I am the Dao Ancestor

Ling Hao's life in the quaint village was idyllic in its simplicity. Days turned into years as he grew into a hardworking and capable young man, loved by his parents and cherished by the tight-knit community. His laughter rang out often, especially when he helped with village festivities or played with the children. Yet, beneath this serene surface, the whispers of something unspoken still lingered in his heart.

By the time he reached his seventeenth spring, Ling Hao had grown strong and dependable, but the nagging sensation of incompleteness persisted. He couldn't place its origin, and he learned to ignore it as best as he could. Life in the village was enough—for him, and for everyone else.

But fate rarely heeds the desires of mortals.

---

The Fateful Night

It was during one of the colder nights of early autumn that calamity descended. The wind howled with unnatural ferocity, and the moon cast an eerie crimson hue across the village. At first, the villagers dismissed the strangeness as an unusual atmospheric event, something harmless.

Then the ground trembled.

A roar—unearthly and bone-chilling—echoed through the stillness, reverberating through the mountains. The air turned heavy, stifling, suffused with a suffocating miasma. Villagers rushed out of their homes in confusion and panic, clutching crude farming tools as makeshift weapons.

Through the darkened treeline, glowing red eyes appeared, gleaming like embers in the void. Dozens of them. Then hundreds.

They emerged: grotesque, twisted forms, shapes that defied logic. The demonic beasts charged with terrifying speed, their claws gleaming under the crimson moonlight. Roaring chaos erupted as the creatures flooded the village, tearing through homes and devouring everything in their path.

Ling Hao's father was the first to grab a weapon—a rusted pitchfork—and he urged his son and wife to flee. "Go! Take your mother and run!" he shouted.

"No! Father, I can fight!" Ling Hao shouted, his voice shaking but determined.

His father looked at him, his face lined with desperation and sorrow. "You cannot fight them! This is not a battle we can win. Protect your mother, Ling Hao. That's all I ask!"

The ground quaked violently, and before Ling Hao could argue, his father shoved him and his mother toward the mountain path leading out of the village.

---

The Massacre

Ling Hao and his mother ran, their breaths coming in ragged gasps as the sounds of screams and death filled the night. The acrid scent of smoke and blood hung in the air. Ling Hao's heart pounded in his chest, not from the exertion but from the sheer helplessness he felt. He wanted to turn back, to help his father and the others, but his mother's tight grip on his arm reminded him of his promise.

Suddenly, a deafening roar shattered the night. A massive demonic beast—a monstrous creature resembling a wolf with jagged, obsidian scales and glowing red eyes—descended in front of them, cutting off their escape.

Ling Hao moved instinctively, shoving his mother behind him as the creature lunged. With no weapon but his bare hands, he dove forward, grabbing a loose branch from the ground and swinging it with all his might. The flimsy branch snapped harmlessly against the beast's scaled hide. The creature batted Ling Hao aside like a ragdoll, sending him crashing into a tree with a sickening thud.

Through the haze of pain, Ling Hao saw the beast pounce toward his mother. He screamed, reaching out weakly, but it was too late. The creature's claws gleamed, and in an instant, she was gone.

The world blurred. Ling Hao's vision dimmed as he felt himself slipping into darkness. His body lay broken, his blood soaking the earth beneath him. The roars of the beasts and the screams of his fellow villagers faded into the background, replaced by an overwhelming silence.

Is this it? Is this where my life ends?

---

A Ray of Light

Just as the cold embrace of death closed in, a serene voice cut through the void, calm yet powerful. "Enough."

A blinding pink light descended upon the village, scattering the demonic beasts like fallen leaves in a storm. The monstrous creatures snarled and writhed, but the light burned them, reducing them to ash.

Through the haze, Ling Hao glimpsed a figure descending gracefully from the sky. She wore flowing robes the color of peach blossoms, her long black hair cascading like a waterfall. Her presence was otherworldly, radiating both beauty and immeasurable power. She was Yue Ling, the master of Peach Blossom Peak of the Azure Sky Sect.

With a wave of her hand, Yue Ling unleashed a torrent of spiritual energy that obliterated the remaining beasts. The village lay in ruins, but the onslaught had ended.

Yue Ling's gaze softened as she noticed Ling Hao, bloodied and broken yet clinging to life. She knelt beside him, her delicate fingers brushing against his forehead.

"Such determination," she murmured, her tone carrying a hint of sadness. "To stand against such odds without fear… You are more than a mere mortal, aren't you?"

Ling Hao's lips moved faintly, but no sound came out. Darkness claimed him.

---

The Path of a Disciple

When Ling Hao awoke, he found himself in an unfamiliar yet serene place. A gentle breeze carried the scent of peach blossoms, and sunlight danced through the intricately carved windows of a bamboo pavilion. The bed beneath him was soft, a stark contrast to the agony he had endured in the village.

Sitting nearby, Yue Ling regarded him with a neutral expression, her peach-colored robes flowing like water and her presence commanding the room.

"You are alive," she said simply, though her words carried a profound weight. "Barely."

Ling Hao sat up slowly, his body aching. Memories of the demonic beast attack flashed through his mind—his parents, the villagers, the blood, and the destruction. His hands clenched into fists, trembling. "My parents… my village... are they…"

"They are gone," Yue Ling answered, her tone steady but not devoid of empathy. "You are the only survivor. I did what I could, but I was too late to save the others."

A flood of grief overwhelmed Ling Hao. Tears rolled down his face as he silently mourned the life and loved ones he had lost. But beneath the pain, something began to stir—a fiery resolve that burned brighter with each passing moment.

Through clenched teeth, Ling Hao finally spoke, his voice shaking but resolute. "Teach me. Make me strong enough to fight. To protect. To stop anyone else from losing what I have lost."

Yue Ling watched him carefully, her sharp eyes glinting with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "The path of cultivation is not one taken lightly. It demands sacrifice, suffering, and unwavering determination. You would dedicate your life to it, knowing it may cost you everything?"

"I will pay the price," Ling Hao said, his gaze firm. "I will do whatever it takes."

For a moment, Yue Ling was silent. Then, to his surprise, she let out a small laugh.

"Very well," she said, rising gracefully. "From this moment forth, you shall be my disciple—the sole disciple of Peach Blossom Peak."

Ling Hao blinked in surprise. "Sole disciple? Why?"

Her expression turned wry, and a glimmer of mischief flickered in her eyes. "Because no one else dares to become my disciple."

---

The Infamous Master of Peach Blossom Peak

As Ling Hao followed Yue Ling through the mountain paths leading to Peach Blossom Peak, she began recounting her history, though with a tone of humor that belied its weight.

"I wasn't always the respected—feared, perhaps—Peak Master of Peach Blossom Peak," she began, gesturing broadly to the lush scenery around them. "When I joined the Azure Sky Sect, there were many who thought I was… unsuitable for the position."

"Why?" Ling Hao asked hesitantly.

Yue Ling grinned, the kind of grin that made you unsure whether to laugh or run. "Because I enjoy life's pleasures, boy. I fight when I want to, drink as much as I please, and have little patience for the rigid rules of orthodox cultivation. I even beat a former Peak Master of this very mountain into submission and took her title for myself."

Ling Hao stared at her in disbelief.

"Oh, don't look so shocked. It wasn't much of a fight—she wasn't as skilled as people made her out to be," Yue Ling said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"The Azure Sky Sect must have been furious..." Ling Hao ventured.

"Of course they were," Yue Ling said, laughing. "The Sect Leader wanted me banished, but he also knew that I was stronger than most of the elders combined. In the end, he grudgingly let me stay but refused to assign disciples to Peach Blossom Peak."

"Why not?"

"Because," Yue Ling said with an exaggerated sigh, "he was afraid I'd 'mislead the younger generation.' Imagine that! Just because I enjoy drinking and the occasional fistfight doesn't mean I can't teach."

Ling Hao wasn't entirely sure what to say to that. His new master was unlike anything he'd ever expected.

---

Becoming the Sole Disciple

When they reached the peak, Ling Hao found himself in a breathtaking place. Towering peach trees lined the paths, their blossoms falling like soft rain. The air hummed with spiritual energy, and in the distance, a grand yet weathered pavilion stood proudly against the mountain's edge.

"Welcome to Peach Blossom Peak, your new home," Yue Ling announced, spreading her arms dramatically. "Beautiful, isn't it? And all yours. You'll be its sole disciple, so make the most of it."

Ling Hao swallowed hard, feeling a mix of awe and apprehension. "Thank you, Master. I'll do my best not to disappoint you."

Yue Ling turned to him, her sharp gaze softening slightly. "You've already lost everything, Ling Hao. Let this be the start of a new life, one where you can take control of your destiny. But I'll warn you now—this path won't be easy. You'll hate me at times, and you'll curse yourself for choosing this. But if you endure, you'll become stronger than you can imagine."

Ling Hao straightened, determination blazing in his eyes. "I'm ready, Master."

Yue Ling smirked and clapped him on the back, nearly knocking him off balance. "Good! Then your training begins at dawn. And don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're the only one here."

Thus, Ling Hao's journey as the sole disciple of Peach Blossom Peak began. Under Yue Ling's unorthodox guidance, he would learn not only the art of cultivation but also the fierce will and tenacity that came with it. And though his master's reputation as a heavy drinker and fighter often puzzled him, Ling Hao would soon discover that there was far more to Yue Ling than met the eye—and that the path she would lead him down might just reshape the fate of the entire Azure Sky Sect.