The Great Starry Path.
Since the very dawn of time, this vast world — known simply as the Great Starry Path — has been a realm shaped and ruled by cultivation. Those who dare to rise through it carve their destinies with a mysterious, ancient force that flows through all things, unseen yet omnipresent. Legends have been born and lost here, their names carved in eternity — yet the world itself remains eternal, ever watchful.
In the depths of a gloomy valley, surrounded by skeletal trees with bare, claw-like branches stretching desperately towards the gray, overcast sky, a lone figure stood motionless. Wrapped in a long white robe that fluttered softly in the cold wind, the man bore a golden crown atop his silver hair. His presence was commanding yet enigmatic. He raised a hand slowly, and without warning, the sky above split open like a torn curtain, revealing a wild storm of fractal lightning bolts swirling and intertwining with chaotic energy.
Amid the storm of crackling light, another figure emerged. Youthful in appearance, with sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through the ages, this being radiated a power that betrayed countless millennia lived in silence and shadows. The air grew heavy with unspoken command.
"Great Ancestor," the man whispered, voice trembling with a mix of awe and fear, "the time has come for the Divine Peacock Clan to rise anew. I humbly ask for the honor to carry out this sacred mission."
A silence fell — vast, cold, and unyielding — stretching between them like the stillness before a storm's final strike. Then the deep, authoritative voice of the ancient being broke through the quiet.
"Go," it declared with absolute finality, "and make this clan prosper until I hear its name resound through the Divine Realm."
As suddenly as it began, the storm ceased. The sky mended, folding back into endless gray calm, as if nothing had happened.
Five thousand years later.
The world had changed — and yet, the legacy endured.
Nestled in a majestic valley surrounded by towering mountains whose peaks vanished into the swirling clouds above, thousands of children gathered, arranged in perfect rows and columns. Each child sat cross-legged, their faces a mixture of fear, hope, and determination. Before them stood a great dimensional portal, still sealed — a gate to their unknown future.
Suddenly, the air shifted, crackling with an unseen force, as an old man appeared, hovering above the ground. His once neatly kept robes hung loosely and worn, his hair unkempt and wild, yet an overwhelming aura of power radiated from him like a storm about to break.
"You who have been chosen by the heavens," he began, his voice stern and resonant, "are the future of the Divine Peacock Clan. Your worth will be tested, and only those who prove themselves worthy will be allowed to prosper."
He spoke of a ranking system — each child would be judged and assigned a rank, from the highest to the lowest. This rank would determine their status and future within the clan.
With a flick of his hand, the old man caused the children to levitate, gently lifting them into the air one by one. Before each child appeared a glowing identification token, floating with a soft light. Then, as if the very earth obeyed his will, the ground beneath transformed into a massive flying platform.
Without further explanation, the portal's seal shattered open, revealing a swirling tunnel of colors and energy.
Whispers broke out among the children as the platform ascended.
"Why can this man fly?" a small boy asked in disbelief, his eyes wide with wonder.
"Where are we taking you?" another whispered nervously, clutching her token like a lifeline.
"I'm scared," admitted a third child, voice barely audible.
Amid the chaos, a clear voice cut through — calm, assured, and unwavering.
"Calm yourselves," said a small girl, no older than eleven, her long white hair shimmering like freshly fallen snow. She wore a robe embroidered with a magnificent dragon, her posture regal and unyielding. Her eyes were steady, impassive, radiating a quiet but undeniable strength that seemed almost royal.
Her words settled the restless group. Around her, some children glanced with surprise at the maturity behind such a young face, drawn to her calm and quiet confidence. Throughout the preparations, the flight, and the strange new world they approached, she had never shown the slightest trace of fear or doubt.
From his vantage point above, the old man watched intently. A flicker of surprise crossed his face — it was unusual, almost unheard of, to witness children so composed and resolute when faced with the unknown.
Ten days passed in the boundless void of the spatial tunnel. Finally, the platform slowed and descended.
Before them unfolded a breathtaking panorama — dragons and phoenixes soared through skies painted with the hues of dawn, while floating islands formed the majestic shape of a giant peacock. At the very center stood an enormous palace, its spires piercing the heavens, yet anchored firmly to the earth below.
The children's awe was immediate. Most dropped to their knees, overwhelmed by the sheer majesty and power surrounding them. Yet, in the next instant, a terrible roar echoed across the valley — a reminder of the dangers lurking beyond beauty — and fear snapped back like a tightened wire.
The old man's voice rang out, cutting through the tension: "You will only be recognized as members of the clan once you pass the final selection."
In a blink, the children were teleported into a dense, foreboding forest. Shadows danced between gnarled trees, and hidden beasts watched hungrily from the darkness.
But what shocked the children most was the number of others — over twenty thousand young souls, divided into groups of ten. Yet these groups were far from fair or balanced.
The strongest and most talented were gathered together in certain groups — a cluster of elite prodigies destined to lead. Meanwhile, the weaker, less gifted children were lumped into other groups, left to struggle among themselves. This brutal, calculated division revealed the harsh truth: the Divine Peacock Clan intended to keep only the best, letting the rest fall by the wayside.
In this forest, the true battle for survival began — a silent war where each breath, each step, could mean life or death.
...
Far away, in the very deep of this mysterious forest. Something — or someone — had awakened in the shadows.
And in the eyes of the girl in the dragon robe, no fear stirred. Only a cold, sharp resolve — a blade forged by countless trials yet to come.