Chapter 3: Mocking Trial
Once in a decade, the Ancient White Sect are allowed to open the portal once more, connecting to the heavens, to summon the holy pillar of flames called Nirvana. Known as the sacred flame of the Phoenix, the Nirvana has the capability of restoring the dead back to life, even if only an ash remains, its holy flames will cleanse the soul and renew it, refine it, until it was ready to undergo rebirth. However, Nirvana flames are absolutely destructive, can burn anything to nothingness. Thus only the souls of heavenly cultivators can touch it without burning. For the mortals, the flame has a wonderful effect on them.
Since a million years ago, the heavens and hell have sealed the realm, disabling all cultivators from advancing to immortal level. The seal prevents the heaven energy from descending to earth thus also preventing anyone from touching the start of cultivation. Ever since then, new cultivators were born by using the sacred flames. By bathing on its energy containing tons of amounts of yang, a mortal can absorb it to his dantians to start circulation. And since yang energy is mostly compatible on males, females have lower chances of acquiring its power. Not unless they absorb the yin energy of Snow Phoenix' Frost breath.
The flames are wildly spreading anywhere and if untreated, it may cause explosion not weaker than nuclear bombs. Thus the elders of the sect uses various forbidden techniques to create a seal that will entrap the flames into a ball of heart. The cost of using forbidden techniques is mostly life force thus the sect can only open the flames for a day or two. After that , the flame must return immediately to the heavens so as to prevent the risk of explosion.
Levi has never seen a holy flame in his whole life. He only heard that cultivators who absorbed it felt great, and feel boundless energy overloading their meridians. The energy once transformed is now called qi. However, Levi has seen heavenly sword qi many times. Up above the sky, where the green and blue twilight meet the blackened clouds, sometimes, just sometimes, a wave of unknown energy blasts across the sky in a quick and booming manner. The wave was like a sword slashing thus it was called heavenly sword qi. No one can explain where the wave came from and countless rumours emerging saying someone is fighting in the heavens, or that some immortal expert is trying to break the heaven's seal. But whatever that really is, the wave is a killing array as no one dares to get closer. It can kill any cultivator as easy as knife cutting through pie. It was even said that if one mentioned to curse the heavens for the rest of his life, the sword wave would slash down on that person much much more powerful than lightning. The sect let it be, thinking it was a protective array installed to prevent celestial being from descending to the world, and to prevent mortals from cursing the heavens.
The last wave of the array was the most powerful Levi have ever seen. And most beautiful. Following are trails of photon beams and colorful sparkles that interweaves with the stars. Levi sat by his little house' roof, staring at the sky in silence. No one can guess what he is thinking.
The next day is a trial day. He woke up at first daylight, took a bath and wore his untattered clothes. He did not bother to cook instead he bought two pieces of bread and munched them quickly while sipping chocolate-flavored coffee.
The day was cloudy. A day when everyone would doze off to the comfort of their homes. But to the determined youths, this is nothing. Levi got to the school grounds early, but many more are earlier than him. It was already filled with a hundred people chattering softly. Some are flexing, taking warm up and jogging around the circle. Some were even sparring nonstop. Levi found a seat. Fog cometh, embracing the whole area with coldness.
"I'd better take a warm-up."
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As soon as the elders, teachers, and the young masters came, the host immediately announced the start of the trial. Levi was one of the first. He walked to the stage. Seeing that the head of the sect and Marell is not here, he heaved a sigh of relief.
His opponent is of the same age but is more bigger than him. He was stanced like a sumo wrestler. Levi gulped and did an open stance.
"Fight!"
Levi opened the fight by kicking the opponent's head, down to his stomach, down to his knee. The opponent was caught off guard, a punch came meeting his nose. He was unfuriated and charged to Levi with a battlecry. Levi was pummeled to the ground. He felt like his chest is pounded by a stone. The fatty rained punches on him. Levi grabbed his hand and counter-attacked.
Fighting was unexpectedly hard. One needs a lot of stamina and perseverance. Levi should have expected for the pain to come. He was very dizzy right now. But so was the opponent. The fatty first gave up after he reversed their position and rained punches on him. Levi punched weaker every second. After all, this is his first time beating someone and it really don't feel good. His conscience is kicking in so he stopped when the fatty surrendered.
"Levi wins!"
No one is cheering for him as everybody is focused on the more exciting fights. He looked at the direction of the young masters. Some looked at him in ridicule and are sneering.
The whole trial lasted for three hours. The sun is already up high in the sky but black clouds are stealing its sunshine glory. Sweat stenched the whole arena yet no blood was spilled. The elders eagerly got up for the second trial.
"NOW! Everybody get up we'll start the second trial!!", it was one of the elders suddenly boomed that deafens the whole crowd. "The second trial is to test your speed, balance, and body coordination! Now kick the ground and run to the east wall! Anyone who comes in after an incense of time is disqualified! Get off your ass and start running!" The elder pummeled himself like a bullet leaving shockwave which drove dust away. He vanished as fast as an arrow leaving its string. Everyone was marveled. So this is the power of cultivators?!
The other teachers smirked and simultaneously kicked themself up high in the air. A larger shockwave drove everyone away as dust arises. Without waiting for someone to lead, everyone starts running towards the east wall like their life depended on it. Shouting battlecry as they charge like angry bulls.
The school was emptied in a second.
Levi was in the middle, pretty much stuck. He can only follow the flow of the crowd. But some arrogant young masters directly shoved anyone in their way. The crowd was disassembled immediately. Everyone is trying to get forward by stepping on each other.
"Help! Help!", said a fatty young master as he was stampeded mercilessly.
Levi noticed him and tried pulled him up but he too was shovelled to the ground and was stepped on. He used his body to cover the fatty's head and used his hand to cover his. Step after step, foot after foot, they pumelled him like a rag. Their kick nearly crack his spine. One strong hit on his head was all he felt before he passed out in convulsion.
Levi did not know how long he fell asleep. When he opened his eyes, he was lying on a grass bed, staring at the sky. A face suddenly popped into his vision.
"Hi!"
He jerked. "Huh?" Who is this guy? The guy seems to be the fatty young master who was stampeded with him. There were mud and grease on his face.
"Come on, get up. I bought some food for you. And some ice packets for your head."
Levi felt his hair is wet. He touched his head. Blood. But not that much. A sudden pain electrified his brain when he forced to get up. "Agck!"
"Ah, don't move then." The fatty grabbed a hand towel and pressed it on his head. The pain intensified but he bears with it. Next, the fatty packed the ice and applied it on his swelling parts.
"No. I can do that. Thank you."
The fatty gave him the ice. "No need to thank me. I must thank you for shielding me back there. If not, my skull would have been crushed."
"Y... yeah.. huh? Oh right. Where am I? What about the trial?"
"Forget about the trial. We'll never make it. The time is almost ending. And the east wall is still far away."
Levi struggled to get despite dizzines crept over him. He leaned on a pine tree. A quick scan to his surroundings. "We are in the south forest. Are we?"
"Yes. I think so."
"Let's go. We can still make it. I know a shortcut."
"Huh? But...", the fatty also got up and jogged to follow the tail of Levi who walked very quick. "Wait."
The two reached the summit in no time. They glanced down. Houses. Buildings everywhere. The city stretched for a few miles and there was nothing but rows and rows of buildings. To the farthest their eyes can see, the wall so tall. Taller than any buildings and much farther, stretching from north to south.
"Woah. It was unbelievably amazing."
"Yeah."
"Oh, we haven't introduced each other right? My name is Fang Bu. You are?"
"...Levi."
"Levi? That sounds more foreign. You are not Chinese?"
"I'm half-Chinese, half-foreign."
"Foreign?"
"I'm not sure. My father never mentioned where he'd come from."
"Oh, nice meeting you, Levi."
"You too."
They started trecking down the mountain once more.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone