《The Legends of the Spirits》


 Chapter 1: The Spiritless

    ¡°If any of you want to become an intermediate court disciple, you need to advance in your cultivation within the next month.¡± A lady, who seems to be in her thirties, was lecturing a room full of children. Their ages varied from 6 to 10. This lady was actually an outer court teacher at the Jade Dragon Spirit Academy. She always started her lectures this way reminding them of the requirements to enter into the intermediate court. After that she started the day''s topic in her dry voice that could put a dragon to sleep.


    After what seemed like an eternity, she finally said ¡°Class is now over, and remember.¡±She eyed the class.¡± If you want to join the intermediate court, you have to advance your cultivation to at least the 1st realm 2nd rank in the next month.¡± After that, the bell rang and everyone left except for a certain 8 year old boy.


    The boy seemed to be lost in thought and everyone who looked at him seemed to find this behaviour normal as if it happened all the time. ¡°It has been two years since I started to cultivate and I finally think I¡¯m about to break through to the 2nd rank. My speed is a bit slow, but compared to some, it is quite good. Right now I need to focus on advancing to the next rank as quickly as possible.¡± He muttered to himself.


    ¡°Terin!¡± Suddenly someone yelled his name derailing his train of thought. He looked at the new arrival to see that it was girl.


    ¡°Hey Terra, what¡¯s up?¡± He said to the girl.


    The body who seemed to be 8 years old was Zang Terin, and the girl was his 6 year old sister Zang Terra.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to go cultivate in your room? You always talk about how you want to advance to the 2nd rank but here you are lost in thought.¡± She lectured him.


    ¡°I was about to head there right now actually.¡± He said as he got out of his seat and headed to the door.


    ¡°Good luck.¡± She said as he walked out the door and toward his room.


    _____________________


    ¡°How have I still not absorbed enough energy from the heavens and earth?¡± There was a boy sitting down in a room meditating. This boy was Zang Terin. He had been stuck at the late stage of the 1st rank for five months now.


    ¡°I guess I¡¯ll go for a walk to calm my mind for now. It¡¯s always good to have a calm mind when meditating. If your mind isn¡¯t calm, it may lead you to a cultivation deviation.¡± He was thinking as he got up and walked through the door into the night lit streets.


    As he was roaming the streets, he saw of a group of people walking in his direction. He recognized the group as one of those look down on people types. Terin tried to walk by them without getting noticed and almost succeeded until one of the people in the group turned and pointed to Terin while saying ¡°Hey guys look, it''s Terin. Why are you still even in this school? You¡¯re pathetic at cultivating, and on top of that, you''re a spiritless trash. You aren¡¯t even worthy of licking my shoes clean.¡± Everyone in the group laughed at the final sentence.


    ¡°I¡¯m trying my best despite all the setbacks, so what if I¡¯m slow and a spiritless, all that matters is that I try my hardest.¡± Zang Terin stated with pridefully.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Your talking back to me? Everyone help me teach this trash his place.¡± After having said that, the group started to beat him until he was close to death and had bruises all over his body.


    After the group left, Terin got up and tried his best to walk into an alley with no one in it. Once in the alley, he sat down and started to rest for a few minutes in order to regain his energy. After about an hour, he heard something from the other end of the alley. It sounded like an injured spirit was making the sound. After contemplating for awhile, he decided to go check it out.


    Once he got close enough to see the source of the noise, he was shocked. His eyes were wide as he stared at an injured dragon. The dragon had torn scales and blood all over it.It seemed like it was about to die at any second.


    Terin walked up to it¡¯s face and said ¡°Is there anything I can do to help you?¡± Most people would try to finish off such a weakened creature. But especially after what just happened to him, the boy sympathised with the once noble beast and immediately asked if he could aid it in some way.


    ¡°Ah a human boy.¡± The injured dragon said in a weak voice. This shocked Terin even more because most spirit beasts couldn¡¯t talk until at least the 6th realm. ¡°I don¡¯t senses any arua from you, do you not have a spirit?¡±


    ¡°I..I¡¯m a spiritless. But... what does that have to do with me helping you?¡± Terin asked in confusion.


    ¡°You have no spirit, and you were nice enough to try and help me instead of killing me.¡± The dragon suddenly coughed blood, then it met the boy¡¯s eyes. ¡°I want to know if you are willing to let me become your spirit?¡±


    ¡°Is that even possible?¡± Terin asked dumbfounded.


    ¡°Of course it is.¡± The dragon chuckled back weakly.


    ¡°Then of course you can become my spirit.¡± Terin said in an excitedly. This was his chance to change his fate for the better, who could he let it pass him by. But.. ¡°How do you become my spirit?¡±


    ¡°Put your hand of my head and I¡¯ll send my soul into you. You need to accept my soul and let it become one with yours. After that, I will become your spirit and I will become a part of you. My consciousness will be transferred to your mind so we can talk and discuss things. I can always help you with your cultivation if you need it. Now hurry!¡±


    Without hesitation, Terin put his hand of the dragon¡¯s head and felt something weird enter him. This scared him for a moment, then he remembered what the dragon said.


    He realized that this was the dragon¡¯s soul and he quickly accepted it. As soon as he accepted its soul, he felt it merge with his own causing his soul to grow stronger. Suddenly he felt intense pain coming from his chest. He knew that this pain must be the spirit mark forming. After the pain disappeared and his soul stopped increasing, he felt a second consciousness in his mind.


    Terin started to cry tears of joy. He was finally had a spirit and could change his fate. This was probably the happiest he had been in all of the 8 years of his life. While he was crying, he heard a voice in his head say Such a cry baby.


    I¡¯m not a cry baby, Terin thought while he tried to stop his tears. I¡¯m just happy that I finally have a spirit after so long. People would always call me trash because I was born spiritless. They would look down on me like I was nothing more than trash.


    That is indeed sad, thought the dragon in a synthetic voice. I used to be beaten all the time by other spirit beasts because of how slow I was at cultivating despite me being a dragon. Sad stories behind, how is your cultivation.


    I¡¯m at the peak of 1st rank in the 1st realm, but with your help ¡­ uh. I apologise.


    For What?


    I never asked your name?


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 Chapter 2: Tan Cheng

    I¡¯m at the peak of 1st rank in the 1st realm, but with your help ¡­ uh. I apologise.


    For What?


    I never asked your name?


    My name is Tan Cheng. Tan Cheng thought pridefully. I was a 9th realm 9th rank spirit beast before what just happened.


    9th realm 9th rank spirit beast! Zang Terin was shocked to the point where he almost couldn¡¯t breathe. He couldn¡¯t tell what was more surprising, the fact that this spirit beast was one of the almighty dragons from legends, or the fact that it was a 9th rank spirit beast from the 9th Realm! Suddenly, Terin thought of something Wait, if were a 9th realm 9th rank spirit beast, then how did you end up in this situation. Terin shuddered to think of a creature so powerful it could do this to a dragon and put it in such a sorry state.


    You can¡¯t do anything about it as you are now. For now we need to focus on your cultivation. Tan Cheng sighed. For now you need rest.


    Alright Tan Cheng.Terin started going back to his room. Just wondering, but can I call you brother Cheng. Terin had always wanted a brother and this was the perfect opportunity to get one.


    Brother Cheng. He chuckled . I guess that¡¯s alright. What is your name boy.


    I¡¯m Zang Terin. I have a little sister called Zang Terra.


    Great! From now on I will call you brother Terin. Tan Cheng thought enthusiastically. Now that all of that¡¯s settled, let¡¯s get going.


    _____________________


    Back in Terin¡¯s room.


    Terin was sitting on his bed in a meditation pose. If one were to look at him now, they would be shocked seeing the blue aura surrounding him. Normally this occurrence wouldn¡¯t be shocking, but the aura was coming from a spiritless, and it even gave off an aura of almost legendary power.


    I still haven¡¯t absorbed enough energy even with you becoming my spirit. Terin let out a depressed sigh.


    Brother Terin, you are mistaken in thinking that you don¡¯t have enough energy from the heavens and earth. Thought Tan Cheng with a chuckle.


    What do you mean ? It¡¯s obvious I haven¡¯t absorbed enough or else I would be a 2nd rank already.


    What do they teach you here. Haven¡¯t they told you that two things are required to make a breakthrough. Tan Cheng thought with a bit of curiosity.


    Two things? Terin was surprised. He had never heard anyone mention that there were two things needed to break through. I thought that the only requirement was to absorb enough energy from the heavens and earth. Tan Cheng laughed when he heard that.


    Brother, if what you said was true, then there would be millions of people at the 12th realm already. However even as we talk, people are struggling just to get to the 2nd realm. Do you know why?


    I do not. Please enlighten me brother Cheng.


    They were all missing the comprehension required to advance a rank. In order to receive a rank, you were half right in that you need the energy to be there. However you also need to comprehend how to use that energy and channel it so that it won¡¯t hurt you. Otherwise one won''t advance in rank even though one has enough energy to do so. For instance, you probably think you cultivate slow right?The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Well.. yes.


    Tan Cheng laughed while saying Saying you¡¯re slow is the same thing as slapping every ¡°genius¡± ever born in the face. You slow? Haha, that¡¯s the best joke I¡¯ve heard in awhile.


    Why is that so funny?


    Tan Cheng eventually stopped laughing and seriously replied. You have been cultivating for two years correct? Terin nodded his head. Tell me how long it usually takes to advance to the 2nd realm.


    The average time required to get to the 2nd realm is 4 years. Terin replied with confusion. He couldn¡¯t understand what Tan Cheng was trying to say.


    If what you just said is true, then you are a real genius. If we only base your power on energy from the heavens and earth, you should already be a 2nd realm 1st rank. Upon hearing this, Terin was so dumbfounded that he forgot to breathe. After a few seconds of calming his heart, he asked Did I hear you right brother Cheng? Do I really have that much energy?


    Yes. Now all you need to do is comprehend it and you will start to ranking up very quickly. Tan Cheng thought in an excited tone.


    That will be an issue then. I¡¯m not the most intelligent people. I can barely understand what i¡¯m being taught most of the time. Terin said with a sigh. If it was that easy, then everyone would be in the 12 realm.


    Do not worry I, your brother has a way for you to increase your mental capabilities to a great degree. The only requirement is extreme effort and dedication. Are you willing to strive through hardship and agony for your goals?


    Yes I¡¯m willing to work to the bone in order to reach my goal of becoming stronger, and when I do, I will find the one who defeated you! Terin thought with determination.


    Tan Cheng chuckled.


    _______________________


    In an unknown room.


    ¡°I wonder how big brother is doing right now. He tries so hard even though he is a spiritless. I should go check on him.¡±


    The person who said this was Zang Terra. She always worries about her brother Terin.


    _______________________


    Wait, this is something you must remember. Thought Tan Cheng.


    What brother? Zang Terin thought while wondering what Tan Cheng would tell him so suddenly.


    Don¡¯t use my spirit in public. It will bring great danger to you and me.


    Tan Cheng thought


    How?


    You didn¡¯t have a spirit for so long and then you just suddenly have one. Especially mine which projects an aura from legends. How are you go explain that to people. Also, have you ever heard of a spiritless suddenly gaining a spirit?


    Terin was stunned for a moment. No I haven¡¯t. I never thought about all of that. You¡¯re right, it would be dangerous if this information got out.


    Exactly.


    Now.. how to increase my mental capability? Zang Terin was very curious about how you do it.


    It¡¯s simple. You increase it b¡­¡­


    *knock**knock*


    ¡°Big brother, are you there?¡± Asked Zang Terra.


    ¡°I¡¯m here Terra. What¡¯s up?¡± Terin asked wondering why on earth she was there so late.


    ¡°I want to talk to you for a bit. May I come in?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Sure.¡± Zang Terin got up and opened the door. As soon as the door opened, Zang Terra jumped into Zang Terin, hugging him tightly and knocking him to the floor in the process. ¡°Ouch. Be more gentle Terra. Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m hurt?¡± He whined.


    Upon hearing Terin, she checked him and saw how hurt he was. ¡°I¡¯m sorry big brother, I just wanted to hug you was all. I love you big brother.¡±


    ¡°I love you too sis. Just stop tackling me all the time.¡±


    ¡°You know I can¡¯t do that.¡± Zang Terra teased.


    Tan Cheng started to laugh at Zang Terra¡¯s actions. So this is your sister huh. Good luck to you brother.


    Wait, what do you mean good luck.


    Oh it¡¯s nothing. Tan Cheng teased.


    What aren¡¯t you telling me?


    It¡¯s really nothing. Tan Cheng chuckled. I¡¯m just teasing you.


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 Chapter 3: This Aura

    Jokes aside, you should spend some time with her while you can. At least you can see your sister.  Tan Cheng thought with a sad tone.


    Suddenly, Zang Terin saw a dragon impaled in the heart by a spear. For some reason, he felt really sad when seeing this sight. He couldn¡¯t explain why, but the dragon felt so familiar. Then it disappeared and Terin was back in reality once again.


    What was that? Terin wondered.


    What was what? Tan Cheng asked.


    Was your sister impaled in the heart with a spear?


    You ¡­. H ¡­ How do you know that? Asked Tan Cheng. He was shocked to hear that Zang Terin knew about it.


    I just saw it.


    A memory? I think I understand what happened.


    What happened?


    It seems that we can share memories with each other because of our fused souls.


    Oh.. that makes sense.


    ¡°Teeeerrrrin!¡± Zang Terra exclaimed clapping in his face .


    ¡°What?¡± Zang Terin asked focusing on her.


    ¡°Were you even listening ?Meanie¡± she pouted


    ¡°Oh ah sorry.¡± Terin was a little embarrassed.


    Just spend time with her for now. We can start you training later.


    Thanks brother Cheng.


    It''s no problem. Spend as much time with your family as you can . Tan Cheng responded clearly remembering his departed sister.


    Is it okay to reveal to her the fact that I have a spirit now?


    YesIf you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    ¡°So brother. How is your cultivation been going? Ah!¡± She immediately stopped herself as if she had said something taboo. ¡°I¡¯m sorry it''s just what I''m used to saying to my friends and it slipped out.¡±Zang Terra started to tear up.¡±I¡¯m so sorry you were born without a spirit.¡±


    ¡°Actually sis, I have a secret to tell you. But you have to promise not to tell anyone.¡± Zang Terin said conspiritaly.


    ¡°I promise.¡± Zang Terra said confused at his reaction.


    ¡±Do you think I''m still a spiritless?¡± Terin asked with a grin on his face.


    ¡°Yeah.¡± Terra said confused. She couldn¡¯t understand why her brother was asking her such obvious questions.


    Hmh Terin chuckled as he released his aura. Blue light began to slowly radiate off him and the pressure it exuded was suffocating . Just by looking at him one would think they were looking at an almighty emperor and not a recently spiritless boy.


    ¡°T-t-t-th ¡­ this aura!¡± Terra cried in shock. Her big brother was a spiritless, so how was he giving off aura. After she recovered from her shock, she noticed the aura gave of a powerful and noble feel that only something legendary would have. ¡°Brother, why do you have an aura, and why is it so powerful?¡±


    ¡°After I got beaten, I went into an alley to rest. When I was in the alley, I heard a noise and went to check it out. Can you guess what I found?¡±


    ¡°What did you find?¡± Zang Terra was very curious.


    ¡°An injured dragon!¡± Zang Terin said excitedly.


    ¡°A-A-A ¡­ A dragon. You mean like from the legends?¡± Terra was shocked witless.


    ¡°Yes that kind of dragon. He offered to become my spirit and I accepted right away. I even have the spirit mark to prove it.¡± Terin said as he took of his shirt. Sure enough over his heart in the upper middle part of his chest was a tattoo of a azure dragon.


    ¡°Ah. This is great. I¡¯m happy for you brother.¡± Terra said excitedly touching the mark with her hand.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t tell anyone, including mom and dad.¡± Terin said seriously.


    ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± Terra said quickly.


    ¡°Good. Now go and get some rest. You need to be able to wake up on time for your daily torture sessions, I mean lessons .¡± Terin joked.


    ¡°Ok.¡± Terra said reluctantly as she walked to the door. ¡°Good night brother!¡±


    ¡°Good night sis!¡± Said while watching his sister leave his room.


    That night, Terin slept with a big grin on his face. It was probably the best he had ever slept.


    ____________________


    That night in the clouds above the Jade Dragon Spirit Academy, there was a man. He looked like he was searching for something.


    Suddenly he said ¡°There you are.¡±


    He flew down to the Tan Cheng¡¯s corpse. ¡°Odd. He is definitely dead, but I don¡¯t sense his spirit anywhere.¡±The man started thinking furiously.¡±He must''ve been bound to something ¡­ or someone. Spirits don''t travel on their own and I''d be able to sense if he faded. But the only place that would have people who would be capable of this would be this place. Hm someone dares steal from me.He should be hiding somewhere in this school since there is nowhere else that would have the resources to put such a spirit to use ¡­ I''ll close off the area too .. just in case.¡± The man nodded to himself then set a casual pace towards the outside edge of the academy. After that, he disappeared.

 Chapter 4: Dao of Talismans

    Early morning.


    Zang Terin¡¯s room.


    As the morning sunlight filled the room, Terin woke up from a deep sleep. He felt so refreshed that he stretched and yawned loudly. ¡°That was the deepest i¡¯ve slept in a while.¡± He said in a relaxed tone.


    Since you''re so relaxed and tranquil you should do some meditation. Apparently, Tan Cheng had awoken as well.


    Alright brother Cheng. As soon as Terin replied, as he got into his meditation position and began gathering energy..


    After about an hour of meditation, he stopped got up and went to get some breakfast from the Jade Cafe. After grabbing his food, he went and sat down at an empty table.


    About a minute after he sat down, Zang Terra came and sat down beside him.


    ¡°Big brother, I¡¯m so happy for you!¡± Terra said with a big smile.


    ¡°Thanks Terra.¡± Terin responded in a bashful tone.


    ¡°What are we so happy about?¡± A boy seeming 10 years old said while sitting down.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing Tyler.¡± Terra said quickly. ¡°Just some family business.¡±


    The newcomer was Yaden Tyler. Tyler¡¯s cultivation was at 1st realm 2nd rank. He also had managed to earn a nickname for himself in the outer court.


    ¡°Hello Prince Catfish.¡± Terin said with a laugh. His actually nickname is Dark Prince Catfish, but Terin liked to call him Prince Catfish to mess with him. He got the nickname because he was the young master of the Yaden clan which rules the Yaden providence they were in and his spirit was the common Black Moon Catfish, and the fact that he had a strange obsession with the word catfish that not even he himself understood.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Tyler rolled his eyes and responded ¡° How many times do I have to tell you, it¡¯s Dark Prince Catfish.¡± Tyler said while sticking his chest out dramatically.


    Dark Prince Catfish. HAHA, and I thought the other dragons were


    prideful. Tan Cheng couldn¡¯t stop laughing.


    ¡°Yes yes Prince Catfish. We shall obey your commands.¡± Terra said joining in on the fun.


    ¡°Good. With our combined efforts, we shall make this a planet worthy of our catfish overlords.¡± Tyler responded with a fanatical gleam in his eyes.


    All three of them laughed and chatted as they ate. Once they were done eating, they each went back to their own individual room.


    Back in Terin¡¯s room, he was on his bed meditating.


    Weren¡¯t you gonna tell me someway to increase my mental capabilities? Terin asked after remembering the conversation from the night before.


    Oh, I apologise. Tan Cheng replied in an embarrassed tone.


    Well, what is it?


    It¡¯s the Dao of Talismans.


    Dao of Talismans? What does that have to do with increasing my mental capabilities? Terin asked confused.


    You can increase your mental capabilities using talismans. In the Dao of talismans, one must constantly strive to improve their talismans whether it¡¯s making new ones or modifying already existing ones. This process takes a lot of mental effort and ability. It will be an uphill struggle at first but if you persevere, the rewards will be a greatly improved mental capability as well as being able to use talismans which is a great benefit in and of itself.Tan Cheng responded sagely.


    You have a point. It would take a great amount of effort and the suffering I¡¯ll go through won''t be small ¡­ but if this is the best way I¡¯m willing.Terin replied after considering it himself.


    Is there any Talisman teachers here? Tan Cheng questioned.


    Yes. There is a few, but they usually only accept a single disciple, and only one of them doesn¡¯t currently have a disciple. But he won¡¯t accept a disciple lightly and is said to have incredibly strict requirements. But he doesn¡¯t announce the requirements until he¡¯s testing you and those that fail have to swear a spirit oath that says they shall not reveal any details about it.


    It¡¯s worth an attempt at least. What is this teacher¡¯s name?


    Instructor Chu Meng.