Chapter 3: Li An’s True Identity

After finishing his training, Li An took a shower and returned to his room.

He glanced up at the red calendar hanging above his bed, raising his brows slightly.

The day after tomorrow was his eighteenth birthday.

Unfortunately, his family was now left with only himself.

Suddenly, he walked into the adjacent bedroom.

Inside the worn-down wooden cabin, the thin patterned bedsheet was covered with thick layers of dust.

He approached the window and saw, behind the small cabin, an incredibly massive ancient tree.

The diameter of the tree roots was wider than his entire house!

This tree was so tall that it defied belief, making everyone who passed by wonder how many years it had seen of storms and sunlight.

As a child, Li An had also been curious. He thought, “How can such a giant tree exist in the world? And it’s right in my backyard.”

Half a year ago, before Grandpa left on his journey, he told Li An the story behind this tree.

“An’er, this old tree and this wooden house have been around for thousands of years.”

“The story of the greatest strategist in history, Li Dingtian, began right here.”

“Thousands of years ago, the seventh generation Human Emperor made an all-out effort to reform human talents, introducing a level called Infinite.”

“This reform caused deep internal conflicts among humanity, as before, the SSS+ was the highest level.”

“Those with a 3S talent could oversee the entire human realm.”

“But now, a higher level—Infinite—was introduced, stealing resources and positions from them.”

“A civil war was about to begin.”

“But fortunately, during that time, the seventh-generation Human Emperor was at his peak. With a strong hand, he suppressed everything.”

“Three hundred years after the reform, some with the special mission of Infinite finally grew strong.”

“They lived up to the Emperor’s expectations and showed more commanding power in battle than SSS+.”

“People thought everything would head toward peace, but instead, the internal struggles of the human realm had just begun.”

“The higher-ups of humanity realized that the Infinite level wasn’t a joke—it could really threaten our position.”

“So, the civil war began.”

“Humanity was forcibly divided into two factions.”

“Those things you’ll be able to learn on your own later.”

“Anyway, that civil war started twenty years ago, and humanity suffered tremendous damage, falling from the top of the realms.”

“The demon race and the dark race were watching closely, planning to team up and devour humanity.”

“One person could not resist it all—the Human Emperor alone.”

“But then, something changed. Humanity suddenly entered a long period of peace.”

“We can’t see what happened during that time—only the result.”

“Because the most brutal fifty years of that civil war have no historical records.”

“No one knows what happened unless they experienced it themselves.”

“Finally.”

“The seventh-generation Human Emperor won.”

“No one dared to question the meaning of the Infinite level ever again.”

“Afterwards, countless talented individuals with Infinite power emerged, bringing humanity back to its peak. Time proved the seventh Emperor’s decision was right—greatness speaks for itself.”

“This is the backstory.”

“The seed that the Human Emperor planted thousands of years ago began to sprout over time and blossomed into a magnificent flower.”

“However, it wasn’t until six thousand years later that this seed bore fruit.”

“That fruit is Ye Tianwen—our ancestor.”

“He always knew one thing clearly from a young age.”

“The reason he could enjoy the best treatment was because he was an Infinite. If the Emperor hadn’t made that change, his rare talent called Dream wouldn’t have been noticed, and he wouldn’t have had all this.”

“Li Dingtian loved humanity deeply and revered the Human Emperor.

“He grew step by step, rising to the Emperor’s side.”

“At this point.”

“When the seventh Human Emperor ruled humanity for a thousand years, a second epic story began.”

“The first story was the cause—the talent reform.”

“The second story was the result—humanity ascending to the throne!”

“From the time of the Emperor thousands of years ago until Li Dingtian’s birth, humanity experienced turmoil, chaos, peace, and development—finally becoming envied by all the realms.”

“An’er, this world is like a vast eight-sided cage.”

“In this cage, the strongest from top to bottom are the God Realm, the United Alliance of Beasts Realm, the Celestial Realm, the Ghost Realm, the Demon Realm, the Ancient Fiend Realm.”

“These seven realms at the top of the food chain share most of the resources of the realms.”

“Three thousand years ago, a realm called humanity rose up and moved toward the eighth spot.”

“Seven divided into eight.”

“The seven didn’t like it—so they planned to push humanity back.”

“In the dazzling gold, no logic or words have any power.”

“All we can rely on is our fists.”

“So, for humanity to ascend to the throne, it must fight.”

“One against seven—the odds seem impossible.”

“Many advised the Human Emperor to stay hidden.”

“But others stood up and said, ‘Humanity has the chance to soar today!’”

“And that person was Li Dingtian.”

“Later, you can read what happened in your textbooks.”

“At Li Dingtian’s funeral, the Human Emperor placed the Epic Medal, representing humanity’s highest honor, on Li Dingtian’s grave, burying it with him.”

“That’s the story I want to tell you.”

“Li Dingtian is our ancestor. You carry his bloodline—the blood of the world’s greatest strategist. You also have his talent—Dream.”

“Later, you’ll leave this small town and go to the big city. There, people might mock you, discriminate against you.”

“But you shouldn’t feel inferior.”

“Regardless of family background or honor, humanity’s realm has only a handful of people who can match you.”

“If you don’t look down on them, that’s already the greatest tolerance you can show.”

“Next, I want to tell you the second thing—listen carefully.”

“We all know that, at the end of the Coronation War, humanity experienced betrayal.”

“Li Dingtian didn’t get to see humanity ascend the throne. He was assassinated by a powerful traitor.”

“The Human Emperor was furious but could no longer change anything.”

“But fortunately, our ancestor was careful. He knew that, in front of the seven realms, he was too small, so he had already made arrangements for future generations.”

“He left clear instructions on how to bring the war to an end.”

“In his will, he also clearly wrote about the handling of his descendants.”

“Li Dingtian had two sons. One inherited his wisdom and was named Li Wuce, while the other inherited his bravery and was named Li Feihuo.”

“Brave Li Feihuo didn’t like the strategist’s profession and wanted to become a warrior instead. So, he parted ways with wise Li Wuce.”

“Li Feihuo wasn’t interested in his father’s wealth. He only asked for one thing—the ancestral home, this wooden house.”

“That’s where our family originates!”

“Li Wuce took most of the wealth and resources, growing up in the Xinghuo Domain. Using Li Dingtian’s reputation, he quickly built his own power.”

“This is the origin of the Li family in the Xinghuo Domain.”

“For so many years, our two branches have lived peacefully, but when you were twelve and tested for the Dream talent, they couldn’t sit still anymore.”

“Because Li Dingtian’s will mentioned a legacy—a legacy that only someone with his bloodline and Dream talent could unlock.”

“You are that person!”

“That’s why the Li family from Xinghuo Domain panicked and came to Tianshui City.”

“At that time, you were twelve, and I let you go out to play. At home, only I, an old man, was left.”

“They only said one thing to me.”

“If you don’t abandon your dream of becoming a strategist, they’ll make you disappear.”

“The higher someone stands, the more they fear falling.”

“You are also a descendant of Li Dingtian, and you possess the same talent. You’ll inherit his legacy.”

“That’s why, if you grow stronger, it will destroy the other Li family.”

“This is something your father should have told you. Unfortunately, Yan’er sacrificed himself early.”

“I wanted to wait until you were an adult to tell you all this.”

“But I don’t have much time left. This journey of life is nearing its end for me.”

“Finally, An’er, I want to tell you something.”

“Our family has never had a strong desire to pass on our bloodline. We leave everything to fate and never expected it to pass down for so many generations.”

“So.”

“Don’t let the threats of power shake your resolve. Pursue what you believe is right with courage!”

“If you achieve your dream, Grandpa will be happy.”

“If you don’t make it to the end, Grandpa will still be happy because I’ll get to see you sooner.”