Tainted will

Xuan Mountain

It was late at night, and a cool breeze was blowing with light rain. Yet Xuan Mountain was not covered in darkness. Lights that shone like a sea of fireflies emanated from elevated buildings and towers, numbering at least a few thousand, illuminating the night.

On the southern side of Ye Village stood an old, two-story building made of green bamboo and wood.

Bai Ming stood quietly by the window, letting the rain and wind hit his young body. His gaze was clouded as he looked at the village, his heart full of complex emotions.

After a long time, the rain stopped. Bai Ming's eyes refocused as he returned to reality.

He slowly moved toward his bed and lay down, gazing blankly at the ceiling. The room was somewhat dim as the moonlight shone on his pale face.

'It's been 14 years since I arrived in this world,' Bai Ming thought as he sighed softly.

Bai Ming was originally from Earth, a mortal plane. Due to unknown reasons, he was mysteriously reborn in this cultivation world fourteen years ago. Back on Earth, he had lived in the slums with his elder sister, who had raised him until he matured into a man. But then, things happened.

His childhood lasted only until he turned seven, after which he had to witness and experience things that would be considered heinous by a virtuous heart. Bai Ming even had to save himself and his sister by performing some of these acts himself.

Then, one day, Bai Ming seemed to have suffered a heart attack for all his wrongdoings and died. Luckily for him, he was given another chance at life—reborn into a world of cultivators, where he could surpass the limits of the mortal body.

In this life, he had loving parents and a caring grandfather, a wonderful place to grow up. Everything he lacked in his previous life, he was given in this one. The feeling of not belonging slowly vanished as he gradually learned to accept his new identity over the past fourteen years.

He was genuinely happy to have been reborn in a world where one could achieve something far greater than life itself.

But fate was impartial to Bai Ming.

After he turned seven, his mother suffered a fatal injury while fighting against the beast tide. His father, in an attempt to heal her, did everything he could, but his efforts were futile. However, the heavens left him a way out.

As long as he could obtain a 3rd-tier high-grade healing pill, her life could be saved. His father, Bai Feng, requested and begged everyone in his network but still failed.

Determined not to give up, he then requested aid from the upper echelons of the Ye Clan. The clan elders politely refused him, but seeing his persistence, they gave him a seemingly impossible mission. They informed him that if he could complete the task, he would receive the 3rd-tier high-grade healing pill as a reward.

Knowing that his chances of accomplishing the task were slim, Bai Feng still didn't let go of this opportunity. He resolved himself to complete the mission. But without sufficient power, he failed. He lost his life trying.

Shortly after his death, Bai Ming's gravely injured mother also passed away. Now, his grandfather was the one taking care of him.

'Tomorrow is the annual awakening ceremony. Sigh, it would be nice if I could awaken a high-grade spirit root. Medium grade is just average.'

'But there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. At the very least, I have some assurance that I'll awaken a spirit root due to my considerably better bloodline, unlike a few others in the village.'

'Be it on Earth or here, strength is always supreme, and I greatly desire this strength. I refuse to be a weakling like my parents. I refuse to be the one who is toyed with by the heavens.' As these thoughts surfaced in Bai Ming's heart, his crimson eyes revealed a trace of resolution and firmness.

The thirst for unparalleled strength had existed within Bai Ming for a long time. The mindset of the weak always being wrong and the strong always being right was deeply etched into his heart like a cold dagger. These words may sound harsh to some, but the bitter truth always hurts.

If one wanted to live a long life in this dog-eat-dog world, the first and most important quality one needed to possess was selfishness. If you didn't have the heart to be selfish, then simply remember—there are millions, if not billions, of individuals out there who would make your life a living hell just for fun.

'I should rest now. If I wake up late, that old man will lecture me again. But can I really sleep? Ugh, it's definitely going to be a long night.'

---

Xuan Mountain, Ye Village

The following day, the sun had yet to rise.

Bai Ming opened his eyes. He had only slept for four hours due to nervousness and excitement. After all, today was the day that would determine his future.

He slowly got up and opened the window, allowing the fragrance of trees and flowers to greet him. He took a deep breath, washing away the sleepiness.

Looking around, he saw a sea of houses made of green bamboo, blending seamlessly with the lush vegetation of Xuan Mountain.

Bai Ming then fetched a basin of water to wash his face and rinse his mouth. He used some salt to clean his teeth before dressing up for the occasion.

"Brat, are you ready?" At some point, he heard an aged voice calling out to him.

"Yes, Grandfather, I'm coming down," Bai Ming replied in a loud voice. As he spoke, he began moving down the steps.

He went directly to the hall, where he saw a skinny old man gulping down a mouthful of wine. The old man looked unrestrained, yet he emanated the aura of an expert.

The old man saw Bai Ming and placed his cup down before standing up. He moved toward Bai Ming and spoke in a mild tone, "Come, let's go."

Bai Ming nodded in reply, following his grandfather with a cold expression.

After walking for over twenty minutes, they arrived at the center of the village.

The clan pavilion stood in the middle of the village, towering seven stories high. It was a grand structure, heavily guarded. Every generation of clan heads had resided in this pavilion. With every major ceremony or incident, the upper echelons of the clan would gather here to discuss and make decisions.

Over seventy 14-year-old youths were gathered in front of the clan pavilion, with more still arriving.

"Go. Don't be nervous. Being nervous won't help you. And remember, Grandfather will always support you no matter what." Bai Ming's grandfather patted his shoulder in encouragement.

Hearing his grandfather's warm words, Bai Ming bowed before joining the group of youths.

After a short while—

"Good, everyone is on time. Today is the awakening ceremony. It is the biggest turning point of your life. I won't speak much; I'm sure you already understand the importance of this auspicious day. Just come with me."

The one responsible for the awakening ceremony was an elderly man. His beard and hair were white, yet he was in high spirits as he led the young teenagers toward the awakening site.

Bai Ming maintained an expressionless face as he quietly followed the elder, but deep within, thousands of thoughts popped up like bubbles.

'The pursuit has begun and will only end when I reach the peak. This is my only unbreakable rule.' Bai Ming etched these words deep in his heart.