At the southwest district, in the city of clouds, there was a huge commotion. Young men and women, all aspiring to become strong and fear-instilling warriors, were gathering for the test to join one of the biggest, wealthiest and reputed warrior schools in the Xin country. Not only would it reward those that successfully entered with free, monthly resources, but it would also give them access to the ancient and massive collection of inner energy techniques, and battle scrolls that detailed profound patterns of movings one’s body for special results.
Even though it was common knowledge regarding that the school’s doors were open at all times, it was all a facade to draw the aspiring warriors to the city. In reality, the school would only conduct opening exams with a sufficient amount of them. Despite holding the exams every second month, there were thousands of younglings here today. It signified both the greatness of the school, and the extreme population of the Xin country. To simplify the process, the exam was divided into four parts. Talent, purity, will power and combat ability.
While the many contestants were slowly accumulating to what was needed, Wei Mei Rong stood in the crowd by herself. Five days had gone by in the blink of an eye from when she rented the room inside the inn. With the meager money that lay hidden in her dress after getting kidnapped, the only things she could afford was the food from the inn as well as a new outfit. To not stand out too much, she bought a leather armor consisting of: Torso, leggings, and boots. She had also cut her hair, to make more inconspicuous if the Tian clan were to be there, now looking like a tomboy.
However, it was impossible avoid her effeminate, delicate features only seen on women. Somehow, the bright, blue dot on her forehead made her look very mysterious and cold at the same time. Together with the short hair, leather armor and white skin it made her look very strange, almost like that of someone not from around the town. But it didn’t do her much, it would only work better concealing her identity. Father would surely drag her home if he found out she was here. Only after making a name for herself could she tell him without having worries about being married off to someone.
The kidnapping from earlier had made her more aware of the world. Under no circumstances would she let someone get so close to her as that young man did. Never would she allow herself to look so vulnerable. Surprisingly, her face had no wounds from the battle, nor the rest of her body. All of the injuries were healed after killing Tian Shen. Most likely, it was the work of the astral path and its energy, maybe even the little girl – the self-proclaimed first moon.
Under these five days, she had arduously tried to better her control of the white blue energy. In the beginning, she was only able to summon the flame. But after hours she understood the principle behind it. The trick was to control it like her own body. After all, it was a part of her body, as much as her handed was. Unfortunately, energy by itself was not dangerous or used as a means to harm. Only by using inner techniques coupled with instruction from battle scrolls could it be utilized as such. For the very essence of energy wasn’t harmful, it was the opposite. Energy's life.
“Ladies and gentlemen. Proud and talentful warriors. Thank you all for coming here today, and thank you for wanting to join our very own Star seeking academy. My name is Elder Mo and I am in charge of this exam.” A middle-aged man with brown, curly hair and a scar all the way from his left chin up to just below his left eye. When Wei Mei Rong took watched the man, she felt the powerful aura being excluded. Sadly, even with her new-gained power of the first moon, she was unable to see through him.
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In today’s test, we will go through four things; Talent, purity, will power and combat ability. We will first start with talent. All those that wants to take the test, please follow old me inside the school grounds.” Elder Mo explained the gate behind him.
All of the contestants for joining the school followed him inside. Among many others, Wei Mei Rong kept as low of a profile that she could. Some stared at her for quite a while, but after having their mouth agape for too long, they remembered why they were here.
Walking inside the gate, they came to a stop minutes after. A field of grass with three pillars of a strange material. Elder Mo cleared his throat and spoke, “This is the first test where we shall decide your talent. These pillars come from a far-away kingdom that specializes in technology. The invention is able to measure one’s affinity to space – how well the energy from the astral gate can flow. Please set yourselves up in three lines.”
After everyone were divided into three lines the elder said, “Good. Now, please step forward and the name you wish to be known as in the academy, It’ll also serve as your warrior name in the future. Also, state your age.Then, place your handed on the pillar. From that the pillar will infuse its energy inside to gauge your astral path. It’s a bit troublesome to explain, so you’ll just have to trust me. When the inspection is completed, the top of the pillar, the orb, will emit light in relation to talent. First three step forward now please.”
The first line, a burly, strong-looking young man stepped forward. He was clad in beast furs and obviously came from a far-away land. “Cheng Seung, 17 years old.” He said and went forward to the pillar, placing his hand upon. The orb above slowly began to shine, and a rather faint light was visible.
“Grade 3 talent, good! You have qualified for the next round!” Elder Mo’s voice echoed in the field.”
Then the next one, this from line two. It was a women. Contrary to Cheng Seung, she was rather plain, most likely a commoner. Her voice was shaky when introducing herself, “Ling Meng, 16 years old.” Hurriedly moving forward, she also pressed her hand onto the pillar.
“Grade 2 talent, not qualified!”
The plain woman’s face instantly became dejected, slowly walking away from the field and out from the school grounds while Cheng Seung walked to place himself a few meters away form the elder himself, according to the the mans instructions of course.
“Next!”