(Pre-reading Note: Any timeline inconsistencies are purely normal; temporal chaos shall not be scrutinized. Aha's fault.)
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At the blinding white light's edge, shadowy silhouettes flickered into view.
"I..."
Anming distinctly heard unfamiliar voices, as if invisible hands reached through the monochromatic void to grasp him.
The world dissolved into searing whiteness.
[Age 1: You were born in an incubation pod aboard the evacuation fleet. An elderly woman with salt-and-pepper hair watches through the glass, her eyes reflecting both sorrow and hope]
Silence reigned in the trembling escape pod. Refugees huddled like frightened animals, their pupils dilated with primal terror.
"The Xianzhou Alliance guarantees shelter and sustenance to all displaced citizens."
"Estimated residual stellaron radiation spread in 7 standard hours. Immediate evacuation required."
The elderly woman retrieved a torn photograph from her inner pocket - a family portrait with smiling parents and a wailing infant.
"Ming... you'll live." Her wrinkled fingers traced the cryostasis pod's surface.
[Age 2: As stellaron disaster survivors, you're relocated to the Yuque Xianzhou. Makeshift shelters lack the warmth of lost homes]
Your toddler wails echoed through paper-thin walls. No amount of crying brought back the parents whose faces you'd forgotten. The old woman distracted you with a handheld drum adorned with crimson tassels.
"When you find your destined one," she'd say, tying the tassels around your wrist, "give them this..."
[Age 3: The old woman carves you a peachwood sword. You practice mock battles in the courtyard, drum-tassels fluttering at your waist]
During your divination ceremony, the young astrologist's face drained of color. His calculating jade discs cracked under the strain of reading your fate.
[Age 4: You develop curiosity about the world, waving at passing diviners - common sight in Yuque where stargazer clans congregate]
While nibbling candied hawthorn at the market, you noticed the man in Daoist robes. His piercing gaze tracked your movements like a hawk.
"Ten Directions Stellar Revelation never lies," the man crouched to your eye level, folding his astrological fan. "What's your name, little one?"
"Anming!" You hid the candy stick behind your back. "Grandma says don't take sweets from strangers!"
The man's laughter echoed through the stalls. "I'm Jingtian, a humble diviner. Care to learn the stars' secrets?"
"Real men become Cloud Knights!" You brandished the wooden sword. "The Xianzhou soars, the Cloud Knights triumph!"
Jingtian's smile softened. "How about becoming my disciple?"
"No! Divining's for girls!"
"Unlimited candied hawthorn."
"Shifu!" You kowtowed with seamless proficiency, knees gliding across cobblestones.
[Age 5: You become Jingtian's second disciple, though the grand diviner remains elusive. A crimson-haired swordsman becomes your real teacher through daily beatings]
Sweat dripped onto the wooden blade's hilt. Your trembling hands refused to grip properly. Under the peach tree, the swordsman flipped military strategy scrolls with disinterest.
"Enough." Yao Guang sheathed his blade with a flick, the movement slicing peach blossoms mid-fall. For a year, you'd never made him shift position.
As the swordmaster vanished, a fragrance sweeter than peach blossoms drifted through the courtyard.
"Have you seen the Grand Diviner?"
The voice came from above. Pink hair cascaded like liquid gemstones as the girl materialized beside the tree, her crystal eyes evaluating you.
[New Character Unlocked]
[Senior Sister: Fu Xuan]
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