I strode north, never looking back. The very earth itself seemed to be guiding me in this direction, an almost magnetic pull dragging me onwards towards the unknown. I observed many signs of beasts and not a few innocent animals, but none accosted me on my march. When I hungered, the land provided me with fruits and edible roots. When I thirsted, a crystal stream sufficed to slake my need, so I traveled on sleeping under the stars with not a constellation that I could point out.

As I traveled this long road, I began to forget my old selves while a new me was born from the scraps left behind. The confidence of a tycoon that stands above all and the childish love of the land an appreciation for things I once took as background, there but part of life's scenery. I watched the sky how the colors changed throughout the day. The mountains are so majestic like lords watching their charges from on high. Streams and lakes with water so clear you can see an abundance of fish swimming their lives away with no constraints on their freedom. This world is beautiful even with the dangers above and below.

By the third week of walking the wild path, I could not remember any details about my old world or the sect. I knew in my head that they were places I had been, but if you asked me to describe them, I could not do so. So this is it once again I start my road anew. What trials will this life bring? Upon this realization, I stepped from the shadow of the forest onto a path hewn by man. I felt the pull recede the land had repaid me my gift leading me to my first crossroad now the decision on my future is in my hands alone. A decision I must make but which is correct, be it left or be it right?

My decision came with the arrival of an old traveler, a peddler of sorts it would seem by the large pack upon his bowed back. The man noticed me quickly and watched me with wary eyes. It is true I must be quite the sight wandering the wilderness with naught but this linen shirt and trousers. Nevertheless, he did not pause in his travel, keeping one eye on the road ahead and another on me as I fell in beside him. "Honored elder, could you perchance tell me of the local and where I might find a days work and a nights rest under the roof, for the nights are cold, and I own little to warm these bones."

The old man seemed confused by my words, but a moment, then he spoke in such an uncouth manner my ears felt like they might bleed if not for my strong constitution. "You talk like some namby-pamby noble with a stick-up yer arse. But look like the poorest urchin prowling the streets of the capital. Repeat thyself but do so with simple words." Then, at last, he scowled at his own mistake. For in his haste to chastise, the lilt of his tongue nearly matched my own. I am Intrigued by his guile, for I now understand this is, no simple old man.

I stopped to apologize, beginning the customary salute to remember too late that I lacked the necessary limbs to make this gesture of respect. So instead, I bowed low, trying to cover my shame. The old man merrily chuckled at my awkwardness and waved me back beside him. We walked for many minutes in silence when the old man spoke once more. "Listen, son. If you continue to talk and act like some lost son of some old clan, you will attract the wrong sort of attention; people who live under the yoke of those on high don't like those kinds of people butting into their lives. We prefer things to stay simple and quiet. A boy discarded from his family while sad will still bring troubles in their wake."

I turned and bowed to his wisdom. "Fear thee not about my past coming to seek retribution upon thee and thine, for I left my former abode of my free will. I left no animosity nor debt in my passing for anyone to seek out. I would still prefer to partake of thine knowledge and experience so I might learn to fit in with my equals."

The elderly man raised a brow at my words, but soon the suspect fled from his eyes, and warmth spread in its place. "Very well young man this road is long and this old man could use the company but my wisdom wont come without a price." With these words, he unhitched himself from the pack and helped to strap it upon my shoulders, tying the straps so that it would not interfere with my injury. I felt a moment of surprise at the weight of the pack, but the weight is well within my abilities to carry on. On we went into the light of a new dawn. I listened to my traveling companion during my journey as he told me the tales of heroes and deeds of bygone days. As we covered those merry miles, I breathed in the essence of the world, and in memory of my Grandfathers, I gave it back to the land beneath these trodding feet.

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Chen Mei-ling, the first ranked inner disciple of the Shattering Sky sect, sat on a low hanging branch back facing the camp below. The sight of her once junior disciples eyes playing across her thoughts. She could find no hatred nor blame; she could see only calm acceptance of his fate. "How did this happen? I only meant to scare the boy for hurting my pride." She whispered to the moons floating above, but they gave no response to her question. She rubbed her fingers absently on the plain hemp rope that the boy had tied around his waist: the only adornment, a simple cloth sack. The five seeds inside were his only possessions.

The slight bowing of the bough let Mei Ling know someone had joined her in her solace. A small hand reached out, touching the belt. "Ling Ling, I asked around. Not one of us asked Junior for his name, nor did any of our group offer him one of our own. This was probably his first time leaving sect territory in his entire life, and all he got was betrayal from those who are supposed to be as close as family." Mei-ling didn't turn to look because the anger in her friend's voice was only too apparent. She felt it burning inside herself as well.

Standing up, Mei-Ling placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "Come the Elder should arrive soon to send us back to the sect." They jumped from the branch heading toward the small fire in the clearing. Upon entering the circle of disciples, Mei-ling and her friend were met with clapping and laughter. A young man was enacting some scene pretending to be a one-armed man being mauled by some beast. Mei-ling's face flushed with anger as she reached for the saber at her waist. All around, the group continued to laugh at the scene. On the far side of the fire, the disciple who cut the arm from the boy sat with a wicked smile on his lips as he met her angry eyes.

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Before Mei-ling could take a whole step forward, there was a flash of silver, and the entertainer fell limply to the ground, eyes bulging as he tried to gasp for breath. Several people tried to rush to his aid but found themselves frozen in place, unable to move a single muscle. They all could hear light footsteps coming from above. Walking upon the air as if it was solid as the earth from above the trees came a breathtaking beauty. Instead of the usual Daoist robes worn by nearly all cultivators, this woman dons a traditional Qipao. She was leaving her shoulders and calves bare. She did up her hair in an intricate bun with two hair sticks holding it in place.

Mei-Ling wanted to salute and greet this honored elder, but she was still under whatever technique that paralyzes her and her group. Although the elder's face was impassive Mei-ling, saw a flash of disgust in her cold eyes. She watched the group for several long moments that seemed to stretch on forever to whoever met her gaze. Then, finally, she turned her gaze away from them. She tapped a finger on a silver ring, and a rolled-up scroll appeared in her hands. "Group one made up of the top nineteen inner sect disciples. and one outer sect disciple whose rank is very bottom." The elder turned her gaze to me, and I felt a chill run up my spine. "Chen Mei-ling you are the leader of this 'team' correct?"

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I felt whatever held my body in stasis release its hold, and I quickly saluted, giving a proper bow. "This junior greets Honored elder. Yes I was chosen to lead this group in the trial." I felt sweat begin to trickle down the back of my neck as the elder continued to stare as if she could be looking into my soul.

When she next spoke, I felt the coldness in her voice had grown colder. "Look at me and answer my questions. What was your first mistake as leader of this excursion?"

I thought hard about everything that happened since the trial began, going over the trip in my head in a flash. However, I could only think of a single thing I did wrong. "When I demanded junior disciples arm in recompense in jest I did not expect others to take it as a command from the leader."

When I thought the elder's voice couldn't get any colder, I was severely mistaken. A layer of frost began to spread over the clearing, and everyone began to shiver uncontrollably. "I asked for your first mistake, not the last one. What about the rest of you what do you think your 'leader's' first mistake was?"

Martial brother Liu answered his usual sneer back on his face as he looked my way. Then he turned and saluted the elder still standing on air. "She brought that wastrel instead of looking for someone of more use."

The moment he finished his remark, the elder speared him with her gaze. His face paled, and he lowered his gaze, fists clenching at his side. "So you all believe this boy whom none of you even bothered to ask his name. His surname is Liu in case any of you care. Was a weakling and useless is that right? Well, as far as I am concerned young Liu is the only one of this group that passed the trial." She spun on another disciple, shooting him a question. "What was your mission for this trial?"

I failed to listen to the elder as she questioned my fellow disciples. Junior's surname struck me, and my gaze wandered toward martial brother Liu. Are they perchance from the same clan? Is there a conflict between them from before joining the Shattering Sky sect? Another thought came to the forefront of my mind. The martial brother I frequently bring along to handle spirit plants is also from the same clan as martial brother Liu.

Unfortunately, the Honored elder's attention did not stray too far from my person. I was brought back from my inner thought when she once again began questioning me. "Why did you bring an outer disciple on a test to see if inner disciples are ready to go out into the wider world? While you are at it tell me how much time you were given to prepare and how much time was given to outer disciple Liu."

Not sure what the elder was getting at, I inwardly shrugged before replying. "Our martial brother whom we already included in this group fell ill the day of our departure. I asked him whom we could use as a replacement and he pointed me toward junior Liu. I asked the inner sect elder about rules forbidding outer disciples from joining and he told me there was no such rule. I went straight down the mountain from there. I found junior Liu in the spirit herb garden and ordered him to follow me." My voice quieted as I figured out what the elder was pointing me toward. "We were given a month to prepare for the trial while junior Liu was given no time to prepare." I was still mildly confused about why the Honored Elder snort when I told of our martial brother falling ill.

Elder watched me with cold eyes before speaking in a tone that felt like knives slicing into my body. "What did you tell junior Liu when he asked you about supplies that first night in the woods."

My eyes fell as the memory resurfaced. "I told him everyone is responsible for their own supplies then I ordered him to do all the camp chores then take watch for the first night."

The frost in the clearing was now turning into crystals as the temperature continued to drop. "And every single night after. Not only did the boy do everything while the rest sat back and watched. He had to scavenge for berries and roots on the march without falling behind because when he did, he was mercilessly beaten by his brothers and sisters. However, that was not your stupidest mistake, girl. You ordered a group that has not shown you a shred of respect to take forward scout. Did you expect them to do their job properly? Honestly, I almost wish junior Liu had not been keeping his eyes open; then at least the sect wouldn't have to waste resources on a bunch of useless trash."

She looked down while forcing us all to look into her eyes. "The reason you failed isn't that you made so many stupid mistakes they are inevitable in the young. No, you all failed because I wouldn't trust a single one here in this clearing to have my back out in the wider world. That was the real test here, only Junior Liu has passed this trial that is my final verdict. None of you will be permitted to retake this trial for ten years you will spend five of them in solitary cultivation." There was no warmth in the elder's eyes, only indifference. "I will open a path you will enter the formation and wait for a summons from the sect leader."

The elder held her arms out, palms facing down as she began to pour qi into the ground below. But before she could finish the formation, a flash of lightning made her pause. She turned while saluting the man who appeared. "Sect leader I was not expecting you to come personally."

Sect leader glanced around at the mostly frozen disciples before turning back to the elder. He smiled warmly at her."Ting Ting, there is no need for formalities we are not in the presence of the disciples." Those words hit the group like a hammer several even blacked out still held upright by the ice encasing their bodies."