[Cultivation + male-male romance + older partner + raising a child]
As the Nine Provinces descend into turmoil, the only human cultivator at the Fusion stage reaches the end of his lifespan just as he has sealed half of a spatial rift. Talk about bad timing.
With him gone, the monumental task of completing the seal falls to his disciple, Shu Li, who has only just reached the Deity Transformation stage and is still inexperienced with sealing arrays.
Unable to complete the seal alone, Shu Li has no choice but to put a child to work, using a baby he picked up along the way as a tool.
⭐
Wen Ling is born with a Daoist constitution and has the makings of a fine cultivator.
Unfortunately, he is orphaned at birth and so hungry he doesn't even have the strength to cry.
The sealing technique takes such a toll on him that he ends up half-dead and chronically ill.
⭐
Knowing he's in the wrong, Shu Li takes Wen Ling home and raises him with all the care he can give.
At first, he plays both father and mother, bringing the child up all by himself.
Later, he takes on the role of an older brother while doing a master's work, personally teaching Wen Ling how to cultivate.
But the longer he raises him, the more Shu Li feels that something isn't quite right...
