《Immortal Dynasty (Rewrite)》 Chapter 1 : Loved by the Heavens (Rewritten) If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Prologue (Rewritten) The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Chapter 1 : Loved by the Heavens (Rewritten) Chapter 1 Loved by the Heavens "It appears to be some kind of a game ability..." Well, let me open this system once again, "System Open!" Feng Chanui was looking at the system abilities, and after a while, he realized how everything worked. Apparently, In addition to that weird bloodline thing, he had been granted with a system ability, like the reincarnated protagonists, in those fantasy novels he used to read about back on Earth. He was already clear that this world was different from old Earth. It couldn''t be ancient China; people and the environment were different. His bloodline also mentioned cultivation techniques and inheritances. This was clearly one of these "dog eat dog" worlds or dimensions, were kingdoms and powers were defined by the might of their individual strength. On Earth, no matter how strong someone was, he could not fight against an army by himself, whereas it was more than likely here. Considering how broken his own bloodline was and envisioning his future, Feng Chanui realized he could probably achieve this kind of feats with enough diligence and training. "Hahaha, looks like the heavens haven''t abandoned me after all. This is one of the cheats every gamer would kill for!!" Chanui exclaimed inside his mind. He used to play RPGs and MMOs back in the day, so he understood how great the bloodline he was blessed with was. Acquiring drops was an activity by itself, whether it be at the beginning or endgame. People would farm instances, enemies, and dungeons, just to get items they could use or exchange for money, or useful objects. They had to develop special skills and equip themselves with luck enhancing gear, to augment their chance of getting drops. It was a particularly difficult activity, which was not always rewarding, but always time and energy-consuming. Some people would even create multiple accounts in turn based MMOs, and make teams with specific skill sets driven towards that tedious work. Some even made a living out of this, by exchanging game currency for IRL money. And even those no lives who had spent so much time and resources in order to boost their drop percentage didn''t have as much efficiency as Feng Chanui. Feng Chanui was not an idiot; just telling of one those lunatics, that he possessed +50% for normal drop rates would spell his account''s doom in the next minutes. One of them would probably yell to the mods that catchphrase he hated so much : "Please, Nerf! Too OP." He had to change classes too often, due to one of those PVP sore losers. But announcing that he had a +10% for rare drops was just asking for death. This was definitely "overkill". Someone had to play games to understand how high that drop rate was. In games, high-level bosses sometimes had items with a 1/1000 drop rate or even higher depending on how good it was. Some of these items could never be obtained outside of specific events. And even with all of these conditions aligned, it wasn''t guaranteed to get the item. The first reason was that it was extremely hard to get a chance to fight these mobs. Everyone wanted a piece of the meat, and getting a turn was a combination of wits, relationships, information and also experience. Secondly, it was a very long process to form parties that would be good enough to solo these bosses. They needed specific classes, such as tank or healer to deal with the foes. Not only the party needed to be experienced and extraordinary, it needed good enough items and coordination. They also had to make sure that everyone was okay with the share of drops and items. That was one of the reasons why some people formed their own parties instead of recruiting others. But how good did someone have to be to manage several game screens at the same time? It was unhealthy in its own...Some of those people generally played with their friends or family, so they could take turns and sleep, but among them how many were just messing with their lifespan...Feng Chanui didn''t want to know. The last, but not the least of reasons, was that even with all these conditions reunited, people had a life. Real lives! Doing these type of time demanding quests wasn''t out of question for hardcore gamers, but for others, it was just a hassle. So most of the time, they were stuck with good, but not jaw-dropping panoplies, till they could get their hand on something better. In fact, Feng Chanui didn''t know, but these rules were almost the same in the world he was transported to. Most people only got whatever was best in town and/or at auctions. Only wealthy families could organize such parties. Unless someone was an expert they wouldn''t take unnecessary risks to go into the deeper parts of the forest when they could use their time for cultivation. Feng Chanui didn''t know much about this world yet, but he was sure of one thing, he was definitely going to dominate! His ability wasn''t limited to monsters. Not only was he not required to kill enemies, he could just win a meaningless spar with someone his age or older and get rewarded. If it happened that he could repeat the process in a loop, then this was definitely something he would be skewered for if it was known to outsiders. "I need to be cautious. For now, I need to survive my infancy and my early childhood. I''ll think about what comes next. I can''t let this gracious gift go to waste." Feng Chanui mused and looked at the room.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "The buildings here look like ancient China, but the people eyes and hair color look like those of westerners in my past life." His mother had fiery red hair and she looked like a woman from Northern Europe. She was tall and strong as a Viking, but she was as graceful as a model. His own father looked like a proud lion with his messy brown hair and his big stature. He was wearing an ancient Kimono and was dressed like a Japanese feudal lord. "It also seems like I have an older sister..." Chanui was thinking about the purple short hair teenage girl who helped his delivery. As Chanui was looking around he realized that these people were wealthy. "It looks as if no matter where I get to be born, wealth won''t be a concern..." He sighed " I need to find out what kind of life is in store for me. I can''t wait..." Feng Chanui was pondering as he went to sleep. He couldn''t fight his baby needs with that infantile and weak body. As the baby was sleeping, in the main courtyard, Feng Yange and the rest of the people were having a feast. Feng Kong the second son, was not the most talented individual inside the family, but everyone knew that he was the old matriarch''s favorite son, as he was the last one, and the one she pampered the most. It was important to mention this, especially because he was of her own blood. Feng Feilong the old patriarch had two wives, Feng Yange his own cousin and Ji Nalan. He married Feng Yange first and they were happy. But because she didn''t want to have children too quickly he took another wife which happened to be his own servant. Ji Nalan gave birth to Feng Batui and Feng Ziyan. Then as if she awakened from her blunder the young matriarch put a stop to her cultivation and decided to also give birth. She had Feng Hua, Feng Mitang and then Feng Kong. She thought she could rest easy as she finally produced a son for her husband. Unfortunately for her, Feng Batui was talented...too talented as a matter of fact. He was definitely the most dazzling star the Feng Family ever gave birth to; at least in the last centuries. He reached the Martial disciple realm by the age of 17 and stepped into the martial master at age 32. Even if he was born from a servant he was just too mesmerizing and so his father''s official heir of the clan. When he stepped into that realm, all the big shots of the prefecture came to express their regards. It was to be noted that even the biggest powers around only had martial Seniors as their strongest backup force. Becoming so soon a martial master almost guaranteed Feng Batui to become a martial Senior in the future. What made it more fearful was that his battle efficiency was also known to be exceptional. In this world''s martial encyclopedia, close to the "Jumping rank" challenge, Feng Batui''s name was probably added as the example. His younger sisters were also talented, but they could not inherit the family''s name, according to the clan''s customs. Feng Ziyan who was married to the Bing Prefecture Lord, for instance, was also a martial master and she attained that level at age 25. By age 47 the old patriarch had already given Feng Batui the position of patriarch and right now he was presiding over the festivities as he was holding his cup of wine in the air. "Little Kong, when can we see your son? I hope he''s as boisterous as you are!.." Feng Hua was saying to her younger brother. This blue haired woman was the most impish person in the second generation and she often gave Feng Kong headaches. He most suffered at her hands during their childhood. "Older sister, this little guy is definitely going to hit it off with you, hehe.. he looks even more mischievous than you used to be; you should see how his eyes were radiating vitality." Feng Kong was boasting, as he also most liked this sister of his.Their personalities were a bit similar, even if she loved to bully him. "You still know how to boast after making your wife''s belly so big! She retorted. "You''ve put her in so much inconvenience, it wouldn''t be fair if I didn''t pass by soon?" She asked. "Hehe, Little Hua is as troublesome as ever, I''m sure the newborn is going to be spoiled before he can even walk." Feng Ziyan said as she entered the hall with her husband. "Greetings, Brothers, and sisters!" Yan Ming Li made a loud and shiny entrance. They weren''t expecting him, the Mayor, to come to such a small event. The elders got up in a hurry to chat with him and exchange courtesies. "Best regards to you Feng Kong, I heard that you finally got a boy. I''ll tell our kids they have another playmate now, hehe!" He joked after he got rid of the noisy flies surrounding him. They continued with the festivities until very late and the City Lord went home with his wife. As for Feng Kong, he walked home with his mother. As they hanged out slowly, he noticed the mask on his mother''s face: "Mother are you still worried about that?" "Can''t you ever take a clue?! You''re so old and still this useless. You know, Batui is your brother, but he is not my son. I can''t stress this enough to you, you darn fool. Eventually, our lineage is going to disappear if we do not act swiftly. Batui is getting stronger every day, so much so that even the Prefecture Lord comes casually at every chance he can get to discuss and get close to him" The old woman was worried about this useless son of hers. "Mother you know my view on this matter, I already told you that I do not care for the position. Not to mention, we can''t go against older brother. No one really knows the full extent of his strength; some people even suspect him to be a match for that Yan old ancestor!!" Feng Kong used a dissuading tone to repulse his excessively ambitious mother''s heresies. "Humph, what do you know? I still have hope for my grandson, seeing how lazy and unambitious you are. You''re already hopeless..." Feng Yange sighed pitifully. His mother words were coarse, but he didn''t do much to make her gentler either. The quarrel was extremely entertaining. Seeing this manly middle-aged still being reprimanded like a child was a comedy. He didn''t even dare to look defiantly at the old hag, as she would knock his ass out of the complex without remorse. It already happened several times in the past, so despite being vindictive he learned to watch his tongue. "You never tried to satisfy this old woman''s expectations, if not for you I wouldn''t have so much white hair with my level of cultivation!!" She went on endlessly with her monologue. Feng Kong was already immune to her nagging and feigned to listen. When she was finally done, she slammed the door as she went to her own yard, preparing to sleep alone as she''d lost the favors of her husband since long ago. Feng Kong looked at her walking in the dark and with an interesting facial expression. Chapter 2 : Fathers and Sons (Rewritten) Chapter 2: Fathers and Sons Feng Kong watched, as his mother disappeared into the shadows. It was extremely cold, but his feelings were complicated at this moment, so he didn''t really care. Feng Village always held a very cold weather, but winter didn''t help either. It was difficult to track down the motives of the Clan''s old ancestors, as to why they would decide to settle over such a frigid piece of land. It was a topic that had always puzzled clansmen. They knew they didn''t originate from here. In fact, it was recorded that they came from another continent, but some ancestors ended up here for reasons that never had been disclosed thus far. Even the name of their original birthland was kept secret. According to legends, Feng clansmen were descendants of the legendary Phoenix. As such it was hard to comprehend why they had developed an affinity with the element of Ice. It was even weirder when they knew their first ancestor to settle here, was a genuine and renown fire affinity cultivator. A lot of theories had been spreading pertaining to elemental affinities. Environment and climate were often cited. Some even postulated that genes evolved over the course of generations. Some postulated that attributes were related to the soul. In this world, Cultivators had different affiliations and heritages, but one thing always remained unchangeable, it was the pattern correlating with attributes. Each cultivator was born with a singular and specific ability to channel the forces of nature. They mainly were composed of Earth, Water, Fire, Wood, and Metal. There were also other exotic affinities such as Ice, Lightning, Gravity etc. People weren''t too clear how those ones came to be. Atavism was a mystery in the Tianyang Continent. Generally people inherited their affinities from one of their parents. ************************************************************************** The man thought of many things on the way back. Before he understood how much distance he covered, he was facing his room. He opened the door quietly and approached his newborn. "He''s so cute with those cheeks." He thought. "I never knew, having a boy could make me so emotional." Feng Kong''s fatherly instincts kicked in. He finally had an heir, and suddenly felt an urge to strive for his future. Earlier, he didn''t pay any real mind to his old mother''s naggings, but now this cute boy helped him put things into perspective. He didn''t want to compete with his brother, and neither could he. But sometimes when people wanted to steer clear off trouble, it would often find its own way to their front door. Their lineage was in danger and they needed someone they could rally behind. Feng Kong was certainly not that person. Also, even if the elders respected his mother now, once his father died they would be left with no lifeline. Contrary to his firstborn, Chanui was a boy.As such, he had a legitimate claim to the position of patriarch. For safety, he had to reconsider the future more seriously. "Well if he turns out to be ordinary, this won''t be a problem...but this child gives me an uneasy feeling." Feng Kong felt the difference. He loved his daughter, but he couldn''t help but become hopeful after he looked into the boy''s eyes. The newborn''s gaze was unusual. A wrinkle took shape on his forehead, showing his worry and anxiousness. "To be honest, Mother doesn''t worry in vain. Batui and I have a bad relationship. Also, the Cui Fen''s situation..." Yan Cui Fen was Feng Batui''s wife and Feng Kong''s childhood lover. Feng Kong fell under her charm during an expedition in Wenyan City, Bing prefecture''s Capital City. She was Yan Ming Li''s younger sister, the City Lord of Wenyan City. (The Yan Clan was also the local overlord of the prefecture.) The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Her beauty was breathtaking and Feng Kong was bewitched. They flirted, and much like most romantic and rich teenagers wanted to travel and see some scenery. They adventured in the neighboring lands for more than two years. It wasn''t too uncommon for young cultivators to go on such expeditions. Parents also thought of this as good disciplining. Their children had to leave the nest and see the world for themselves. The problem was that Feng Kong never announced the relationship to his clan. That decision was stupid in retrospective... When they returned she and Feng Batui met by chance. The latter fell for her and made advances not knowing she was involved with his brother. Cui Fen who had heard about the bachelor''s illustrious reputation, passed from an arm to the next, before Feng Kong even had time to announce their love to the world. Feng Batui only learned the truth much later; the contempt he had towards his young brother only got worse. It was already a declining relationship, but by that time it was a sinking boat. "I wish I could change this pathetic past of mine. . . " Feng Kong remembered this disturbing period of his life atop his 34 years of age. "Fortunately I have a good wife and my two children to find solace. " "Tomorrow, perhaps I shall go request audience with Father. He might want to meet his Grandson." He put this last thought to rest before lying down next to his wife; exhausted as well, even if more mentally than physically. Next, to the couple, there was an elevated wooden cradle, equipped with all sorts of embroidery. Feng Chanui was inside, pretending to sleep peacefully. He opened an eye, having heard most of his father''s mutterings. "I think I have a general feeling of what''s going on inside this family. My father was chasing skirts instead of martial techniques. That''s your typical hit first and think later kind of guy..." Feng Chanui Shook his head, he sympathized with the poor man. "These hoes ain''t loyal huh? Well, that was the song I think..." He smiled a bit. That song was one of his favorites before. The lyrics sucked, but the beat was catchy. Feng Chanui already thought of how he was going to set straight some grievances for this na?ve father of his. He also had been deceived by a woman and knew how much it could hurt. He, therefore, decided to act in favor of his poor father. However, Feng Chanui had hardly just arrived in this new world and was not particularly tied to anyone. He wanted to watch the situation a little bit more and understand the clockwork of this dysfunctional family. Something was sure, the future was going to be rich in emotions. He had an opportunity to live a new life to the fullest and avoid his past mistakes. Especially with his god given detection ability, he could detect his enemies before they could act. *********************************************** Farther, in a courtyard of a much bigger amplitude, trees hid the view of a pond. Near this pond, there was a home of traditional Japanese style, within which, Feng Batui discussed with a man who had a friendly but old face. The man gave the impression of hiding a vitality completely opposite to his age. He had effervescent eyes and his look was intimidating.This old man was the previous patriarch of the Feng Clan, Feng Feilong. The most mysterious man of the prefecture. Before retiring a legend saying that Feng Feilong could fight on par with a martial Elder circulated. "Father, how long do you still think of remaining hidden here?" Feng Batui asked anxiously, the relationship with his brother was not good but in the bottom of his heart, he knew how much he doted on that brother of his. Contrary to what Feng Kong thought of him he had put distance between them in order to protect the Clan. His father had recommended him to use the past he shared with his brother; so they can simulate an internal strife and therefore, mislead foes, as well as protect the clan. Today, it had been 19 years since both brothers became strangers, and Feng Batui got enough time to get closer to the level of its father. His father like a lot of people thought was hiding his true level of cultivation. He was a Martial Elder. This was good news for the Clan, but also a dangerous variable. He could not give any opportunities to spies to assess his might. Usually, people from different clans did not like to rally. But confronted with a growing threat they never hesitated to put their pride aside. The Feng Clan would be such a dangerous variable if their secrets were known to outsiders. The only logical course of action would be to join forces against the Feng before they grew invincible. Today it was time for them to attack and eradicate their remaining enemies. Feng Batui was a Peak Martial Senior and apart from the Yan Clan''s old ancestor and his father, nobody could be his match in the area. "Hmm, I need to see my grandson first, then we''ll put our plan into execution. How is your mother doing?". He was referring to his second wife. "She''s still fighting with old mother, over petty stuff mostly..." said the young clan leader. "Seems like I have a mess to clean up..." Feng Feilong said solemnly. He was ashamed of himself as the root of all these dissensions, even though they needed to bide their time for their plan to work. "We''ll start our plan tomorrow night after I see Chanui. Go to rest." The old man commanded. "Alright." Feng Batui got up and left the courtyard. Chapter 3 : Feng Feilong (Rewritten) Chapter 3: Feng Feilong The next day early in the morning Feng Kong was doing morning routines. He just had a son, so he wanted to look cool. He certainly wanted to be a role model, because it was a world where the young revered the strong. Which father did not want to be his son''s hero? As he had such thoughts in mind, Feng Kong heard sneaking sounds. Who was so bold to try and attack him inside his own yard? The clan had several green venues, which were guarded. His own garden was especially secured, as one of the successors. That person had to possess real skill if he/she broke through the guard patrols. Trees were shaking in the backyard as he delivered one last punch and decided to turn around to examine the origin of the noise. "Who¡¯s there? " He asked with a severe tone, showing the local tyrants'' demeanor. "It seems like you decided to straighten up a little bit; maybe having a son or two could do you some good in the end." An old man in black clothes got out and said teasingly. "Father!" The latter bowed and expressed his respect." What are you doing here? Weren''t you in closed-door cultivation?" "Yes, but I wanted to have a look at my grandson. My old bones are itching for tender affection. You and Batui are not cute anymore..." He laughed. Feng Kong was overjoyed; yesterday he was stressing over how he could get in touch with this elusive old man, but now he showed off his own accord to his front door. Feng Chanui really was his lucky star; he was wondering if he should have called him Xingyun (lucky) rather than Chanui.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Finally, they headed to the baby''s room. Underway, Feng Kong flattered his father as best as he could, trying to raise his good mood. He was not opportunistic, but he knew not to squander opportunities. This father of his was too difficult to meet and too powerful to try and be prideful around him. He never showed it but he was always a bit jealous of his brother. He hogged the attention and affection of their father because he met all his expectations. As the youngest and least talented son, he wasn''t a worthy opponent for Feng Batui. So he decided in view of his thin potential to fade out of the contest. In the course of time, Father and son almost became estranged. When Feng Yanran was born, the willful old man did not even come to see her; it was only when she was 7 that she caught a glimpse of his figure. The first thing Feng Feilong did when he met his grand-daughter was checking her talent. When he saw her talent missed by far, especially compared to Ziyan''s and Batui''s children, he lost interest. However, Feng Kong never made reproaches. This world was cruel, and the strong reigned over the weak. As a leader, Feng Feilong couldn''t have the leisure of being sentimental. They had many foes; putting more attention and resources on the gifted children was the priority. Survival and development were paramount. Feng Feilong was a typical product of this ruthless system. He had to battle his own way to the top. *************************************************** Inside the room, Shui Ling held the kid in her arms and rocked him while breastfeeding. The baby didn''t really look satisfied, even if he was intently sucking his mother breasts. It was as though he made a rational choice to eat. Like someone eating their food because they''re aware of its nutritional value. When his father saw this he smiled awkwardly. He really didn''t know how his father would appraise such a strange child. Shui Ling dressed up and greeted her father-in-law with courtesy before giving him the baby. The old codger held his grandson and looked him in the eyes. He began mumbling to Feng Chanui as grandfathers often do so. What surprised him it was that the boy seemed receptive to the words. He even had the vague feeling he understood who he was. He was scowling as if someone had shown a lack of proper etiquette. His father felt as if the little sovereign was trying to lecture his grandfather. If he could speak he would probably say : "Dead old man, don''t be stingy. I want my present now!" Chapter 4 : 4 years later (Rewritten) Chapter 4: 4 years later Four years went by as Feng Chanui found his life as a baby finally come to an end. In the span of those years, Feng Feilong and Feng Batui led a crusade against other powers. Their enemies had formed coalitions against them for a very long time now. Those forces were comprised of the Li Family, the Wolf Gang, and the Beiming Clan. The Li Family was mainly a smuggling group which dealt with all sorts of atrocious activities, such as selling slaves, stealing goods, and assassination. The wolf gang was working under them as some sort of covert company. Even though It was more of a bandit group than anything else, they helped the family keep their image. It was ridiculous because most people were already aware of the truth. Still, without proof, they were free to act in a self-serving way. The Beiming Clan was among the 8 big organizations of the Prefecture : The Qin Family, Meng Clan, Yan Family, Feng Clan, Yong Clan, Jiren Clan, Tai Institute, and the Beiming Clan. It was at the bottom of the ladder, but they were rapidly growing under the flourishing business of the Li Family. They also had history with the Feng Clan so they needed a backer. After observing their actions for more than 10 years, Feng Batui determined that the Li were the Yong clan''s loyal dogs. The clan who wanted to substitute for the Feng clan''s position.He wasn''t able to determine how this cooperation came to be... But they used the Li to mess with the Feng clan''s interests, and it worked. Their industries were declining due to sabotage and corruption. For this single reason, the Li became the scapegoat. Not only could they not profit; they also hastened their downfall. Both the Beiming and Li were annihilated as collateral damage between the two mammoths. The Feng and the Yong, hating one another, was already public knowledge... Feng Chanui witnessed those events unfold when he was just a few weeks old. He realized how much of a "dog eats dog" world this was. Anyone could lose his life at any moment.Sometimes calamities weren''t even a form of karma. Being weak itself constituted a sin. To survive here, someone needed a combination of wits, luck, and wisdom. And last but not the least, talent! With his system, it was easy for him to figure out his foes and their plans, but he lacked the strength to truss up a chicken right now. During these years he had been observing his family and this was how he gauged the power structure :Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. The strongest was obviously the old patriarch and his oldest son. Those two were just monsters who had hidden their real strength deeply. He wasn''t even sure that the young patriarch wasn''t as, if not stronger than his father in a real life and death showdown. His grandfather was the only Martial Elder in the Family but he wasn''t too clear about his uncle''s strength; he estimated it to be at the Guru level. Despite a lower level, he had terrifying battle efficiency and he seemed to have broken through during the previous campaign. Surprisingly enough, his grumpy grandmother held the third position. She was just above, the Grand Elder, Feng Shilong. But this divide was not small...and Feng Shilong knew it best. His grandmother was a Peak Martial Senior, while Feng Shilong was just a regular one. What made his grandmother terrifying was her Dao path. Even among sorcerers, she was abnormally skilled. Sorcerers weren''t scarce at all, however, it took a long time for them to cast their spells. Unreasonable as she was, the old woman decided to not obey this common perception. She was nicknamed as the "quick-tempered witch" among her peers back in the day... Cultivation was very mysterious on the Tianyang Continent. It wasn''t like how he pictured it in those novels, where people would just have one main path of cultivation. No; here cultivation was achieved by absorbing the energy of heaven and earth. The difference laid in the fact that they used the elements to absorb energy. Elemental affinity could be viewed as the link with the heavens. In addition to attributes, people had to pick their class once they broke through the body tempering stage. The division between classes was as such : Tanks: Berserkers, Paladins DPS: Scabbards, Nightwalkers, Warriors, Gladiators, Rogues, Monks, Runemasters, Sorcerers Status alters: Druids, Bishops, Demonbanes, Espers, Saboteurs, Scholars Versatile: Shamans, Necromancers, Beastmasters Long Rangers: Snipers, Artificers, Geomancers This classification came over time. Cultivators knew never to trust completely in this; putting labels on people was dangerous...Over time, a lot of people who trusted too much in this system suffered losses. Meeting one or two freaks along the way wasn''t something unusual. Feng Yange was such one example. There were even rumors of Rogues with more resilience than Tanks of the same level... Affinities and bloodlines mattered a lot concerning how exotic people could turn out. Even with a somewhat stereotyped class, what would change a stalemate, and made the difference, was individual talent and cultivation methods. Cultivation, after all, was about escaping the bindings imposed upon mortals. It was a struggle against common sense in the first place... Not only that but all kinds of treasures roamed between heaven and earth. Cultivators with extraordinary talent usually had such encounters, descended from immortals, or just won the genetic lottery. According to a view, there were a lot more classes in the past. A part of humans'' history was lost after empires fell and rose. Who knows how many outrageous classes had been buried and lied dormant. The 20+ ones they used today were probably the tip of the iceberg. Feng Chanui really liked this theory... As he was thinking about all this, he realized bloodlines were even more amazing. He was impatient to start and explore how his own worked. Was this one exclusive to him or did someone in the past possess the same? "Whatever, right now I have something more urgent to deal with." He put those thoughts aside and looked at the floor. There were some candies and several miscellaneous books spread all over the room. "...This can''t go on." He concluded after one last disdainful glimpse. This was today''s harvest. Chapter 5 : Affinity Grade Feng Chanui had amassed a little fortune for himself in the span of two years. That was the period when he''d started to go outside of his courtyard. He made friends with kids from the clan. It was a bit difficult for him to adapt and play with the mind of a toddler, but since he didn''t want to attract too much suspicion, he had to do so from time to time. Not this only, but he also needed to study his bloodline. It wasn''t realistic for him to try and challenge people older than him; he was just a low Body Tempering Stage toddler. In order to get a drop, there were several requirements : First of all, he couldn''t cheat the system. His bloodline was closely related and monitored by it. He couldn''t ask somebody to fake their defeat. Secondly, unless he made someone concede, beat them up till they couldn''t stand, or killed them, he would get no reward at all. Also, in group fights, he would get nothing if he didn''t attack the target. He wasn''t dissatisfied with his ability. In fact, he found it awesome. The only problem was that so far, he only obtained useless stuff from the runts. Feng Clansmen weren''t foolish. Usually, when those kids went to play, they had servants and/or bodyguards to keep watch. But even if so, they wouldn''t give them important items or cultivation resources. Firstly; there was still a risk for the kid to get swindled or make bets. Secondly, because they didn''t totally trust the family staff. No matter how long they''d been inside the clan, they were still poor and greedy outsiders in the eyes of the elders. The clan''s customs and rules only allowed for kids over the age of 6 to carry their belongings while strolling outside. They were only allowed to pack some food, toys or other worthless junk. This scrupulous custom was the cause of Chanui''s current state of affair...He was filthy rich, but just in children currency. "Suu!" Feng Chanui flung his arm and stored the books away, along with the rest of his wealth. He just left the candy for him to enjoy later. He listened to the system''s additional inventory in silence. Each time he stashed new or old items, it would do the same routine. Also, contrary to his assumptions, drops weren''t visible; which made the bloodline inconspicuous. It would do no good to possess such a great gift, not to be able to use it freely, or at times it counted most. His family was providing him with cultivation resources, such as pills or elixirs, but his cultivating speed wasn''t as quick as he thought it would. The Feng was a great clan, and there were a lot of good seedlings. The elders and the staff watched the children spar from time to time, but they weren''t fazed by Feng Chanui''s undefeated record among his peers.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. As for the reason behind their attitude, it was pretty simple. Before people turned 7, their talent wouldn''t be tested. On the Tianyang Continent, Cultivation was achieved through elemental affinity. The higher someone''s elemental affinity was, the quicker they would refine Qi and cultivate. This affinity was divided into several grades, depending on how high that percentage was : Yellow Grade (below 5% affinity). These people were commoners, with no real hope enter the martial Dust realm and wield their element even with a two lifetimes worth. Orange Grade (over 5% to 15% affinity). This was below average. These people could not exceed the Follower Realm. They would generally become servants and fodder. Red Grade (over 15% to 25% affinity). This was the average. Such people could become soldiers, bodyguards, mercenaries, or the workforce of large clans. They could generally cultivate to the Disciple realm by the end of their lives. Green Grade (over 25% to 35% affinity). People above this grade could become Masters in the future; they were generally sought after by large clans to become guests and officials. Brown Grade (over 35% to 45% affinity). Those were talents with the potential to become powerful elders and backers. They could become Martial Seniors and even Gurus with early grooming. Purple Grade (over 45% to 55% affinity). Above this grade, people were considered as geniuses. They didn''t have a real limit on their future achievement. When Feng Feilong was young, he was tested in this category. Black Grade (55% to 65% affinity). The real monsters; with good resources, they wouldn''t experience bottlenecks below the Martial Ancestor realm. Feng Batui was rumored to be in this category, even if he was supposedly tested as a purple grade during childhood... Mystic Grade (65% to 75% affinity). Mystic Grade talents were generally Sect Core Disciples and wouldn''t be seen in these surroundings. Once one appeared, there was generally a bloody feud, and they were either killed or carried off by Sect Elders. Dragon Grade (75% to 85% affinity). These people were generally recluses from Ancestral clans or Big Kingdoms'' main lineage. Most of the time, they were born with bloodlines and formidable skills to assist their cultivation. The difference between a Dragon and Mystic Grade talent was the same between heaven and Earth. Evil Grade (85% to 95%). In the 700,000 years history of the Tianyang Continent, only one Evil Grade cultivator is reported to have lived. According to records, his birth caused an eclipse and all sorts of natural phenomena. He was able to wield lightning from the nine heavens to seal primordial fiends and ancient balrogs...After, he made humans stand at the pinnacle of this world. The current cultivation system was established by him before became a Martial God and ascended. Feng Chanui wasn''t able to imagine what kind of heaven-defying existence was a Dragon or Evil Grade cultivator. Those concepts were things so far off from his reality he didn''t even consider. His father and sister were both green grade talents, so he needed to at least be a Brown Grade for his parents to be happy. Being lowkey was good, but if people started to bully or cause problems for his family it would be problematic. He didn''t plan to tell anyone about his ability. Trust had killed him once, so he needed to be more careful. He could ascertain people''s intentions, but it didn''t mean they could keep his secrets... Suddenly, someone violently opened his door without warning. "Kacha!!". The Feng were living inside Japanese style homes. Besides the house''s main door, the others didn''t have locks. "I knew it! You''ve been stealing candy from your friends again...Give my share as usual before I go and tell Mom." A pretty teenage girl who entered, leaned on the doorway as she said. Chapter 6 : Family meeting (Prelude) The young girl was standing in the doorway, overlooking the mess Chanui had made without much interest. She only came here for one reason; get easy treats. "When are you going to stop barging in like this? I''ve told you to knock before you enter my room." Feng Chanui was an only child before. He didn''t know sisters could be this troublesome. Where''s the fun if I knock? Yanran sneered as she thought. "Kid, before you reach my level, you should change that tone. I''ve heard you''ve been making life hard for our little cousins." She replied leisurely. This girl is difficult to deal with as usual. She''s a clear replica of aunt Hua. I wonder how Mom and Dad managed to give birth to such a perfect copy... "Don''t make such a face. I''m just teasing you. Let me remind you of one thing though..." Yanran walked inside. She bent down as she picked up a few chocolates and sweets. "What?" He smiled; no one would listen seriously when she acted like this. She took her time sorting and got up when she finished. "Don''t be too overbearing before the family tests your talent." She said and left, leaving the door open. The sentence was infused with heavy meaning and made her brother contemplate in silence... ..................................................................................... Not long after, their mother called them for dinner. "Yanran how is your training going?" Shui Ling asked. There was going to be a family competition soon, and she was worried her daughter wouldn''t be ready. Her training had been sporadic recently and she wasn''t able to monitor nor evaluate the progress. Feng Kong was eating rice in silence, but looked at her when his wife mentioned the subject. This time''s competition held significant importance. His brother had invited eminent cultivators from different powers. There was even a rumor that their old ghost would oversee the event.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. He couldn''t be sure because he wasn''t part of the council of elders, but he was working for one of the old fogies. He used reverse psychology against him and dug out some truth. The old man was boastful and weak against flattery, so it wasn''t too hard to trick him. "I should reach the middle stage without problem before the competition. There''s no need to worry, Grandmother even said she''s going to direct my cultivation when I plan to breakthrough. I think she''s getting busy looking for a demon core, even though essence pills are more than enough." Yanran replied, somewhat distressed. On the Tianyang Continent, people with modest wealth wouldn''t use "demon cores" before the Disciple realm. They were extracted from magic beasts and contained a great deal of energy. As for essence pills, they were concocted by druids, but not as luxurious. Their own clan had three druids, so they never suffered from shortages. She didn''t choose to have such a bigoted and dedicated master. The old woman was even more unreasonable than the granddaughter and decided for both of them. The witch also forced her to become a sorcerer like her... When Feng Chanui learned the story he thought this was definitely child abuse. After her parents heard her reply they were reassured. Their daughter''s talent was average compared to the most outstanding young clansmen. However, she made every effort to succeed. When her talent was judged to be of green grade, she had suffered a mental blow, which caused them to worry. But as time passed they understood it was unnecessary. Looks like Mother has totally rubbed off on her without her notice... Feng Kong chuckled. His mother was a cultivation madman, and she didn''t tolerate half-assed endeavor. He also had misgivings about training with her as a younger man. She made life hell for him, but she was kind. It was all for his future. She didn''t manage to change his character, but it seemed as if she whetted his daughter the right way. "Good! I hope you get into first five this time." The man of the house said. "Whatever." She replied nonchalantly as she picked some fish with her chopsticks. Feng Chanui didn''t miss the flash of fire passing in her pupils as their father mentioned top 5. The clansmen would probably receive different rewards depending on their ranking. It was both to encourage young practitioners, and also to display the clan''s might and wealth in front of outsiders. This type of award was not only used inside the Feng, but it was something cultivators used as incentive concerning younger generations. It was true that privileging the grooming of people with first-rate elemental affinity was recognized as the consensus. But not all of them turned into awe-inspiring adults. Some of them were lazy or just too stupid to preserve their lives until adulthood. The "young master" syndrome Feng Chanui had read about was omnipresent among young elites, and those who suffered from the sickness often caused headaches for their older generations. The Feng Clan was just one of those institutions who had taken precautionary measures... Interlude (Classes so far) Tianyang Continent known classes : The Berserker: He''s a masochistic brawler or more precisely a madman that has insane amounts of lifeforce. His uses his overwhelming vitality to mutilate himself and enhance his bodily capacities. The Paladin: A defensive fortress. His resistance to attacks allows for close combat and damage reduction. Most of them use shields and they''re really difficult to get rid off once in close range. Shaking off a paladin locked on you requires skill. The Scabbard: Like the name implies, this slugger is inseparable from his equipment. He''s a weapon whisperer who can display their maximum potency with little to no challenge at all. The more weapons this guy can master, the more troublesome he becomes...A scabbard without gear is generally in a tough spot. The Nightwalker: He avoids light and prefers darkness. The Nightwalker is familiar with forces that lurk in the shadows and at night. He can see in the obscurity, is especially agile and heals from wounds quickly. Those with water affinity can control blood and thrive on battlefields. The Warrior: He has a strong heart. His bravery and fearlessness make him a pain to deal with. The more critical a situation gets, the more dangerous he becomes. A warrior close to death is akin to an injured lion. He''s very proficient with swords, spears and heavy armor. The Gladiator: The most barbaric class on the continent. The Gladiator has disgusting attack power but his defense pales a bit in comparison. He''s extremely good with axes and hammers. The Rogue: Besides being the fastest class in the continent, three words to best describe these outlaws would be:vanishing, homicidal, thieves... The Monk: The best hand to hand fighter. Monks also excel with staves and sticks. Most of them find it simple to study physical cultivation methods, which allows them to fight for prolonged periods of time. The Runemaster: He uses formations in order to attack and defend. He can also trap enemies inside illusions and/or labyrinths. Runemasters are also good at forging and enhancing weapons. The Sorcerer: Wizards and Warlocks use arcane, witchcraft and curses, in order to summon and wield natural disasters. They''re the most powerful mid-range class, even if it can take a long time for them to cast advanced spells. The Druid: A druid walks around with a cauldron most of the time. Druids love to concoct pills, potions, and poisons which they use for different purposes. Druids can also temporarily metamorphose into ferocious monsters and magical beasts thanks to mysterious recipes. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. The Bishop: He loves the impoverished, the sick and the weak. He uses his healing abilities to save people and himself from the brink of death. Bishops are highly esteemed among their peers. The Demonbane: He spends his day chasing vampires, ghosts, and necromancers. Demonbanes use barriers, domains, and talismans to fight the forces of darkness.They can seal and employ their vanquished foes like invocations. Demonbanes and necromancers have the highest chances to fall into demonic cultivation paths... The Esper: They use mental power to cause illusions and brain damage. Espers also use telekinesis to lift objects around them. Their extra sensorial abilities expand their soul in order to use other people''s weapons against them, as well as cultivate strange skills according to their elemental affinities and comprehensions. Pyrokinesis, teleportation, etc. The Saboteur: They can get rid of status effects, and inflict it with their attacks; ailments such as paralysis, burn, blindness, freeze or poison, speed loss, hold no mystery for them. Saboteurs often use gimmicks and maneuver in order to survive; they refine and manipulate their elemental affinities just for that specific purpose.Their attacks are often accompanied by deadly conditions. The Scholar: The scholar is often stronger in group combat. They use music and poetry in order to buff their allies and themselves. The scholar preferred weapon is a scroll or a musical instrument. At higher cultivation realms, the scholar becomes a reckoned force, as they often comprehend and can infuse their mantras with intents easier than other cultivators. The Sniper: He uses long-range weapons to kill. The best long-range class. Bows and other automatic weapons have no secret for them. The Artificer: They use their creations to fight; creations such as magic boats, engineered robots, etc. They''re the ones creating most of the weapons, armor and traveling tools in the Tianyang Continent. They also excel at placing traps, using grenades and formations. Artificers'' weapon of predilection is usually an essence gun. The Geomancer: Geomancers most often than not have Earth, Metal or Wood affinity. They use it in order to shape and interact with the world like a game. They can create castles and forts out of the environment in order to fight. They usually are called to work in the field of building or road construction. In the history of the Tianyang Continent, geomancers have always been a cornerstone in the expansion of roads and empires. The Shaman: They use the power of spirits and make it enter their bodies. They sign contracts with those and can heal/kill/buff etc, depending on their spirits'' skills. Shamans can communicate with haunted and cursed artifacts. Anything with awareness is a potential ally or contractor for him. The Necromancer: They raise corpses to fight for them. Anything dead is a weapon for the necromancer.They use experiments to turn into freaks of nature. The shaman and the necromancer usually have more attainments in the domains of life and death than others. The Beastmaster: They use their strength to fight against beasts and subdue them. They have long range and close range abilities. With time, the familiars can copy and even assimilate their owner''s skills, which makes their cooperation even deadlier. Chapter 7: The hostilities begin Since that dinner, two weeks had passed. Feng Chanui was still contemplating on the words his sister had said to him. He wondered how the family would treat him if he turned out to be a waste. "Chanui, it''s time to go! Your sister is already there waiting for us to cheer on her." His mother said in hurry outside the door. "I''m coming." He replied and got up. Today was going to be intense. He didn''t want to go late and miss the fights. This competition was going to be monitored by people from sects and surrounding cities. The rate at which the Feng had been expanding had attracted a lot of attention; even some sect elders had made plans to arrive in advance and stay a few days inside the complex. Feng Batui was the main reason. It was always good, even for mighty sects to develop relationships and ties. with good subordinates. They also heard rumors that there was a particularly good seedling among the younger generation. Even the usually unfazed Chanui was interested in him... .................................................................................................. At the arenas, It was very crowded. Branch disciples, their families as well as commoners from the nearby towns had already started to gather around the martial fields. Different key figures, as well as elders from the Clan, had begun taking seats on the platforms presiding over the event. Rivaling Clans and external powers had also sent intelligence to compile reports on the geniuses potentially emerging from the competition. Feng Kong and his family passed through the crowd and arrived at the main stand, where people from the direct lineage and VIPs had already taken their seats. When he arrived in the company of his family, no one came to greet or receive them, despite the impressive number of servants and stewards assigned.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Some of the elders just took a quick glance when they passed and they continued to discuss with guests. This wasn''t even a mark of disdain, it was just a lack of respect. When Feng Chanui saw this he shook his head in disbelief. They took their seats in their assigned places and acted as if nothing happened. Suddenly, they heard a familiar sound. ¡°Chanui come sit near your old Grandmother!..¡± Feng Yange beamed with a smile and patted the seat next to her. "Go! Don''t worry about us." His father smiled in approval. As he walked up to his grandmother, he passed by his uncle''s seat. The latter was overlooking the proceedings with an intimidating but prideful gaze. Feng Batui was extremely well-dressed today and each of his gestures exuded elegance and dignity. "Good morning, uncle Batui." His nephew greeted him politely. "Um." The latter nodded. "You''ve grown up. go quickly; you don''t want to miss the show." He put on a rare smile as he added." "Oh, Is that my cute nephew? Oh, my!" Suddenly a beautiful mature woman with blue eyes, seated close to him exclaimed. This woman was Yan Cui Fen, the clan leader¡¯s wife, and his father¡¯s old crush. She smiled gracefully and lifted him up with a warm hug. If Feng Chanui didn¡¯t have his ability to detect people¡¯s real feelings he would have been tricked by that false smile. She was marked with a ¡°Potential for hostility¡± warning. "How old are you now?" She asked him. "My name is Chanui, and I''m 4." He acted immaturely and counted on his fingers while saying. "What a well-mannered kid." She said. "Auntie, You''re so pretty." Feng Chanui continued. He blushed and said. Totally acting like he was smitten. "See? someone has eyes here..." She said to her husband in triumph. The latter just shrugged and ignored her. "Auntie I have to go now. Promise you''ll play with little Chanui next time..." He extended his pinky and said. "Haha, of course. Nothing I would refuse to a cute ball like you!" She promised and mimicked him. Hostility has gone down by 10! Vigilance has gone down by 25! Did it work that easily?... She''s a lot more gullible than I thought. Feng Chanui smiled and went to his seat. "Don''t get too close to that woman..." His grandmother pinched his cheek and said. "Why?" He asked curiously. "Well...." She didn''t know what to respond. "Nevermind, let''s just watch the competition." Chapter 8 : Feng Yusheng At the same time, in a corner not far away from Chanui and his grandmother, "Elder Shilong, I heard that your oldest son is going to participate in the competition this time." An old man who looked haughty waved his fan as he said. He looked extremely bored. "What was his name again?" "Haha. It''s an honor to have the Seniors make an appearance for such a small event. In response to your question, this useless son of mine is called Yusheng like my departed grandfather. I hope you can look after him." The Grand elder flattered his guest and answered. "Stop with the false modesty, we all came here to have a look at this youngster." Another imposing fossil with spiky white hair and a cape on his back crossed his legs as he said. He looked extremely bulky in comparison to his age."If it wasn''t because I heard a black grade talent with terrifying battle efficiency had appeared inside the Feng Clan, I wouldn''t have stayed here for the past week." He said with a smirk. "Black grade, huh?" A fat man with a generous beard rubbed his chin and said. He looked pensive. "You guys did a good job to keep this under wraps for so long..." "This small one wouldn''t dare..." Feng Shilong had cold sweat running through his back. "Li Zongren, stop using intimidation on our host. We all know your methods.This time we won''t let it fly!" The man with the cape exclaimed in indignation. "Indeed, this time our Snow Pegasus Sanctuary has a legitimate claim on the good seedling." The one that looked bored waved the fan with surprising verve and added. The fat man from before wanted to bicker but the ceremony was about to start. He just thought : I''ll see you two remain this composed when that seasoned fox comes here. Claim?! You old fools with bird brains. It''s all about what you have to offer to a rising tyrant...This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. He looked at something inside of his clothes and grinned. .................................................................................................... "Welcome to all esteemed guests from the Prefecture!" The referee announced with a thundering tone. "My name is Feng Nao, I''ll be the moderator for this tournament''s edition." He paused and continued. This elder was the one Feng Chanui''s father was working for. He liked to have attention on himself and was an exceedingly accomplished orator. This was the major reason why he was picked this time. The other because he was used to directing military recruits and personnel. Feng Nao was the clan''s chief of staff. Usually, the clan would delegate such a minor role to less important clansmen, but this event was more significant. "This time we were honored with the presence of Sect Elders, respectively from the Snow Pegasus Sanctuary and the Unyielding Bison Sect." The audience looked in the direction of his gaze. The three old men from before acted even more pompously. "I speak the words of our Patriarch when I express our deep appreciation. The Feng also want to address their best regards to the Yan and Meng clans for renewing their interest and participation every year." He continued. Those two were their old allies. There were marriages between the three clans and they often bartered their disciples with less potential. "Without further ado, I''ll announce the rules for the event. After which the patriarch will make a small speech to announce the start of the fights." The referee finished with the courtesies. "This edition allows disciples between 10 and 15 to participate. The fights between disciples will each be one on ones..." He announced the rules. "The rewards for the top 20...." "Top 10....." ................................................................................... "What''s with all the nonsense, when are we going to fight?" A small girl with long brown hair said in annoyance. "What are you even so impatient for? This time''s competition is just a joke. It''s a show for brother Yusheng to display his might in front of Sect Elders." A blonde guy wearing a white attire said. "......" The tall teenager wearing a hooded black tunic remained impassive at the words. "See? This is called the disparity. Even with all the eyes centered on cousin, he manages to stay unflappable." The mischievous blonde continued. ".....You guys are boring. I''ll go and talk with sister Yanran; don''t mind me and continue." The girl walked off. Chapter 9 : Breakthrough After Feng Nao finished his speech, he didn''t let people salivate much longer. Feng Batui took over as he announced the beginning of the festivities. He wasn''t too talkative, but he had to leave a few words of thanks and welcome as the guest of honor. Afterward, he announced the beginning of the fights : "...Let the younger generation take the stage!" He announced loudly. His voice resounded through the complex and even reached as far as the gates. Cultivators strengthened their whole body. As a result, their vocals cords became stronger as well. Someone like Feng Batui could even cause people to bleed from their ears. With a simple shout from up close, he could even seriously injure commoners. **** The first round began, Feng Yusheng was observing silently, waiting for his turn to come up. "Big brother, I know that this competition means a lot to you, but you don''t need to be this tense don''t you think?" "..." "Haha..." "Baojun, stop laughing, this is a serious matter." The teenage boy whispered in his ear. "I won''t be the one to end up with a few broken ribs, hehe." Feng Baojun smiled and retorted. "Moran, if the odds play in your favor, you''ll face me before this lunatic." "Let''s hope so." He replied, somewhat reluctant but still more satisfied with the outcome. "Don''t worry I''ll treat you kindly." Feng Baojun cracked his knuckles and said. Feng Moran gulped at the sound. The latter sneered and turned his attention back to the arenas. **** Feng Chanui was watching the fights with a severe lack of interest. No one with significant fighting ability had to go on stage so far. He was waiting for his sister''s turn, but also for Yusheng''s, pretty much like everybody else here. "Grandmother, what''s the big fuss about big brother Yusheng?" He asked because he never met him despite him being so notorious.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. His hands were on the balcony''s ledge while he stood on his chair. "Hum..." The old woman remained silent for a moment. "Grandmother?" Feng Chanui was perplexed. "You''re too young to understand this yet. Don''t worry about him, let''s cheer on Yanran when she comes up." She avoided the subject and replied. It seemed that all of her good moods vanished after he asked this. "Um!" He nodded with enthusiasm. "Look, it''s her turn to go on stage!" She said cheerfully when her disciple climbed the stairs. "Fight!..." The umpire announced. "Vaccum Stride!" The young girl didn''t waste any time and executed her movement technique. She left a trail of vapor and disappeared in a flash. The next moment she appeared, she yelled. "Get down!..." Dozens of tiny spears made of ice violently rained towards her foe. "Boom!" Her opponent tried to defend with his sword but got overwhelmed. He lost his weapon and fell off the stage. "Winner, Feng Yanran!" the referee announced. People''s vision turned to her direction. The preliminaries had hundreds of young disciples but none of them won as fast as she did. "Who is that young girl?" Someone asked. "Oh, that''s Feng Kong''s daughter. The patriarch''s younger brother." Clansmen cut in and answered the curious'' guests. The audience shifted its focus to Feng Yanran. Her cool and cold demeanor didn''t fail to attract the gaze of the young males. In another corner, Feng Moran watched this and grimaced. Feng Baojun looked at his sour expression and smirked. He was well aware of Feng Moran''s perverted hobbies and could read him like an open book. The woman who was stealing the show was welcomed back to her seat by a young girl : "When did you make a breakthrough? Feng Han is not in the top 5 in the younger generation, but he''s been at the follower early stage for a long time. For you to dispose of him this quickly...It seems your progress wasn''t small recently." "Um, I advanced to the middle stage thanks to Grandmother." She replied while refusing the towel the girl offered. Such a one-sided display wasn''t taxing on her. ******* The fights continued until noon. The tournament was paused as it was also the end of the preliminaries and the first round. Out of the 50+ participants remaining, only the top 10 was going to fight in the next round. People were offered lunch, all sorts of snacks and delicacies while discussing their prognostics. Everyone was sure about first place. They were just wondering who was going share the podium. The 10 participants remaining had yet to show their full power. Most of them were part of the main lineage or were elders'' children and disciples. It was at this moment, that someone walked through the entrance and caused a stir. Chapter 10 : Unexpected Visitor The guests consumed their meal in a good mood, with calm and joy. They waited patiently for the rest of the competition while savoring the delicacies that the cooks had taken care to prepare with love. Some and the majority of the personalities present were extremely versed in the art of vaniloquence. "This banquet is divine!" One of them was going to say. Another was going to compete at the same time, "Yes, the Feng did not scrimp. This feast clearly demonstrates the dignity of the sovereigns. " "Um, believe me, I''ve traveled to larger neighboring lands, and the Feng Clan is no less refined than those ancestral families..." Another would emptily boast in his praise. It was to wonder if he lacked any sense of awareness and shame. This ridiculously palatable and appetizing atmosphere continued until one of them turned his eyes away from his plate and looked towards the main entrance. He instantly lost his grip on his fork as the next bit of meat salad fell on his seat neighbor. The man was going to protest and mock him for his lack of bearing, but then he stuttered noisily: ¡°Yo-nnn¡­Yo...!!¡± People were looking at him with judgemental eyes for a split second before their face went pale. When they clearly saw the figures that were approaching the place went into an uproar. They shouted in unison¡­ ¡°Yong Zitang!!¡± ¡°This is¡­¡± Some of them were panicked. What was the enemy doing here? Yong Zitang was the Yong Clan¡¯s old patriarch. Much like Feng Feilong, his existence was a cause for respect and fear. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Even as a brown grade talent, he reigned supreme inside the Yong Clan in his younger days. There was even a rumor that he could exchange a hundred moves with that Yan old ghost, not to mention ¡°Madman Feilong¡±. The only problem was¡­ ¡°Yong Zitang, I didn¡¯t think you were so bored that you would come and surrender your life here today!¡± A tyrannical cry suddenly engulfed the area. People felt chills as the temperature directly lowered after the shout. As they were searching for the source of the noise, three shadows walked slowly in the distance. Suddenly and without warning, one of them broke away from the group and launched an attack towards the intruder. ¡°!!¡± As soon as that person moved, another silhouette jumped from behind his target like a predatory beast. ¡°Bang!¡± The two people exchanged a blow and retreated a few steps; one leaving snow and ice behind, the other a path of black flames. ¡°Yong Zefon!!¡± The shadow gritted its teeth and said after it landed. The other man just grinned fiendishly and met his gaze. Before he could find a proper comeback the two were interrupted : ¡°We didn¡¯t come here to fight today. Old Madman is it how you receive guests?¡± Yong Zitang said in derision. ¡°Feng Feilong? Madman Feilong is here? Where?¡± The audience was puzzled. ¡°Did you come as soon as you heard that there was free food? The state of the Yong is declining as the years go by.¡± An old man in very simple looking black robes appeared out of nowhere among the visitors and said. The crowd made way around him instantly. ¡°Hmph!¡± Yong Zitang wasn¡¯t easily incensed, he just showed his scorn and ignored the remark. He was used to that guy¡¯s dirty mouth by now. He looked in another direction and said. ¡°Honorable Hanwei, Renshu, and Zongren. Greetings.¡± ¡°Um.¡± The three responded cordially and in unison. Those three old men didn¡¯t care about the conflicts between the two families. To be more correct, their power allowed them not to take any side. Feng Feilong and Feng Batui wanted to interrupt the crafty fox when they understood his intentions, but even they didn¡¯t dare to interfere in their dialogues. The Feng Clan had grown strong recently, but compared to the colossus behind those two sects, they were just like insects. In the meantime, Feng Chanui looked at the three young figures behind Yong Zefon and had a bad feeling. Chapter 11 : Anticlimatic Closure When everyone was focusing their attention on Yong Zitang, Chanui moved his gaze toward the three forms at the back of the party. He couldn''t help but notice the strange atmosphere. They didn''t look intimidated despite having stepped into enemy territory. Rather what was most astonishing for him was the provocative looks those three were sending his older cousin. "If I may ask, I heard that the Seniors came to scout a young talent this time around?" Yong Zitang asked the three elders. "This is the case indeed. It''s no secret at all." The armored elder nodded. "Oh, this talent must be outstanding for you to come personally in such a remote place." He acted shocked and said. Feng Feilong didn''t know whether to laugh or cry at this old monkey''s antics. He knew Yong Zitang too well since they were archenemies; right now, the look on his face was one he had seen too often. He wasn''t sure what pill the old fox had eaten, but this wasn''t the expression of a resigned and defeated man. *What is he scheming?* "Yes, In the past we''ve missed the opportunity to come." He paused and looked at Feng Batui. "But recently we heard about a black grade talent emerging from your area. I know about the gratitude and grudges between you and Feng Feilong, but I''ll advise you to turn back if you''ve come to create trouble." Honorable Hanwei advised him before his patience ran out. "Um. Zitang, I know you have misgivings about Feilong. Given the friendship you two shared in the past, it''s extraordinary how you ended like fire and water." Another elder rebuked as he paused with a nostalgic sigh. "Hmph!" The two old fogies snorted when they heard the words "friendship".If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. "Good. Enough now, tell us why you''ve come." Honorable Renshu folded his fan and chided while smiling. He didn''t care to mediate between those two but they were almost like children to him. In the past, the duo ran amuck among the inner court disciples of his Snow Pegasus Sanctuary. They never became core disciples but their reputation was still reverberating like thunder from where he was. After that incident, however, they were expelled from the sect, never achieving the core disciple status. Had they failed to save "that" person at the time, the sect would have obliterated their families and industries altogether. "Thanks for your patience and kindness elder Renshu." Yong Zitang bowed respectfully. "Zefon, you can take it out now." He restrained from sneering at Feng Feilong''s face as he got up and ordered his subordinate. "??" "What is he taking this out for?" The crowd instantly buzzed with whispers after they saw what item the old fearful man demanded. "Grandmother, what''s that orb?" Feng Chanui looked in confusion at the crystal ball in the middle of the arena and asked. "It''s called a meditation crystal. It is used to assess meditating talent as well as elemental affinity. But I don''t understand his reason for exhibiting this out here." She frowned and answered. There was one possibility that she didn''t like. It was so ridiculous that she ruled it out subconsciously. While she strived for the future of her lineage, she considered the interests of the clan as a whole... "Is this a farce? Yong Zitang, you''ve gone mad after all?! Let me escort you out then." Feng Feilong was ready to begin as he clenched his fist. "Muddled old simpleton, just keep quiet and open your eyes! Haotian, come forward." A young boy that looked around ten walked up and put a hand on the transparent ball. Five seconds later, "Why is it shining so many different lights, grandmother?" The ball went yellow, orange, then red... Li Zongren was impassive two seconds ago, but after he realized what was happening he took his eyes off his plate. There were two things he cherished most in his life; food and treasures. He was usually content with having the former, but he wouldn''t mind skipping a few meals if he could have the latter. "Mystic Grade Fire Affinity!" The fat old man crushed his seat due to the excitement as he wailed. The whole place turned silent after the words got out of his mouth, then stormed into an uproar. As the place suddenly turned chaotic with shock, anger, and praises, Chanui understood that today''s tournament was over and that a dark horse had become the limelight. Glossary Cultivation Realms Commoners: Body Tempering Stage Novices: Martial Dust, Martial Ant Wannabes: Martial Follower, Martial Apprentice Adepts: Martial Disciple, Martial Master Masters: Martial Senior, Martial Elder, Martial Ancestor Grandmasters: Martial Knight, Martial Crusader, Martial Hero Super Experts: Martial General, Martial Warlord Hundredslayers: Martial Noble, Martial Baron Thousandslayers: Martial Viscount, Martial Earl Millionslayers: Martial Marquis, Martial Duke Worldshakers: Martial King, Martial Tyrant, Martial Conqueror Small Undertakers: Martial Emperor, Martial Sovereign Great Undertakers: Martial Monarch, Martial Venerable World Transgressors: Martial Afflicted, Martial Unfazed Counter Heavens: Martial Transcendent, Martial Immortal Plane Creators: Martial Saint, Martial God Affinities Earth, Water, Fire, Gravity, Ice, Light, Dark, Wood, Wind, Thunder, Metal. (People can''t have more than one; also applies to the MC) Enlightenment/Comprehensions (Not affinities) This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.Space, Time, Life, Death, Nature. Bloodlines (Innate Skills and boosts/ Not everyone has them) Can be passed to offspring "Pragmatist mole" (Feng Chanui): drops, intelligence Divine Bodies (Similar to Bloodlines but not hereditary) N/A Meditating Talent (Zen specialists and levels) 1st Level Zen Specialists: Encompasses 99.9% of cultivators. Can only use one class 2nd Level Zen Specialists: Those at and above this level can use more than two classes without restarting cultivation from scratch. They can also forget and switch between them. 3rd Level Zen Specialists: Same as the second level but can use three. Cultivator Classifications Tanks: Berserkers, Paladins DPS: Scabbards, Nightwalkers, Warriors, Gladiators, Rogues, Monks, Runemasters, Sorcerers Status alters: Druids, Bishops, Demonbanes, Espers, Saboteurs, Scholars Versatile: Shamans, Necromancers, Beastmasters Long Rangers: Snipers, Artificers, Geomancers Elemental Talent (Attribute Grade) Yellow Grade (below 5% affinity) Orange Grade (over 5% to 15% affinity) Red Grade (over 15% to 25% affinity) Green Grade (over 25% to 35% affinity) Brown Grade (over 35% to 45% affinity) Purple Grade (over 45% to 55% affinity) Black Grade (55% to 65% affinity) Mystic Grade (65% to 75% affinity) Dragon Grade (75% to 85% affinity) Evil Grade (85% to 95%) Organizations Qin Family, Meng Clan, Yan Family, Feng Clan, Yong Clan, Jiren Clan, Tai Institute, Beiming Clan, Snow Pegasus Sanctuary, Unyielding Bison Sect. MC''s friends and important relatives Feng Feilong: Grandfather Feng Yange: Grandmother Feng Kong: Father Shui Ling: Mother Feng Yanran: Sister Feng Batui: Uncle Feng Chanui''s Cultivation techniques and Skills -Frenetic Bull Breathing technique (Body Tempering method) Traits: Strong Bones, Enhanced Respiration and Stamina. Helps masquerade and hide cultivation level. Chapter 12 : Rough Night Long before Humans and Monsters were born, the Universe was just a thought. Knowledge and Wisdom were growing old and lonely. In their boredom, they decided to have children. They gave birth to Harmony and Chaos. Harmony loved peace and quiet, so it devised Life and Nature. The latter begat Humans and Animals, as well as mythological creatures such as Dragons or Phoenixes. They were all living in cohesion and peace as their father initially wanted, some of them even fell in love and mixed their blood. This was how exotic races, such as mermen, elves, and dwarves saw the light of day. Harmony was receiving unending and abundant praises from his heavenly father and mother. Chaos watched him bathe in glory and became estranged due to jealousy and frustration. Thus, he decided to ruin his brother¡¯s creatures. The beings were too dazzling and free, so he created space to confine them. Unfortunately for him, Life was still roaming unobstructed even after he enclosed it into several distinct dimensions. Still full of resentment, hatred, and enviousness, he invented Time and Death. When Harmony noticed that his children had become subject to age and mortality, he was indignant. Yet, his sadness didn¡¯t last long when he realized that humanoids and beasts were living happier than before. With the occurrence of Time and Death, the creatures enjoyed each second of their lives to the utmost, studying the virtues of their father. Harmony was very satisfied and loved his children even more. He took a drop of his blood and birthed Justice and Freedom, tasking them with the duty to watch over the galaxies. Justice and Freedom didn¡¯t mesh well together, but they tried their best to work in unison and obey their father¡¯s commands. Nonetheless, Justice couldn¡¯t completely control his sister. Stubborn as she was, she did as she pleased and sauntered for a few thousand years. This period of distraction gave the children of Chaos time to infest and overrun the mortal worlds with War, Corruption, and Slavery. In this lapse of time, Harmony¡¯s children were enslaved and subjugated. Justice couldn¡¯t assume responsibility for an important task alone and fled, in search of his sister. Chaos used the formidable legacies and bloodlines his brother had left to torture and conduct experimental atrocities. He took the beasts bloodlines to sire Fiends; he also robbed Humans of their perfect understandings of principles and elements to beget Paragons. Now, most humans were cursed and could only channel one of the elements to cultivate. But it didn¡¯t really matter since they lost all their manuals. As time passed, Knowledge and Wisdom were growing increasingly older. They stopped paying attention to worldly matters, so to resolve the conflict between the two brothers, they punished Chaos, albeit lightly. He was restricted to the mortal world for a few billion years, losing his right to inherit the heavenly throne. With the lack of essence and the decrease of his lifespan, Chaos feared to become weak. He used his last remaining bit of energy to seclude himself inside hidden quarters. With this last and desperate hibernation, he was preparing his comeback for the day he would overthrow his unfair parents and brother. Millions of years passed. Humans and other races put away their differences to resist against the forces of Chaos. The majority was still enslaved and subservient, on the other hand, most beasts had sworn allegiance to Fiends and Paragons in exchange for limited emancipation. Two men, however, claimed the flag of humanity and lifted it on their backs. The world only remembered one of them nevertheless. That man was called Shandian Lei.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. During his birth, he caused a cataclysm; the world turned black with murkiness as he summoned thunder and lightning upon its different corners. His family was chased down by both the forces of light and darkness. Humans, beasts, Fiends and Paragons alike were afraid of his talent. His older brother just had enough time to take him and flee before their city turned red with blood and gore. That was when humanity experienced real genocide for the first time in history. But before they could find shelter in their getaway, they had been cornered and encircled. Fortunately, the god of Justice came to their rescue and saved the siblings from certain death. They were adopted and grew up listening to the teachings of their father and aunt. The two gods tried their best to ensure their security. Their talents were impressive. They learned fast, especially the youngest sibling. After one last chase, they managed to escape once more despite the heavy injuries the two benefactors suffered at the hands of the dark gods. Before they died, they imbued the two siblings with their respective powers and cultivations. Raijin, the god of Justice and Thunder passed his lifeblood on the youngest, Shandian Lei. Whereas, Silpheed, the goddess of Freedom and Wind did the same with Shandian Shaofu. The gods died leaving the two orphans to their own devices, tasking them to eradicate the forces of disorder. It didn¡¯t take more than a hundred years for them to break through the martial saint realm, exterminating all the Fiends and Paragons. Afterward, they went on an odyssey to seal the three pernicious gods of woe and their father Chaos. Chaos didn¡¯t even have time to figure out what went wrong before all his chances of resurfacing were jeopardized. They established invincible and immortal dynasties, paving the road of cultivation for Humans before facing their final tribulation. The last before ascending to the legendary realm just above the mortal world. It was at that moment when the two sovereigns were preparing to ascend that the mutation happened. It turned out that their adoptive parents hadn¡¯t died. They used the siblings and watched them in a hideaway for thousands of years, preparing to rob them of their hard work at the last minute. Shandian Shaofu used a forbidden technique to send his younger brother into a different dimension as he faced the two deceitful gods alone. ¡°Shaofu!¡± Shandian Lei cried in agony, pain, and anger. He knew that he was experiencing the process of rebirth, would be separated from his pillar and even his memories forever. Plane creators could make other people experience rebirths, but they couldn¡¯t let them retain their memories. Only those from the upper realms could allow one to experience perfect and flawless reincarnations. ¡°We¡¯ll meet again one day, Lei¡¯er. Goodbye.¡± He said as he reached one hand into the portal and grabbed Shandian Lei¡¯s hand for one final time. Even if he was clearer than anyone how empty and dull his words were. ¡°Brother!...¡± ¡°!!!¡± A young boy woke up in sweat, with fear and panic on his face. It was too dark at night for him to be in such a frenzy. ¡°My head hurts...Why do I always have this strange dream?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡± He was preparing to get up and get rid of his sweat when someone opened the door abruptly. ¡°Mom.¡± He said. The woman hugged him and put her hand on his forehead. ¡°You don¡¯t have any fever. Did you have that nightmare again?¡± ¡°Um.¡± He didn¡¯t deny. ¡°Fuu.¡± She sighed and cleaned the moisture. ¡°Come sleep with me tonight. I¡¯ll have one of the seers or the shaman see what is happening to you early tomorrow.¡± ¡°Tomorrow is too important for your future. I can¡¯t have you break down on me and underperform due to strange events. I also can¡¯t have you lack sleep either.¡± ¡°...¡± The boy had a blank look on his face. He seemed to be looking for clues as if he¡¯d forgotten something crucial. ¡°Panzi!¡± His mother yelled. ¡°?? Ah, yes, mom. I understand.¡± ¡°Good. I¡¯ll wait for you in my room. Don¡¯t dally here too long and fall asleep.¡± She smiled bitterly and left. ¡°Who are those people in my dream? Also, that man gives me a familiar feeling for some reason.¡± The boy muttered in a daze. Chapter 13 : Frenetic Bull Breathing Technique In the blink of an eye, three years had passed. Three years ago, a disastrous event took place during the Feng Clan¡¯s small competition. Feng Yusheng was supposed to reach the sky in a single bound after he showcased his talents to scouts and envoys from two prestigious sects. The elders of the family were overjoyed and kept fawning over their prospects. They¡¯d been cautious not to let any secrets leak to the outside, in spite of the shock and elation they experienced after he went through the ¡°Awakening Rites¡±. The young patriarch was their only black grade talent recorded in history even though he was a big boon to the family. Now that another genius of the same level appeared, they knew that the heavens had finally taken a liking for their mediocre family. At the time, the Grand Elder (Feng Shilong) was so proud and happy that his nose grew several inches longer. His son was the next family hope; as the father, he was showered with thanks and praise for birthing a future expert. His influence in the clan grew and his words held incredible weight during assemblies. Feng Yusheng''s crest of a wave was both blinding and hazardous. The old patriarch was extremely cautious. Not one word of the news was leaked to low-level members. The day Feng Yusheng became famous was the same they announced the next tournament. Before clansmen, outsiders and citizens could digest the alarming news, sect experts had flown over and taken quarters at the Feng Mansion. They stayed for a week, just in wait for the event. Some people sighed in envy, while others panicked or wept. Most of them waited for a reaction from the Yong, who surprisingly remained silent. Such a response was uncanny, which caused all sorts of speculations. ¡°Yong Zitang is probably preparing to surrender. This is a dead end!¡± ¡°Yes, the Yong are doomed!¡± Those were the words going around the city for a whole week. Even children could understand that the Yong were finished unless they fled the city. The Feng''s rising star was soon going to overshadow all of their third generations. Once he became a core disciple, people would fight in order to render meritorious service. With such heavy influence, crushing the Yong would be child''s play. When all the small powers realized this point, they defected from the Yong in groups. They shamelessly came packed with glorious and generous gifts at the Feng¡¯s gates; seeking an audience with the Grand Elder while stroking the servants and guards¡¯ egos. Who could have thought that those momentaneous and rash actions, motivated by their survival instincts, would lead to such a nightmare? As someone once said, there is no medicine for regret. Just as the competition reached its climax, the Yong broke inside the complex and crashed the festivities. Yong Zitang was leading the crazed and bold party with the most ominous and ill-boding smirk; showing no care, fear or respect for anyone besides the sect party of three. People had difficult times understanding his actions. Everyone thought he¡¯d gone mad with despair and snapped. Due to the confusion, everyone ignored the presence of the three young disciples behind him. Just as they thought he couldn¡¯t act more recklessly, he continued the madness. What he did next left the audience flabbergasted. He asked for a very familiar object and ordered a boy to touch it. The result of this simple gesture caused irreversible consequences and tragedy. The Yong not only avoided a disaster, but they also gained from the ordeal. Yong Haotian, Mystic Grade Fire Affinity, 7 years old! The nightmare didn¡¯t end there. The other two disciples imitated the youngster and alternatively touched the crystal. Yong Moli, Purple Grade Fire Affinity, 11 years old! Yong Ziqi, Black Grade Light Affinity, 8 years old! Even the cute little girl was a monster. The place exploded with anger and frenzy. The elders from the two sects did the most improbable thing next. They engaged in a fierce and terrifying fight for the right to carry away the youngest boy. The audience was left stunned, with complicated looks. Finally, Li Zongren couldn¡¯t keep up against the two. He was defeated and fled like a stray cur as he called for backup from his sect. Once he came back, the Snow Pegasus Sanctuary elders had already taken off with the three disciples. The Scene of Li Zongren and the other four elders fuming red with rage as they ignored Feng Yusheng, was on the minds of the attendees till this day. When he regained his composure, he clasped his hands in salute and flew off at full speed in a direction. Feng Feilong didn¡¯t even try to stop him, he knew who he was chasing. A week later, terrible news circulated. Yong Haotian and his cousins entered the Snow Pegasus Sect and became disciples. The other entered as inner sect disciples, which wasn¡¯t extremely shocking. Disciples above purple grade could automatically become inner sect disciples, also since they were related, they probably received special treatment. But the most shocking news wasn¡¯t this. Yong Haotian, Legacy Disciple! The young boy directly skipped past the core disciple status and became one of the chosen. Chosen ones were called Legacy disciples because they would compete for the position of next sect master. The current Snow Pegasus Sanctuary only had another Legacy disciple who was the sect master daughter. Even, the Unyielding Bison Sect had yet to chose one. Only the sect Master¡¯s own apprentices could become the next leader. That what was it meant to be a legacy disciple. Unless one rebelled and overturned the sect, then no matter how strong he was, he wouldn¡¯t have the approval of the other sect elders to take office. What was most fearful was that there were other Mystic Grade talents inside the Snow Pegasus Sanctuary. If Yong Haotian was chosen instead, then he probably had other secrets. The words ¡°Bloodline¡±, ¡°Divine body¡± and ¡°Zen Specialist¡± came to mind to some people. The old gods had left countless blessings and treasures among the Heaven and Earth, and they knew of some secrets. However, those three names were so rarely used that people tended to neglect them.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Bloodlines were the most simple to understand but also the most difficult to see. There was one reason, they couldn¡¯t be acquired. People were born with them and possessed all sorts of magical abilities. They ranged from body enhancements to innate skills. Despite how difficult it was for someone to be blessed with a bloodline, their descendants were born with them. Next was divine bodies. Divine bodies were basically people born with individual skills or bodies suited for certain specific types of cultivation. It wasn¡¯t that different from bloodlines, but it couldn¡¯t be passed down. They cultivated extremely fast and were tyrannically strong. A divine body wouldn¡¯t lose to someone with a bloodline of the same level, but people would rather seek friendship with the latter. A bloodline cultivator was already a future legend, but he could also birth others. The last one was the most mysterious. Zen Specialists weren¡¯t born with terrific skills or bodies, but they possessed meditating talent. Mediating talent, contrary to the name didn¡¯t measure someone¡¯s level of meditation. It only showed if one was suited to cultivate two or several different classes. Since the apocalyptic times and the rise of humanity, it had been 700,000 years, but only less than a thousand people were recorded as Second level Zen Specialist. According to legends, people could cultivate up to three different classes at the same time. This was represented as Third Level Zen Specialist. Everyone was officially on level one and unless meditating talent was the second grade, it was impossible to cultivate two classes. Last but not least, Second Level Zen Specialists and above could forget the classes they cultivated without restarting from scratch. In the time it took for incense to burn, another shocking news passed on. Feng Yusheng was refused entry at the gates of the Snow Pegasus Sanctuary and couldn¡¯t pass the exam. From this news, people were able to infer how crafty the old fox Yong Zitang was. He definitely didn¡¯t sell his grandson cheaply. Everyone waited for the storm, but nothing happened in the next few months. Then, elder Renshu came back and had a long discussion with Feng Feilong. Some spies spotted him with a grim look on his face as his mentor left. He seemed to have aged a few years in the span of days. Yan City high levels came to some conclusion after they heard of it. Anyone smart enough would understand that unless the Feng Clan produced a similar talent the old man couldn¡¯t help much. In fact, them remaining alive was a miracle in itself. Their industries were going to get destroyed and they would stop flourishing soon... Years went by. The Yong Clan had grown more despotic. The position of local overlord was also shifted. Yong Zitang punished savagely the traitors from that day personally. The City Lord didn¡¯t really care, but he stopped by the Yong from time to time. The Yan family couldn¡¯t be shaken, but it didn¡¯t mean they wanted to go hungry. They were a branch of the Yan Family from the Country¡¯s capital. As such, they didn¡¯t receive many resources, and it was why they acted so humbly. However, those words would probably make Feng Kong and his son cough blood if they heard. In the Feng Mansion. A young boy with generous cheeks was sitting cross-legged inside his chambers, eyes closed. He was reciting some incomprehensible mnemonics and looked like a cave expert in meditation. He was clearly familiar with the exercise which he executed with deft. If one looked close enough, they could see that the air around him was a bit blurring, almost fluctuating. He clasped his hand together and exhaled a slow but powerful breath. When the air got out from his mouth, he opened his eye in a hurry and launched his small frame out the door. It was early in the morning. As soon as he appeared outside, the birds stopped eating worms in the courtyard and squeaked as they fled in panic. He didn¡¯t pay any attention to them; he started punching the void violently and in quick succession as if his life depended on it. When beads of sweat rolled and poured into his eyes and mouth he stopped the exercise. He recalled his calm breath as he executed strangely mesmerizing stances; when he was done, he sat and resumed the earlier breathing activity for ten minutes. This time, the fluctuations around his body seemed less elusive. The blurry fog was still transparent, almost like heat fluctuations off in the distance, but it also seemed like a concentration of gas that could be lit. He alternated between the two exercises for an hour when a crackling noise erupted from his bones. His skeleton seethed with pain and tremors for two seconds before it turned back loose. ¡°Body Tempering Stage Eight Layer!¡± The boy exclaimed in joy and punched once again. The sound of cracking bones resounded again with the same virulence. The sound was so loud that he failed to notice the tiny purple sparks of light, as his arm jabbed through the emptiness. ¡°I guess I was wrong about that manual. Who would believe that scrappy book would make me advance so fast in my cultivation?¡± The boy was, in fact, Feng Chanui. Three years ago, when the Clan was going through humiliation and disturbance, he noticed something falling off Li Zongren¡¯s garbs as he jumped to try and steal away Yong Haotian. In the disarray, his grandmother completely forgot him. He went over the Fat man¡¯s seat and grabbed a dirty, ragged book. On the book cover, one could read the words : ¡°Frenetic Bull Breathing Technique.¡± The name was coarse and when Chanui read it he chuckled. He was worried he would be found out, but Li Zongren never came back to retrieve or ask for it. Either the manual didn¡¯t hold much value or he was too busy chasing after the treacherous old men. In the end, he totally forgot about it or didn¡¯t know where he lost it. Feng Chanui speculated that the man didn¡¯t have any face to come back. According to the book description, this cultivation method allowed for someone to possess a tempestuous exhalation. This respiration would in return produce a gaseous and illusory vapor in outbursts. That same miasma gave maniacally suppressive bones through a dangerously, phasic momentum. There were different stages of the cultivation technique. Initial success, small success, intermediate completion, and great completion. Once one reached the great completion, they would automatically break through the body tempering stage and enter the Martial Dust Realm. Once done with the four stages, one would apparently fuse their elements with the technique in order to train tyrannical bodily cultivation methods. Feng Chanui had reached the intermediate stage and it would take him another half a year before he reached the next. This was essentially a breathing technique, so he could hide his cultivation. However, he was still seven and didn¡¯t want to make mistakes. The cultivation method didn¡¯t mention whether he could switch between body tempering techniques once he broke through and completed the 1st stage. There were several other cultivation techniques in the clan and he didn¡¯t want to limit his options. ¡°First, I need to find out what my affinity is.¡± Chanui said and flicked his sleeves. He¡¯d seen the experts fight before. With just one flick of their sleeves, they would use water, rocks or Ice. He knew he wouldn¡¯t be able to do the same before he went through the Awakening Rites, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt to try. His personality had become a bit different after he crossed over. Before, he used to care about other people¡¯s views and tried to look cool for the ladies. Now, he couldn¡¯t care less and acted like a dork. He was cringy at times but he loved how free and unrestrained he was. Several times, young clansmen had made fun of him for acting like a queer. Every time his older sister had friends over, she would scold him not to show his face. He was popular with male disciples, but girls thought he was weird. It¡¯s not that he didn¡¯t look handsome; he was just too different from other children. He didn¡¯t care for his image and when his playmates experienced and tested the world, he was somewhere not far chanting incantations and mnemonics. He wasn¡¯t shunned per se, but unless he went to see other people, no one would take initiatives and engage in small talk with him. He was one of those kids that always had to invite friends over but wouldn¡¯t be invited to awesome events and games. There was one odd thing though. Every time Feng Chanui engaged in lectures or needed a punching bag, there was one guy who acted as voluntary. Chanui wondered which wrong medicine the poor odd boy ate. He was feeling sorry for him so he took him under his wing. Weirdly enough, this strange boy wouldn¡¯t go down. Before last year, Feng Chanui had only fought draws against him. One time, they even fought for two hours straight without a winner. When he learned that the brat was his aunt¡¯s child, they became closer. He instantly became more interesting to look at. In fact, he was waiting for the two of them to show up, as they promised to go to the ceremony together. ¡°I¡¯ll take a quick shower first. I still have time left before breakfast.¡± Chapter 14: Monster Pair Part 1 ¡°Is everything ready?¡± Three years had gone by ever since the incident. Feng Shilong had never been able to wash the shame he received on that day. He had prepared a grandiose party; invited guests from all directions, already picturing the rise of his son, himself and the Clan. The only thing that occurred, however, was an embarrassment. ¡°Yes, Sir we¡¯re clear.¡± A servant responded with haste as he finished cleaning the floor inside a very wide and luxuriously decorated room. ¡°Good, go ask for the crystal and notice the other elders. We¡¯ll begin with the ritual preparations.¡± The servant bowed and waved to his crew as they left the room in a hurry, their heads lowered. Just as they disappeared a young man climbed the stairs of the pavilion. ¡°Moran, what are you doing here so early in the morning?¡± The brown bearded man said in surprise. There wasn¡¯t the least bit of happiness in his tone and he frowned. ¡°Same as you father, I¡¯ve come to make sure that everything goes smoothly. The future of our clan is going to be decided today, after all.¡± He said with a mischievous smile. Feng Shilong snorted and suddenly pressure gushed out of his body. As the place turned foggy and misty, Feng Moran¡¯s smug look vanished in a flash. What was left was utter fear and an urge to flee from here. ¡°Father¡­¡± He struggled to let out one word but was immediately cut. ¡®Shut up!¡± Feng Shilong grew even more furious and flicked his sleeve. The next moment, his son fell face down on the floor as he ate some gravel. Then his father said. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve been doing all these years when I and your brother were sweating blood and tears?¡± When the boy heard this he gulped in fright. ¡°You¡¯ve been eyeing that girl for years now. Let me tell you, I don¡¯t know what gamble you¡¯ve settled with that foolish girl, but not on my watch this time!¡± ¡°How¡­¡± Feng Moran felt despair now. ¡°Hmph!¡± The crazed man snorted and released the pressure. ¡°You¡¯re too tender. It was just a small trick, I know how rotten that mind of yours is.¡± He said with disgust on his face. ¡°I¡¯ve failed to educate you properly, but I won¡¯t tolerate this anymore. Your mother shouldn¡¯t continue to witness this where she is.¡± ¡°Go back home quietly and prepare your bags. I promise you, you don¡¯t want to meet me when I get back later. I only have one son as of today.¡± The words sounded like thunder inside the boy¡¯s mind. He wanted to say something but when he noticed the killing intent in his father¡¯s eyes he ran away like wild game. ************ Back home. Feng Chanui was alternating between hot and cool water in the shower. This world wasn¡¯t as modern as old Earth, but in terms of comfort and luxury, they didn¡¯t have anything to envy his past. Chanui was bored at the beginning, living without a computer or games. But as time passed he began to adapt. Now, when he wasn¡¯t training, he was reading books or running around the complex with his cousins.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Getting stronger had become some sort of a hobby for him to be honest. He¡¯d long since been clear about the stakes; being weak was not an option here. Before they were facing a crisis, his grandmother was already planning to turn him into the ultimate weapon. She was regularly checking on his progress and had plans to become his master as soon as he went through the rites. But now, the Yong didn¡¯t leave him with many choices. No one in the Feng had this kind of leisure. ¡°Considering my progress speed, I should at least be a green grade talent.¡± He was well aware of how fast he was cultivating compared to other kids. He didn¡¯t know which grade the Body tempering method he used was, but it couldn¡¯t be above Silver or Gold tier. He asked before and he knew that the best cultivation methods neighboring sects possess were of Heaven tier. Cultivationtechniques and martial skills were divided into several tiers and levels. Bronze, Silver, Gold, Earth, Heaven, Emperor, Immortal, Divine and Ancient. With a Heaven cultivation technique, it was in theory possible to reach as far as the Martial Afflicted realm after several thousand years. Any tier above was considered as a world-shaking treasure and would cause an open war on the Tianyang Continent. The current Empire was built upon one of those techniques and its ruler was rumored to have reached an extremely deep and immeasurable cultivation level. Immortal cultivation techniques and above were things of myths and legends. Shandian Lei was said to cultivate one of those before he ascended in ancient times. In the Feng Clan, the best cultivation methods were only of Gold tier. Since the old patriarch was expelled from his sect before joining the inner circle, he never learned any Earth tier method. Not that he could have passed it on, after being excluded even if he wanted. Sect rules were harsh and outcasts had to forego a lot of things after they left. Privileges, Cultivation, or even their life. Chanui¡¯s grandfather only lost the earliest. ¡°No use thinking so hard about it. I¡¯ll find out in a few.¡± He put on a hooded white garment and black pants. He was very well dressed and appeared like a sage. When he was satisfied with his erudite and dashing appearance, he left for the living room, swaggering with small steps. ************** ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°What? Stop staring.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve broken through.¡± Feng Yanran yawned and said. She wasn¡¯t the morning type at all. ¡°Yup, I¡¯m the freakin¡­¡± ¡°Language, young man!¡± Shui Ling stopped her son before he could use his foul tongue. She glared at him with reprimanding eyes and served a spoonful of rice. ¡°No fun.¡± His sister loved to hear him swear. ¡°Hehe. Chanui, how do you feel?¡± Their father laughed and asked. ¡°Freakin gr-...I mean good.¡± Chanui corrected himself and replied. His mother staggered and shot him a meaningful look. He just stuck his tongue out as he rubbed the back of his head. ¡°Pfft.¡± The teenage girl let some food fly on the table. ¡°You two¡­¡± Their mother didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. Before she could give a scolding to the siblings, someone opened the door abruptly. The sound was so loud, anyone would think the person was trying to break it. Funnily enough, no one was startled inside the room. In the hallway, there was only one small grey-haired boy wearing glasses and an academic cap. His frame and scholarly style contrasted with the force applied to mistreat the doorway. He just remained there, creepily staring at the food on the table without uttering a word. Before Feng Kong could invite him in, a voice yelled from outside. ¡°Panzi, stop losing face for me everytime we come here! People might start thinking I don¡¯t feed you at home.¡± The sound of footsteps echoed for four seconds before a sexy, mature woman appeared. She wore a black robe with long sleeves but her curves were abundant and difficult not to discern. The woman had short purple hair, but unlike her niece it was cut above her chin, looking from a front view. This type of hairstyle was very uncommon in this world, and she was often mistaken for a man, if not for her seductive body and intoxicating smile. ¡°Sorry, this kid runs off every time he smells steaming food.¡± ¡°Weirdo.¡± Feng Yanran looked at her brother and smiled. ¡°Two weirdos.¡± Monster Pair : Part 2 Without waiting for another urge, the little man stepped inside the room and sat right next to Chanui. He turned his head toward him with a somewhat defiant grin and dug in after four copious and generous servings within a dish he seemed to have locked on even before he was allowed in. This situation couldn''t look any more shameful in the eyes of his mother who harrumphed in frustration, before giving in to the seriousness of her brash, but cute offspring. She apologized with a smile in his stead and started to discuss with her brother and sister in law about their anticipations for the rest of the day. "Tang-Tang, what''s Panzi''s cultivation right now? I remember he was able to take quite a beating from that cruel offspring of ours. Five months ago, I seem to remember he was still stuck at the 4th layer of the Body Tempering realm? That''s quite impressive for his age to be honest." Feng Kong asked, curious about his little nephew''s situation. He was quite shocked when he noticed how sturdy his four-eyed nephew actually was. Not to brag, but he was clear on his son''s achievements. The boy was naughty but he was unmatched between his young peers. Every evening he had to apologize to some parents because of how aggressive the careless bloke was when he went out to "play" with the rest of the runts. "I''ve told you to stop using that nickname in front of the kids!" Feng Mitang glared furiously at her brother before she coughed to clear her throat, not forgetting to menacingly eye her niece who was difficultly holding her glee. She cleared her throat before answering smugly the question. "If that little pig didn''t spend so much time eating and sleeping, he would have already broken through the 7th tier of the body tempering realm..." She told as she faked boredom and annoyment. !!! "You mean to say..." Feng Kong pitched in. "Yes, that gluttonous animal has reached the peak of the 6th level four weeks ago." She nodded with satisfaction after seeing the look of bewilderment on everyone''s face. *Silence* Eight pairs of eyes were directed at the culprit who was making loud noises with his chopsticks as he was devouring his food. He shot a competitive glance at the unfazed shorty next to him and continued to eat when he realized he wasn''t as daunting as he thought. "Well?" Hit with a realization, Feng Kong and the others suddenly couldn''t help butwiden their eyes for a short moment. Chanui was astute so before they could inquire further he got up and left in a hurry. The ceremony was nearing and he would wait inside the carriage at the residence''s front door.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Fifty minutes later, the rest of the family joined him after eating their fill. They all boarded the carriage and left with anticipation for the main house. ********** Feng Clan, in a remote place. Inside a large pavilion, a woman sat cross-legged on an enormous yellow cushion. The room was half dark, half-lighted with candles at the four corners of the room. If Chanui were present at the moment, as an old earthling, he would associate this situation with a sinister ceremony of witchcraft or occult meditation. The pentagram markings around the cushion on the floor could actually attest to the mysticism and spirituality of the event. The marks were black, not chalk or felt, but rather an extremely dark red, strangely resembling blood clotting. The woman''s features showed a maturity marked by the vagaries of age. It did not seem so old or stunted, quite the contrary, it displayed the charm and the devastating calm of the femme fatale, that of the ripe fruit, spiced and seasoned by the experience of years. The woman took a long, recovering breath and then opened her eyes suddenly. As soon as she opened her eyes, someone knocked at the door. ¡°Mistress, the young Madame is requesting an audience.¡± the girl who entered said respectfully. "Make her enter," the woman was combing her hair and ordered in a dignified tone as she looked in a mirror. Another graceful figure entered the room and kneeled respectfully. ¡°Mother in law ... ¡° ¡±Um. It''s been a while.¡± The woman nodded. She smiled and gestured for the other to get up. This person was, in fact, the mysterious, and second old wife of the clan, ''Ji Nalan''. The lady bowed once again showing courtesy and etiquette before sitting in a lotus position just in front of the cushion at the center of the room. Honestly, if she didn''t know what her mother in law was using it for, she would think the room to be a bit too crude even for someone with such unusual occupations as the old Lady''s. "So what do I owe the pleasure this time?" Ji Nalan smiled and asked after opening her eyes. "Sheesh, Mother in law, how could you act so serene despite what is happening to the clan?" "..." Ji Nalan frowned for a second before her expression turned merry, sour and then totally dark out of nowhere. "Mother in law?" The lady was greatly startled by the sudden change. She didn''t know how to act in this type of situation. In truth, she was always awkward around most seers, but the one just in front of her tended to show a very puzzling behavior each time they met. "Hum..? Oh yes, I was thinking about something unpleasant." The old but burlesque woman then got up and gestured for her daughter in law to do the same. Her charisma shot through the roof and it was difficult to think before following up on her demands. "What''s the hurry?" the youngest woman asked when she snapped out her daze. "I haven''t even said why I''m here, by the way." She protested in a low voice. Ji Nalan shot her a look and replied as she led their way out. "You''ve come for the year assessment right? I''m pretty interested in it as well. I have some things to sort out first, then we''ll think of some measures for your trouble." "How do you kno-..." The little matron realized the stupidity of the sentence and stopped midway. "Mother in law did you breakthrough?" She asked joyfully. "I''ve told you a hundred times to stop making assumptions, seers aren''t minded readers per se, I''ve just reached the level where I can somewhat accurately predict a few hours into events before they actually come to pass..." She paused as she said this. "No matter how unpleasant they might be..." She finished. This time, the lady knew better than to ask for clarifications. She wasn''t smart enough to understand the underlying meaning behind those words in any case. Little did she know that she would soon regret not being a bit more pushy and adventurous when it came to the short fuse she referred to as "Mother".