The Creation Of The Realms
Prologue:
Legends says that in the beginning, there was only the Void! A vast emptiness that longs for it's creation. From this Void, was born the Primordial Celestial Dragon, a being of immense power whose breath only brought life to the cosmos. Its scales was created with the stars, and its roar can echos through the same void, birthing time itself.
It is said that with a single of it's tears, the Dragon formed the Sea of Eternal Spirits, which is the source of all souls! It is actually the source of all living being!. And from its enormous scales fall links to creation, each giving birth to a different celestial realm, bound together by the Pigment River of Time. It curves around these realms, protecting them from external chaos.
To maintain the world's balance, the Dragon sacrificed its body, becoming the foundations to the Celestial Realms: Which are divided and sort into the following order;
The Heavenly Realm (Tiān Jiè): is a paradise where gods, and immortals reside, but ruled by the strict laws of fate, and order.
The Mortal Realm Rén Jiè): The world for mortal men. A world of simple life, and unending constant struggles. This is the realm where humans are allowed to dream of ascending to immortality. A feat only few are able to fufil.
The Netherworld (Yōu Jiè): it is the realm of spirits, and the dead. Clouded in the mist, and ruled by ancient spirits who called themselves judges, and they were in charge of reincarnation. Miserable humans who still want to have a taste of their miserable lives.
The Abyss (Yuān Jiè): This is the worst of them all. I say it is the worst because it is a realm of chaos, disorder, and darkness. It is the place where evil beings, and exiled gods dwell, constantly seeking to break free, and restart their cycle of evil all over again. But most times, they end up being trapped in this realm forever. Scaring right? Yeah, I know.
Well, from its own soul, the Dragon gave birth to the Celestial Beasts whose duty was to guard the realms, each entrusted with a piece of its divine power. These beasts were immortal, bound to fulfill their duty until the end of time. And yet, the Dragon's sacrifice left a void! It was a Primordial Chaos that lurked beyond the realms, threatening to consume everything on its path. Both immortal and gods alike. But to seal this chaos, this meance, the Dragon has forged the Divine Artifacts, each containing a fragment of its celestial essence.
And this was it's rule, whoever mastered these artifacts would inherit the Dragon's legacy, and its power to reshape the world itself.
But then in all cases, with great power comes greed. The Heavenly Emperor, born from the Dragon's will to preserve law, and order, instead grew corrupt and evil, enslaving the Celestial Beasts, and seizing the Divine Artifacts meant for other immortals, and gods alike. This caused chaos, and the imbalance between all celestial realms shattered, and the Celestial Realms fell into turmoil.
It was said that only one who could unite the power of the Shadow of Chaos, the Chrono Tide, the Soul Liberation, and the Essence of Creation, could challenge the Heavenly Emperor, and restore harmony. This heir would be marked by destiny, bearing the bloodline of the Primordial Celestial Dragon. But who he is remain a mystery until it's destiny unfolds.
*********
ORPHAN OF THE MORTAL REALM
The sun was beginning to set from the east over a small village named Fallen Leaf. The sun brightness paints the blue sky in hues of crimson and gold. I stood at the edge of a cliff, staring at the distant mountains. While thinking of nothing in particular, I fixed my gaze on the distant view of Mount Tianxu, the tallest mountain in the region. It was said to touch the boundary between the Mortal Realm, and the Heavens, its top is covered with unending snow. And at its base lay the Celestial Lotus Sect, a place of knowledge, and power, where legends were born, or so they said.
Suddenly I tightened my grip on the jade pendant around my neck. It was the only clue to my past! The only proof that I had ever belonged somewhere! That I am Li Tian, an orphan abandoned at the steps of the village's local shrine. With no family, no name, just a black color pendant engraved with ancient symbols that even the village elders couldn't make it meaning of, and neither can I, despites my endless visit to the local scholar's library.
The other children in the village would often tease me, calling me "Nameless Ghost" or "Cursed Child." But their words didn't bother me anymore. I had grown used to the loneliness. To the heavy feeling that comes with it. Being born lonely, the pendant was my only companion.
Soon, the sky began to darken, the first stars appearing, and I silently watched them. Sometimes, I long to escape this miserable world. But my secret dream of traveling far, and wide, seeking the meaning of life, and destiny was beginning to slowly fade off.
"Dreaming of flying again, Li Tian?" a familiar voice teased, and I smiled. Turning sideways to see Yue Ling, her long black hair is always a center of attention, with those eyes of hers sparkling with mischief. She was the only one in the village who didn't see me as an outcast. Despite being the daughter of the village chief, she never looked down on me. If anything, she treated me like an equal, even if she was two years older.
"Just wondering what it'd be like," I admitted, smiling. "To be free… you know, to see the Celestial Realms." I whimpered the last part, and she laughed, her voice soft to the ear.
"They say the spiritual energy around Mount Tianxu is so dense that even the trees is benefiting from it. Can't you see that despites the bad weather, it's leaves and branches are still green?," Yue Ling's voice broke into my thoughts. She sat beside me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "You know! Only if you are lucky enough to train there, you could only need to cultivate for a year, and gain the power for a decade." She said with a smirk.
"No wonder they choose that place for the Grand Celestial Tournament. It must be the gateway to immortality." I said absentmindedly.
"Then you better train harder. The Celestial Lotus Sect only takes the best. If you want to become an immortal, you'll have to earn it." She said in a stern tone, and I suddenly
felt a surge of determination. The Celestial Lotus Sect was renowned throughout the Mortal Realm as the only gateway to immortality. They held the Grand Celestial Tournament once every decade, selecting the most talented youths to join their ranks. It was my only chance to escape this village, to find out who I was, and to achieve the power needed to protect those I cared about. Not that I have one now though.
"I'll enter the tournament," I declared with a firm voice, she laughed.
"It's more than that. That mountain is sacred". She said, still laughing.
"It's more than that, Li Tian! My father says that at its peak lies the Lotus flower of Ascension, you know, the divine flower born from the tears of the Primordial Celestial Dragon itself. It blooms only once every thousand years, and grants enlightenment to those worthy of it." She said, gaze distant, and I shivered. A flower that could grant immortality… It sounded like a fairytale, but then again, in this world, myths were often reality.
"Then, i'll become the strongest cultivator… and find out the truth about my past." I said, and then turned to look at her only to see her expression softened, her eyes filled with understanding. She knew about my search for identity, for belonging to a place, to a family. She reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Then I'll be there to cheer you on, or maybe even compete against you." She said with a grin, and we both laughed. Her presence always has a way of lifting the weight on my mind, of easing it just a little bit. But as I looked up at the stars again, I couldn't shake the feeling that my fate was tied to something much greater. That beyond the clouds, beyond this quiet village, something was watching… waiting for me to make my first move.
But little did I know that my journey of searching for a meaningful life would lead me to the Realm of Echoing Shadows, where I would face my past. I didn't know that the jade pendant around my neck was the key to awakening a power that could reshape the cosmos itself. All I knew was that I couldn't stay in this village forever.
We made our way down the hill, back towards the village. Fallen Leaf village is small compared to other villages; it is built between two rivers that provide fertile soil for crops. The villagers lived simple lives, not bothered by the ambitions of crazy cultivators. But even here, the influence of the Celestial Lotus Sect could still be felt especially by those eager to become immortals. Every child dreamed of ascending the mountain, of one day becoming a disciple. It is the only path considered here by the villagers to acquiring power, respect… and freedom.