Earthen Lord Chapter 2

The carriage rolled down the road noisily, its wooden wheels rattling over every bump. Niu sat in the front beside the driver; it was inappropriate for him to sit inside with the women. This was something he learned after two firm boots to the chest, one from each maid.

This was fine as well. Up front he could look around at the old woods and enjoy the cool breeze. They had not come upon any more travelers but they had seen plenty of wild animals. Henry said it was fortunate that they did not run in to any bandits.

Henry was a cultivator as well actually. He had already reached the 4th stage of Body Refining, the Meridian Opening stage. Since he had not been able to break through to the Foundation Formation stage he could only become a personal attendant to Miss Cecil, whom Niu had learned, was from the main family of their clan.

Henry liked to talk about how Miss Cecil was the pride of the clan. She was already in the 3rd stage of Body Refining at the tender age of 14 and was extremely talented with Metal based martial techniques. Despite this, she was very humble and well liked by all the servants in her clan.

Along the way, Niu pestered Henry with questions about where they were. He learned that they were within the White Serpent Empire, which contained three major powers. The first was the royal family, also known as the White Serpent Clan. The second was the Five Elements Sect with their massive amount of cultivators and multiple Enlightenment Stage elites. The third was the Tidal Swords Sect who had fewer cultivators than the Five Elements Sect but rallied behind their Patriarch who was at the peak of the Enlightenment Stage.

Of these three powers, the royal family was the greatest. Henry said the only reason the Empire has not yet tried to wipe out the two sects was due to a fear of them teaming up. If those two major sects allied then even the mighty empire would be put at a slight disadvantage.

After a week of travel, the carriage arrived at Crimson Oak City. The city was named after an enormous, red oak in the town square. The tree emitted a constant pure yang energy that was very helpful for cultivators who favored the fire element.

There were banners from the Fire Branch of the Five Elements Sect hung on every street corner. Each banner was decorated in the same manner. They depicted five mythical animals, eternally pursuing one another in a circle. This design made the animals appear to form a cycle, clearly representing the phase-like nature of the five elements.

The banners Niu saw showed a bright red landwyrm with spikes running down its back and a yellow underbelly. This fire dragon was pursuing a pearl white roc, but being pursued by an azure serpent.  The fire dragon was positioned at the top of the banner.

After paying the entrance fee, Henry led the carriage over towards the stables. They were simple constructions of wood and straw, with one office out front.

Niu was thankful that Henry paid for his entrance fee as he had learned shortly after waking up that this body’s former owner had been robbed during his murder and was left with but a few silver coins inside his shoes.

“Let’s head to the testing ground after we secure the horses,” said Henry. “It’s important for us to show up on time so Miss Cecil can make a good impression.”

Miss Cecil stepped out of the carriage with her two maids before turning to answer him, “Yes, that sounds like a fine idea, Henry.”

“The meeting spot is on top of the North Hill, right?” asked Niu. He remembered that spot being circled with red ink on the invitation letter.

“Yes, it is.” replied Cecil. “While you be joining us?” she asked courteously.

“No,” Niu said with a shake of his head, “I want to explore the town for a bit before the ceremony begins.

One of the maids gave a contemptuous snort and muttered, “Of course you will.”

The driver and the other maid loosely attempted to cover their grins as they laughed at Niu’s expense. They were still completely unconvinced that some bloodied beggar they picked up along the side of the road had the same potentional as the young miss from their clan.

Cecil, for her part, retained her dignity and smiled amiable.  “That is good as well Niu, I will see you soon.”

Following that conversation, the trio walked off towards the stable to tie up the horses.

 Niu shrugged helpless before turning around and heading deeper into the city. He had always enjoyed the unique vibrancy of city-life. There was no way for any small village or temple to compare to the hustle and bustle of a city.

It amazed Niu how so many humans could cram themselves into one area. They appeared behind each street corner and through every windowpane.

There are as many humans to a city as there are trees to a forest. The only difference was that trees knew they were just trees, while humans always believe themselves to be special. They are convinced that they are somehow different than all of the other humans around them and are constantly striving to prove such.

Niu thought this line of reasoning was foolish. A human was a human, a tree was a tree, and a mountain was a mountain; such was The Way. However, had not he, a mountain, now taken the form of a human? Was it possible that his understanding of The Way was flawed?

The smell of grilled meat interrupted Niu’s musings. He stopped where he stood and looked around excitedly. His sudden stopping caused the man behind him to bump in to him and mutter something about Niu’s mother.

Niu was tempted to ask the man if he knew his mother because he had yet to meet her, but decided against this. Since becoming a human he had come to two major conclusions.

The first was that he would never live a sedentary life, bound to one place for the entirety of his existence. The second was that meat was delicious and should be pursued with great fervor. 

He followed the enticing smell down a side alley off the main street. The alley was darkly lit with buildings pushed close together and small iron lanterns hanging overhead. The bricks below him were jagged and uneven, a stark contrast from the finely laid bricks of the main road.

As he stepped out of the alley he came upon a small tavern identified by a crooked sign above its entrance that read The Drunken Boar. The tavern was entirely wooden with a small, outdoor porch and two swinging doors at the center. The sides were straight and square while the roof was triangular. It had two big, ceramic boar tusks hanging over the doorway.

Niu walked up the porch and pushed open both doors. They swung easily and banged against the inside wall. Alerted by the sound, many patrons gave him a quick once-over, before returning to their meals and mugs. 

The customers were mostly middle-aged men; tired of giving life it’s all. Many appeared to be mercenaries and sat with other members of their guild. The half-hearted emblems emblazoned on their clothing designated which group they belonged to. Most of these mercenaries wore a thin chain mail and a thick leather coat.  

The smell of meat only grew stronger as Niu walked in. This meat had a sharper, savorier smell than the last one. If possible, it appeared to be even more delicious than the meat roasted by the two maids.

After glancing around, Niu walked over towards a table in the corner and sat down. He was not interested talking with anyone, just eating. He was also interested in trying their “house ale” that seemed to be the only thing here valued more than merry making.  

He fiddled with the wooden table as he waited for the server to arrive. He discovered that he could easily peel off a layer of the wood with his fingernail, but then his finger would acquire the smell of it. This led him to the conclusion of continuously scratching the table before wiping his finger on the napkin.

When the waiter arrived Niu had already carved his name six times upon the tabletop. Noticing the waiter’s arrival, he flicked his napkin over the spots he had been scratching and sat up straight.

“What can I get for you?” the waiter asked, gazing lazily at Niu’s suspicious placement of the napkin.

“I would like the meat and the house ale,” replied Niu.

“The meat?”

“Yes, the meat you are roasting. I smelt it on my way here.”

“Do you mean the grilled Iron Hoof Boar?” inquired the waiter.

“Is that what I smelled?” asked Niu.

“If it was not the stink of sweat or booze, then it was the boar.”

“I’ll have the boar and the ale then.”

“It will just be a moment then,” said the waiter before briskly turning away.

Niu continued scratching the table in the waiter’s absence, wondering about how many people before him had discovered that wooden tables could be used as drawing boards. 

The waiter returned to his table a few minutes later carrying a platter of grilled boar and a mug of ale. The aroma of both caused Niu to grin from ear to ear. This would be a good meal.

Forty minutes later Niu was hustling up a great hill in the Northern Section of town. His gluttony had gotten the best of him and he ended up eating three portions of meat and four mugs of ale. The combination left him feeling stuffed and dizzy. He knew that this dizziness is what the humans called “drunk”.

His face had turned a shameful red from having to sprint up the hill after gorging himself. Still, it was better than missing the ceremony because he drank too much, that would be far too embarrassing. 

He reached the surface after a few more minutes and glanced around. There was a group of about 40 people. Of them, three appeared to be examiners, roughly thirty of them disciples, and the last seven servants.

The three examiners exuded a powerful aura. They were probably Manifestation Stage cultivators. All of them wore dark red robes and carried themselves in a lofty manner. One in particular looked especially fierce and had a golden sash wrapped around his robes. The other two stood a few meters away from him in deference to his position of power.

The disciples, for their parts, were talking amongst each other. Niu presumed they were distracting themselves from their own nervousness with idle chatter. Other disciples were meditating on the ground, purifying their minds before this important moment.

As the Five Elements Sect specialized in cultivation methods and martial techniques based off the elements, if one did not show an affinity for any of them then they would be forced to become an Outer Disciple. Outer Disciples were given far less guidance and resources than Inner Disciples. Thus, while this gathering was called an initiation ceremony, in reality it was more a test. 

The few disciples who did not seem worried were the ones who had brought attendants with them, like Miss Cecil. These people had the natural arrogance that came from only experiencing success from the moment they were born until now. However, Miss Cecil conducted herself far better than average nobility, showing a unique humility for her station.

Niu choose to avoid being noticed by Miss Cecil’s retinue and instead wandered over towards the group of meditating cultivators. He had no intention of standing out but he also had no desire to pursue pointless conversation. His past life had left him more comfortable with meditation than human interaction.

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It was not long before the examiner with the golden sash stood up and walked towards the crowd of disciples. They all stopped talking immediately and watched the examiner attentively.

The man revealed a satisfied smile before beginning to speak, “I will be the Head Examiner for this year’s initiation ceremony.” He paused for a moment after saying this, allowing the importance of his point to sink in “The affinity stone has been prepared. All of you who have been invited should line up and follow me.  Those who failed to arrive in time will have to wait until next year.”

All of the various disciples and attendants immediately scurried after the examiner, making a line as quickly as they could. Even the normally haughty nobles made no noise of complaint as they lined up with the independent cultivators. Whatever their status was, it could not compare to the majesty of the Five Elements Sect.

They followed the examiner inside a stone building with a circular structure and a dome roof. In the center of the room was a clear orb resting upon a jade pedestal. The pedestal was surrounded on three sides by a black rope that was vibrating and emitting a faint humming sound. The other side had three short steps leading up towards the affinity stone.

The head examiner spoke once more, “all of you who have been invited please line up in front of Elder Rue and produce your letter of invitation. Friends, family, and retainers should stand off to the side now.”

Niu shuffled towards the line with all the other disciples. He picked a spot somewhere between the middle and the back. Not in a rush to be tested but also not scared of the results. While a martial sect would be beneficial in the early stages of training, he knew that true success in cultivation relied on one’s own martial heart and good fortune.

The front of the line was mostly made up of nobles and the more confident cultivators. Miss Cecil was third in line. Niu grasped the invitation letter tightly in his hand as he peered around the person in front of him. He was excited to see what this “affinity stone” would do.

“Come up child,” said the examiner with the golden sash, “no amount of procrastinating will change your elemental affinity.”

The boy in front swallowed briefly before nodding seriously and handing his invitation letter to Elder Rue. He then took three curt steps up towards the clear orb and stood before it in momentary confusion. 

“Just place your hand on the stone and it will glow in accordance with your element.” the examiner said. By this time, all of the disciples and attendants had recognized that the examiner with the golden sash was the one in charge and the only one who would be talking.

The boy appeared to be around 14 years of age and was clearly putting on a brave front to impress the elders around him. This was the standard age for disciples here as the requirement for an invitation was the second stage of Body Refining before the age of 15. 

He placed his hand gingerly on the affinity stone and stared vividly in anticipation. The stone swirled with a multitude of colors before slowly consolidating in to a faint green.

“Wood, lesser affinity,” the examiner said. “Outer Sect Disciple.” 

The boy revealed a complicated look on his face; apparently split between disappointment and denial.

“This can’t be true!” an old man roared from the sides. “He is heir to the Thirteen Spears Clan, test him again!”

The examiner gave a leveled look towards the troublemaker. “Thirteen Spears Clan? Never heard of them.”

The old man displayed a look of embarrassment. For an esteemed elder of the Five Elements Sect to have never heard of his small clan was more than likely true.

“The affinity stone cannot be wrong. No matter how many times anyone is tested it will not change,” declared the examiner with the golden sash. “However, as to changing the boy’s position from an Outer Sect Disciple, that can indeed be done.”

A hopeful expression was shown on the old man’s face. Despite the shamelessness of his outburst, perhaps the young heir to his clan would benefit.

The examiner looked down at the young heir standing on the steps. “Your invitation has been withdrawn. Take your leave.”  

The other two examiners looked at each other with wry smiles. They both understood their senior’s temperament. Once he had made a decision he refused to be challenged. Furthermore, losing a disciple of lesser affinity was no real loss.

Niu watched this scene in mild amusement. He understood that the odds of a prominent elder from a massive sect giving face to a lesser clan were basically zero. It was likely that only the Royal Family themselves would be able to intimidate this elder.

The examination continued in this manner. The second person up had a lesser affinity for fire and was also relegated to the Outer Sect. After him, Miss Cecil stepped up towards the stone. She was moving somewhat stiffer than normal and her steely blue eyes were staring straight forward. As she put her hand on the orb it swirled fiercely before transforming into a silvery-gray color.

“Oh?” the head examiner let out a sound of pleasant surprise. “Metal, superior affinity, Inner Disciple.” He then gave a pleasant smile towards the girl and pointed towards the third elder who was leaning against a wall. “Elder William can guide you towards the Metal Branch after the ceremony has concluded.”

 It was obvious that the disciples of the Inner Sect would be treated with more respect than those of the Outer. The other disciples and attendants immediately began whispering amongst themselves, gossiping about the results.

Niu, in comparison, smiled happily. He believed that a woman as kind as Miss Cecil fully deserved any good luck that came her way. Perhaps that same luck would allow him to join the Metal Sect with her.

Of the next twenty or so disciples, none were able to join the Inner Sect. This included the three individuals who were rated as having medium affinity.

As Niu came closer to the front of the line he slowly became more nervous. No matter how firm his heart was from his past life, he had never been truly evaluated by another before. To have his worth judged by a stone? How strange was that? When he was a mountain he contained thousands of crystals and gems that the mortal treasured. Now one of those gems was going to tell him how promising his future was? How ironic could fate be?

“Next,” said the head examiner.

Niu walked up the steps and stood before the stone pedestal. He heard a muffled intake of breath behind him from where the two maids were standing.  He gave a quick glance around him towards all of the viewers. He was not accustomed to so many people focusing on him. He felt his face heating up as he placed his hand on the even hotter affinity stone.

The stone swirled in its normal fashion before it began to faintly glow. Slowly one color after another was removed. Gray was the first to disappear, which represented metal. After that it was green, then blue, then red. Finally only one color remained  - yellow.

It began as a faint yellow but gradually grew more and more fierce. Soon it was piercingly bright, to the degree that the stone walls of the building took on a yellow hue.

The head examiner smiled in quiet satisfaction. A deep yellow such as this was definitely a superior affinity to the Earth Element. He opened his mouth to announce the result when something surprising occurred.

The yellow streaks started whipping about chaotically inside the stone. They were moving at such an incredible speed that they began to form cracks on the outside of the orb. All of the disciples except Niu and Miss Cecil turned away to protect their eyes. 

A splintering sound reverberated through the air as a great white streak slithered down the center of the orb. With a thundering crash, the stone split apart violently. Shards shot off in multiple directions, only to be stopped by the invisible force coming from the black rope.

A few pieces of the orb had glanced Niu and the head examiner, causing thin streaks of red on Niu’s face and pale white lines on the elders. Evidently, the hot shrapnel had not even broken the elder’s skin.

However, neither of them was concerned with their current appearance. What concerned them was the enormous glowing mountain that had appeared before their eyes.

The orb had shattered due to the expansion of the gas to form the shape that now occupied the pedestal- two boundless mountains, one black and one white, with an enormous golden dragon connecting them. The dragon’s tail wrapped around the black mountain, which was taller and thinner than the white mountain, whilst the dragon’s upper body was perched upon the white mountain, which was thicker but shorter than the black one.

After a few short moments, the image dissipated. A heavy silence spread like fog throughout the room.  The only sound to be heard was the slight whistling of the wind outside.

Niu stood still in front of the now-empty pedestal. He stared thoughtfully at the shards while he tried to remember what the mountain had looked like. It was not his former body as there were only two peaks. Yet each peak seemed to contain some Grand Dao, incomprehensible to him. And that dragon! What could that dragon possibly have been?

“Earth,” the head examiner began. “Affinity unknown, disciple rank… to be decided.” He finished.

The surrounding onlookers immediately burst into fervent conversation. An unknown affinity level and undecided disciple rank? What kind of ruling was this?

Miss Cecil covered her mouth in shock.  The boy she had taken to be a sheepish beggar turned out to have such a mysterious, powerful martial talent. 

 “Elder Rue,” started the head examiner, “I would appreciate it if you managed the rest of the testing from here on out. It should take a day to produce a new affinity stone. I am going to bring this boy to the Earth Branch.”

 “That is no problem, sir.”

 “What is your name, boy?” asked the head examiner.

 “Niu.”

“? Well, young Niu, your life is about to become very interesting.”

“I think so as well,” Niu responded with a smile.

“Very well then, follow me. We will take my mount to the city of Xuan Wu.” After saying this, the elder led Niu outside and whistled loudly. A great cawing was heard in response as an immense blood-red raven swooped down towards them from the sky.

The raven stood over six meters high with a wingspan more than double that.  Its great talons seemed as threatening as drawn swords and its giant eyes peered intelligently towards Niu. It seemed curious as to whom this young chick was that its partner had brought.

Niu stared at the beast with his mouth agape. This enormous bird was going to carry him to the Earth Branch? What if he fell off? Heavens! What if the bird accidentally crushed him with its talons?

Before Niu could dive further into his anxiety, a hand reached down from atop the bird and pulled him up. As soon as Niu sat down on the birds back, it pumped its great wings twice and took off into the air. Leaving a petrified Niu sprawled out on the beast’s back, grasping feathers and cursing the heavens each time the bird pumped its wings.