Prologue
High atop the mountain, the clouds hovered, painting the landscape with a misty veil. Nestled beside an ancient welcoming pine, sat an old man, white-haired and bearded, upright and serene.
A child with long hair sat at his side, gently fanning the stove fire with a small fan. The air was filled with the aroma of tea, a sweet and inviting scent that seemed to wash away all worries.
After a moment, the child presented a steaming bowl of tea, its fragrance wafting through the air. The old man took a slow sip, his eyes closing in appreciation. “Xi’er, your skills in tea-making have truly flourished,” he smiled.
The child beamed. “Grandpa, remember our deal? If I brew the tea well, you’ll continue the story from yesterday.”
The old man nodded, his gaze lost in the distance as he pondered. “And who would you like to hear about this time?” he asked, his voice soft yet carrying an air of mystery.
The child frowned in concentration, counting on his fingers. “Grandpa, who’s the most powerful sorcerer in all your tales?” he finally inquired, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
The old man opened his eyes, revealing a depth of wisdom that seemed to span the ages. “There is no such thing as the most powerful. Only stronger and stronger still. For there are always those beyond, and heavens beyond heavens.”
The child’s eyes widened, a look of pure amazement on his face. “Well, Grandpa, do you think it’s better to be an immortal or a demon?” he asked, his voice filled with wonder.
The old man took another slow sip of tea, his voice calm yet filled with gravity. “Whether one becomes an immortal or a demon, it depends solely on the heart. All laws converge, and all paths lead to the same truth. In the end, the result is the same, regardless of the chosen path.”
The child blinked, a look of confusion crossing his face. “But, Grandpa, who do you think is stronger? The Demon Emperor Chi Wu, the Heavenly Ruler Gongsun, or even the Emperor of the Underworld Yi Huang?” he asked, his voice filled with curiosity and a hint of excitement.
The old man inhaled deeply, his face etched with a profound expression as he seemed to peer into the abyss of memory. After a long moment of silence, he began to speak, his voice low and filled with an ancient wisdom. “You know, child, whether it’s the Demon Emperor Chi Wu, the Heavenly Ruler Gongsun, or the Emperor of the Underworld Yi Huang—despite their might and fame that echo throughout the realms, they all share a secret that binds them together.”
The child’s eyes widened in fascination. “A secret, Grandpa? What is it?” he asked, his voice filled with eager anticipation.
The old man smiled and gestured for the child to pour him a fresh cup of tea from the small red-clay stove. As the steaming liquid filled the cup, he watched the green tea leaves dance gracefully, spinning in a miniature vortex. It was as if he could see the tapestry of fate unwinding before him.
“Well,” he began, his voice soft and filled with nostalgia, “despite their grandeur and power that dominates the mortal and immortal worlds, these three figures were once mere mortals, connected in a way that few could fathom.”
The child’s curiosity was piqued. “Connected how, Grandpa?” he asked, unable to contain his excitement.
The old man chuckled. “Oh, they were all just ordinary folk from the human realm—a struggling scholar, a humble woodsman, and even Yi Huang himself was once a simple vegetable vendor. It just goes to show that fate is a capricious mistress indeed.”
He paused, allowing the child to digest this revelation. “But what’s truly astonishing is that these three mortals found themselves in the Underworld at the same time, in the same place. From there, their fates diverged, leading them to their respective destinies. Who could have guessed that such humble beginnings would give birth to three of the most powerful emperors in all of creation?”
The child was hooked. “So what happened next, Grandpa?” he asked breathlessly.
The old man took a slow sip of his tea, savoring its rich flavor before answering. “Ah, child, that’s where the tale really takes off—at the fateful crossing of the Naihe Bridge. It was there that their destinies collided, igniting a chain of events that would forever change the course of history.”
