Seito Mei stood looking at the various lines that had students lining up to try and gain a master's approval. Mei had a tinge of fear in her heart as she wasn't sure if she would be refused like she had been refused so many times from all the deities. Though that wouldn't stop her from becoming an inner disciple, it would cause her a great setback not to have a Master in the inner court who could guide her.

"What is the matter, young disciple?" a voice came from beside her, she turned shocked she had not noticed his presence. Looking over she saw it was the academy's Grandmaster.

"Grandmaster!" she yelped, bowing low "Nothing to concern yourself with Grandmaster, I was just trying to decide which master I should go to."

"I have a suggestion," he gestured over to the far off corner of the testing area. "There is a young Elder who has yet to take in any disciples, go and try over there."

"Thank you Grandmaster for the advice." Mei bowed swiftly before running off towards the master's direction.

Grandmaster Zhao smiled as he watched the young girl run off towards possibly the most eccentric Elder of the Phoenix academy, but that young blue eyed girl might possibly be an equally eccentric match for that Elder.

…

Cui Xinya waited, not expecting to find anyone worthy of her effort. She secretly was relieved that no others dared come to her after she shamed the last two. Word spreads quickly. Cui Xinya looked around at the various other Elders, some who had over a dozen students while others had one or two.

A dozen students? Are they insane? How can you properly train a dozen students? Cui couldn’t fathom it, but perhaps it was a deity thing. She couldn't have more than one disciple. It would be annoying enough to deal with one arrogant noble’s child or big headed talent.

The two boys stood off to the side. The second boy was treating his friend's wounds, perhaps she was being rather harsh to the young boy, but she couldn't go back on her word; it would make her look foolish and that was one thing she could not tolerate. Being an Elder so young caused her to be looked down upon by the older senior Elders of the academy so the smallest mistakes were heavily scrutinized.

"Excuse me Elder" a small girl with midnight black hair and piercing azure eyes approached her. Blinking her face was frozen, her lips twitched…didn’t I just get rid of those other brats?

"Elder, I wish to become your disciple!" Cui looked surprised. The girl from earlier? What a pleasant surprise. Perhaps she will be more interesting Cui could help but feel a bit of interest since she couldn’t sense the nature of the girl’s deity before. Quickly recovering from the initial annoyance and shock she regained her composure.

The fact another disciple approached her was enough to get a small crowd gathered. It was obvious they were curious as to the reaction the famous cursed girl would get from her.

When a disciple gained a blessing most of the time they gained a small innate understanding of what abilities their deity would grant them so such a display would at least be informative of a relatively unknown god. The name Vasu-Jin rang in her head; it had been annoying her; she had never heard of such a deity. While it was likely a minor deity in the Imperial pantheon or a rogue deity who was seeking some disciples she wanted to know.

Stolen story; please report.

Cui Xinya smiled. She liked this girl. It wasn't often that you found such a young woman with guts. Even though she had a feeling she was just blessed by an unknown minor god, Cui Xinya never made that an issue in whom she would pick as a disciple; at some point all deities were unknown on some level. "Alright, you!" she said nonchalantly, pointing at the young boy from before "would you like another chance to prove yourself?"

"Yes, Elder Xinya!" he said enthusiastically. His eyes brimming with hope that he could redeem himself.

Turning to Mei she gestured to the young man. "Defeat him."

…

Mei looked at the boy that was approaching her. He was thick and built making her feel if she were to be hit by his fists she wouldn't be able to match his sheer power. She closed her eyes and prayed to Vasu-Jin to give your blessing to me the power of the Serpent god of venom. When she slowly opened her eyes, little did she know her pupils had changed to mirror a serpent's pupil that of a diamond.

At this point several onlookers had gathered around and were disturbed by the change, but it wasn't uncommon for the blessings of deities to change the appearance of those they blessed, but this was the first time anyone had seen serpents' eyes in another person. Cui Xinya eyebrow raised slightly as she sat up straight again the girl had already caught her interest.

"Did you see that?" one person on the sidelines couldn’t help but pipe up.

"Her eyes just changed...it looks like a viper's eyes."

"Is she really cursed or did she promise herself to a dark god?"

The flood of off-handed comments beat on her back, but she chose to ignore it and to just focus on the task at hand. The boy at this point had also gotten larger than before. He was clearly determined to win this fight and end it quickly. The boy himself was already fairly large, but his blessing made him look almost padded.

Speed will be my friend she thought to herself as she ran at the boy using her speed to dart around him looking for an opening.

Realizing what she was doing the boy got into a defensive posture waiting for her first strike. Raising one arm to his side at a ninety degree angle and his other across his abs.

Mei darted around until she saw an opening and summoned her spiritual energy into her palms; a good palm strike to his lower back should rattle him! As she approached her ki morphed into a virescent liquid like glow.

With her strike just about to land, the young man shot around and smashed his engorged forearm into her side sending her flying skidding along the ground leaving her heaving for breath. He hadn't even connected to her with a full strength hit and he hurt her this badly? She thought to herself. Mei realized that his speed was not nearly as slow as she had predicted.

The crowd began to laugh in unison.

"See she is so pathetic even in the outer court she couldn't beat anyone in duels."

The boy had gotten up from his position and walked slowly over to her leaving just a couple meters between them. "Don't worry I won't do any permanent damage, you can just give up now. You have no hope of winning."

Mei squeezed her eyes shut and a single tear rolled down her cheek pathetic!Berating herself, Mei got up. “Fight you coward! Why do you care what these people think they never cared before years of pretending not to care and you let a few words and a strong hit discourage you? Don’t go down like him!” she thought.Mei lifted her eyes, sending glare of determination at the bulky disciple in front of her.

Staggering to her feet she darted to the side running around in circles again which prompted the boy into a defensive position again. Mei ran around him forcing him to continually readjust his position.

“If she could force him to make a mistake in his positioning she could… There it is.” Mei thought to herself. Running at him she went at an awkward angle where he would have to swing across his body to get a good shot in or play defensive. She didn't know exactly what effects Vasu-Jin blessing would have on her, but she was certain the serpent god of venom wasn't something that could be taken lightly.

"Are you looking to die!" he yelled as he brought his fist back to bring it crashing towards her chest.

Mei as she approached increased her speed just as he swung his fist Mei dived onto her knees she sent her palm strike into his abdomen the virescent liquid spread out several inches around where her strike hit. While she quickly dove between his legs.

"Is that all you got!" he roared as if her strike was little more than a minor nuisance. Just as he turned around a pain started burning where her strike landed. Clutching his stomach he went to his knees. The place she hit was like he had just eaten poison and his body was violently trying to spew it out. His muscles contracted tightly as he tried to fight it off. Causing immense pain that he had never experienced before it was like his muscles were fighting amongst themselves.

Mei saw her opening and charged in. Take the advantage! Mei muttered to herself. As he slowly recovered from the venom that had seeped into his skin he looked up to see a spinning kick land on the side of his head, sending him to the ground. The light of the world flashed and his vision blackened as he quickly passed out.

When the energy from the fight dissipated the crowd stood in shock. They never thought the nobody with cursed eyes would beat the boy twice her size. No one uttered a word. Not one had predicted this ending to the fight nor did they realize the exact nature of what her ability had done to him as the effects were internal.

Silence…that is all that stood in the air for what seemed like a while. The Cursed girl had won.