Chapter 3

In the celestial realms, a divine decree from the Jade Emperor sent Jin Long spiraling through a chaotic vortex. The young celestial dragon, an infant with an immense destiny, was thrust from the luminous, orderly heavens into the turbulent, unknown expanse. He fell like a shooting star, a speck of brilliant gold against the mortal world's boundless blue sky.

Far below, amidst a secluded mountain range veiled in mist, a reclusive immortal felt a profound tremor in the fabric of reality. He was the patriarch of a family that had long ago escaped a celestial realm much like the Heavenly Palaces. His home was a place of quiet cultivation and deep knowledge, a refuge hidden from both mortal and divine eyes. This immortal, known only as Elder Li to his family, gazed skyward, his ancient eyes piercing the veil of illusion that separated his home from the world outside. A golden streak, a falling star that burned brighter than any he had ever seen, caught his attention. He knew at once that this was no ordinary phenomenon; it was a cosmic disturbance, an event of immense significance.

Using his powerful cultivation, he transported himself to the source of the disturbance. There, in a desolate, rocky expanse, he found a crater still smoldering with celestial energy. At its center lay a small, helpless infant, miraculously unharmed. The baby’s skin shimmered with a faint golden light, and around his neck was a simple, elegant necklace. As Elder Li carefully lifted the child, he saw that the necklace was engraved with the name "Jin Long". A knowing smile touched his lips; the heavens had delivered a child of immense power and a destiny tied to his own.

He brought the child back to his hidden village, where his family, an assembly of talented cultivators and wise scholars, greeted him with reverence. They saw the golden light and felt the powerful aura of the child. When Elder Li revealed the name on the necklace, they took it as a sign. They decided to raise the boy as their own, bestowing upon him the name Jin Long. This was not merely an act of kindness; it was an act of faith. They saw in him a chance to pass on their accumulated knowledge and secret cultivation techniques, a legacy that had been preserved for generations.

As the years passed, Jin Long grew. The family, with their ancient wisdom and gentle guidance, nurtured him with care. The boy was a prodigy, absorbing every lesson with remarkable speed. Their hidden sanctuary was a breathtaking spectacle: towering peaks, their summits perpetually wreathed in clouds, cradled valleys where crystalline rivers cascaded over moss-covered stones, their waters singing ancient melodies as they flowed towards tranquil, emerald pools. The family's residence, though not a true palace, was an architectural marvel, carved into the mountainside with sweeping, elegant roofs that blended seamlessly with the natural contours, its courtyards blooming with rare spirit flowers.

His days were filled with the warmth of a loving family, the rigor of a secluded education, and the dawning realization that he was no ordinary child. He learned to walk among the flowers of their hidden garden, his small feet leaving no trace on the dewy petals. He listened intently as Elder Li spoke of the constellations and the flow of qi. By the time he reached the age of five, Jin Long had already begun to show signs of his innate power, an echo of the celestial being he once was.

One crisp morning, while practicing his movement techniques near a particularly ancient waterfall, Jin Long noticed a faint, shimmering distortion in the rock face behind the roaring water. Driven by a child's innate curiosity and a burgeoning sense of his own power, he cautiously pushed through the veil of mist and illusion. He found himself in a vast, echoing cavern, its walls glittering with veins of luminous jade and strange, phosphorescent fungi. The air was thick with the scent of earth and something else—a potent, invigorating aroma.

Lanterns, seemingly lit by an unseen force, illuminated the cavern's depths, revealing a labyrinth of tunnels leading to hidden grottoes. Here, rare spirit herbs of every conceivable color and shape grew in abundance, their leaves glowing softly, their roots drawing nourishment from veins of pure spiritual energy. Some pulsed with a gentle light, others hummed with a low vibration, each a treasure beyond mortal comprehension. But the cavern was not entirely peaceful. Jin Long could feel a subtle, unsettling presence. Deep within the shadows, he glimpsed hulking, shadowy forms with eyes like embers, the faint glint of scales, and the low growl of unseen beasts. These were the ancient guardians, lesser demons and monstrous creatures drawn to the cavern's potent energy, their forms twisted and empowered by centuries of exposure to the spirit herbs. They were not yet a direct threat to the young dragon, but their presence served as a stark reminder that even in this sanctuary, the world held dangers, and his path would eventually lead him to confront such darkness. Jin Long, though young, felt a thrill of challenge, a resonance with the raw power that pulsed around him, knowing these hidden depths would one day be his training ground.

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