The Myriad Immortal World had long awaited the birth of a child who would transcend the boundaries of the known world. The birth of Wu Li, imbued with both the pure Dao energy and the volatile arcane magic, had already begun to shake the fabric of reality itself. Yet it was only during the Rite of Awakening that the true magnitude of Wu Li's potential became undeniable.
What was meant to be a simple rite of passage soon turned into a crisis. The energy within Wu Li surged uncontrollably, and the Dao energy that should have awakened in harmony with his body intertwined violently with arcane magic. The sacred hall trembled as the two powers, one serene and the other chaotic, clashed in a storm of light and shadow. The air itself crackled, the very fabric of existence warping beneath the weight of these forces.
The elders of the Cosmic Dao Sect, unprepared for such a profound awakening, struggled to contain the energies that threatened to tear the room apart. But in the deepest shadows of the Lotus Mountain, an ancient watcher stirred—Archē Telous, the Ancestor of the sect.
The Watcher in the Shadows
Archē Telous, a figure both legendary and mythical, had sworn to remain hidden from the mortal world. He had vowed to only intervene when the Cosmic Dao Sect's very existence was threatened. But today, the forces that had awakened within Wu Li were unlike anything he had ever foreseen. The world had changed, and the ancient factions that had long lain dormant had begun to take notice.
Archē's connection to the Cosmic Dao Sect was ancient, woven into the very stones of Lotus Mountain. He had felt the power surge within Wu Li, a dual force neither of the Dao nor of arcane magic. It was a force of legend, something that had not been seen for millennia. The hidden factions, those ancient lineages of power, had been stirred from their slumber, and soon they would be drawn to the Cosmic Dao Sect, seeking to control or eliminate what they could not understand.
Archē Telous had been prepared to remain silent. But today, his hand was forced.
Archē Telous's Action
Far beneath the sacred hall, Archē Telous's spiritual form rippled into existence, his presence shrouded in the depths of ancient power. He was no longer a mere observer—he was forced into action.
With a mere thought, he recondensed his body, drawing the energies of the Dao and arcane magic together. His physical form, composed of ethereal energy, emerged from the shadows. He was both a legend and a reality—an anomaly whose mere existence bent the very laws of nature.
As the light in the sacred hall began to grow unbearably intense, Archē Telous entered the space, his arrival like the opening of an ancient door, a force that commanded the attention of all who were present.
The elders stood in shock, for they had never seen Archē in the flesh. His power, emanating in waves, filled the room with an aura of cosmic weight. For a moment, the ritual was forgotten—Wu Li's awakening was overshadowed by the arrival of the Ancestor.
"What has transpired here?" Archē Telous's voice rang out, a deep resonance that shook the very air.
Wu Yan, the Sect Master, stepped forward, his expression a mixture of awe and concern. "The child... his powers, they awakened together. The Dao and arcane magic—two forces at once. We were not prepared."
Archē Telous's eyes, ageless and filled with ancient wisdom, turned toward Wu Li, still lying on the altar. His tiny form was surrounded by swirling energies, but the arcane magic had been temporarily sealed—contained by an invisible force. His eyes, though young, held the potential to unravel the very laws of the universe.
"This child... is the key," Archē murmured. "The power within him has drawn the attention of forces older than the sect. I cannot allow this to unfold without consequence."
Before anyone could speak, Archē's spiritual presence expanded. Energy surged from his body, a wave of power that momentarily drowned out all other forces in the room. Wu Li's dual energies began to settle, the chaotic swirl of arcane magic and Dao energy locked away, but not without effort.
With a final gesture, Archē Telous sealed the forces within Wu Li. The arcane magic, so volatile and untamed, was bound, hidden deep within the child's soul. The Dao energy stabilized, flowing steadily once more.
The Warning
Archē Telous, though a guardian, knew the risks of his actions. By revealing himself now, he broke his own oath—to stay hidden, to only intervene when absolutely necessary. But this time, the child's awakening had drawn too much attention. The ancient factions had already taken notice, and there were forces moving in the shadows that would not stop until they controlled or destroyed what they could not understand.
Archē's form grew more solid, taking on a more human appearance, though his eyes still glowed with the radiance of ages. He turned toward the elders, his presence commanding but calm.
"This child is both a gift and a curse. His power is unlike any other." Archē's voice resonated with authority, causing the room to fall into a heavy silence.
The elders, their minds still reeling from the event, barely managed to speak. Zhi Rong, his voice trembling with both fear and respect, asked, "What must we do, Ancestor?"
Archē Telous's eyes lingered on Wu Yan and Ye Xuan, the parents who had watched in awe and fear as their son's fate unfolded before them.
"You must protect him. You must train him to control both the Dao and arcane magic, but not too quickly." Archē's gaze became stern. "He is not yet ready for what is to come. The ancient factions—hidden lineages—will move against him soon. It is only a matter of time before they seek his power."
Wu Yan stepped forward, his voice filled with resolve, yet laced with fear. "He is my son. I will protect him with my life. But how can we fight such powers, Ancestor? We are not ready. The child is not ready."
Archē's expression softened, but his words remained firm. "For now, the Cosmic Dao Sect can bear the strain of what is to come. But the world is watching. Wu Li will be tested in ways no one could predict."
He turned toward the door, his figure slowly dissipating into the shadows once again, his presence still lingering in the sacred hall. "I will seal the threats for now, but you must be prepared. If the balance is disturbed, I will intervene. But it is Wu Li's journey that will determine his fate. Train him well, and do not underestimate the forces that have already begun to stir."
With those words, Archē Telous faded into nothingness, his presence slipping from the mortal plane once more.
Wu Yan's Resolve
As the weight of Archē Telous's warning hung in the air, Wu Yan turned to his wife, Ye Xuan, and then to Wu Li, still lying on the altar, the faint glow of his spiritual seal visible beneath his skin.
"We will train him. We will keep him safe." Wu Yan's voice was filled with a newfound resolve. "The world will come for him, but we will not let him fall. Not while I still breathe."