Volume Five: Ancient Legends Chapter Forty-Six: The Reemergence of Destiny

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Chen Chen was fairly diligent in his life within the Qingfeng Tribe village. The adults often organized the children to follow along for physical training. To survive in the Qingfeng Tribe, one needed to understand the rules of the land, recognize their natural enemies, and persistently strengthen their bodies. Only with increased physical strength could one hope to overpower those massive monstrous beasts. It was not wise to fear enemies that were too small; such prey were underdeveloped and, even if defeated, would not provide enough sustenance for several meals. If one ended up skin and bones or starved to death on the path of survival, it would be another tragic tale—another sorrowful story of being buried far from home.

Gradually, the people of the Qingfeng Tribe developed this mode of survival. Every morning, the village’s boys and girls were gathered for vigorous physical training, which had to be completed before they could be dismissed to work in the fields. At noon, there was a brief respite, followed by afternoon labor to gather resources for clothing, food, and shelter. Evening brought another session of exercise. There was no room for laxity or absence; this had become a daily habit. They strove to survive so that when hunger struck and they faced mightier monstrous foes, they could fight with all their strength for survival—and perhaps emerge victorious. Only then could they turn their foes into meals, laid out on the table to be enjoyed.

Chen Chen understood that hunger was an unchanging reality. Beyond diligently cultivating crops, if one desired meat, wealth, and a life envied by others, sometimes it was necessary to outmatch beasts older and larger than oneself. This was an inevitable challenge for survival. It is said that riches are sought in peril, and Chen Chen had prepared himself for the day when he would have to fight for his survival with unyielding determination.

On this morning’s training, Chen Chen stood in the front row, listening to the elder’s instructions. “Listen carefully. From today onward, each of you must intensify your training. The exercises remain the same, but the difficulty will increase. Previously, sloppy push-ups were unacceptable. Don’t think that resting both legs on the ground and barely moving your upper body and arms twice will pass muster. Such carelessness will no longer be tolerated.” The elder’s face was stern, as if foreseeing the day when these so-called boys and girls would each face their own life-and-death battles and confront survival crises.

“Sir, what counts as a proper push-up?” a soft, childish voice asked from within the ranks. The elder looked directly at the questioner—a girl no older than ten. “Good question! Listen well. When doing push-ups, you must support your entire body, keeping your hips in a straight line with the rest of your body. Only then can it be considered a qualified push-up. Understand?” The instructor’s eyes flashed with a fierce resolve, as though sensing some vile force lurking among the crowd, intent on harming lives.

“Understood!” the trainees responded in unison.

Suddenly, the elder felt a sharp dryness in his throat, a trickle of blood pooling in his mouth. He quickly wiped the blood from his lips with a white cloth, concealing his injury. Not long ago, he had fought a monstrous beast that invaded the village to protect the villagers, sustaining internal injuries. Now, the old wound flared up, triggered by the intense conversation. Fortunately, the moment had passed, and facing the restless beasts, the elder was prepared to push forward with renewed efforts. Only by nurturing this new generation could the tribe hope to endure and thrive on the road ahead.

During today’s morning exercise, the students trained harder than ever. The threats to survival were everywhere; preparing early was not enough—it was essential to be truly ready. That morning, many of the students trained vigorously—not just to cope, but for genuine health and strength. The challenges of survival lay on the path ahead; only with sufficient ability to endure could one continue the journey.

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After morning exercises, Chen Chen and the others were drenched in sweat, breathing deeply the fresh air. The exhilaration from the workout seemed to break some physical shackles, making their bodies healthier and their abilities stronger. After dismissing the group, the elder contemplated teaching them more exercises in the evening—not merely to strengthen the body or to stretch limbs, but because the pressure of survival was ever-present. Falling behind could mean death.

The harsh reality of the world showed no mercy; it was not subject to personal schemes or desires. Those who failed to understand survival would repeatedly suffer defeat, becoming pitiful creatures begging for protection from the strong or abandoned by them. That evening, the elder announced that those who excelled in training would soon be sent to the Immortal Mountain to cultivate and become protectors of the realm. Becoming a guardian of living beings was not a task for just anyone; that mountain was exalted, and only those capable of someday sitting atop it could claim such a role. The gods received the offerings of the people, and these traditions endured; no one dared cause trouble in the mortal world.

The story advanced once more as the elder provided Chen Chen and the others with new training methods. That night, while at home, Chen Chen heard the howling of monsters outside the village. Such sounds had echoed through the Qingfeng Tribe before. In every civilization, creatures fought for survival in their own way.

After that, Chen Chen’s story drifted further away. Wherever life took him, surviving was his constant. The ten-year siege of monstrous beasts was imminent, and only by striving to survive and strengthening himself could there remain even a glimmer of hope.

That year, the Immortal Mountain of the Qingfeng Tribe began recruiting students. Chen Chen was among the few gifted elites. With the endorsement of many, he was fortunate to enter the mountain’s gates. He was not born an immortal seed but happened to be reincarnated in the mortal world. Not born a human seed, he needed to work hard to enter the immortal sect. The sect was the gateway to the ranks of the strongest. Only the powerful could comprehend the world’s true nature and control their own fate—or that of others.

Life was not filled with effortless gains or mere survival by chance. Chen Chen sought to survive in the mortal realm. Being born among humans meant dealing with mortal affairs. His survival depended on his own efforts. Now, another stage, resembling fate, was approaching. Dark forces sought to seize his body and claim all that he had, leaving him a lonely wandering spirit as another war ignited.

In an instant, Chen Chen awakened. No matter how vile or dangerous the world might be, he must survive with stubborn resolve. Life’s journey was long and distant; without the mindset of a strong person, fate would be dictated by others—that would be true trouble and failure. Chen Chen’s life continued. Though there were ways to seek fortune and avoid misfortune, survival was not achieved by retreat. He reaffirmed his determination to live. Fate’s blows had nearly destroyed this life several times.

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Through the cycles of life, even when he had been nothing but a book spirit—a spirit bound to a corporeal form—he was still a living being. As a book spirit, he was similar to the souls of the dead, yet in this life, each had their own way of living on.

The course of life does not grant every wish in a single lifetime. Some beings die with unfulfilled desires, and in their next incarnation, they are born anew. No matter how fortunate or diligent they are, they cannot fulfill all their past-life wishes. This is an inevitable truth of life.

The laws of heaven and humanity forbid completeness and fullness. These taboos remain in people’s hearts to this day. Once broken, both heaven and man decline. Every being in each life has limits. Being born human means temporarily forsaking the aspiration of having wings. Once a person transforms into something else, like a bird-person, they are no longer the original pure life or genetic entity.

Whether divine or mortal, to continue existing, these two extremes must be avoided.

Chen Chen was no longer content with his current life. He wished to change bodies, to become someone else—enjoying a better life and becoming stronger. To become another person, to have their insights and peace.

Yet, Chen Chen’s current wishes were not the most important thing. Only those near death lament unfulfilled wishes. More importantly, Heaven had given him a body in this life, and with it, he must strive to survive. There were no infinite wishes to satisfy anyone.

Everyone sought to survive in this world, but no one could claim too much of life’s share.

In his previous life, Chen Chen had not even possessed a physical form—he was only a book spirit. He envied those with bodies. Now, in this life, he had a body that conformed to the laws of reincarnation across the Three Realms and Six Paths. He could not choose another’s body to inhabit or be reborn in. Even celestial officials who dared such acts would suffer calamities, dragging others down with them.

This was the solemnity of the Six Paths of Reincarnation. To stray from the path, to rebel or deviate, was to forsake survival itself.

Those who lose the way live in scarcity; those without the way perish.

No matter how much Chen Chen feared his current life or wished to be reborn as someone else, such thoughts were mere evil desires. Walking the righteous path rarely led far; at best, one lived a harsh life akin to hell. No matter how enviable other beings might seem, holding fast to one’s present life and seeing clearly what remains before you—that is your life, your reason for living.

Excessive indulgence and fleeting pleasures ultimately mean missing the present fate, missing the present life.

Chen Chen shook his head to dispel these evil thoughts—the ever-present shadow and adversary on his path of cultivation.