The First Transmigrat

It began not with a whisper, nor a question—but with a declaration.

Kaiser would no longer walk behind others. He would no longer wait for a seat at the table of power. He would carve his own throne from stone and storm alike, and become not a disciple, but an ancestor—a pioneer of a new era.

The world would remember this day.

He began where all revolutions begin—in silence, among the loyal few. He returned to the outskirts, to a weathered hall that smelled of herbs and memory. Old Dao, the grizzled medicine man, was inside as always, brewing something bitter.

But before Kaiser could enter, a familiar voice rang out.

"Master!"

Jin Luyao came running, breathless, eyes red from unshed tears. He skidded to his knees in the dirt, his voice cracking. "Please… I know I'm foolish, and loud, but I've followed you for years! Let me be your disciple—truly!"

Kaiser paused. The air stilled around him, as if listening. He looked at the boy—a flicker of heat in a cold world.

"Very well," he said at last. "From today on, you are my in-name disciple. But remember—this path is forged through storms. It does not tolerate hesitation."

Jin Luyao dropped his head to the ground, kowtowing three times, his forehead striking the earth with dull, honest thuds.

"Thank you, Master! Even if heaven collapses—I will follow you through it!"

Kaiser turned toward the medicine hall. "Then rise. We have much to do."

Inside, Old Dao raised an eyebrow as he saw the two enter. "Did the boy finally convince you?" he asked, amused.

"I've made my decision," Kaiser said, his voice low but steady. "In ten years, I will establish a sect on Eastern Peak. One that seeks not martial prowess, but true transcendence. I will walk the path to immortality—and I will take others with me."

Old Dao's amusement faded. "The Martial Arts Academy won't ignore this. Even if it's hollow now, it still has friends in high places. You'll be picking a fight with nobles, officials… maybe even the throne itself. And what exactly will you teach your disciples, Kaiser?"

Kaiser said nothing.

He simply raised his hand.

A soft crackle answered. Then, the room exploded with blue-white light. Lightning surged from his palm like a living spirit, coiling through the air, shaking the beams overhead.

Old Dao stumbled back, his pipe falling from his lips.

"By the heavens…" he whispered. "This is no simple cultivation. This is… divine. Are you even human anymore?"

"I never claimed to be," Kaiser said. "Will you walk with me, Old Dao?"

The old man's knees hit the floor. "If I still have blood in my body, it's yours."

Jin Luyao dropped beside him. "Even if the world turns its sword on us, I'll never stray. I'll carry your name on my bones if I must!"

Kaiser closed his eyes. Then this is where it begins.