Today, Yun Xiao turned six. Today is also the long awaited day of his awakening. Still a child, he was extremely excited and looking forward to awake his natural element. Most martial cultivators awake one element. The extremely talented ones wake two elements. The geniuses and the chosen of the crop awakes three different elements.
The normal elements are the elements of wind, water, fire and earth.
Sub elements include lightning, ice, wood and lava.
The mystical elements are time, space, light and darkness.
Yun Xiao was remembering a book of elements his mother gave him a long time ago.
"Mother, I already have the eternal flame. I really hope that my natural element is not fire. Maybe my luck will be good and I can find treasures similar to the eternal flame. So i really hope i don't awake any of the normal elements. If possible I am hoping to get the lightning element or any of the mystical elements. That would be awesome."
"Xiao'er, of couse if you were to awaken the sub elements or the mystical elements, it would give you a better starting point compared to others. However, remember that the only advantage is the starting point. I know of people who awoke just a normal element, yet they are hundred times more powerful than people who have sub elements. What is important is how you train your element. Your talent and perserverance is more important than which element you awaken. You already have the eternal flame. Just with the eternal flame, if you train hard, you can lord over all other elements. But Mother also hopes that you do not awaken the fire element as the eternal flame is already considered the lord of flames. But Mother must tell you something. Most of the your ancestors awoke the fire element. So there os a very high probability that you will awaken the fire element. Mother can only hope that if you do awaken the fire element, you will not be too disappointed."
"I understand mother. I will promise mother that no matter which element I awaken, I will definitely reach the top."
"It is good that you can think this way Xiao'er."
"Mother, you mentioned my ancestors. Until today, you have never mentioned about them. If it is not too much, can you tell me more about my father and my heritage?"
Mother gave a long sigh and said, "Xiao'er, for now, let us just concentrate on the awakening. Tomorrow, mother will tell you everything."
"Thank you mother. However, if mother finds it too difficult to speak about it, just forget I asked. To me, only mother and Little Gold are my family. It is not that important after all."
Yun Xiao's mother did not reply to that. Instead she brought out a bowl and many different items.
"Come Xiao'er, the sun has risen. Now is the time for the awakening. First, we need to fill up this bowl with your blood."
Without hesitation, Yun Xiao used the knife that mother had already prepared and sliced a vein from his wrist. Very quickly, Yun Xiao's blood filled up the bowl. As soon as the bowl was filled, mother took out some powder and applied it to the vein that was still spurting blood. Almost mmediately, the vein closed up and the wound started to heal.
"What a great and effective medicine to stop blood loss Mother, what is it called?"
"This powder that you see here is made up of the grounded hearts of ice dragons. Dragon hearts are one of the most sought after ingredients in alchemy. The ice dragon in particular is well known for its healing abilities. Therefore if you ever come across a ice dragon heart, simply dry it under the first light of the sun for 90 days and then ground it to powder. Simple alchemy is a very useful skill to have when you wonder by yourself. Mother has the complete books manuals about alchemy from beginner to master level if you are interested. Anyways, you already have the eternal flame. Therefore if you wish to persue alchemy, it is a given that as long as you work hard, you will definitely be successful."
With that, mother first took a piece of dried tree bark and dipped it into Yun Xiao's blood. She then waited for few minutes before burning the dried tree bark.
"Unfortunately, you do not have the Wood element.
Yun Xiao who was wayching the whole process with full attention could not help ask,
"How can you tell mother? I only saw you dipping the dried tree bark and then buring it."
"That is simple Xiao'er. The reason mother knows that you do not have the wood element is simply because after burning the dried tree bark, the smoke was white in colour. If the smoke was red in colour, that would mean that you have the element of the item that was burnt."
"Ahhhhh, now I understand. Does this mean that all the items that you have placed out here represents a different element?"
"Yes Xiao'er. The item must represent the a particular element. This past year, mother was collecting all these items just for this day. It is after all a very important day for you and as your mother, it is my duty to do this for you. Let us move on now, this is fire grass. It has strong concentration of the fire element. Next, let us see if you have the fire element in you. Once again, do not be disapointed if you do have the fire element."
"Thank you mother for the trouble of gathering all these items. I will make do with what the heaven's has decreed for me. Nothing will stop me from reaching the pinnacle of my cultivation."
As Yun Xiao's mother burned the fire grass, Yun Xiao inwardly prayed to the heavens not to have the fire element.
When the first smoke came out and seeing that it was white in colour, Yun Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. Although he had mentally prepared himself, he was still wishing that he would not awaken the fire element. He could not stop himself from giving his mother a knowing smile.
Next...
No earth element either.
Next his mother used the petal of the tornado flower. His mother explaimed that the tornado flowers would only bloom in places that had been ravaged by tornados. The petal of the tornado flower would represent the wind element.
As the blood soaked petal was burnt, the smoke became red in colour.
"Congratulations Xiao'er. You have awakened the wind element. With this element, you can train in wind based martial arts. Also wind element users are naturally very quick. Whether it is used for fleeing or attacking, wind element users have many advantages. Train your wind element well."
Yun Xiao was feeling happy. With the eternal flame and now a wind element as well, he would habe more trump cards.
"Lets go through the rest as well. Who knows if you may have a second or third element. But even if you do not awaken any other elements, you can be satisfied."
"Yes mother."
Next, a finger sized dead transparent fish was dipped into his blood.
No water element.
Amongst the normal elements, Yun Xiao awoke the wind element only.
Next his mother was going to use the items that were placed in a different pile.
"These items are to check if you have awakened amy sub elements."
First, a lava stone was used.
No lava element.
Next, a crystal that was extremely beautiful was used.
The smoke turned red.
"Congratulations again Xiao'er. You have also awakened the ice element. Mother did not expect this at all. In mother's side of the family, almost all the women awakens the water element. So mother thought that there was a possibility for you to awaken the water element. While you did not awaken the water element, you actually awakened the ice element. This is far better. Ice comes from water and it therefore has all the attributes of water as well. But the similarities ends there. Ice element users can also use the freeze ability that water element users cannot. Plus water element users focus more on healing whereas ice element users can be extremely powerful in battle. This is a great sub element for you to have."
"Wow mother, I am so excited now. Can i go and practise now. I cannot wait to try out my eternal flame as well as my wind and ice elements."
"Wait Xiao'er. Have a little bit more patience. Let us use up all the items and see if there is any possibility that you have awakened any more elements.
Next was a piece of rock that had been hit by lightning was dipped into his blood.
Yun Xiao grew anxious here. He really wanted the lightning element. Ever since young, his mother had told him stories about very influential and powerful lightning cultivators. It is more practical to say that Yun Xiao longs for the lightning element.
The rock that was dipped into his blood was the next to release smoke after it was burnt. Yun Xiao eagerly waited and watched.
"Here is to hoping." Yun Xiao told himself.