C1 Loong Family

This vast expanse of land is known as the Continent of Creation, so named because legend has it that it was crafted by the Creator himself! The continent is home to four great empires, sixteen kingdoms, thirty duchies, over fifty smaller nations, and numerous independent cities.

The four great empires are the Light Empire in the north, the Divine Dragon Empire in the south, the Warren Empire at the center, and the Radiant Empire in the east. Together, they claim a third of the continent's territory. The Light Empire is notable for housing the headquarters of the Holy Church. There's also a place on this continent that strikes fear into the hearts of those who speak of it—the Devil Beast Forest. Filled with a multitude of demonic beasts, the inhabitants of the continent dare only skirt its edges. Even the most skilled adventurers barely penetrate beyond its outskirts, with no one ever reaching its core. It is rumored to be the site of an epic battle of the gods.

Our tale unfolds on this very continent.

The four great empires are strategically positioned, with various kingdoms, duchies, and cities interspersed among them. Following a devastating conflict over a century ago, a non-aggression pact was forged, ushering in an era of peace and significant development across the land.

The Divine Dragon Empire emerged as a formidable new power from the ashes of the last great war. With the support of four influential families and under the guidance of a sagacious emperor, it transformed from a modest duchy into a mighty empire. Over the past century, under the rule of three generations of enlightened sovereigns, the Divine Dragon Empire has grown in strength, now ranking second among the four great empires.

At this moment, within a stately residence in the capital of the Divine Dragon Empire, a young boy gazes at the moonlit sky, lost in thought. He is Loong Aotian, our protagonist. A member of the esteemed Loong family—one of the four great families of the empire—his name commands respect across the continent. The Loong family is renowned for their lineage of martial generals and holds considerable influence in the empire's military. The current patriarch, Loong Ming, has two sons: Loong Yiming, the esteemed commander of the empire's sixth army, and Loong Kun, a general in the capital's royal army. Loong Yiming has a son, thirteen-year-old Loong Ying, and a daughter, nine-year-old Loong Qian, whom he took under his wing after her father, his comrade-in-arms, fell in battle. Loong Kun has three children, with his eldest son, Loong Yu, and daughter, Loong Ruolan, being eleven and seven years old, respectively. And of course, there's our main character, the eight-year-old Loong Aotian. Despite being part of a prominent family, the Loong family's numbers are modest, especially when compared to the other three great families.

In the Imperial Capital, the name Loong Aotian was well-known. His birth was the result of a drunken liaison between Loong Kun and a maidservant in their household. Typically, such children would not be accepted in a prominent family, but the Loong family struggled with fertility issues. Under the strong insistence of the family patriarch, Loong Aotian was allowed to be born—a stroke of luck for him to even enter this world! Tragically, his mother died in childbirth, and Loong Kun paid little attention to his son thereafter. Without his father's regard, Loong Aotian's standing within the Loong family was minimal. Aside from his grandfather's sporadic concern, he was essentially seen as expendable. Consequently, Loong Aotian's status in the family was far from high.

Growing up under a cloud of disdain, Loong Aotian became accustomed to his solitary role within the family, seldom engaging with others and preferring his own company.

Tomorrow marks his eighth birthday, a significant milestone when he will undergo a baptism and embark on his educational journey. In the World of Creation, martial prowess is held in the highest esteem, with the role of swordsman being a coveted profession. There are eleven ranks for swordsmen: Apprentice, Basic Swordsman, Intermediate Swordsman, High-Level Swordsman, Sword Man, Sword Master, Blade Master, Sword King, Sword Emperor, Sword Saint, and the divine-like Sword God. On the Sword God Continent, there are fewer than fifty Saint Level experts, and the Loong family boasts two of them: Loong Ming and the former patriarch, Loong Wudi. Thus, the Loong family is revered as a Martial Dynasty and seen by the Divine Dragon Empire as their protective deity. A Saint Level swordsman's might is equivalent to that of a 5,000-strong army. Historical records suggest the existence of Divine Level experts beyond level 10, but none have emerged on the continent in over 500 years, largely due to the perilous lightning tribulation faced when advancing from level 10 to 11. Many have perished in this trial. However, it is rumored that Loong Wudi might become the first Divine Level warrior in half a millennium. While the average lifespan on the continent is 120 years, reaching level 10 can extend one's life to 300 years.

Suddenly, a meteor streaked across the sky, hurtling towards him with a long, fiery tail. In the blink of an eye, it was before him, crashing to the ground just meters away, gouging a crater with its formidable impact. Nestled within lay a black object, silent and still. Aotian, shaken from his shock, wiped the sweat from his brow and picked up the mysterious item. It radiated warmth and was slightly hot to the touch. Despite his best efforts, our young hero couldn't discern anything special about this "black stone," yet he felt an inexplicable connection to it, almost as if it were calling to him. Holding the stone, Aotian began to study it intently.

"Aotian, it's getting chilly, time to head back to your room and rest," said a woman in her forties, approaching Aotian and gently touching his head.

"Aunt Maria, okay, I'm going to rest now. Don't worry," Aotian replied, looking up at her.

"Alright then, goodnight!"

"Goodnight." With that, Aotian returned to his room to rest.

Maria watched the boy with a gaze full of care. Since the death of her sister, this poor child had been left without anyone to look after him. His mother, An Lian, had been a servant, and as such, Aotian had never been given much regard from birth. He held no status in the family; only she looked after him. Over the years, she had come to see him as her own son. He was a sensible child, which brought her great comfort. Ever since he was young, he had insisted on doing everything he could by himself, never indulging in tantrums or tears like the other children. Now, all she hoped for was his successful passage through tomorrow's baptism ceremony.

Back in his room, Aotian lay in bed, curiously examining the "stone" he had found, but he couldn't make heads or tails of it. Eventually, he drifted off to sleep, still clutching the "stone."

In the dead of night, the stone began to emit an eerie, demonic glow, pulsing with a blood-red light. It seemed agitated, as if struggling to break free from an unseen bond. But Aotian was fast asleep, oblivious to the bizarre spectacle unfolding beside him.

"Rise and shine, Aotian! Today you're participating in your baptism ceremony—it's a big day, so you need to get up early and start preparing!" Marilyn called out as she entered Aotian's room early in the morning.

"Okay, Aunt Maria, I'll be up in a jiffy!" Aotian replied, quickly getting out of bed and dressing. He tucked the peculiar "stone" into his pocket and began his morning routine.

The Loong family estate buzzed with excitement today, as it was the baptism ceremony for Loong Aotian, the family's third son. Nobility from the capital and from across the nation had sent representatives to attend, and even the royal family made an appearance. Despite Loong Aotian's low status within his own family, the event drew a crowd eager to align with the prestigious Loong family. Another incentive was the prospect of forging marital ties with the Loongs. After all, the Loong family was renowned for its exceptional lineage—none of its members were considered unworthy. With a sparse population, each Loong was a martial arts prodigy, and in a land where martial prowess was paramount, such experts signified high status. Look at Loong Kun and Loong Yiming, who became Level 8 experts before even hitting forty. They were on track to reach Level 9, a feat likely for any Loong, with only a few remaining at Level 8. Thus, despite Aotian's position in the family, his lineage was what truly mattered to the guests.

By noon, the Loong residence was packed with guests from various families, all mingling and conversing.

"Hey, do you think Loong Aotian will possess the same remarkable talent as his brothers?" one aristocrat inquired of his neighbor.

"Seriously? You're asking that? Isn't it obvious? His brothers are hailed as prodigies at Orlando Academy. Even if Aotian's talent doesn't quite match theirs, it won't be far off. They're Loongs, after all—born for the martial arts," another noble confidently added to the conversation.

"Absolutely, whenever the Loong family makes a move, it's guaranteed to be top-notch!" chimed in another voice.

"Indeed, indeed!"

A wave of assent rippled through the crowd.

"Minister Moldo has arrived!"

"Lord Elton has arrived!"

"Lord Hwa has arrived!"

At that moment, a soldier's call echoed at the entrance. The hall's nobility ceased their chatter to greet the arrival of these esteemed lords. These men were the patriarchs of the Moldo, Elton, and Hwa families, respectively. Along with the Loong family, they formed the four most influential families within the Divine Dragon Empire! The Moldo and Hwa families primarily focused on politics, the Elton family managed the Empire's treasury, and the Loong family was a powerhouse in the military. The solidarity of these four families had ushered in an era of flourishing development for the empire.

"Prince Morgan has arrived!" announced the soldiers at the door.

Prince Morgan, the second son of the reigning Emperor Ramano Aum, was a formidable contender for the throne.

At this juncture, Loong Ming, the head of the Loong family, accompanied by his son Loong Yi and Loong Kun, stepped out to welcome the newcomers.

"Ah, Old Loong, today we've all gathered under your roof. Once we're done here, we must indulge in a hearty drink!" exclaimed Moldo.

"Yes, Old Loong, it's been ages since we last shared a drink!" added Hwa Feng and Elton Hiri.

"Of course, no problem at all. It's been too long since I've had a drink with you three. If only the Emperor could join us!"

"Indeed, it's a shame."

"My uncles, my father is preoccupied and unable to join us. Please accept his apologies. Next time, we'll share a proper drink at the palace," Prince Morgan interjected.

"Alright then, let's enjoy ourselves today!" Loong Ming agreed.

As noon approached, Aotian entered the hall, ready to commence his baptism ceremony. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the young member of the Loong family. Dressed in a white coat, his delicate features could easily be mistaken for those of a girl, and his fiery red hair only added to his refined appearance. Yet, the defiant spark in his eyes revealed his rebellious spirit.

"The Loong family's progeny truly excel! Such a commanding presence at such a young age—Aotian's future is bound to be extraordinary!" murmured the onlookers in the hall upon witnessing Aotian's demeanor.

"Maybe not," countered someone. "Aren't you aware that he's not exactly favored within the Loong family? Without their backing, how far can he really go?"

"Indeed, it's too early to tell," another chimed in.

"Now, let's proceed with the baptism ceremony for our young grandson. But first, I have an important announcement: the Loong family is entering into a marriage alliance with the Elton and Hwa families. Our young grandson will be betrothed to Simon Elton, the granddaughter of the Elton family patriarch, and Hwa Ningshuang from the Hwa family!" Loong Ming declared, stepping forward.

The hall erupted in excitement!

"A powerhouse union, indeed!"

"Absolutely, with this, Loong Aotian's prospects are boundless!"

"Do you realize that Simon Elton and Hwa Ningshuang are direct heirs of the Elton and Hwa families, respectively? And I've heard they're quite cherished at home! Loong Aotian is set to soar!"

"Yes, and with this, the Loong family's strength will be further solidified."

The hall buzzed with conversation, everyone engrossed in the significance of the announcement.