Time flew by and soon the Xuan family was celebrating their young master, Xuan Jin's 5th birthday. Running out of the palace was a little boy barely a meter in height with straight black hair and bright eyes.
Treading along the stone path of the garden the little boy soon found himself before a large lake with a pavilion at the center of it. Within said pavilion a young couple were playing a board game of sorts.
"Father! Mother! I am here!" The young boy shouted as he waved at the couple. "Someone's up early." Mei chuckled, as Xuan Moon shook his head a smile gracing his face. With a flick of his fingers a path appeared on the surface of the lake leading to the pavilion.
Seeing this Jin was amazed and walked towards the pavilion. "Father I've finally turned 5 years old! You promised you'd teach me the ways of cultivation!" Jin pleaded as he hugged his father's leg.
Locking eyes with Mei, Xuan Moon let out a bitter sigh before ruffling his son's hair. "I did indeed promise you that.....before though would you like to help father beat your mother in a game of chess?" Xuan Moon asked in an excited fashion.
"Well if you insist." Jin replied as if doing his father a grand favor. Almost an hour later the game concluded, with Mei edging out a victory over the two Xuans.
"...Mother how are you so good at games?" Jin asked in shock and disbelief. "Years of experience, one day you'll be just as good as your mother if you practice enough." Mei smiled while inwardly she was sweating. 'He's even better than Moon and he's only been playing for a year...soon he'll be even better than me.'
'His journey finally begins today.....' Xuan Moon pondered as he gazed down towards his son. Once Jin began his cultivation that would symbolise the beginning of his battle against the heavens, the flickering of hope to defeat the Jade Sword Sect's Wu.
'The Immortal Warrior.....I told those fools 5 years ago ambushing him was pointless. Haizzz.' Xuan Moon sighed internally before locking eyes with Mei and nodding.
"Jin'er you said you wanted to learn the ways of cultivation?" The young man asked, as his son turned towards him. Immediately his eyes lit up and a big toothy grin emerged on his face. "Are you finally going to teach me father!?" Jin exclaimed almost jumping for joy.
After this the family of three left the garden and descended the mountain. Of course with Xuan Moon and Mei's speed this was merely a journey of a few minutes and soon they arrived at the center of Black Blade Pavilion.
While called Black Blade Pavilion, the faction was for all intents and purposes a sect. Their territory was 6 mountains, surrounding a city in the center. This city was called Valley of the Black Blade or Black Blade City for short.
Arriving at the city their pace slowed as they leisurely strolled through the road. Upon seeing the Sect Master and his family the disciples saluted one by one.
"This Disciple greets Sect Master and his family!"
They bowed in unison to which Xuan Moon simply nodded. "We'll be testing my son's talent today so inform those at the Black Blade to clear out." He commanded the disciples. Immediately they ran towards the center of the city to spread the news.
Continuing their leisurely stroll Jin marveled at the buildings and various people running around. For the past 5 years he'd spent his whole life in the palace and the garden, with his only interactions being with his parents, the occasional Elder, and the servants.
'So this is what's outside the mountain....' Jin thought before his eyes widened in shock. Before him a 10 meter long blade was plunged into the ground. The handle alone was easily wider and longer than his father, while the blade looked as though it absorbed all the light in the world.
"Father what is that?" Jin asked, gazing at the wonder that lay before him. "That is the Black Blade, the life weapon of my great great grandfather and the core of the Pavilion's defensive array." Xuan Moon answered as he longingly looked at the blade.
Setting Jin down, Xuan Moon explained how the test would work and what he'd have to do. Patting him lightly on the back Xuan Moon lightly pushed Jin towards the Black Blade.
Walking towards it, there were five big steps Jin had to climb which he did so easily before arriving in front of the blade. Placing his small palm on the flat of the blade, young boy closed his eyes trying to "feel" the power of the blade through his palm.
"HUMMM!"
Hearing the hum of the blade everyone's ears perked up. Naturally quite a crow had formed to witness the debut of the Young Sect Master and immediately they were awed.
Cultivation talent was ranked rather simply. First there were those who were unranked, this didn't mean they couldn't cultivate rather that they'd be significantly slower than their ranked counter parts. This was the majority of cultivators.
A hum of the blade signified a ranked talent. The ranks went as follows, 1 Star, 2 Star, 3 Star, and although never seen in the Black Jade province 4 Star. Approximately 1 out of every 50 people were fortunate enough to have 1 Star talent, 1 out of 1000 possessed a 2 Star talent, while a 3 Star Talent was only seen in 1 out of 100,000 people. To the people of Black Jade province a 4 Star talent was a myth for all intents and purposes.
As the hum resounded, another arose, and then another. The hums then converged together in a sort of resonance, before getting progressively louder. Then all of a sudden a white star emerged from the blade.
"1 Star and its still resonating! As expected of the Young Sect Master."
Like clockwork another white star emerged from the blade. A round of cheers echoing throughout the crowd. Seeing this Xuan Moon was already pleased, but he knew his son was capable of more.
And as if agreeing with him, the blade released yet another white star for a total of 3 stars. Immediately the crowd burst into fervent celebration, their Young Sect Master was a genius. But it wasn't over.
The blade continued to hum to the awe of the crowd, was a 4th star going to emerge. Seeing this Xuan Moon smirked, rather than a 4th star this was something else. 'Fortunately he's inherited it.'
"SCREEEECH!!!"
Black rays of light erupted from the blade penetrating the 3 white stars and dying them a deep abyss-like black. This once again shocked the crowd and even more so Xuan Moon.
'When I awakened the Xuan bloodline my stars had merely turned a dark grey, but his...his bloodline power is spectacular.' He thought as the phenomena around Jin and the blade began to dim down.
The stars hung in the air for a few moments before flying out and striking Jin's back. Unbeknownst to anyone, the black blade cracked ever so slightly a shard shooting into Jin's hand.
"Did I do well father?" Jin asked removing his hand before turning to his dad. Xuan Moon was lost for words, simply giving his son a thumbs up. "You did great."