In troubled times, people hold on just to stay alive; when life is easy, they chase after greatness. Across the wide lands of Qingzhou, under the rule of the Great Yu Dynasty at the height of its glory, heroes rose and faded like the tides. Even in an age that looked perfect on the surface, fate continued twisting things in ways no one could predict.
Far in the harsh northwest, one young man once crossed nine thousand miles of dangerous wilderness to slay a terrifying beast, leaving his name carved into history. At Long Lake, a Grandmaster descended from the sky itself and founded a sect that later shaped countless cultivators. And in the imperial capital, a sage lectured day after day, his teachings echoing in the halls of power and molding the very soul of Qingzhou.
Yet away from these grand stories, tucked inside Qingzhou City, something far quieter—and stranger—was taking shape.
Li Hao, originally from another world, opened his eyes inside a brilliantly decorated palace soaked in warm golden light. The place he had arrived in, called the Ephemeral Realm, didn’t match anything he knew from his old life. Before he had time to fully panic, it dawned on him that he had been reborn as a newborn infant named Hao, the young heir of the prestigious Li Family—famous throughout the dynasty for fearsome military achievements as well as the many tragic deaths suffered in their battles.
During the elaborate hundred-day celebration of his birth, nobles, generals, and high officials packed the palace. Even Emperor Yu made an appearance, personally giving the child a meaningful name heavy with expectations. Li Hao—though mentally an adult—could only watch all this unfold through the blurry eyes of a baby. His father, the Marquis of Xingwu, stood tall and stern like a mountain, the sort of man whose presence filled the room. His mother, Ji Qingqing, carried herself with a mix of tenderness and quiet strength. She loved her son deeply, yet fear tugged at her heart; she knew better than anyone what it meant to be born into a family tied to war.
This was a clan that produced heroes… and just as often lost them.
As he grew up inside the Li Family Mansion, Li Hao stumbled upon something strange—an invisible “character panel,” almost like something from a game, that listed his stats, cultivation stage, and various skill paths he could work toward. He was technically still a “Mortal,” but the panel revealed routes like Sword Dao and other powerful martial arts, just waiting for him to unlock them. His unusual talent caught everyone’s notice, causing both admiration and pressure to settle over him long before he understood what he wanted for himself.
To everyone else, he was a prodigy destined to continue the Li Family’s brilliance. But Li Hao felt something entirely different. He could sense the burden of the family’s history, the silent worry hidden in his mother’s gaze, and the distant battlefields where his parents fought against Northern Yan. He knew he had privilege, yes—but he also felt trapped inside expectations he never asked for.
So while the dynasty buzzed with rising heroes, while demons prowled beyond the borders, and while young cultivators sharpened their blades for glory, Li Hao secretly yearned for a peaceful life. He spent his days playing chess, drawing landscapes, fishing quietly, and strumming his zither, hoping to slip away from the constant talk of greatness.
Of course, fate has never been known to care about anyone’s wishes.
Years later—when war drums thundered again, when the Great Yu Dynasty shook under gathering storms—and when Li Hao finally drew his sword, the world itself shuddered.
Smoke shaped like dragons swept across three thousand miles. One swing devastated nine whole provinces. The quiet boy who wanted nothing more than peace stepped beyond the limits of mortal paths.
And under heaven, among all the ways one could walk, he alone followed the road that led beyond.
John KIck
This is an interesting novel to read,