"Long, long ago, when Heaven and Earth had first been born."
The white-robed middle-aged man sat upon the steps of time. Unhurriedly, he began to speak of the story he wished to tell:
"A tribe was born from the desolate Earth."
"They learned to fly by watching birds, tempered their sinews and bones by training against mountains and rivers, and comprehended divine abilities by observing the sun and moon."
"That tribe continued to grow..."
As his words flowed, Yunxi seemed to see the reflection of space and time—the upper reaches of the river of years, when the first signs of life had appeared in the rolling cosmos.
Within the vast cosmos, that world was like a mote of dust. Yet upon that dust lay a paradise for living beings.
The mountains and rivers were primeval, the land wild and desolate, with countless birds and beasts roaming it and powerful ancient clans flourishing everywhere.
The feeble human race was scattered across the land, prey for all living things. It was an ancient history of struggle. Among the humans, one great sage after another emerged, opening a path for humanity and gradually leading it to strength.
Within one tribe, a group of youths was growing vigorously. They followed their fathers in hunting fierce beasts and learning the arts of combat. Among them, one youth shone with peerless brilliance, becoming the tribe's rising star.
The youth's brilliance aroused the wariness of the other tribes. The tribe was slaughtered, and under the protection of his clansmen, the youth escaped. From then on, he lived a wandering, destitute life.
Fortunately, with a heart blazing with vengeful fury and extraordinary talent, he concealed his identity and studied to completion in a sect somewhere on the land. At last, he returned to the wasteland, exterminated every enemy,