novelzi Chapter Five: The Path Beyond the Forbidden
Chapter Five: The Path Beyond the Forbidden
The years passed like fleeting shadows, and Long Tian grew under the care and guidance of Feng Huang and Long Xue. By the time he reached his tenth year, he had already developed an unparalleled connection with the spiritual energy of the Forbidden Forest. His body brimmed with the combined essence of dragon and phoenix, making his foundation nearly unshakable.
Despite his isolation from the outside world, Long Tian understood the principles of cultivation deeply. His mothers had often spoken of the realms beyond his own, yet he had never encountered another human. To him, the concept of humanity was abstract—something his mothers occasionally mentioned but never explained in detail.
One evening, as Long Tian sat cross-legged atop the highest branch of an ancient tree, Feng Huang landed beside him. Her golden-red robes fluttered in the breeze, and her amber eyes held a rare solemnity.
“Tian’er,” she began gently, “there is something we must discuss.”@@@@
Long Tian tilted his head, his gaze as clear as a newborn’s. “Yes, Mother Feng?”
“I understand,” he finally said, though the words felt foreign on his tongue.
Feng Huang and Long Xue exchanged a look before nodding. They had raised him well, protected him, and given him the knowledge he needed to survive in the forest. But soon, the forest would no longer be enough.
The following years were filled with even harsher training. Long Tian wrestled with spirit beasts, learned how to channel his energy with precision, and studied combat under the watchful eyes of his two mothers. Feng Huang trained him in speed, agility, and flame mastery, while Long Xue drilled him in resilience, strategy, and the art of survival.
Despite their rigorous training, the two never spoke of the outside world again. They wanted Long Tian to remain innocent for as long as possible. And so, he continued to see them as his world, unaware that one day, his perspective would change forever.
At the age of sixteen, the winds of fate would finally shift, and Long Tian would take his first step beyond the Forbidden Forest.