Xuanyuan Chronicles

In this world, there are 8 races that coexist / help each other / kill each other, including:

• The Human Race, which controls several territories in the central continent and established an empire called the Elyzra Empire.

• The Beastkin Race, which controls several territories in the demon volcano regions and established an empire called the Vulkarra Empire.

• The Elfira Race, which controls several territories in the eternal forest and established an empire called the Sylvaran Empire.

• The Drakonid Race, which controls several territories in the eternal thunder regions and established an empire called the Thundrael Empire.

• The Aetherian Race, which controls several territories in the dimensional plains and established an empire called the Nexoria Empire.

• The Netherborn Race, which controls several territories in the death plains and established an empire called the Thanmire Empire.

• The Ignar Race, which controls several territories in the demon volcano regions and established an empire called the Ignarus Empire.

• The Voidian Race, which controls several territories in the void and established an empire called the Nihilzar Empire.

All living beings born into this world are born with a ring crystal within their bodies as the source of their life (soul), and each living being in this world is also born with an innate special ability. Living beings who start the path of cultivation and become mages will be introduced to the 12 slots already present in their bodies, but none will be unlocked before the age of 20.

In addition to the 12 slots as the cultivation system, there is also what is called spiritual stamina, which is a kind of energy possessed by all living beings, and even the slightest movement will deplete spiritual stamina. However, to replenish it is quite simple: just by meditating or resting from activity.

If spiritual stamina is used up during an activity or battle, the consequence is that the person will become weak and then faint. But if one insists on continuing activity/fighting when their spiritual stamina is exhausted, the consequence is damage to the roots of their 12 slots, and even instant death.

Speaking of the 12 slots, anyone who manages to open one slot must insert an item called a ring crystal to increase their stats and gain new magic abilities.

The origin of ring crystals comes from the death of any living being, using a drop system. The strength level of the drop depends on the innate special ability of the creature killed and the luck of the one who killed it. The ring crystal ranks are as follows:

• Colored ring crystal (White > 40%)

• Colored ring crystal (Green > 30%)

• Colored ring crystal (Blue > 15%)

• Colored ring crystal (Purple > 8%)

• Colored ring crystal (Red > 5%)

• Colored ring crystal (Gold > 1.5%)

• Colored ring crystal (Black > 0.4%)

• Colored ring crystal (Multi > 0.09%)

• Colored ring crystal (Gray > 0.01%)

However, in this world, to break through to the next slot and open it requires the following cultivation time:

• Slot 1 > 1–5 years of cultivation

• Slot 2 > 1–7 years of cultivation

• Slot 3 > 1–10 years of cultivation

• Slot 4 > 1–14 years of cultivation

• Slot 5 > 1–30 years of cultivation

• Slot 6 > 1–25 years of cultivation

• Slot 7 > 1–35 years of cultivation

• Slot 8 > 1–40 years of cultivation

• Slot 9 > 1–100+ years of cultivation

• Slot 10 > 1–1000+ years of cultivation

• Slot 11 > 1–100,000+ years of cultivation

• Slot 12 > 1–1,000,000+ years of cultivation

Besides requiring cultivation time as a condition, to advance to the next slot and open it, one must pass a test before unlocking each slot (so the cultivation time is just the requirement to unlock the slot test gate).

If one fails to face the slot test, the slot will be closed/damaged (70%) and lead to disability/death (30%). The difficulty of the slot test is determined by each being's innate special ability, but each higher slot will always have a more difficult test.

Cultivation time is just the requirement to open the slot test, but what if the cultivation time is sufficient, yet the slot test still does not open/shows no signs at all? Then the being will experience what is called a "stuck" state and reach the limit of their lifespan, and if the test still hasn't opened when their lifespan ends, then death will come to them.

It is known that each living being has an innate special ability, but this ability cannot be used before the being reaches the 5th slot level — in short, the special ability can only be used when the being is at slot level 5.

A few days later after the birth of Xuanyuan on the outskirts of Qianlong City, in a slum settlement.

Another beggar woman: Yuloriaaa, the doctor for baby inspection has arrived.

Yuloria: Alright, I will bring Xuanyuan out immediately, wait a moment.

Another beggar woman: Okay, hurry a bit.

In this world, the majority of people (96%) of living beings are born normal, but there are some cases where beings are born with disabilities marked by a small sign on their back. So newborn babies must be inspected immediately, at least to know what kind of fate they will have in the future.

Because if after inspection the baby shows a disability sign, their future is doomed to be either a slave or a delayed death. Most parents who know their child is disabled will kill them immediately to prevent suffering, but some parents still choose to raise the child even if they must suffer.

Yuloria: Doctor, I have brought my child for inspection according to the law.

Doctor: Alright, place the baby on the table and move a bit away from me, you are very dirty!

Yuloria: Alright…

Yuloria places Xuanyuan on a table, and the doctor only examines him from a distance and has no intention to check him properly because he feels disgusted with the beggars and is afraid to dirty his hands.

Doctor: Alright, your child is normal, now go and take your child back. Let's leave now, I feel like throwing up, bleurghhh.

Yuloria: Doctor, where's the certificate?

Doctor: Take care of it with my assistant.

Doctor's assistant: Doctor, wait…

Doctor: What is it?

Doctor's assistant: I also feel disgusted seeing them.

Doctor: Disgusted by what, huh? Hurry and deal with this, do you want to die, huh?

Doctor's assistant: Alright…

Then the assistant gives Yuloria a form to fill out.

Doctor's assistant: Fill out this form and submit it here again. The certificate can be picked up tomorrow.

Yuloria: Alright, doctor.

Doctor's assistant: So disgusting, bleurghhh.

After filling out the form and submitting it, Yuloria brings Xuanyuan home.

Another beggar woman: How was the test result?

Yuloria: The test was normal, it's just…

Another beggar woman: Just what? Isn't a normal test at least a sign of a brighter future?

Yuloria: You're right, let's just forget it.

Another beggar woman: Ulululuuuu, cute little Xuanyuan, I have high hopes for you.

6 years later, on a plain with a river, Xuanyuan, Haolin, and Lianrou are running around playing.

Xuanyuan: Hurry up you guys, if you're too slow you'll miss this beautiful sight.

Lianrou: Why are you running so fast? Wait for me!

Haolin: They're really excited.

Then the three stop for a moment as they see a giant tree towering into the sky.

Xuanyuan: That… What kind of tree is that? So huge.

Lianrou: Don't you know? That's the Cronus Tree, it maintains the balance of this world.

Haolin: Legend says the tree can be seen from all directions because of its massive size, and most beings believe it is the Guardian God of this world.

Xuanyuan: Amazing… I wonder if I could climb it someday? Hahaha.

Haolin: That's… impossible, I heard that even a high-level mage can't approach the tree's area.

Lianrou: I also heard from my foster mother that many people believe there are great treasures near the Cronus Tree, but everyone who tries to get close dies instantly.

Xuanyuan: Dies instantly? Why?

Haolin: Don't know… They say the Cronus Tree emits a primordial energy so strong that even living beings can't withstand it and die from exposure.

Lianrou: That's what I heard too. Actually, the energy from the Cronus Tree is beneficial for mages, but it's too strong that it kills them instead.

Xuanyuan: So… is the Cronus Tree good?

Haolin: Of course, without it, living beings would lose their direction.

Lianrou: Let's talk about something else.

Xuanyuan: Look, there's a river… How about we bathe in it?

Haolin: Great idea, I'm feeling hot too.

Lianrou: But… my foster mother will scold me if my clothes get wet.

Xuanyuan: You can wait outside then, hahaha let's go!

Haolin: Let's go!!!

Lianrou: Wait for me! Why do you always run all the time?

Xuanyuan: Because my mother said that running not only gets you to your goal faster, but also trains your body and stamina.

Lianrou: Be careful, you might run out of stamina and faint again like yesterday.

Xuanyuan: Don't worry, that won't happen again.

Haolin: You've said that many times Xuanyuan, yet you still do it.

Time passes as they spend time playing in the river. The day turns to dusk.

Xuanyuan: Wow, today was so much fun…

Haolin: Indeed…

Lianrou: I hope moments like this will last a long time.

Xuanyuan: Why are you saying that? Of course it will last long.

Haolin: Alright, let's go home.

Xuanyuan: Alright, let's go!

But on the way home, Lianrou sees something glowing by the riverbank.

Lianrou: Do you see that?

Haolin: That object is glowing.

Xuanyuan: Indeed, it's beautiful.

Lianrou quickly picks up the object.

Lianrou: This is…

Haolin: Is it an artifact?

Xuanyuan: Or just a glowing stone?

The three of them examine the stone closely.

Xuanyuan: Alright, I'm tired, no time to think about this stone.

Haolin: Me too.

Lianrou: Alright, I'll be the one to keep this beautiful stone.

They all go home.

Xuanyuan: Bye Haolin, Lianrou, see you tomorrow.

Haolin, Lianrou: Alright, bye.

Xuanyuan goes home.

Xuanyuan: Mamaaa, I'm home.

Yuloria: Xiao Yuan is home? And once again your clothes are all dirty.

Xuanyuan just smiles.

Yuloria: But… At least you're improving by not fainting from stamina loss like before when Haolin and Lianrou had to drag you home.

Xuanyuan: Of course, I'll keep improving to protect Mama.

Yuloria: Alright, let's eat now. If you can protect Mama in the future, I hope you can also protect this world.

Suddenly, those words cause Xuanyuan's head to ring loudly.

Xuanyuan: Ughhhhh, my head… Mama…

Yuloria: It's happening again? It's okay, my sweet Xiao Yuan.

They finish all the food on the table, clean themselves, and go to bed. In their room, they lie down staring at the sky through the window.

Xuanyuan: Mama, do you know the origin of the Cronus Tree?

Yuloria: Why are you asking that? Did you see it today?

Xuanyuan: Yes! The tree was so huge and beautiful!

Yuloria: Let Mama tell you a bedtime story.

Xuanyuan: Yayyy bedtime story!

Children's Tale: Cronus Tree, The Tree of Hope (Version 1)

Long ago, when the world was still dark and colorless, the sky had no stars, and the land no flowers, a giant tree of light appeared. This tree was called Cronus, the first and last tree planted by the Gods of Light to maintain the world's balance.

In a faraway place, unseen by any eyes, the tree grew tall, its peak piercing the clouds and its roots touching the world's core. Its leaves glowed, its trunk shone softly, and from its fruits came goodness, hope, and love.

Every 1,000 years, Cronus Tree drops one golden fruit to earth. This fruit falls to chosen children — children with pure hearts, who never lie and always help others. Those who receive the Cronus fruit will be given the power to protect the good, grow flowers in barren land, and heal the world from darkness.

But naughty children who steal, lie, or hurt others will never see the Cronus Tree. Even if they approach it, the tree will vanish like morning mist. The Cronus Tree cannot be searched for — it can only be found by a clean heart.

Yuloria: Only one story and you're already asleep?

Then Yuloria falls asleep while hugging Xuanyuan.