Liam woke up with a stretch and ran to his brother's room to wake him up.
"Wake up big brother" he pinched his brother's cheek to wake him up.
"Hunh Liam, why are you up so early the day is not bright yet" he asked while yawning and rubbing his eyes.
"Have you forgotten what day it is?". He rolled his eyes.
"What day is it?"
He clicked his tongue.
"it's the day of the Trials for the rites of passage"
"Ho" he exclaimed hitting his head.
"Let's go wake up mom and dad"
He jumped up pulling his brother along.
In a crowded hall full of little excited kids, chattering about the type of trials they think they'll be tested on.
In a conner Liam sat with his family who all look hopefully at him. He was their last chance to be able to enter the martial art school. His brother Ario was unable to gather QI in his mandarin, so he could not enter any martial school.
Their family had been declining for some time now, since the death of their first daughter who was the best martial art student in the whole kingdom. She had a very high potential and was expected to go places but she died on a hunting trip to verdantreach forest.
Her body was never found and she never came back. Her family was devastated by her death and couldn't help but morn. Ario also seemed like he could be a shinning star like his sister but he was unable to gather qi due to a disease in in mandarin. Every time he tried to gather qi he felt a sharp pain in his heart leading to him to go unconscious. Although he had a very powerful constitution that many will drool to have but the inability to gather Qi made him useless. People ridiculed their family for being cursed and even outright say that they shouldn't hope for a miracle in Liam and that their cure will also bring him down.
The family was not bothered by their teases and just kept up with all of it. They made sure to protect Liam as they were sure that someone was targeting their family from behind, but they could not point out who. When Ario was diagnosed by his mother who was a healer, she noticed that is was no disease that was preventing Ario from gathering qi but a seal a powerful one at that that couldn't have been done by someone weak. They tried to break the seal but stopped after noticing that the seal was powered by his soul. So, breaking the seal meant killing Arion. They gave up the idea and sadly left Arion to live his life with a crippled mandarin.
People looked in their direction from time to time laughing and teasing them.
Liam was feeling a bit pressured by the gazes from his peers. Arion seeing this held his hands and squeezed them.
"Don't let them bother you just believe in yourself ok"
"And even it you're unable to make it in martial arts we'll go together to the other side of the river crossing and do something else. Remember the world is not limited to our city alone"
Due to his brother's encouragement, he felt better and no longer bothered by the ridicule from others.
Their parents smile and gave Ario a nod of acknowledgment glad that although he could not cultivate, he did everything in his power to support his brother.
A chiming bell rang out through the hall signifying the arrival of the grandmaster of the sky martial school.
A beautiful silver bird landed on the podium transforming into a middle-aged man with a long silver beard, bald head and a long flowing white rob with a moon crest attached to it.
The young kids gasped in surprise baffled by his unique entry.
The adult were more surprised because being able to transform means he had achieved a perfect synchronization with his martial art. When one was in perfect synch with their martial art they'll be able to take on its manifested form.
Two figures flashed beside him they were the grand master of the phoenix and eclipse martial schools.
"Show off" the grand master of the phoenix sect stated while clicking her tongue in irritation.
The grand master of the eclipse sect only smiled at the grand master's show of ability.
"Its not a show off the kids need to start making up their mind of which sect they want to join"
The phoenix was about the retaliate but the eclipse cleared his trouth, reminding them where they were.
The phoenix frowned but didn't say anything more.
The sky grand master scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Sorry about that anyway welcome young one" he greeted his voice booming cheerfully in the hall.
"You all know you'll be undergoing your trails which will be held by different grand masters. You will be undergoing only three different trials. That will test your strength, abilities and endurance"
"Your first trial will be held by the eclipse grandmaster which will be the test of endurance. All parents should seat at the end of the hall for the trial to start now"
Arion gave Liam one last squeeze and a shoulder tap before leaving with his parent to the end of the hall.
"The trial starts now" the eclipse master stated.
The ground under their feet rose up in the air.
Outside the city's gate Dreama finally saw a human populated region. He sighed in relief because the system had warned him a few days ago that if he didn't get to a place populated by humans hell be struck by lightning.
"What a heartless system you are"
"Thank god I made it"
[host has not completed his mission yet and could still be struck by lightning]
"whatever"
"I hope they wouldn't attack me" he muttered while heading towards the gate guarded by the city's guards.
"Ho look." A guard pointed in his direction.
"Seems like this one also wants to take the trial"
"He looks quite dirty and a bit haggard I wonder how far he had to travel to get here"
"Poor kid he must be a determined one"
Dreama could not understand the language so he could only assume the worst, thinking they planed on kicking him out.
As soon as he got close, he was handed a space ring by one of the guards who nodded at him and allowed him to pass.
Dreama was completely baffled by what just happened.
[mission complete]
[congratulation to the host]
[MISSION PANEL: Find the nearest human settlement]
Mission Level: E Rank
Objective:
Find the nearest settlement
Rewards:
Main rewards:
100 gold coin
100 experience point
The dagger of blood
Bonus rewards:
Universal language
10 level 1 power stone
[warning failure to complete mission host will be struck by lightning and die]
[congratulation to the host for completing the mission]
[mission alert]
"You got to be kidding me"
[enter into a martial sect]
[reward will be calculated according to hosts achievement]
"Just what in the world is going on here" he exclaimed attracting a passerby.
"Hey kid are you also here to undergo the trial]
"Hun yea"
"You better hurry up the trail is about to start"
"You need to head towards the sky sect at the north region".
"Thank you"
"You're welcome kid but you need change those clothes on you it smells really bad. I hope you got some clothes in your space ring.
"good luck" with that the passerby left.
He smelled his clothed and almost puked
"Gosh I smell bad" he exclaimed.
"this space ring thing how do I used it".
He brought the ring closer to his face to inspect it. His mind was drawn into it and saw a room sizes space with a couple of clothes and some fruits.
"Its almost like my inventory in the system"
"Equip outfit"
Nothing happened.
He sighed and thought how he was going to take out the clothes. A clothe magically appeared before him.
"Okay I can only use my thoughts to pick out an item"
"Lets go find an alley and hurry up to that sect before the trial begins"