Prologue: Beginning of history (1/2)

''People are asleep while they are alive, but when they die they wake up''.

When a powerful desire dwells in an object that has either been touched by mortal souls or has blood on it, it becomes an Ethereal Phoenix...?

An ancient sword lay on a crimson altar, its blade shimmering with ichor - the blood of countless battles that had been fought in its name. Its honed edge exuded a menacing aura, gripping all who gazed upon it in fear.

Inscribed with a powerful enchantment, it was said to be bedewed with its master's blood and only a righteous heir would be able to unsheathe it. Such a chosen one would be anointed as a divine candidate and destined to become the next heavenly ruler.

Fifteen hundred years ago, Tan Ju, a divine yet former human, soared above the heavenly realm, wielding his god-given power with righteous purpose. People recognized him as a demigod, a divine warrior, and beholden the great sword of Ethereal Phoenix in hand. He was the preserver of celestial order; wind, water, fire, light, and dark at his command.

An exalted ruler, Tan Ju assumed his station between the heavens and the earth, forging lasting peace with his divine strength.

He owned a large portion of Earth's land and directed its use, was responsible for his people's economic and spiritual welfare, and dispensed justice to his subjects. With the divine mandate, he reigned supreme, ruling with an iron fist.

He had a dream wherein he was engulfed in flames and his kinfolk silently watching. This eerie dream left him perturbed and haunted, so he called out to the God of destiny to explain its meaning.

The God of destiny interpreted this nightmare and thundered that a boy from Tan Ju's land, born in the odd years, would rip apart his dynasty and would bring death to him.

This dream troubled him and the interpretation led him to discuss the strange matter with the oldest God of the heavens and Earth Lord Peng Zhong.

Lord Peng Zhong was wise. He had spent centuries watching over the Earth and heaven, the immortals, the mortals, and their conspiracies. He knew it was a collaboration between a party that intended to have someone else as the next heavenly ruler.

By the heavens will, it was ordered no boy would be born during the odd years.

In the first year, nothing happened.

In the second year, nothing happened.

In the third year, nothing happened.

Tan Ju himself had started forgetting this dream and didn't put much weight on it.

But in the fifteenth year, something peculiar happened.

It was the odd year and no baby boys were to be born in that year yet unexpectedly a baby boy was born in the notable Jiang family. The buddhas considered this child the silver light, named him Jiang Xicheng, and said.

''Every soul will taste death. And heavens test us with evil and with good as trial and to them shall this pure soul return as promised in his fate''.

The river of pristine eclipse flowed between the two mountains, a thousand feet tall mountains with strange rocks standing above them, and fog underneath, inhuman creatures rumoured to live there were famous for being the path between heaven and earth. And thus the child was cast in the River of Pristine eclipse.

At the bottom of the cliff under the clouds, between the river and the mountain wall, there was a narrow, rugged, rocky road formed by strange rock bases. The river was turbulent and galloped away.

The waves roll up from time to time and slapped on wet and slippery stones.

The basket sailed down the river and cut through the deep, encompassing darkness that opened to the infinite sky. A fierce meteor shower descended on the two mountains, splitting the river of the pristine eclipse into two.

One mountain was immediately transformed, the rocks and water glinting in a shower of diamond shards. The other mountain trembled under the weight of the magnitude, and the fog rose as the horizon burned - a sight of nature's unyielding power.

Meanwhile, the other mountain shuddered and the enclosed darkness quivered as the fog arose and the horizon blazed. Its beauty humbly exposed the force of nature - a power that would remain unchallenged.

When the mortals watched this scene, they kowtowed and pleaded mercy. There was a meteor shower that night and the child was named Dao Child Diamond Meteor.

The sailing basket had reached Lord Tan Ju's palace. The boy was discovered by the heavenly God Tan Ju himself. When the basket was opened and a beautiful baby boy was found inside the basket Tan Ju's heart instantly moved and he decided to keep this child. Little did he know that he was about to meet the first immovable force of his life.

All the gods were called to Lord Tan Ju's palace and they instantly recognized this child. Some Gods called this child a curse and his beauty moved many hearts.

"I AM DETERMINED: this child shall remain here in my care and will be sent back to Earth at the appropriate juncture," Lord Tan Ju firmly declared.

And all the gods were fumed.

''But my lord, how can a mortal grow up among gods?''

''Yes my lord, heavenly lord Peng Zhong must take the right decision''.

''This child was destined to be born and now he even reached the heavens, there must be something that only our Lord Peng Zhong knows''. Lord Tan Ju spoke.

Lord Peng Zhong was in deep seclusion, and though he received the message from the heavens, it took him some time to reach back. Until then the child was kept at Lord Tan Ju's palace and he had already started feeling deep love for him.

Lord Peng Zhong declared, ''The child can live and grow up here by the heavens will but at the right time, he would be sent back''.

Lord Tan Ju had lived a thousand years of solitary and now this child had suddenly lightened up his life so he was happy with this decision. The god of destiny Lord Hou Chao kept reminding Lord Tan Ju about the dream but Lord Tan Ju turned a blind eye to it.

When the basket carrying the infant arrived in the heavens, it had gone through a meteor shower and heavy thunderstorms still the infant managed to survive so lord Tan Ju named the infant Liwei, Jiang Liwei.

Thus Jiang Liwei (courtesy name: Jiang Xicheng) grew up to be a righteous young mortal who had spent his life sharpening his dexterities and spirit while growing up in the heavens among different Gods and Buddhas, leading a life with martial talent, and beauty beyond measure, and a fervent heart... can't discern yet...of his fate.