Zhao Yi opened his eyes it had been a long evening attempting to learn the basics of cultivation it had been several weeks of attempting with no success. He suspected that it was due to the fact that he had no guidance. Being an orphan in the lands under the Xi clan wasn't exactly easy. He was only fourteen, but had been living on his own from the orphanage since he was 12 since. Unfortunately they simply couldn't afford to care for anyone beyond that age, but Zhao Yi didn't mind they gave him enough pocket money and taught him enough to get by.

The chances of him actually having a chance at being a cultivator was near zero, but being an Orphan non-cultivator meant a hard life scraping by without seeing any fruit from the effort. So he would rather take the chance and attempt to learn than never get the opportunity all together

Zun Hu was considered a small town of a mere twenty thousand commoners. The Local Xi Clan branch that managed it didn't even keep any of their cultivators here permanently, but had a rotating overseer who would come through. If Zhao Yi was serious about his pursue he had to find some way to find a teacher.

Leaving his small shack which was surrounded by a small garden he had long lived outside the town walls growing herbs and weeds that were used in basic medicines. It was just enough for him to get food. The rest of his home he had to build from his own two hands, but it was livable.

Giving himself a quick stretch he quickly made his way to the market the traders were in town and he hoped to find something about cultivation and best was the news they brought from outside their isolated town.

...

The market bustled with sound and people walking through Zhao Yi listened carefully as he eavesdropped on various conversations he didn't linger too long as his presence was considered an annoyance if he wasn't buying anything.

He was disappointed not to find any thing related to cultivation, but was still not surprised either what reason would a trader bother bringing such thing to a town with no known cultivators.

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"Did you hear that the Xi Clan was going to hold a tournament?"

As he passed by one of the stalls the phrase perked his ears immediately. As he backtracked he bent down as if he had dropped something and listened closely.

"Yeah, I heard they were having a massive event where all citizens under the Xi Clan could participate and be tested. If they did well they would be taken in as initiates. I also heard a few smaller sects were going to be there to potentially scoop up anyone who the Xi Clan didn't desire."

"Yep! That is what was announced it is being held in a four months. Do you plan on sending your son or daughter?" the merchant said as he dusted off his supplies.

"My son had no interest in such things, but I was thinking of sending my daughter even if she can just catch the eyes of some suitor or cultivator. I wouldn't mind her being a second wife of concubine if lets us gain some benefit to the family."

"Ayeee not a bad plan. I will be heading their after this trip. I can escort her with me if you want?"

The conversation drifted into personal talk which was beyond his interest. Zhao Yi could barely contain his excitement. Xi city was fairly far, but even for a poor person like him he could make his way over by the time the tournament was meant to start. All he had to do was train even more than he did already and prove he could at least fight even if he had no cultivation yet.

Zhao Yi grinned his goal was finally clear it was time to seize it.

Racing back to his shack he gathered what he could and assessed his belongings. A quarterstaff which he used to fend off wild beasts from his home. It was well worn, but flexible which would be fine enough for his purposes. He had a leather sack he got from selling animal skins from his hunting and enough copper to buy two meals.

If he sold all his herbs he was growing now tomorrow he probably would have enough for a weeks worth of supplies. If he sold the rest of his belongings to some of the other poor families near his own place he figured he could buy up a fresh tunic and shoes which would at least make him look presentable when he arrived at Xi city.

Taking off his shirt he stretched as he prepared for a long day of picking herbs and digging up roots.

Despite the hard work ahead of him he smiled his heart was filled with joy at his potential prospects. Besides he had enjoyed working up a sweat and training his body it was satisfying to see results. Even if he could never cultivate again he figured if he trained long enough he could at least be a guard at a city somewhere. Anything was better than being stuck in Zun Hu for the rest of his life.

The sun peaked through the trees high in the sky as he got to work.