The night was still. The forest surrounding the Ye Clan swayed under a gentle wind, and the silver moon cast its glow upon two small figures moving through the trees — Ye Tian and his little sister, Ye Xiuying.
He was ten now. His growth had been extraordinary, his body already refined through nightly cultivation and his mind sharper than most elders. Ye Tian's calm, unwavering eyes glowed faintly under the moonlight — the same cold gleam that had once belonged to a man who lived and died in blood.
Xiuying followed behind, her steps light but uncertain. "Brother Tian," she whispered, clutching his sleeve. "Why do you always train at night? Father says it's dangerous outside after dark."
Ye Tian stopped, his gaze sweeping across the shadowed forest. "Danger is only for those who fear it." His voice was quiet, cold — yet there was a strange reassurance hidden within. "The night hides truths the day never dares reveal. It is honest, unkind, but real."
She tilted her head, confused. "Honest?"
He crouched to her level, brushing her hair aside. "Yes. The weak tremble, the strong hunt, and the moon watches both. It does not lie, Xiuying." His tone softened for a moment. "That's why I prefer the dark."
As he rose, his body emitted a faint hum — the qi inside him resonating. His Night Immortal System pulsed alive as the moonlight intensified.
> [Night Cultivation System Activated]
[Host: Ye Tian | Age: 10]
[Night Immortal Physique – Moonlight Amplification: x10]
[Current Stage: Body Tempering – Layer 3]
A mist of silvery qi surrounded him. The energy slithered like serpents, merging into his body through invisible veins. Each pulse of moonlight sharpened his presence — predatory, ethereal, beautiful, and terrifying.
Xiuying's eyes widened. "Brother… it's glowing again."
"Good. Watch closely," Ye Tian murmured. His hands weaved into complex seals. The shadow beneath him rippled, then took form — a wolf-shaped silhouette with piercing silver eyes. "This is the Shadow Vein Technique. To control darkness, you must first embrace it."
He thrust his palm forward. The wolf lunged across the ground, striking a tree trunk. The explosion shattered bark and sent wooden fragments flying.
Xiuying gasped and clapped. "Brother Tian! That's amazing!"
Ye Tian's lips curved slightly — not into warmth, but a restrained satisfaction. "When you grow stronger, I'll teach you too. But remember, strength without control is chaos. A single mistake… and even shadows will consume you."
Xiuying nodded seriously, her young face determined.
They trained for hours. Ye Tian focused on stabilizing the Shadow Vein Technique while tempering his body under moonlight. Each breath drew the night deeper into his veins, and every movement blurred his presence further until he became one with the darkness.
By midnight, he sat cross-legged, breathing evenly. The forest grew quiet, save for the rhythmic beat of his heart. Then — a faint rustle.
Three figures in dark cloaks approached from the east, their footsteps light but not invisible to Ye Tian's senses. His eyes snapped open — sharp, calculating.
"Fang Clan," he whispered. "Scouts."
The Fang Clan had long been a rival of the Ye Clan, competing for dominance in the southern provinces. Sending spies into Ye territory meant only one thing — they were preparing for something larger.
He gestured silently to Xiuying. "Hide."
She obeyed, slipping behind a fallen log. Ye Tian melted into the shadows, his qi flowing like water.
The first intruder passed near a tree — and froze. A wire gleamed briefly under the moonlight. Ye Tian pulled. The man dropped silently, a dagger pressed to his throat before a sound could escape.
The other two spun around. "Who—"
Darkness swallowed their voices. Two strikes. Two shadows fell.
The forest fell silent again. Only the faint scent of blood lingered.
Xiuying peeked from behind the log, eyes wide with both awe and fear. "Brother… are they dead?"
Ye Tian wiped his blade clean on the grass. "Yes." His tone was calm — not proud, not regretful. "They shouldn't have come here. Remember this, Xiuying — mercy is a luxury for those who live in daylight. We don't."
She trembled but nodded. "You're… scary sometimes, Brother."
He turned to her, his gaze softening. "And yet, you followed me into the dark. That means you're brave."
Her face brightened slightly. "Then… I'll keep following you!"
For the first time that night, he smiled faintly. "Good."
As dawn neared, the siblings returned to the clan grounds. Ye Tian's clothes were torn and dirt-stained, his body bruised but stronger. When he stepped inside his courtyard, the Night Immortal System flared again.
> [Moonlight Assimilation Complete]
[Body Tempering Stage: Layer 4]
[Hidden Skill Unlocked: Shadow Step]
A ghostly afterimage lingered behind him as he walked — the sign of his growing mastery.
Ye Tian gazed at his hands. "The system… it's responding faster. My limits are still too low. I need a new path — something that will push my cultivation beyond the Ye Clan's methods."
That night's incident spread quietly across the clan. Though no one could prove it, whispers spoke of a mysterious boy who hunted intruders in the dark.
But Ye Tian ignored the attention. His mind was already elsewhere — on power, survival, and the faint pull of destiny that whispered from the moon itself.
Later, when Xiuying brought him tea, she found him sitting alone in the courtyard, bathed in silver light. His eyes were closed, and his voice was quiet — more to himself than to her.
"The world is built on daylight lies. But I… I was born for the night."
And in the distance, far beyond the mountains, a faint storm began to gather — the first ripple of chaos that would change everything.