The sky wept light, not rain but shimmering strands of pure qi that descended like celestial silk.
Beneath that divine radiance, a lone boy in spotless white hanfu stood upon the surface of the Heavens Sea.
Still. Silent. Untouched.
His robe fluttered softly with the wind, yet no water dampened its hem, no dust dared cling to the fabric.
His long black hair flowed behind him, and among the dark strands glimmered a single thread of silver like a hidden star woven into night. His figure was small, delicate, almost ethereal. His jade-like features still bore the innocence of an eight year old child. Yet within that youthful shell pulsed the strength of eight centuries of celestial cultivation. Though he looked eight years old, in the immortal realm he had lived for eight hundred years. The air around him felt impossibly pure, as if even the wind hesitated before brushing past.
In his hand rested the all-silver divine sword Xuan Tian Jian.
It shimmered like frozen lightning, its blade smooth as still water yet colder than divine jade. The hilt twisted with silver thorns shaped not by mortal forge but by celestial will itself.
It bore no carvings. Only presence.
A single glance could silence an immortal. A single swing could take down thousands of powerful enemies.
Forged before time. Awakened by fate. This was no mere weapon.
It was a heavenly decree in sword form.
The only sword in the Six Realms that chose its wielder. No one could possess it by desire alone.
The blade hummed, a resonance clear and crystalline, echoing with ancient heavenly essence. Beneath its silver surface, faint golden veins pulsed with living power. Each breath from the sword sent ripples of trembling qi across the sea.
The Heavens Sea lay utterly still beneath him. No waves. No ripples. As though the sea itself dared not move without his command.
Slowly, he lifted the sword and pointed it to the heavens.
Lightning descended, not to strike him but to merge with the blade. Radiant bolts coiled around the sword like molten rivers of light.
He lowered his arm and faced the Heavens Sea again.
He turned his wrist, his fingers shifting with elegant precision.
The sea exploded upward.
Water split cleanly in two, parting in towering walls that rose like celestial ramparts. Another subtle swing of his fingers sent four colossal ridges of water suspended midair.
With a delicate flick of his fingers, the suspended waters twisted and coiled into serpentine shapes, dragons of liquid silver, roaring without sound.
A minor shift, a change of his fingers movement, a breath of qi, and the remaining suspended water reformed into a liquid phoenix, wings of water shimmering with rainbow light.
He twisted his fingers and with that he wove the dragon and phoenix together. Their forms clashed, tore apart, merged, then spiraled into a brilliant dance of power.
Then, without breathing out a single word, he twisted his two middle fingers sideways and demonstrated a single palm strike as if pushing back.
Boom.
Their forms shattered, crashing back into the sea with thunderous force.
The sea returned to its usual calm as if no one had ever touched it.
Xuan Tian Jian lowered his sword and calmly dusted his robe, ensuring not a single droplet touched him.
For a second, Heaven held its breath.
Silence filled everywhere.
Then came a slow, steady sound.
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
A slow, steady applause echoed behind him.
Slowly he turned.
The Heavenly Lord stood there, robes of white and gold flowing like clouds, a proud yet controlled smile resting upon his noble features.
"Good," he said. "Very good...As expected of Xuan Tian Jian… the Heavens chosen Crown Prince, the heir to the Celestial Throne."
Upon hearing the voice, Xuan Tian Jian immediately dropped to one knee. His white robe fell around him like cascading moonlight, perfectly smooth and unstained.
"Your Majesty," he greeted, voice clear and steady like jade striking jade.
The Heavenly Lord approached, every step measured, regal, bearing the weight of ten thousand years.
His gaze swept over the boy, from his immaculate robe, the calm expression, the posture of someone born to rule. The maturity in his voice and behavior. Though only eight hundred years cultivated, he carried himself with the composure of an ancient god.
A faint smile softened the Heavenly Lords stern face.
"You did well," he said quietly. Very well.
Xuan Tian Jian bowed deeper. "Thank you, Royal Father."
But the warmth in the Heavenly Lords face vanished instantly.
The Heavenly Lords eyes hardened.
His voice sharpened, carrying the authority of the Emperor rather than the love of a parent.
"You did well, but it is not enough."
He stepped closer and placed a firm hand on Xuan Tian Jians shoulder, pressing down until the boys knee dug deeper into the cold stone.
"You are the Heavenly Crown Prince,"he thundered,
"Not a nameless immortal. Not a wandering godling. Not an ordinary celestial prince.
You were chosen by Heaven itself.
Your birth awakened Xuan Tian Jian.
Your first breath shook the Nine Heavens.
He pressed harder.
The fates of the Six Realms rest upon you."
His voice cut through the air like a blade.
"What you did today was impressive, but countless immortals, gods, and demons who have lived millennia could replicate such a display. You are not meant to imitate what others can do.
You must surpass them all.
You must be perfect. Mighty. A ruler worthy of Heaven."
He gestured at the dissipating mist.
"The dragon and phoenix you summoned, they were mere spectacle. You are no performer. You are not an entertainer. What you did is just a mere display of power. That is not the power required to rule the Six Realms."
Xuan Tian Jians fingers tightened around the swords hilt. His knuckles whitened, but he remained perfectly still.
"Do not grow complacent" the Heavenly Lord said, voice now low and cold.
"Potential is nothing without mastery. One day, the Celestial Realm will depend on you entirely. One day the Six Realms will bow at your feet. Do you believe a display like this is enough and worthy to control all six realms?"
"No, Your Majesty," Xuan Tian Jian responded, calm and unwavering.
Good.
A breath of warmth returned to the Heavenly Lords gaze, but the authority remained dominant.
"Potential must become strength. Strength must become purpose. And purpose must become destiny."
He stepped back.
"Rise."
Xuan Tian Jian obeyed, standing tall, his robe drifting like starlight.
"Go," the Heavenly Lord commanded,
"Go…. and breathe life into what you created. Make the dragon and phoenix useful. Make the water controlling power into something useful to the Six Realms, something no one in the Six Realms can replicate. Turn display into meaning, something no other being could achieve."
Xuan Tian Jian bowed deeply.
"I understand, Your Majesty."
He turned toward the Heavens Sea once more, calm, poised, serene