here seemed to emanate from the man himself, a faint aura of energy that flickered like a dying flame.

Liang approached cautiously, his heart hammering in his chest. He had never seen a cultivator before, but he had heard the stories. This man was no ordinary traveler, he was an immortal, or at least he had been.

"Help... me..." The old man's voice was barely a whisper, yet it cut through the rain like a blade. His eyes opened, glowing faintly in the darkness. "The Void... has awakened... in you..."

Liang knelt beside the man, unsure of what to do. He was just a village boy, how could he possibly help someone like this?

Before he could speak, the man's hand shot out, gripping Liang's arm with surprising strength. In that instant, Liang felt it, a surge of energy, raw and untamed, flowing from the man into his body. His vision blurred, and for a moment, the world around him seemed to disappear, replaced by an endless expanse of swirling darkness.

"Listen carefully, boy..." the old man gasped, his voice weak but urgent. "You have... the Void Soul... a power... beyond comprehension... but it will destroy you... if you are not careful..."

Liang's mind reeled. The Void Soul? He had never heard of such a thing. The energy coursing through him was overwhelming, like a storm raging inside his very being. He could feel his body trembling, barely able to contain it.

"You must... go to the Thousand Star Sect..." the old man continued, his grip loosening. "They will... protect you... but beware... there are those who seek... the power of the Void..."

With those final words, the old man's hand fell limp, his eyes closing as his body went still. The strange light that had surrounded him flickered once more before fading into the night.

Liang stumbled back, his mind racing. The Void Soul... what had the old man meant? Why had he been given this power? His heart pounded in his chest as the weight of the moment sank in. He was no longer just a simple village boy. Something had changed within him, something he couldn't begin to understand.

The rain continued to fall, but Liang no longer felt its cold touch. His body still hummed with the remnants of the energy the old man had passed to him, and deep inside, he could feel it, the Void. It was as though a door had been opened within him, and now, there was no turning back.

He had to leave the village. He had to find the Thousand Star Sect.

With a final glance at the old man's still form, Liang turned and began the long walk back through the forest, his mind racing with questions and uncertainties. Whatever lay ahead, he knew one thing for certain, his life would never be the same again.