The mazelike tunnels stretched beneath Cloud City. There was no telling how far they reached. In addition, it was protected by a mysterious power, one that guided all of its entrants back to the entrance. No matter how hard you tried to navigate this maze, you would eventually be sent back to the beginning.

Cai Yun had worked with Cai Jun in order to try to solve the maze, but they had no luck. They tried to keep a log of combinations in order to try to narrow down the possibilities, but the maze within changed every so often, making it impossible to find the correct path. Nonetheless, Cai Yun tried because he wanted to believe. He needed something to believe in. Without the ability to cultivate, there was very little you could do, and Cai Yun hated himself for it.

Cai Yun navigated the maze as best as he could, but it sent him back every time. The mysterious power had kept him out like always. The only clue to the maze was the cold air that seemed to fill the entire place.

Then, he spotted a man standing near the entrance. It was his father, Cai Yan. “Uncle Cai Jun said I could find you here.”

“I was studying their martial arts again,” said Cai Yun. “I want to learn so bad.”

“I know,” Cai Yan answered. “But without any soul force, you cannot develop the martial power needed to practice martial arts.”

“Is there no way?” Cai Yun asked. “Am I doomed to be like this forever?!?”

“Come home with me,” said Cai Yan. His tone suddenly changed.

Cai Yun quietly stood behind Cai Yan as they walked home together. After a long period of silence, Cai Yan finally spoke up, “I promised your mother I would not tell you until your fifteenth birthday,” said Cai Yan. “But, it looks like I will have to break that promise.”

“What promise?” Cai Yun asked.

“Your mother is still alive,” Cai Yan answered.

“W-w-what?!?” Cai Yun was shocked. He had been told his mother was dead and had died when he was young. There was only a single picture of his mother in the whole house and it was the picture of her holding him when he was born.

“Your mother wanted to make sure that she was not tracked by members of her own clan,” said Cai Yan. “That is why she personally blocked the connection between your Dantian and your veins.”

The Dantian was the source of all soul force and eventually martial force. Destroying it would make someone an un-cultivator. That was what Cai Yun had believed. But now, he was being told that his mother willingly severed it at a young age.

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“What good does that do me?!?” Cai Yun asked.

“Your mother was also a gifted alchemist, capable of making powerful elixirs that were previously unknown,” said Cai Yan. “That is why she also had to flee Cloud City. They wanted her knowledge.”

To many, Cai Yun’s mother was incredibly talented and they wanted her to share that knowledge, but she refused. “Why are you telling me this now?” Cai Yun asked. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?!?” he cried.

“I promised your mother to give you a choice to not become a cultivator until you were old enough to make your own decisions,” said Cai Yan. “Then, you could decide for yourself if you wanted to continue down this path.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Cai Yun asked. “What hope is there for an un-cultivator?”

Cai Yan suddenly stopped and turned to face Cai Yun. “When you become a cultivator, you will be fighting against all the other cultivators whether you want to or not,” said Cai Yan. “Do you think you can live making an enemy of the world?”

“If I can stop Cai Rong, I would gladly sacrifice myself!” Cai Yun declared.

Cai Rong was going to be engaged to Cai Meili against her will. Cai Meili was a beautiful red haired woman and fourth cousin to Cai Yun. She was also a gifted alchemist, capable of refining Heaven Grade Elixirs at the age of fifteen. They had been friends when they were young and Cai Yun resented Cai Rong for forcing Cai Meili into this situation.

“Promise me you will not lose yourself in the pursuit of power,” said Cai Yan.

“I promise,” Cai Yun answered. “I promise I will not let my desire for power cloud my judgment.”

Cai Yan gave a sigh of relief. “Good,” he said.

“Can you tell me what mom was really like?” Cai Yun asked.

“She was a strong beauty,” Cai Yan answered. “I have no idea how old she really is, but she appeared to be in her early twenties when I met her. She was stronger than anyone I had ever met and she was compassionate, listening to people’s opinions in the bar. That was why I fell in love with her.”

Cai Yun was glad that he had inherited some of his mother’s compassion. When Cai Yun asked in the past, his father usually avoided the question, not wanting to speak of it. Cai Yan had saw this as his way of not influencing Cai Yun until he was old enough to understand the decisions he was making.

“I don’t understand how mom could help me,” said Cai Yun.

“That is because it was originally intended to help me,” said Cai Yan. “The pill was meant to restore my cultivation.”

“If mom was so great, then couldn’t she make more?” Cai Yun asked.

“Some ingredients are not common,” said Cai Yan. “There was only enough materials for one and left the decision to me. I chose to save it for you.”

Cai Yun could not believe what he was hearing. His father had sacrificed his own chances for recovery to give Cai Yun a chance at being a cultivator. His father willingly let himself be picked on by all of the elders to give Cai Yun a chance at a better future. Cai Yun could not believe it.

“Thank you, father,” Cai Yun said as he bowed.

“Don’t thank me until it is done,” said Cai Yan.

For the first time, Cai Yun had hope. There was a way of getting out of being an un-cultivator. His father had given him the chance. If he could grow strong enough to face Cai Rong before the tournament, he could save Cai Meili as well.