"The Ugly Sovereign: Ascending Beyond Mortal Scorn"

The Game of Hide-and-Seek

One sunny afternoon, Luo Feng watched from behind a tree as clan children played hide-and-seek in the courtyard. Their laughter echoed like music. He clutched the black jade amulet in his pocket, gathering courage.

A Brave Step:

He stepped forward, his voice trembling. "C-Can I play?"

The Reaction:

The children froze. A girl screamed, "Monster!"

A boy threw a rock, hitting Luo Feng's shoulder. "Go away! You'll curse us!"

Yan Mo, leaning against a wall, smirked. "Hide him somewhere… funny."

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The Shed of Rats

Two older boys grabbed Luo Feng's arms, dragging him to a rotting wooden shed used to store broken tools. The stench of mold and rust made him gag.

Locked In:

They shoved him inside and barred the door. "Stay with your rat friends!"

The shed was pitch-black. Luo Feng stumbled, cutting his knee on a rusty plow.

The Rats:

Dozens of red-eyed rats scurried over his legs, biting his torn pants.

He curled into a ball, sobbing. "Granny… help…"

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The Amulet's Light

As hours passed, the shed grew colder. Luo Feng's tears soaked the amulet, making it glow faintly. Symbols lit up—the golden serpent and bleeding star.

The Vision:

A warm voice hissed in his mind: "Endure… grow stronger…"

The serpent's golden eyes appeared in the darkness, calming the rats. They retreated, leaving him alone.

First Cultivation:

Unknowingly, Luo Feng's fear and the amulet's energy merged. A tiny spark of Qi formed in his belly, warming him like a candle flame.

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Granny Wen's Rescue

At dusk, Granny Wen heard weak knocks from the shed. She pried the door open with a shovel, her hands bleeding from the effort.

Aftermath:

Luo Feng's robes were torn, his legs covered in rat bites.

Granny Wen carried him home, whispering, "Oh, my poor child…"

Healing:

She washed his wounds with bitter herb water. "The world is cruel, but you… you must be kinder than it."

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Yan Mo's Mockery

The next morning, Yan Mo "accidentally" spilled dirty water on Luo Feng's path. "How were the rats, monster? Better company than dogs?"

Luo Feng's Silence:

He stared at the ground, clutching the amulet. The serpent's voice echoed: "Endure…"

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Foreshadowing

That night, Luo Feng dreamed of the golden serpent coiling around the shed. "Strength… comes… slowly," it hissed. A tiny rat with golden eyes watched from the shadows.