Chapter 2: The Burden of Expectations

In the heart of Shòulíng Dàlù (Beast Continent), where ancient and powerful beasts roamed freely, there lay a city that echoed with the pulse of strength and ambition: Lóng Xīn Hún Chéng (龙心魂城 – Dragon Heart Soul City). The city was renowned across the continent for its three powerful families, each vying for dominance, but none were as revered as the Xian family.

The Xian family stood at the pinnacle of power in Dragon Heart Soul City, known for its mastery of cultivation and its unbroken lineage of strong cultivators. And at the center of this family was the hope of their future—Xian Shun.

Xian Shun, the youngest prodigy of the Xian family, had shown promise since birth. He was known for his kind heart and generous nature, always ready to help others. Despite his strength, Xian Shun never flaunted his abilities. His humility and determination set him apart from others. He treated everyone with respect, from servants to his elders, always focusing on training and self-improvement.

Born with two elements, Wind and Water, Xian Shun was a rarity, destined for greatness. When he was born, he achieved the first level of cultivation immediately, a feat that left the entire family in awe. By the age of 2, he had already broken through to Level 2: Bó Jù (Combat Gathering), and the Xian family's hopes soared. Xian Shun was seen as the future of the family, the one who would lead them to new heights.But fate had other plans.

Since his breakthrough at the age of 2, Xian Shun's progress had come to a halt. For 12 long years, he remained stuck at Level 2, unable to break through despite countless efforts. Now, at the age of 14, the pressure weighed heavily on him. The family's expectations, once filled with excitement and hope, were now mixed with concern and doubt.

Though Xian Shun trained daily, the breakthrough he so desperately sought eluded him. The elders of the Xian family had begun to whisper behind closed doors, questioning if the once-promising prodigy would ever rise to the potential they had once believed in. But despite the growing pressure, Xian Shun remained kind and determined, never letting the weight of expectations crush his spirit.

He wasn't alone in his struggle. His cousin, Mei Lian, who had been sent to the Xian family as a child, was one of his strongest sources of support. While others doubted him, Mei Lian never did. She often trained with him, offering encouragement when he needed it most. Mei Lian was like a sister to Xian Shun, and her quiet confidence in him helped him endure the mounting pressure.

For 12 years, Xian Shun carried the weight of his family's expectations like a mountain on his shoulders. The whispers started when he was 8, as the elders began to murmur about his stalled progress. "He broke through too early," some said. "His foundation wasn't stable," others murmured. These words began to seep into Xian Shun's mind, but he pushed them aside, determined to prove them wrong.

As the years dragged on, his peers overtook him. Other children from powerful families, once in awe of his early progress, surpassed him in cultivation. They reached higher levels, while Xian Shun remained stuck at Level 2. His younger cousins began to view him with pity, while outsiders saw him as a cautionary tale—a prodigy whose flame burned out too soon.

At 12, Xian Shun felt the weight of failure in a way he hadn't before. It wasn't just about letting himself down; it was about letting his family down. His father, Xian Haoran, still believed in him, but Xian Shun could sense the disappointment behind his father's encouraging words. His mother, Lan Meiyu, offered him constant support, but her kindness only reminded him of how far short he was falling of the family's expectations.

Despite the pressure, Xian Shun never let it harden him. Instead, he turned to meditation and introspection. He spent long hours alone, sitting by the Windfall Lake on the family estate, where the soft breezes carried his thoughts away. He learned to calm his mind, to not let frustration take root. His connection to the Wind and Water elements grew deeper, not in raw power, but in understanding. He realized that, like the wind and water, progress couldn't always be forced. It needed time, patience, and the right circumstances.

Xian Shun often reminded himself of the stories his father told him when he was younger—stories of great cultivators who faced insurmountable odds, who struggled for years before achieving their breakthroughs. He took solace in the thought that perhaps his journey was different, that his breakthrough would come not through brute force but through wisdom and patience.

When doubt crept in, Xian Shun turned to his love for his family. He trained not just for himself, but for the honor of the Xian family. He reminded himself that he wasn't alone in his struggle. His mother's constant encouragement, his father's silent belief in him, Mei Lian's unwavering support, and the family's deep-rooted history of overcoming challenges were his guiding lights.

Even in the face of disappointment, Xian Shun didn't isolate himself. He continued to interact with his cousins and siblings, offering them help when they struggled with their own cultivation. In this way, he found purpose beyond his personal achievements. His kindness and wisdom earned him respect among his peers, even if they had surpassed him in power. The younger generation admired his resolve, and the elders, though concerned, couldn't deny his unwavering spirit.

As Xian Shun turned 14, the weight of 12 years of stalled progress still hung over him. The pressure to break through had never been greater, but his spirit remained unbroken. Despite the doubts of others, despite the whispers of failure, Xian Shun held on to a quiet hope.

He knew that the storm within him was only gathering strength, waiting for the right moment to be unleashed.