When the sun had risen to indicate a new day had come, a family of three parted ways in front of a small manor. A middle aged man and woman set off towards the east, and a youth in azure robes set off towards the east.

The youth carried nothing on him, except a small pouch tied to his waist.

“I know that leaving father and mother is something I have to do, but it doesn’t change how I feel about it.” The youth spoke to himself as he walked.

Of course the youth was none other than Zhao Chen, who had parted ways with his parents and had started his journey to the Long Shui academy located in Clearleaf city, a three day trip on foot from Tranquil Cloud city.

From what Zhao Chen had found about Long Shui academy from his parents, and it wasn’t much, the academy was under the Purple Rain sect, one of the largest sects in the entire southern domain, and a sect that could almost compete against the 6 great families by itself.

Though the students of Long Shui academy weren’t recognized as Purple Rain sect's disciples, for those students who had the capability, attaining that status wasn’t hard. But as to how exactly one accomplished this, Zhao Chen had no idea.

Other than the general location and what to do once he arrived at the academy, Zhao Chen's parents hadn’t told him anything, as being members of one of the great 6 families, they had never attended the academy, like most younger generation geniuses did.

As far as Zhao Chen was concerned, this academy wouldn’t be much of a challenge to him. As long as he managed to prove himself in the entrance exam, and showed to everyone that they should just leave him alone, he could cultivate to his heart's content using the academy's resources and quickly return to his parents.

‘Now that I think about it, they never told me where exactly they were going, I thought both mother and father were of the Chen family. If that’s not the case, what are mothers origins?”

Crrk! Crack!

As Zhao Chen was mid-thought he heard the sound of several branches being snapped in half. For a split second it looked like the forest itself was moving. But shortly after, three men appeared from the bushes, each holding long sabers.

“Damnit junior brother! You couldn’t keep quiet? A few more minutes and we could’ve quietly killed that kid and robbed him! Look at his appearance! He’s clearly some family's young master!”

“Middle brother, how is that my fault! You and senior brother also slipped and stepped on those twigs!”

“Shut up! Both of you! You both are at fault, don't try to drag me into this!”

Before Zhao Chen could speak up the three men started arguing. The three were wearing black robes and masks to cover their faces so Zhao Chen couldn’t make out their faces. But he could discern that they were bandits that had formed some kind of group.

“Excuse me, who said I would allow you to kill me?” When Zhao Chen spoke up the three men quieted down and looked at him. They then looked at each other and laughed.

“Are you an idiot? Who’s going to stop us if we want to kill you?” The elder brother was clutching his stomach from the laughter.

“You think you can beat us? All three of us are the fourth stage of the Qi Gathering realm, and you’re at the third. You really think you have a chance.” The middle brother was struggling to even stand due to the laughter.

“Hey kid, do you have a brain? We’re at the middle stage of the Qi Gathering realm and you’re at the early stage, you know that gap is even larger than normal 1 stage differences right?” The youngest brother wasn’t laughing but a wide grin was stuck on his face.

Zhao Chen naturally knew the gap in cultivation realms but he wasn’t at all concerned. To normal people cultivation realms were the determining factor for fights, but to Zhao Chen all that mattered was true skill.

Zhao Chen placed himself into the same stance as when he fought Zhao Chen and curled his finger at the trio.

“Come fight me then you weak bastards.”

The aura of the three brothers exploded and they all rushed forward towards Zhao Chen, causing a wild smile to show up on his face.

‘Yes! This is what I missed as an Alchemist, the joy from fighting!’ Zhao Chen readied his palm but in the next instant another aura flew in.

“Stop!”

A youth in dark blue robes appeared in front of the three bandits and pushed them away with a palm. This caused an expression of shock to appear on Zhao Chen's face. The youth was at the fifth stage of Qi Gathering realm.

Judging based on his appearance he wasn’t much older than Zhao Chen, showing the youth was fairly talented. But Zhao Chen's shock slowly morphed into annoyance.

‘This idiot! I was finally going to be able to test out on my strength and he swooped and stopped it. He better not think I'm going to thank him for this!’ Zhao Chen didn’t even consider his battle with Yuan Ling to be a fight, he was far too weak.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Even though the bandits were also similarly weak they didn’t seem to be the type to fall after one move. The youth turned to Zhao Chen with a grin on his face after beating the bandits.

“Are you alright? I can’t believe those bastards would gang up on someone weaker than them. But have no fear ca- hey where are you going!”

Before the youth finished talking, Zhao Chen walked over to the bandits and grabbed their valuables. He walked back to the youth and threw him a small pouch.

“I didn’t need your help but I’m not a man without manners. Count that pouch as us being even. Good day.” Zhao Chen had no plans on making friends, in this life he had one goal and only goal, and that was revenge.

Friends would do nothing but drag him down and make it so that his resolve would falter. However, as he said to the youth, Zhao Chen was a man with a code. Even though he did not need the help, Zhao Chen wouldn’t repay kindness with ingratitude. And he didn’t want to be indebted to anyone.

The youth stared at the pouch for a few seconds before throwing it back to Zhao Chen.

“I didn’t help you for any selfish reasons. I just saw someone that looked like they needed help. I'm Z- hey stop doing that!”

Once again Zhao Chen didn’t wait for the boy to finish speaking. If he didn’t want repayment there was nothing Zhao Chen could do about it. He placed all the pouches into his storage pouch and started to walk, he couldn’t miss the entrance exam for the academy.

To Zhao Chen's disdain the boy followed behind him quietly without saying a word. At first Zhao Chen paid him no mind but as time went on Zhao Chen grew more and more annoyed. This guy was so stubborn!

When Zhao Chen sat to eat, he was there. When Zhao Chen went to sleep, he was there.

He was there even when Zhao Chen was trying to relieve himself! Finally when Zhao Chen was only a half a day from Clearleaf city he couldn’t contain himself any longer.

“What do you want! You’ve been following me everywhere for the last two days! We have nothing more to say to each other!” This youth really got on Zhao Chen's nerves.

“I’m Zi Qingyun, what’s your name?” Zi Qingyun completely ignored Zhao Chens question and asked his own.

This response caused Zhao Chen's expressions to turn sour. Was this guy an idiot? I asked you a question and you reply with your own? Zhao Chen did calm down and gave the boy a glance before responding.

“I am Zhao Chen, now answer my question.”

“We’re both going to Long Shui academy, and I didn’t want to go alone so I tagged along with you.”

“How did you know I was going to Long Shui academy?”

“Well you just told me.” Zi Qingyun had a large goofy grin on his face.

Zhao Chen didn’t even have the energy to be mad anymore. If Zi Qingyun didn’t show his prowess two days earlier, Zhao Chen really would’ve really the he was an idiot. Zhao Chen didn’t respond anymore and just kept walking.

When the pair of boys had arrived at Clearleaf city, Zhao Chen immediately saw the difference. In comparison to the dry and dead Tranquil Cloud city that the Duan Family presided over, Clearleaf city seemed like a true great city.

There were bright lights that covered every inch of the city, with tall buildings that supported large signs advertising anything and everything anyone could ever need. The streets were bustling with hundreds of people running around, and the children played along the streets without a care in the world.

And in the center of the city a large academy stood tall. The energy exuding from it felt like it was an impenetrable wall. Zhao Chen finally knew that the martial artists of the Duan family and the martial artists of the Long Shui academy couldn’t be compared at all.

The aura that surrounded the city started to make Zhao Chen's heart beat fast with excitement. The anger he felt from Zi Qingyun stealing his fight with the bandits was wiped away. In the academy he would finally be able to find where his current abilities lied.

“This city is massive. My grandpa told me it was under the largest sect of the southern domain but I never thought it would be this grand.” Zi Qingyun was observing everything around him, mouth wide open in awe.

Zhao Chen nodded his head in agreement. Zi Qingyun had finally said something smart. The pair of boys continued to walk around the city. They had arrived half a day early for the Long Shui academy's entrance exam, so they spent their time exploring the city to its fullest.

Several hours later, outside a small restaurant

“Brother Chen, we’ve been walking for an entire three days. Maybe we should rest up at an inn?” Zi Qingyun’s original awe and excitement had been drained from him and now all that was left was a great tiredness.

Zhao Chen was also growing tired. With his current cultivation he still needed sleep and food to survive. But he was rather surprised by Zi Qingyun calling him brother. Though Zhao Chen was no longer trying to actively get rid of the youth, he hadn’t really acknowledged the boy as his brother. He had been betrayed enough to not be cautious about who he keeps by his side.

“You’re right, we should probably rest before the entrance exam. Come I think I saw an inn close to the academy.”

Zi Qingyun nodded and followed behind Zhao Chen.

Once the pair had arrived in front of the small inn, they walked in but immediately they felt a hint of unease. Then the two boys noticed they were the only two people in the inn. Even though there was no deficit of inns in Clearleaf city, it was strange to see one so deserted.

But the boys were out of luck, they had already burned through both their and the bandits money, meaning they couldn’t afford to stay in the nicer inns. Just then the inn's owner walked over.

“Welcome dear customers, would you like a room?” The owner said with a grin but his appearance made the two youths step back a few steps. The man was small and pudgy, but his face had a large crescent shaped scar that ran from cheek to cheek, under his chin. The man also had his hair tied back, causing his face to seem carrot like.

Zhao Chen was the first to regain his words and spoke up.

“Yes we just need a room for a few hours. We’re in the city for the Long Shui academy's entrance exam.”

Zhao Chen saw a small change in the owner's expressions before it quickly returned to an ugly grin.

“Well that’s delightful. You two seem rather talented, so I pray you two succeed. There's an open room on the second floor, first one from the left. Please enjoy your stay.”

Every word the owner uttered made the two youths break out into a cold sweat. This man was truly too ominous! Nonetheless, they were out of options and the hour of the entrance exam was fast approaching, so the two youths made their way to the second floor of the inn.

When the owner saw the two boys were out of sight he sat down at the reception desk counter and smiled to himself.

“Those two were definitely among the smarter ones, their sense of danger surpassed their peers. I really do hope they pass the test.” When the owner stopped talking his body started to dissipate into nothingness.

In Zhao Chen and Zi Qingyuns room.

“Hmm? What the hell.” Zhao Chen suddenly shot out of his bed and onto his feet, getting into a fighting stance.

Zi Qingyun rubbed his eyes as the image of Zhao Chen suddenly shooting up cleared up in his eyes.

“Brother Chen, what are you doing? What happened?” Even though he was confused, Zi Qingyun wasn’t stupid. He also stood up quickly and braced himself. If Zhao Chen was like this something should’ve happened.

“The owner's aura suddenly disappeared and shortly after I felt two people walk in. If my senses are correct they should both be right outside the room.” Zhao Chen whispered softly as he approached the door.

Zi Qingyun didn’t doubt Zhao Chens words and also tiptoed closer to the door.

“When I say go, we both unleash our strongest attacks alright? I don’t think they’ve realised we’re awake, and seeing as they're attacking us at night they're probably just common thugs. Alright get ready.”

Zi Qingyun nodded his head and started to circulate his qi. Zhao Chen did the same and held up three fingers, and slowly put them down one by one before yelling.

“Surging Waves palm!”

“Divine Dragons Descent!”

Zhao Chen watched as Zi Qingyuns palm materialized into a small golden dragon and was shot out. Prior to this he thought the surging waves palm he picked up from his parents wasn’t too shabby, but seeing Zi Qingyun he felt a bit inferior.

But this feeling of inferiority was quickly wiped away, as the pair of youths saw two masked figures stand back up on their feet as they wiped the dust off their clothes. Unbelievable! The two were completely unscathed!

“Haha! You two brats are actually good! No wonder old man Ye said he had high hopes for you.” A rough and deep voice emitted from the taller of the two figures, he was dressed in all black but his strong physique was clearly visible.

“But if you two have any chance of succeeding you’re going to have to do better than that.” The softer voice came from the smaller of the two people, both Zhao Chen and Zi Qingyun immediately noticed that she was a woman. What kind of combination of thugs was this?

“With your guys' strength you could do a lot more than robbing people in the middle of the night. Why do this?” Zhao Chen spoke up to try to buy time and assess the two in front of him.

The tall man laughed loud enough to almost implode Zhao Chen's ears.

“Thugs? Oh we’re not thugs, we'll be your examinees for today. Make sure you two brats don’t let us down!”

This time Zi Qingyun spoke up, his voice full of confusion.

“Examinees? For what? We didn’t sign up for any exam!”

The small woman's expression was visible through her mask. She was smiling softly.

“Oh? But you did. Welcome to the first test of the Long Shui Academies entrance exam!”