As the rising sun spread its golden fingers over the entire land of Tang, the lunar tribe gathered together at the Lunar Valley. It was the time for them to perform the Sacred Soul Rite. The awakening ceremony for the young ones in order to align their souls with the universe. Children at the ages of five and ten. Wearing white robes to signify the purity of their souls, the children lined up in rows while their parents waited anxiously behind them.

One by one, the children stepped before the chief elder who carried a translucent artifact in his hand. The Heavenly Soul Bringer. A gift from their patron moon goddess, Changxi. Behind the chief elder was the council of the named elders of the different clans of Tang. The villagers observed the event in great anticipation as the village scribe unfolded the names scroll. All the names of the children that would be participating in the rite were written on it.

The scribe cleared his throat and called out the first name, "Bai from the Wei clan."

All the clans watched as the first boy in line stepped before the chief elder. In a ceremonial way, the chief elder put the artifact on the boy's opened palms. Threads of energy streaked out of the boy's body and entered the heavenly treasure he was holding. The item pulsed and vibrated before lighting up. The chief elder smiled as he observed the symbol that was formed over his boy's head.

The hunter's sign.

One of the best classes in a village that relied more on hunting and farming. He would take after his father. The chief elder couldn't be more proud of his fourth son. Magnifying his sight, he checked his son's new alignment and smiled.

Name: Wei Bai

Core: Mortal

Race: Human

Class: Hunter; Level: 1

"Hunter's path!"

While glancing at the villagers, Chen watched the chief elder shouting happily. After a moment of adulation for his son, Bojing turned to the scribe who then continued to call out the names, one after the other. Chen looked around in apprehension while he waited for his own turn. Although he didn't know exactly what he wanted to become, a guardian would be a dream. But that would need him to become a warrior. That would be a tall order since only a handful were ever on the warrior's path.

"Chen from the Li clan."

The chief elder leaned forward slightly and watched with glowing eyes as Chen came forward. Another member of the detested Li clan. How could he forget the great disservice they did him before he became the chief elder. The humiliation. And now that he was the chief elder of their tribe, a top level hunter and he had already become a cultivator at the essence sensing stage, he would seek his revenge. When the time was right.

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“Hold the heavens in your hand, and let your soul be awakened,” the chief elder uttered with an intense gaze.

Hearing the words of the chief elder, Chen's spirit tensed as he stared at the artifact. Just as he had learned from his father, he offered some prayers to Changxi, their ancestral goddess. The moment the divine item was placed on his opened palms, it sounded off a throbbing pulse. Chen became excited as he started thinking about the new life he would be acquiring. His first and only step into adulthood. But the artifact didn't flare up, and neither did it give off a glow. It sat there on his palms, unresponsive and undisturbed.

The chief elder knitted his eyebrows together as he leaned over the artifact in confusion. He took the item off Chen’s palms and placed it back again. Yet there was no reaction coming from the divine treasure. Most of the named elders were now conversing in whispers. Other present villagers were also whispering among themselves. Fear rose in Chen’s heart as he realized something had gone wrong with his awakening.

The chief elder turned to the named elders and shook his head. The elders audible sighs were echoed by the other villagers. With indifferent eyes, the grand elder stared long at Chen before raising his voice, "Unaligned!"

Chen glanced at his father who had gone utterly pale from the shock of the utterance. For the short period he had been in existence, he had never heard that particular word before. And from the look on his father's face, he knew no one should be associated with the word.

“Chen of the Li clan, your soul is unawakened. You'll have your second and last chance in five years time. Seek the blessings of our goddess. Maybe, the heavens will choose to have mercy on your soul,” the chief elder said as he waved away Chen without a second glance.

Although he was still young at the age of five, he was old enough to know about the enormity of what was happening. He had prepared hard for this day, but now, he would become a source of ridicule to himself, his family and clan. He could already see the mockery, contempt and pity in their eyes as he glanced at them. Even the looks on the faces of the present members of the Wei clan said it all. They couldn't hide their excitement after learning of his unalignment. Chen couldn't control the tears in his eyes as he walked towards his father.

For the following five years, Chen was living on the edge. Every day, he would wash his hands in the Shallow Sage river, preparing himself for the upcoming awakening rite. But on the day of the ceremony, it was the same outcome. His fate was sealed. He would forever be the village scum. He would live and die without honour. His father and clan would suffer most for it. Due to the ridicule he received, Chen's father stopped being an acolyte. The two of them moved to the mountainous outskirt of the village. At least, it would reduce the shame of the Li clan.

Despite all the troubles of being treated as a cursed soul, Chen continued to live with his father in the mountainous region of the village. Like a petal in the wind, time flowed by softly. Before the memories of time could be grasped, Chen become a scavenger. A cursed soul.