Meanwhile on top of the patriarch's mansion.
Two men sat crosslegged opposite each other as the air blew their hair around erratically.
One of them was a bald old man with a beard reaching his navel. This was the man who banished Lucian from the clan.
Opposite him was a middle aged man of about 40 covered in a blue coloured robe. His hair were blue while a mirage of a blue burning flame could be seen on it as if they were on fire.
This was the patriarch of the BurningBlue clan.The strongest person in the burningblue clan and one of the top ten strongest in Azure Dragon province.
Ray Burningblue.
"So how was the martial spirit awakening test, elder." Ray asked, his eyes shut in meditation.
"It was better than last year, patriarch. We now have four 5th grade geniuses and a grade 6 genius. He is your son, Zeras." The grand elder replied, the happiness in his tone unconcealed.
"About Zeras, don't you think..."
"There's no big deal in Zeras being able to awaken a 6th grade martial spirit." Ray said cutting the elder short.
"Achieving the sixth grade martial spirit only made him worthy of being my son.
Besides I learned that the other two clans also posses 6th grade geniuses too. The martial sects produced Four 6th grade geniuses too."Ray said causing the grand elder mouth to open to form an O shape.
One had to know 6th grade geniuses were extremely rare, but now he heard they were at least other 6 geniuses also at the sixth grade. This was just mind blowing.
"Do you know what this spike in geniuses signify, grand elder." Ray asked in his emotionless voice.
"Could it be?"The grand elder asked his voice shaking in disbelief.
"Yes, it a sign that the Prodigies War Ruins will soon be opening. So we had to be prepared. Double the amount of resources on the new geniuses as much as the clan can afford, especially on the 5th grade geniuses and Zeras. They are our winning cards." Ray said.
"Consider that done patriarch, but there's one small thing worrying me a little, patriarch."
"Oh, and what could that be?". Ray asked in his usual emotionless voice.
"We had one who couldn't awaken a martial spirit among us too."
"Hmm, that's rare, who is he?"
"He is the boy adopted by your brother, patriarch, Lucian Atherston."
Ray's eyes immediately snapped open as an horrifying beastly aura emanated from him, causing the erratically blowing air to immediately go still as if afraid of angering the man.
"What did you just say." Ray asked as the temperature around the place suddenly began to spike up causing the roof of the mansion to started melting while the air started sizzling as if being fried.
Sweat droplets continuously rolled down the face of the grand elder unknown whether the increase in temperature was the cause or something else.
"I said the boy adopted by your brother, Jason Burningblue couldn't awaken a martial spirit."
The stillness remained for a while, before a gentle laugh suddenly broke the silence as Ray started laughing as if he had gone mad.
"Brother, it seemed you were wrong once again."
Suddenly turning towards the grand elder, Ray unbuttoned his shirt as he revealed his chest to the grand elder.
"Grand elder, do you know of the reason why I got this scar." Ray said revealing his rock hard chest that seemed to have been carved from the mountain while also incredibly smooth but the diagonal line that ran from his left shoulder to his right waist was unmistakable.
"It was a wound you got from the other contestants in the Last Prodigies War." Grand elder said immediately.
"No. It's a wound from my own brother. It's a wound from my final battle with Jason."
"But why will you both fight that hard." The grand elder asked confused, as he was well aware of the wound that made the then most powerful genius of the BurningBlue clan in bed for weeks.
"I can remember that day like it happened just yesterday."Ray said his eyes drifting off into the past:
-- -- --
Amidst the ruin of a battlefield, dead bodies of different races piled up for miles, as the mountain around has been reduced to mere rubbles. The ground for thousands of miles were covered in cracks while some had even be completely shattered into pieces making one wonder just what level of power could render a place with such damage.
Two men, barechested, stood straight, their body as if carved from a mountain as raw power coursed through ever fiber of their skin.
One of them was a man with burning blue hair who held a saber in his hands. This was no doubt Ray although much younger.
The other was a red haired man holding a spear in hands while a powerful will emanated from his being like a war god.
Ray suddenly fell down onto his knees as blood spilled out from his mouth. On his chest was an extremely deep slash mark running diagonally through his entire chest, blood oozing out in frightening amount.
But Ray ignored that as he called out
"Why?, Jason".
The red haired man suddenly began walking away not saying a word but Ray was unrelenting as he shouted out to him:
"Jason, we will become the ultimate ruler of the Azure Dragon province with our combined power. The Azure Dragon province will finally be united as one. This has always been our ancestors dream. Our sole reason will finally be fulfilled. Are you willing to ignore all that?". Ray.
The red haired man-Jason- steps suddenly stopped as he replied without turning back:
"I'm not the one to be satisfied with living under the buttom of the well. The universe is so wide. This we both know, Ray. My life goal is to explore the worlds out there. This is the path I've chosen."Jason replied as he continued moving forward towards the dark Vortex that was started to mysteriously form.
"But the outer worlds is too dangerous, Jason. Even with your level of power, You only have a 10% chance of survival. Is it really worth it?". Ray asked confused.
"Even if I die on this path, then I'll have no regrets." Jason said as he arrived in front of the vortex.
"But I promise you Ray, I'll return once again."Jason said as he entered into the Vortex, his figure disappearing within as the vortex also disappeared leaving a blood covered Ray remaining on the battlefield.
-- -- --
Ray slowly buttoned his shirt back as he stared at the grand elder.
"Since then I've trained ten times harder than I used to in hopes of giving my brother a good fight when he arrives. But I was disappointed.
While Jason did came back as promised. He wasn't the Jason I know.
Not only was his cultivation crippled, his warrior will to fight had also been broken. He left, a powerful warrior but returned a babysitter for a weak bodied boy and a blind girl. He later succumbed to his injury and died not long ago.
I was angry and disappointed, but one thing was sure. Jason could have run but he was held down due to trying to save the two kids for some unknown reasons and ended up dead in the end." Ray said in a pained voice which soon turned into anger in the next second.
"And now you tell me the one who my brother died for was a trash who couldn't awaken a martial spirit. That my brother's death was in vain?" Ray said his face contorted in rage.
"Don't worry patriarch. I've ordered for their banishment from the clan." The grand elder said immediately.
"Is banishment enough for what they have done? Is it enough for the years of training I've gone through that turned useless in the end?Is it enough for my brother's life that was lost.
No!
Banishing them is too small a punishment.
Once they are out from the clan.
Then Kill Them Both. They have no reason to continue existing in this world."Ray said a murderous glint flashing in his eyes. He sat down back on the ground and closed his eyes as the air started blowing back again while the temperature once again dropped back to normal.
"Consider your orders done, Patriarch" The grand elder said as he turned into a beam of light and disappeared into the distance.
After the grand elder left, Ray suddenly opened his eyes as he thought to himself.
'A person who can injure Jason to such extent can't be ordinary. And Jason seemed to be protecting the kids due to an order or he wouldn't risk his life so much for them.
A person who can order Jason around is even more beyond my imagination. Nonetheless, one thing is sure, the kids backgrounds are frightening.
But that wouldn't matter if they both are dead.
To eliminate any threat, I can only be ruthless.
"I'm sorry Jason, it seems you relied too much on the wrong person."Ray said closing his eyes in deep meditation.