"Ha!"
"Huff!"
On the back of a small courtyard manor, on a makeshift training area, a handsome young man of barely fifteen was waving a heavy iron training sword with a deeply concentrated look on his face, sweat running on his brow.
This young man is Lin Feng.
With his midnight black hair, fair skin and entrancing forest green eyes, he looked quite heroic. Specially his eyes, that not only were a rare colour on the Azure Mystic continent, but that also shone with determination and strength.
This past seven years had allowed him to grow into a stalwart young man, full of vigour and energy.
Since the day he witnessed the battle between those two cultivators, a fire started burning on his soul. A profound desire to one day soar through the heavens as a practitioner awoke within him, and henceforth he dedicated most of his time to training. Other than training, he spent the rest of the time reading about cultivation and studying low level sword manuals, the only books he could get on the subject.
"All right, this should be enough for today!" Said Lin Feng, a satisfied smile on his face.
Lin Feng had gotten into the habit of waking up at the crack of dawn, and training until the sun was high in the sky. He had trained until his hand bled and he passed out from exhaustion, all to fulfil his wish of becoming a powerful cultivator in the future.
"Sigh... this manual is truly far too simple, with my comprehensive abilities it only took me four months to achieve a level of large success in it. Well, what did i expect? This is not a cultivator sword manual, but something common people train in."
Lin Feng had studied several such manuals, and while his skill with the sword could be considered quite good, it was nothing compared to those sect geniuses who had access to the best techniques.
"Oh well, it's still enough to help me train my physical body. Since i can't train my inner Yuan energy yet, making my body as fit as possible is the only thing i can do. It will at least make cultivation in the lower level smoother, after all my body will be able to handle the strain of energy absorption more easily" Thought Lin Feng, as he wiped the sweat off his brow.
Good cultivation manuals are things that only sects and powerful clans can get their hands on, while low level cultivation techniques are things that Lin Feng is not interested in, since by using those methods his future prospects will be severely limited. So, like most youths of his age, his greatest desire is to be accepted into one of the sects so that he can begin his path as a cultivator by using a superior cultivation method.
Getting accepted into the sects is no easy matter however. It requires the individual to possess excellent innate talent, as well as high comprehensive abilities. As such, like in most kingdoms, every year there is a nation wide selection process, where the sects look for promising talents to groom.
The Azure Sky Kingdom, where Lin Feng lives is no exception to this rule. However, as a small kingdom on the western-most edge of the Azure Mystic Continent, bordering the Starfall Mountain Range which is filled with magical beasts, many sects won't even send representatives there. The aspiring children will be lucky if some mid-level sects send examiners, to say nothing of the 4 Great Sects.
This year's exam is taking place two days from now, and Lin Feng is almost jumping out of his skin with excitement. His lifelong wish is about to become reality, and his future path lay ahead, unobstructed.
"I have to get into at least a mid-level sect. The resources in the low-level sects are too sparse, and they can barely produce a Dao of the Element Realm expert every hundred years or so. As for Elemental Ascension realm experts, they usually only have one or two, as Dao reserve of the entire sect." Thought Lin Feng, imagining the power that such experts could wield.
"Mid-level sects at least always have several Elemental Ascension experts as it's guardians and even an Elemental Saint Realm expert as a Patriarch. If i'm lucky, i could attract the attention of one of those experts and become his disciple."
The cultivation realms are something that even common people know about. They are divided into: Yuan Foundation Realm, Yuan Emission Realm, Yuan Solidification Realm and Yuan Seed Realm, each of these further divided into 9 levels. After these come the Dao of the Element Realm, Elemental Ascension Realm, Elemental Saint Realm and Elemental Immortal Realm, each divided into early stage, mid stage and peak stage.
The great divider amongst sects is whether a sect has a Elemental Immortal Realm expert, which is the requirement for a sect to be considered a high-level sect. Elemental Immortal experts are the individuals who have truly transcended the mortal coil and stand above all creatures of the Azure Mystic Continent.
"Ah, how great would it be if one of the 4 Great Sects sent one of their examiners here... Pft! What am i saying? I'd be lucky if the weakest amongst the high-level sects was to send one to this backwater place, to say nothing of the 4 Great Sects!" Said Lin Feng, while day-dreaming about such a lucky thing happening to him.
"Ah.." Sighed Lin Feng, while staring that the clouds slowly moving in the sky.
"I better get inside, otherwise mother is going to scold me again" After thinking that, Lin Feng quickly got up from the ground where he was lying down.
After getting up, he quickly walked across the small training ground and to his room, where the changed into a clean set of clothes before moving in the direction of the kitchen.
Lin Mei, Lin Feng's mother, was just finishing their breakfast when Lin Feng entered the kitchen, a silly smile on his face after seeing his mother so focused on the task at hand.
Lin Mei was still the most beautiful woman Lin Feng had ever seen. The way the sun's light played on her hair, and her eyes shone with kindness and just a hint of mischief gave her a unique charm that was quite compelling. He could see why his father fell so hopelessly in love with his mother.
After hearing footsteps approach, Lin Mei looked over her shoulder and smiled at Lin Feng with so much love showing in her eyes that Lin Feng couldn't help but smiling back.
"There you are! I was on the verge of going to look for you. Honestly Feng'er, is it really necessary for you to train at such an ungodly hour?" Scolded Lin Mei, the kind smile still playing in her lips.
"Mother, we talked about this before! If i hope to be chosen by one of the sects in the exam, i need to be in my best condition!"Whined Lin Feng, although if you were to say that he would deny until his last breath.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Are you really so eager to leave your mother behind? Ah, what have i done wrong? I thought i had raised a good, filial son. Turns out he can't wait for the chance to get away from me!" Said Lin Mei, with a dramatic air about her and a teasing glint in her eyes.
"Mother, you know that's not it! However, a bird must leave the nest in order to fly into the skies. You know that since that night, my dream has been to become a cultivator. I promise after i join one of the sects, i'll come visit whenever i can!" With a serious expression, Lin Feng swore while holding his mother's hand.
The only thing Lin Feng dreaded about joining one of the sects was the fact that he'd have to leave his mother behind. Specially considering their family situation, with his father being kept away by his main wife and mother kept exiled in this small courtyard manor, alone.
However, he knew the only way he could change his mother's fate would be by becoming a powerful cultivator and either pressuring the family to treat her as she deserves or take her away from this place. In such a small city, even the lowest level cultivator still commanded a certain level of respect from the locals.
"Alright you silly child, mother was just teasing you. Now wash your hands, breakfast will be done in a couple of minutes" With the same kind smile on her face, Lin Mei shooed her son away from the cooking area.
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Two days quickly passed, and the time for the exam finally arrived. That morning, Lin Feng once again woke up at the crack of dawn. This time however, it wasn't to train but to take the test that would determine his fate for the foreseeable future.
After saying goodbye to his mother, he headed in the direction of his father's home. Children would all be accompanied by their fathers to the test site, where they would pay the exam fee and wait outside for the results that could change the fate of an entire clan.
Lin Feng wasn't too happy about having to go to the family compound. Other than his father and younger sister, he didn't get along with anyone else there. All of the family elders had been poisoned against him and his mother by his father's main wife, and the dislike had extended to the members of the younger generation as well.
After arriving at the entrance to the family compound, Lin Feng saw that most of the family was already outside getting ready to send off the members of the younger generation. His father was there, as was his wife and daughter, his little sister Lin Xie. The family elders were also outside, giving words of advice to the younger members.
Lin Feng approached the group, and ignoring the disdainful glares almost everyone was sending him, greeted his father.
"Father, this son has come to pay his respects!" With cupped hands, Lin Feng gave a deep bow to his father.
Lin Suo was a handsome man, you could clearly see that he had many girls after him when he was younger. Even now in his late 30's he still had an imposing air about him that attracted quite a few looks.
"Feng'er, you have grown into a fine young man. Forgive this useless father for not being able to be there for you more" With a smile and a slightly melancholic look in his eyes, Lin Suo clasped his son's shoulder. It pained him to be forced to neglect his only son, however the family elders stood firmly with his wife on this matter. He had no choice but to accept it, lest he caused a schism in the family. His wife, Lin Xuetong, came from a prominent family in the city they live in, and the connection between the families had been quite profitable to the Lin family.
"Father, this son would never think ill of you. This son knows of the pressures father faces and doesn't wish to become one more burden to father" With a rueful look on his face, Lin Feng brushes his fathers concerns away. He know's very well that his and his mother's situation cannot be entirely blamed on his father. The real culprit is Lin Xuetong and her poisonous ways.
"Good child! In this exam, you must be accepted into one of the better sects. This way, father won't have to worry so much about your situation. You will have the power to change your fate, and the fate of your mother with but a few words!"
Lin Suo looked forward to the day he could make the family elders eat their words about his son!
"Big brother!"
Suddenly a loud, feminine voice filled with mischievousness sounded.
When Lin Feng looked in the direction of the voice, he saw a pretty girl dressed in fine purple robes running at break neck speeds towards him. With long suffering smile, he called out to the the girl.
"Xue'er, you're going to hurt yourself if you run fast. Brother is not going anywhere, is there a need for such a rush?"
While gasping loudly, the little girl gave a mischievous grin before punching him in the arm.
"I almost never get to see you big brother! If i don't run you may disappear again."
"Ouch! Do you have to be such a tomboy? No man is going to want to marry such a violent girl you know?"
"Humph! Who said i would want to marry a man who couldn't even take a few hits from a delicate lady like me?" Lin Xue responded with a pout.
Laughing out loud, Lin Feng ruffled her hair and with caring eyes looked her over. Lin Xue looked a lot like her mother, who in spite of being a venomous bitch, was quite beautiful. With her chestnut coloured hair and onyx black eyes, you could see she would grow up to be quite gorgeous.
"Xue'er, are you going to participate in the tests as well?" In the Azure Mystic continent, it didn't matter if you were a man or a woman. As long as you had talent to cultivate, the sects would be more than happy to draw you into their fold.
"Of course! I'm not going to be one of those women that only knows how to serve their husband. I'm going to be a powerful cultivator who has full control over her fate!" With a serious look in her eyes, Lin Xue shouted while waving her fist. It was truly quite amusing.
"Alright Feng'er, Xue'er. It's time to head out to the testing site. We don't want to be late and have to stand at the end of the line." Lin Suo started corralling the family members who were going to take the test, and move them in the direction of the testing site.
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