Ever hear that quote about life being a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot? Said by one of your own.
I find it to be hilariously true and I'm not even from your depressing little world. Apologies if you're offended by the way. But no worries. Once you're done knowing about my world, you'll probably be gloating all the way.
What's about to unfold before you is a vivid and unfiltered account of my whole life. You may come across loads of fun, sparks of curiosity, flashes of thrill, stretches of sorrow, and maybe just a hint of narcissism. Though I'm a little on the fence about that last part, because I'm a humble man through and through. But you know, a word of warning just incase.
And despite my excitement, funnily enough, you might also be bored to death!
Ultimately, I guess what matters most is that I express my thoughts. And so I truthfully confess that I'm being completely honest in whatever it is that I'm sharing with you.
So! Allow me to clear my throat, settle into the mood and begin the telling of my grand tale.
Upbeat energy, folks!
Let me start by introducing myself properly. My name's Ling Ziyang. I used to live in this little place called Longyao Town, in Wanshou Nation.
It's a quiet and peaceful town. The people there are so damn kind that if you ever scammed them out of money, they'd probably give you extra, thinking you were some poor bastard doing it out of desperation. Their kindness almost makes you forget they were once fearsome warriors who fought in the War of Three Skies. Maybe they're just tired of all the bloodshed. Maybe they're atoning for their sins. Who knows, and honestly, who cares? I love them all the same.
I was born into the Ling family, just an ordinary family in town. No siblings, just me, my mother, and father. They gave me everything. A good school, solid physical training, even vacations now and then. I never felt like anything was missing. They loved me, and I loved them back.
If you're waiting for something terrible to happen to them in this 'so far so good' backstory of mine, not really. My parents were super fine and they still are, and so this story isn't much about them. Given how the world is, I'd say I'm pretty damn lucky for having such a smooth sailing family life and I'm honestly grateful for it in that aspect.
My story, the actual story, begins after graduation. I was 22 then, and not to brag, but I passed with flying colors. My circle of friends? Pretty small. I had one best friend, Shen Liangyu. The most powerful Earth Cultivator in all of Tianlan Academy. Okay, maybe the second most powerful. But don't tell him I said that.
Anyway, it was a heavenly day at Tianlan Academy. Bright sunlight, birds chirping, fresh air, the whole works. Liangyu and I were sitting outside Master Juechen's office, waiting. I was calm and quiet, just soaking it in. But Liangyu? He was so wound up you'd think demons were about to leap out of the shadows.
"There he is!" I said.
"Where?! Where is he?!" Liangyu practically jumped.
I just shook my head and grinned.
"Asshole," he muttered. "I'm not jealous, you know."
"Yeah, sure."
"He beat me by ONE point! You think that even matters in a real fight? And besides, the judges were biased. He bought them drinks on his birthday!"
"Like anyone's throwing away credibility for a couple of drinks."
"I'm just saying, man. He's really good at buttering people up."
Right then, a guard arrived and told us Master Juechen was ready. Liangyu looked pleased, probably thinking Jian was late, or maybe not even chosen, for whatever important task we'd been summoned for.
We stepped inside, and there he was. Jian, the Academy's top Earth Cultivator, sitting with pride, smug as hell. Liangyu couldn't handle the humiliation of being called in after him, removed his tiny little blade from his robes and fucking killed himself on the spot.
Haha! Just kidding. Jian wasn't there. But it would've been really funny if he did. Anyway, we bowed, Master Juechen gestured for us to sit, and we did.
"Master Juechen, your humble student sits before you on this blissful morning in honor of your wise presence," Liangyu said.
By the heavens, that guy could kiss ass. Actually, thinking about it, he usually was kissing ass.
"Spare me the flattery, Liangyu," Master Juechen said. "The two of you have been summoned to undertake a task."
A task from Master Juechen, one of the Academy's most respected masters, was no small thing. It meant he was taking you under his wing. No job hunting, no struggling for work after graduation. This was basically on-campus hiring. And so obviously, Liangyu's tail started wiggling rapid.
I was happy too. I mean, out of a class of thirty-five students this year, he picked us. Which meant we were the best of the best.
"What is it, Master Juechen?" I asked.
"After tomorrow's official event, where the two of you will be given badges and officially inducted into my Azure Flame Sect, you will begin your search immediately. The search for the Spirit Devouring Pearl." He held up an orb from his desk. "It looks like this, about a handful in size, except it glows pink. You two will embark on a long, arduous journey to find it."
"Yes, Master!" Liangyu barked.
The dude didn't even hesitate.
I know, I know. I said it was kind of an honour to be bestowed with a task by Master Juechen. But does that mean we blindly follow orders? Ofcourse not! A smart man always asks questions.
"If I may, Master Juechen, why us?" I asked.
Liangyu shot me a look. I could feel his irritation take form. 'Getting selected is rare enough as it is, and this bitch has to question the master's judgement', right?
Like I said, yes. The bitch has to.
"Your skill set, Ziyang," Master Juechen said. "The pearl lies deep in mountains and caves. Liangyu's earth expertise, combined with your sharp mind and fighting skills, make you both the right choice. On top of that, you're best friends. Your teamwork will be highly effective."
"Well, then… why not Jian?" I pressed.
Another look from Liangyu. The irritation was intent to kill now.
"He has already been taken in by another master for a separate task as of now. Which is why I chose the second-best option."
You should've seen Liangyu's face. The wiggling stopped, the eyes blanked and his heart did a swan dive into a pool of despair.
"May I ask the purpose of this task?" I asked.
"To prepare for the fall of… Longwei," Master Juechen replied.
Longwei. The guy who called himself the Ego Venerable. My world is crawling with martial masters. Venerables, if you will. There's a Water Venerable, a Fire Venerable, and to let you know how deep this iceberg goes, there's even a Toenail Clipping Venerable. Yeah, you heard me. Six hundred and fifty disciples under his wing, learning the art of clipping toenails.
Nobody really knows where exactly he came from, or who he is, but I'll tell you what I know. Years ago, apparently there was this dude, Longwei, who got pissed at a few sect masters and went on a killing spree. He was able to kill anyone who opposed him. I mean, anyone. It's like his power didn't have a sane limit. Nobody knows where his power even came from, too.
When questioned about it, he told them he's simply growing his power through sheer will and ego. Masters didn't even think it was possible. To this day they don't. He's definitely hiding something but nobody knows what it exactly is. This shit has been going on for more than eight hundred years believe it or not.
Sure enough, there were a billion attempts to kill him, all failures obviously, and The Spirit Devouring Pearl, was simply the latest. It supposedly can absorb any qi or dark energy he's hoarding and strip him powerless. The Academy had only recently received intel confirming its existence.
Master Juechen explained we weren't the first team sent out. Multiple groups had already been dispatched, scouring every corner for the pearl.
Questions were answered, the task was set and we were ready to take it on. We simply bowed, thanked him, wrapped up the formalities the next day, and got to work.