In the remote mountain village of Ember Hollow lived a boy named Xi Yan. He was sixteen, thin, quiet, and known by everyone as the boy without spirit. In a world ruled by cultivation, where warriors refined their Qi to become legends, Xi Yan had never been able to sense even the smallest trace of energy.

  Every year the village held the Spirit Awakening Ceremony. It was the moment children discovered their cultivation potential.

  Xi Yan stood in line among the other youths. Some whispered.

  “Why does he even bother?”“He failed the last three tests.”

  Xi Yan clenched his fists but said nothing.

  When his turn came, the elder placed a glowing crystal in front of him.

  “Place your hand on the Spirit Stone,” the elder said calmly.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Xi Yan took a deep breath and touched the crystal.

  For a moment… nothing happened.

  The crowd began to laugh.

  But suddenly—

  CRACK!

  The Spirit Stone shattered into glowing fragments.

  A strange voice echoed inside Xi Yan’s mind.

  “Cultivation System Activated.”

  Xi Yan froze.

  A golden panel appeared before his eyes, visible only to him.

  FLAME ASCENSION SYSTEMHost: Xi YanCultivation Level: Mortal – Stage 0Reward for Activation: Primordial Flame Seed

  A burning warmth spread through his chest as energy rushed through meridians that had always been blocked.

  For the first time in his life, Xi Yan could feel Qi flowing through him like a waking dragon.

  First Mission Issued:Absorb 10 strands of Fire Qi within 24 hours.Reward: Beginner Flame Technique.

  Xi Yan looked toward the distant Blazing Mountain and smiled.

  The boy who once had no future had just been chosen by something far beyond this world.