Cultivation.
The first step on the cultivation path is the creation of the Origin Core, an energy seed that awakens with the cultivator's origin. This core feeds on natural energy, growing with each breath and becoming a personal reservoir of power. It acts as a channel between the cultivator and the universe, allowing them to accumulate natural energy to later unleash the power of the star.
Once the core is formed, the cultivator waits for a clear night and connects with their first star. The choice of the star does not depend on the cultivator's will, but on the resonance between them. This connection is unbreakable.
There are two main types of stars that cultivators can connect to initially. The first is the Pure Star, an empty entity, without attributes or styles. Many consider that joining a Pure Star is a bad omen, as the cultivator begins without a clear path.
However, others see it as a blessing, as it is malleable and can be shaped with techniques and powers at will, adapting to the path the cultivator chooses. To strengthen it, there are complex methods, from rituals to techniques for absorbing natural essences and giving it the desired power.
The second type is the Destiny Star, which already has a defined attribute or Style. Those who connect with it follow a path guided by that affinity, advancing quickly but with less flexibility. Their path will always be determined by the essence of the star, a powerful but rigid force.
As the cultivator advances, their Origin Core strengthens, and they can connect with more stars, forming a unique constellation that reflects their abilities. Each new star increases their power and allows them to create personalized cultivation methods.
The cultivator becomes the architect of their destiny, uniting stars and forging constellations that manifest their power and will.
Sitting in a firm posture, Bai Xuebing observed the Xīngchén Qǐmíng Dān between his fingers, his gaze fixed and determined.
—That's what the book says… although there's much more to discover. Step by step, I'll reveal it —he said, almost like an oath.
He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of what he was about to begin.
—First, I must awaken my origin and forge my Origin Core —he added, his voice a whisper in the stillness of the night.
Inside him, determination and uncertainty mingled, but the decision was already made. Bai Xuebing, in lotus position, placed the pill in his mouth. The bitterness of the Xīngchén Qǐmíng Dān lingered as he swallowed, leaving an aftertaste that seemed to bite at his insides.
He barely had time to process the taste when a surge of raw energy exploded in his abdomen, a fiery rage consuming everything in its path. He struggled to focus, not allowing the pain that spread like a boiling tide through every corner of his body to take over.
—Hold on —he repeated silently, feeling the pressure mounting on his origin, a latent point in his chest that was barely beginning to respond. It was as if a door closed from within resisted every push, and he was the only one who could open it.
The energy swirled, trying to break free, and the pressure was so intense he felt his body would collapse. Still, he gritted his teeth and focused, guiding that rebellious energy toward the emptiness inside him.
For a moment, he thought he was going to fail. Every fiber of his being felt on the brink of breaking, as if that force was about to tear him apart. But suddenly, something gave. An internal spark released a current of energy that began to flow toward his origin.
The relief was brief; the energy burned in a different way, like a contained fire demanding space to settle.
Upon awakening his origin, he felt the world change around him. He didn't know if it was the energy running through his body or if something had triggered in the air, but he felt as though the universe was breathing with him. The whisper of the leaves seemed close; every heartbeat synchronized with the pulse of the earth.
Without losing focus, he forced himself to keep going. The energy of nature surrounding him filtered into him, drawing him in, until every cell of his body seemed to absorb it. "It's not over yet," he thought.
The energy began to swirl inside his origin, a small but intense vortex that demanded more than he thought he had. Each rotation hurt, each compression seemed to rip something, as if every breath sculpted this Origin Core with its own effort.
It was an endless struggle, an effort consuming every thought, every part of his concentration. His muscles trembled, his mind wavered, and more than once he felt the temptation to give up, to let the energy dissipate.
—If I stop now... —the words were unnecessary. He couldn't afford it. So he continued, allowing the Origin Core to form, slow and painful, as if every second prolonged his agony.
Finally, he felt the vortex calm, settling at the center of his origin. Something inside him changed. A solid weight settled, and along with it, a wave of strength flooded him. His senses sharpened; the breath of the earth seemed to reach him like a personal whisper. The darkness of the night wrapped around him, and for the first time, he felt it as something that accompanied him, a deep cloak that covered the mysteries now belonging to him.
—I did it... —he told himself, a mixture of disbelief and deep satisfaction. Something new vibrated within him, a spark of power and connection he had never felt before.
A faint sweet taste lingered in his mouth, like an echo of that significant moment, and a smile, almost involuntary, spread across his lips. It was a gesture not only reflecting his triumph but also an acknowledgment of everything he had left behind.
—Thank you... mother —he whispered to the air, his voice full of emotion. At that moment, he felt her presence by his side, as if, somehow, she shared this achievement with him. It was a gratitude beyond words, a connection that endured despite distance and time.
—I tried so hard. Tomorrow I'll continue... right now... I'm...
Bai Xuebing's words faded into the air as he collapsed on the ground, exhausted from the titanic effort. Fatigue wrapped around him like a heavy blanket, covering every fiber of his being. Cultivators generally waited a long time after opening their origin before attempting to form their earth core, allowing their bodies to recover from the intense process.
However, Bai Xuebing had defied all expectations. To see someone who had never practiced any art or who hadn't awakened their origin succeed on their first attempt was an astounding feat.
Upon awakening, Bai Xuebing felt as though he had been transported to a new world. Everything seemed clear and vibrant; energy flowed through his body, a constant current synchronizing with the surroundings. He felt the vitality of the water, the solidity of the earth, the freshness of the plants, and the softness of the wind. It was an incomparable experience, a peace he had not felt since that fateful day.
—This... all of this is so... beautiful —he murmured without hesitation. For the first time, he felt in perfect harmony with his surroundings, a bond that filled him with awe. Bai Xuebing remained for a moment, absorbed in contemplation, gazing at the landscape around him.
The warm rays of the sun caressed his skin while the morning breeze played with his hair, and the soft grass brushed against the soles of his bare feet.
He took a deep breath, filling himself with the essence of the morning, and decided to return home. However, upon entering, something was different. The air was imbued with a familiar energy, an echo of his past that resonated in every corner.
His father's ring and the box, along with other items that had belonged to his family, seemed to vibrate with life. This time, he perceived their energies, but what struck him most was the intensity of the connection with that sealed box.
As he looked at it, a sinister darkness emanated from it, and a stench of blood overwhelmed him. A chill ran down his spine. Maintaining his composure, he turned his gaze away from the box and focused on the other objects, more specifically, his father's ring.
The ring, which had once seemed simple, now emitted a vibrant red energy around it. Bai Xuebing held it firmly, watching as the energy danced around it. Soon, he remembered a section of the book explaining artifacts, and specifically, storage rings.
These were used by cultivators to store their items and other elements, protecting them until the owner passed away. At that point, the ring would release its contents, leaving them exposed. However, in some cases, the rings could continue guarding their contents, as long as a security seal had been implanted.
The ring Bai Xuebing held was one of those special artifacts, endowed with a security seal. The revelation surprised him: he possessed a storage ring. Curious, he tried to open it, but it was in vain. A sense of frustration filled him. What secrets did it contain? What knowledge or treasures from his family might be inside this mysterious object?
He sighed, frustrated for not being able to open it, and put it away. Looking at the other objects, he picked up the small ball that had once seemed out of his reach. To his surprise, this time he was able to open it and found three rings. Like his father's, these were also storage rings.
Bai Xuebing tried to open one of them, and upon doing so, he found himself in a vast mental space where only emptiness existed. He examined each ring and saw the same: nothing.
—I suppose they were for us... Mother —he murmured, feeling a mix of nostalgia and longing.
He put one of the rings on. According to the information in the book, for a ring to remain in the possession of a cultivator, it had to be infused with their energy. This way, the ring and the cultivator would be connected. Bai Xuebing had never attempted to infuse his energy into an object. It wasn't that he lacked the ability; he had simply never had the chance to do so.
He closed his eyes and focused on the energy emanating from within him. He felt it flow into the ring, which absorbed his energy and connected him to it. At that moment, a deep and powerful connection was established, as if he had truly become the owner of the artifact.
The gray ring turned an intense black. Although its design was simple and functional, Bai Xuebing decided to store the remaining rings inside it, along with his father's ring and the other objects he had found. He hesitated about whether to take the box with him but ultimately chose to store it in the ring. So, until dusk, Bai Xuebing immersed himself in reading the book.
On the cultivation path, the first star that intertwines with the cultivator is the most important, as it sets the foundation for their development and journey toward immortality. It is said that one night, the Beloved Son, Taixian, sat on a mountain and looked toward the starry sky. He raised his hand, and a single star responded, sending a flash of energy that enveloped him in a warm glow. In that moment, the Beloved Son understood that he, too, was part of the heavens, that there was a deep connection between him and the stars.
It was then that he discovered the first secret of cultivation: the entire world, the earth and the sky, were not only his home, but also an inexhaustible source of power. This power was not merely a force; it was the very essence of existence, a gift from the Great Mother Earth and the infinite heavens.
Guided by intuition and his love for life, Taixian began absorbing the energy from the earth and the stars. In his meditations, he felt the pulse of rivers and the whisper of leaves. His body filled with the strength of the earth and the light of the stars, and in his innocence, he understood that they loved and guided him every step of the way.
Thus, it all began, in the same way cultivators begin their journey: trusting in the energy of the earth and the strength of the heavens.
Soon night arrived, bringing with it the brilliance of the firmament. Bai Xuebing looked at the clear sky, with no clouds obstructing his view. He left his house in search of a high place to continue his cultivation.
He sat by the jade lake, where fireflies once danced in an ethereal light show. The night was calm, and the sky reflected perfectly in the water, as if the heavens themselves had descended to touch the surface of the lake.
With his gaze fixed on the starry reflection, Bai Xuebing contemplated the vast night sky, feeling a strange mix of peace and tension, as if something deep and inevitable was about to be revealed. Sitting in the lotus position, he began to meditate.
Slowly, his mind emptied until it settled into a deep silence. From within, Bai Xuebing began to create a small thread of energy, so thin it was almost invisible, a delicate connection that barely vibrated with the vital flow of his being. That thread was a bridge between his soul and the firmament, the first step to connect with a star.
Soon, night arrived, bringing with it the brilliance of the heavens. Bai Xuebing looked at the clear sky, with no clouds obstructing his view. He left his house in search of a high place to continue his cultivation.
He sat by the jade lake, where fireflies once danced in an ethereal light show. The night was calm, and the sky perfectly reflected in the water, as if the heavens themselves had descended to touch the surface of the lake.
With his gaze fixed on the starry reflection, Bai Xuebing contemplated the vast night sky, feeling a strange mix of peace and tension, as if something deep and inevitable was about to be revealed. Sitting in the lotus position, he began to meditate.
Slowly, his mind emptied until it settled into a deep silence. From within, Bai Xuebing began to create a small thread of energy, so thin it was almost invisible, a delicate connection that barely vibrated with the vital flow of his being. That thread was a bridge between his soul and the firmament, the first step to connect with a star.
To establish the connection with the stars, the cultivator had to open himself completely, exposing his essence and will without reservations. There was no choice in the process, neither for the cultivator nor for the stars; the resonance came from a natural alignment between their energies. However, some cultivators, desperate, resorted to dark methods to force this bond, distorting the nature of the connection.
Bai Xuebing felt his spirit separate from his body, floating in an infinite void. Around him, the cosmos unfolded in its vastness, an ocean of stars whispering forgotten secrets. For a moment, his soul brushed against the heavens, enveloped by the vastness of the universe, as if it were a breath away from the stars.
He floated in deep darkness, surrounded only by a constant flow of energy, like an underground river that never ceased. His body remained distant, anchored to reality, but his soul wandered in a faraway space, aware that there was still much to traverse to touch the secrets of the stars.
He knew that only those cultivators who progressed reached the privilege of a direct connection with the heavens. Although his journey had just begun, he already understood that every particle of energy around him was a reminder of how vast the cosmos was, and that if he persisted, one day he would be part of that whole.
Thus, Bai Xuebing began the process of resonance. In that spiritual state, there were no barriers; his essence was exposed, pure, before the immensity of the firmament. His thoughts and emotions unfolded like an open book, silently observed by the stars.
His spirit floated among them, vulnerable, but determined. It was a moment of absolute exposure, with no room for fear or doubt. In front of the stars, his soul had to be transparent for the resonance to occur.
The pressure of the cosmic trial began to weigh upon him. He knew that if a star resonated, it was because it had recognized something in his being.
Time dissolved as he remained silent, floating in the void. One minute, two... hours, perhaps. No star showed signs of response. Anxiety began to grow in his chest, a worry that threatened to destroy the calm he had attained.
What if no star chose him? Would his dreams of revenge fade? Was he destined for impotence in a world where only strength mattered?
In the path of cultivation, misfortune and fortune were two sides of the same coin. The chance of not connecting with a star was high, cruelly high. Those who failed this step were condemned to oblivion, disdain, and in some cases, sacrifice.
There was no room for pity in this world. Sects, families, and masters abandoned without hesitation those who did not resonate with a star. In their eyes, they were merely resources, waste that served no purpose other than the refining of elixirs.
That is why many resorted to forbidden means, desperate to force a connection. Because the alternative was worse: being forgotten, erased, or used as a sacrifice. In this path, risking life with dark methods was the only option to avoid disappearing without a trace.
Dawn began to rise, threatening to end his time. Bai Xuebing felt an unfamiliar cold, a mix of frustration and desperation as he saw his opportunity fading. The tension grew, overwhelming, as his desire for power seemed to crumble, lost in the shadows of the void.
Then, a dark shadow, like a wound in his soul, completely engulfed him. He remembered the cruel laughter of the assassins of the Celestial Heron Sect, their faces twisted in smiles of pure pleasure as they destroyed his home and killed his family.
The faces of his brothers fading into death, his father collapsing on the blood-soaked ground... That image flooded him, drowning him. The sadistic smiles, the disdainful gazes... those monsters had savored every second of the massacre, as if his family's lives were nothing but a macabre game.
Rage enveloped him, an unstoppable storm. Every cell of his being burned, and every memory was a stabbing pain he could not bear. Fear and impotence threatened to swallow him, but he refused to succumb. —It can't all be in vain,— he thought, clenching his fists until his nails dug into his skin. —I won't let those bastards go unpunished.— His body trembled, and his eyes glowed with such hatred that they seemed capable of tearing the sky apart.
Bai Xuebing gritted his teeth, refusing to accept the fate of impotence that was being offered to him. To lose this opportunity? No. If no star resonated with him, then he would force a connection. His spirit boiled with fierce determination, challenging any —no— as an answer.
Sitting before the vast firmament, something inside him shattered, releasing raw energy, like a silent scream of fury. It was his essence, his rage, his desperation, everything he had endured since those damned ones took from him what he loved most. The stars watched him, indifferent, almost contemptuous, as if they despised him. It was a brutal reminder of his insignificance, but he did not yield.
—If you won't come to me, I'll drag you here!— he whispered with fury, his voice filled with a dark promise.
He concentrated every fragment of his being, every wound, every vow of vengeance, and sent that energy to the sky as a challenge. In the void of his spirit, there was no humility, only an indomitable will, a desire for power that knew no limits. For a moment, the space before him seemed to compress, as if the very firmament were holding its breath, weighing his audacity. The vastness responded with a cold, eternal echo.
And then, on the horizon, a tiny and almost imperceptible star began to blink with an unexpected intensity.
It was a tiny star, its light so faint that it could barely be distinguished among the shadows of the firmament. However, that star, so insignificant in appearance, emitted a soft glow directed at him. Bai Xuebing felt an unexpected warmth, a tenuous but intense connection, like the first heartbeat of a new bond.
It was the spark he had been waiting for. But when he connected with it, surprise flooded him. This star had not been obtained through force as he thought; it had resonated with him naturally. All the fury and desperation he had felt slowly calmed as he realized that he could indeed resonate with a star.
A warm smile appeared on his face as he watched the star before him. In his heart, an emotion he hadn't felt in a long time flooded him, and tears began to fall silently.
—Now you and I are one,— he murmured, as if speaking to an old friend, his voice trembling with gratitude.
He bowed to the star, not in weakness, but in recognition, in deep understanding. He knew that, while many cultivators saw the stars only as tools, for him, this spark was something more. It was a living being, with its own energy, and now that energy lived within him.
—I hope you help me in the future.
With those words, Bai Xuebing understood that the star had not only responded to his call, but by resonating with him, they had forged a bond deeper than he had imagined. Although the star was far away, a part of it now lived inside him, and a part of him resided in it.
His heart, once cold and filled with rage, felt a little lighter, for the connection gave him a sense of —equality,— of —companionship.— This was just the beginning of something much greater, a future he could not have reached alone.
This was the first step toward his goal.
Bai Xuebing was different from other cultivators. He understood the true meaning of the connection with the stars.
In the path of stellar cultivation, it is taught that resonance is a natural process, where neither side can choose the other. In part, this is true. The resonance must occur, but there is a hidden truth that few dare to reveal. The stars also choose with whom to resonate, because they possess a much greater power than any cultivator at the beginning of their journey.
The stars, in their magnificence, have the power to decide who is worthy of their energy. Not only the level of cultivation matters, but the being itself: its soul, its essence, what attracts the star. The stars seek to resonate with those whose energy matches theirs, with those capable of understanding the vastness of the universe and the loneliness of the void.
Something few know about the story of Taixian is that, when he began his path, it was not just one star that resonated with him. It was his sincere desire for understanding and friendship that attracted it. In his simple greeting, yet filled with purity, the star responded, recognizing the sincerity of his soul.
And so, Taixian's fate was sealed not by power nor desperation, but by a simple and genuine gesture, a greeting full of the sincere desire for connection. The star chose to resonate with him because it saw in his soul the purity necessary to intertwine their destinies, merging their energies into one being.
Taixian, the beloved son of the earth, but also loved by those who come from the sky.