1 Chapter 1: Beginning

Since the emergence of dark spirits, the world has altered dramatically. These spirits have polluted the soil and created new monsters that are beginning to spread across the entire world.

The domain of monsters is expanding, and the 5 Kingdoms have never been in such peril. However, there has been a human society that has been fighting against this threat since its inception.

Cultivators have been the primary danger to monsters spawned by dark spirits for generations. These individuals have supernatural abilities that exceed human capabilities. Qi flow is what they employ to give them such extraordinary abilities.

Qi flow is not something that anybody can intentionally control. Only the selected ones can manipulate and sense Qi, and this happens at an early age. As a result, many individuals who control Qi join Cultivation sects to obtain better control of their Qi and become famous for their talent and strength.

Ryu is a young black-haired boy with brown eyes of 10 years that lives in Peyredragon, one of the 5 Kingdoms throughout the land. At only a few months, his mother and father were killed by the Valisk, one of the strongest creatures created by the dark spirits.

However, Ryu miraculously was able to survive, and his grandparents were the ones to save him and raised him like their own child. For the past 10 years, however, they kept secret what had happened to his parents and intended to tell him once he would be mature enough.

"A cup of tea please!"

Ryu and his Grandfather had served another of the numerous customers who had come to the Grand Ceremony today. The towering glazing lights lighting the sky at the night created a superb party atmosphere for this important event.

"Hey pops, you never told me what this great ceremony was about anyways..." Ryu asked intriguingly.

"It commemorates the day the Valkyrie protected the valley of the spirits and fought against the dark spirits and titans,"

"Didn't he fail to protect the valley?"

"Yes, he did," Ryu's grandpa answered, "however, his brave actions proved he was stronger than any spirits, and for that reason, he is considered the strongest of all,"

Abruptly, the sound of trumpets interrupted Ryu's discussion with his grandfather. It seemed that the ceremony was going to be interrupted by the arrival of important figures.

"Please make way, the higher-ups of the Uzui cultivation have arrived," one of the guards shouted out forcing people to form a straight passageway.

Through this passage, four elders, all clothed in yellow gowns and jewelry around their necks walked slowly and nobly. Ryu managed to squeeze himself into the front line thanks to his small size.

From where he was, he saw the noblemen walking through a lane that led to the royal castle where the Ruler Edamura Takenao lived with his royal family. Ryu watched them while they were getting closer to him and the palace.

"Why do these old folks have such a standing ovation, they're just dead people still alive anyways," Ryu said staring intensely at one of them.

All the town folks gave the higher-ups standing ovations as they walked straight up the path. Ryu still didn't know who these people were, but he understood that they had a big reputation to be given such an ovation by thousands of people

The higher-ups entered the palace, and the ceremony had once again restarted.

"Ryu, it's time to go home now!" Grandfather shouted out, "hurry up, granny is surely done with dinner by now!"

Ryu and his Grandparents were not the richest and lived on a farm situated in the Kanayo District.

The 5 Kingdoms are very vast, and this is why it is separated into different towns, and these towns are separated into districts. This way, it would be easier to identify a location in any part of the Kingdom.

Ryu and his Gramps were walking home along a path with no light whatsoever. The road was empty because everyone was at the ceremony at the moment. Gramps was pushing the small movable shop. Ryu was walking right behind him still wondering what the higher-ups had that was so special to everyone.

"Gramps, I got a question... who were those old geezers and why are they so respected by everyone?" Ryu asked curiously.

"They're very powerful cultivators from what is known as the best cultivation sect,"

"Seriously! these geezers are cultivators!? How on earth are old men considered the most powerful!?"

"Old people are the most powerful you know because it takes a lot of time to control QI to perfection, this means the longer you live the better you will be able to control qi,"

Ryu seemed surprised by what his grandfather had said. Despite his age, he was old enough to understand that a young and strong man would beat an old and wrinkled man. However, in the world of cultivation, all the disadvantages of being old and tired are completely canceled by qi.

"There are still many things you ignore about this world Ryu, and the more you grow up, the more you will realize that not everything is party and fo~"

Gramps was cut short when he looked in front and saw a person lying on the ground motionless. Gramps stopped so suddenly that Ryu who was right behind him bumped right into him and fell on his bum.

"Hey Gramps, what's gotten into you!" Ryu said as he was standing back up, "what are you~"

Ryu's expression was as pale as his Grandfather's when he saw the person face down on the ground without moving.

Gramps immediately ran to the person to check on his condition. He kneeled right next to the person and realized that individual was just a little girl around Ryu's age. She had golden hair, and her skin was as shiny as glass exposed to the sun.

"It's a little girl..." Ryu mumbled in shock, "is she what I think she is?"

His Gramps immediately checked her pulse to realize that she was still alive but just unconscious with a bruise on her left arm.

"Thank goodness she is only unconscious, but we must bring her home immediately..." Gramps exclaimed as he lifted her up and placed her on his back.

'There is something weird about her,' Ryu thought intensely, 'the aura she releases is somehow divine...'