The first rays of sunlight were peeking in through the windows of the carriage, and the disciples were starting to come out of their rooms. The Zhao brothers gave him a nod each, and Yu Lei managed a small smile. Wang Ya ignored him completely.

  Li Qian was the last to join them, looking completely fresh. Yu Feng envied him his careless grace, and the perfect face he had, even though he must have just woken up. Seeing them all waiting for him, Li Qian addressed them.

  "We will be there in a few minutes. You four," he turned to the elder disciples, "will go and meet Elder Lin as soon as we land to collect your punishment." Producing a small scroll into his hands - Yu Feng would never get tired of seeing that trick - he handed it to Yu lei. "This contains my report on whatever happened, and evaluations. If something happens to it, you will be facing even worse consequences."

  Nodding, she reached for the scroll with both hands. "I understand Senior Brother."

  "As for you, Yu Feng." Li Qian looked at the new recruit, "You will follow me as we get you registered and situated. There are things you must understand, and stuff you need to acquire."

  Yu Feng bowed slightly. "I understand, Senior Brother."

  Their gathering was interrupted by a large shriek outside their carriage, making Yu Feng clap his hands on his ears. Looking outside the window, he saw what looked like a crane flying along with their carriage. But it was unlike any crane that he had heard of before. For one, it was bigger than any bird had a right to be. It was almost half the size of the carriage. Its plumage was also tinged with streaks of purple, its legs a deep violet. But the thing that made it so fantastical was the ripples of lightning that jumped over its body, its wings leaving a tail of purple static as it easily kept pace with their carriage.

  It regarded them with oddly intelligent eyes for a few more seconds, before rising up out of sight with a flap of its impressive wingspan. Yu Feng rushed to the window, but it had disappeared from view.

  "That was a thundering crane. A fledgling if I'm not wrong," Li Qian called out from behind him. "It is rumored that many millennia ago, the Thundering Crane Immortal had one as her bonded companion. That was where she got her title. The mountains around our sect have been their nesting grounds ever since the Immortal and her companion settled down here."

  Yu Feng was fascinated by the crane. Li Qian said it was still a fledgling, but it was easily able to keep pace with the carriage. He wondered how much bigger and faster the adults would be.

  "Time to slow down a little," Li Qian said, making a sign with his right hand. The boat lurched a forward, before slowing visibly, so that the clouds were not just white blurs anymore. "Yu Feng, look out the window in a few moments. The first time is always the best, I'm told."

  The other cultivators, even Wang Ya, gave a small smile, as if remembering a fond memory. Yu Feng turned to look out of the window again, trying to peer through the misty clouds.

  At first, he could not see anything through the obfuscation. Then the cloud's parted, the sun's rays shining through them, and Yu Feng forgot to breath.

  Transcendental. That was the only word he could think of to describe the view below him. Nestled between a huge mountain range, was a lush, green valley. He could see large lakes shimmering in the sunlight, with tiny dots taking on and of from the surface of the water. Rivers flowed from the mountains whose peaks were hazy and blurry to his eyes. A huge waterfall foamed into one giant lake, which then split of into snaking canals throughout the expansive greenery. In this jungle were clearings, where he could see human structures, small blips moving about them. To top it all off, there was a giant pagoda in the middle of the valley, half as tall as the smallest mountain.

  Yu Feng took it all in, his eyes darting to and fro. The carriage slowly started descending from the sky, and the details grew clearer and clearer. They were approaching a sort of port, where different, larger vehicles were parked. He saw a boat, something that looked like a giant needle, and a ship many times larger than the carriage they were in.

  As they grew closer, he could see people bustling about, clearing a space in the port where they could land. Li Qian expertly steered the carriage into the spot, and they landed on the ground with barely a jerk. Yu Feng had a sudden urge to start clapping but he shot it down, as he saw the rest of his companions grow serious.

  The door to the carriage opened, and a few steps descended from a hidden compartment. Wang Ya, Yu Lei and the brothers fretted over their robes, while Li Qian made another sign with his hand, and the carriage powered down. With that, Li Qian started to exit the carriage, motioning for the Yu Feng to follow him. The rest of the group followed behind him.

  The first thing that hit Yu Feng was the noise. It was a lot quieter up in the sky, he realized, with only the slight hum of the carriage being a constant. Here, it was like an explosion of various sounds and voices and just the general hubbub that accompanies a busy place. He could hear people calling out to each other, going about carrying large boxes and parcels from one place to another.

  A young man, wearing robes similar to Wang Ya and the rest, came up running to them, his head buried in a notepad.

  "Okay, soo, you are not scheduled for arrival today. Please state your name and pur..pose..." his voice trailed of as he caught sight of who was leading their pack, his eyes widening.

  "Senior Brother Li. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to h-hold you up. Of-Of course you can arrive unregistered. Let me just note down your name and-" he started rambling, flipping pages on his pad rapidly.

  "It's alright Junior Brother," Li Qian help up a hand. "My companions and I have somewhere to be, so I would appreciate it if you could put the carriage in my spot."

  The other disciple bobbed his head like a chicken. "Of course, Senior Brother. Whatever you say." He rushed off, giving a deep bow to Li Qian, shouting orders at workers dressed in rough garb.

  Li Qian turned to the group. "You four know where you need to go. I'll expect a full summary and report by tonight." The four disciples nodded, and walked off into the crowd as one, Wang Ya shooting Yu Feng one last look through the curtain of heads. "As for you," Li Qian looked at Yu Feng, "Follow me. We have a ways to walk."

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Yu Feng nodded, and stepped in behind Li Qian as they started to make their way through the crowd. It was a bit of a struggle to move, but there was an odd pulse of 'something', originating from Li Qian as the center, and everyone in a small radius stopped what they were doing and turned to stare the the two.

  "Is that" - "Senior Brother Li Qian is here~" - "Who is that behind him?" - "feels like a mortal." - "...illegitimate child?" - "I'LL MURDER WHOEVER STOLE SENIOR BROTHER LI."

  Li Qian was unbothered by them and continued moving forward, the crowd parting like a curtain in front of him. But Yu Feng could not help shy away from the stares, bowing his head so that his face was hidden. None of the crowd gave them problems, but he could feel a slimy coating crawling all over his skin, and he did not like it at all.

  They quickly exited the port, leaving the noise behind them, and stepped onto a forest path. Yu Feng wanted to ask so many things, but he was unsure whether it would be rude to speak or not, seeing how the crowd reacted to Li Qian. Glancing over his shoulder, Li Qian noticed his conflicted face, and gave an imperceptible sigh. "Ask your questions, if you must. We are alone here."

  Yu Feng started, not realising he was being so obvious. Hesitantly, he asked, "How important of a person are you really, Senior Brother?"

  Li Qian was silent for a few moments. The early morning sunlight filtered in through the canopy as they walked on the peaceful path, one behind the other. "You might remember," Li Qian replied, "that I had said I was one of the better cultivators. While that would be true for my cultivation level, my... status is also not insignificant."

  He paused for a moment, as if considering his words carefully. "My grandfather... is the Chief Elder of the Sect. You can think of him as the right hand man of the Sect Head. That is the primary reason why so many in the sect act so subservient. But that does not mean I did not work hard to reach where I am today. Those who say that I rode on his coattails," his mouth turned in a slight frown, "have paid the price for their words."

  Yu Feng absorbed this new information. He had been right, in a way. Li Qian could be called a noble, atleast according to cultivator standards. But the more he found out about the man in front of him, the more nervous he grew around him. Maybe sensing his thoughts, Li Qian said with conviction, "My status is not what matters Yu Feng. In the world of cultivators, power is all that exists, and those too weak to seek it. But remember, in our sect, power and righteousness go hand-in-hand. I believe that you have the potential, Yu Feng. It is up to you whether to fulfill it, or die as one of the masses."

  Thinking for a moment, Yu Feng nodded. "I understand, Senior Brother." Yu Feng had no idea about what was to come, but it would not do good to let down the expectations Senior Brother Li Qian had of him. He thought of his family, and his nightmare. If he became powerful, like Li Qian was, his dream would never occur. And so, with a new conviction in him, he trudged down behind Li Qian through the forest path.

  After walking for about fifteen minutes in the gentle silence, they came to a large clearing. Grey stone comprised the floor, looking like the natural extension of a forest into a ruin that was surprisingly well kept, bar the moss that grew between cracks. Across the clearing, was a building, as big as the townhall in Outer Reed Village. It was well-made, with polished wood and gleaming tiles on the sloping roofs. Above the door hung a sign in stylish calligraphy: Recruitment Center.

  The clearing was completely devoid of people, with only the clacking of their shoes sounding on the stone floor. They were greeted by a dark interior, which was immediately illuminated by glowing torches that lit into being as soon as they stepped inside the threshold. A wooden desk stood before them, with no one behind it, a door leading off to somewhere inside.

  They stood waiting for a few moments, before the sound of hurrying footsteps sounded beyond the door, following which a young man came bursting through it, panting heavily.

  "W-who is it at such an un-godly h-hour. Don-t you know that the center is closed until the new season starts next year? You better give me a proper reasoning about why you woke me up, or -"

  "Or what, Junior Brother Shi?" Li Qian said with a slight amusement.

  Hearing the voice, the man in front of them stopped his rambling and finally looked at his visitors. Eyes widening, he jumped into such an impressive kowtow that Yu Feng was sure there was something cultivator-y going on with that movement.

  "Forgive me, Senior Brother Li. I did not expect you here today. Please excuse this mistake of mine, and please don't let word of this reach my master. I will be flayed alive if he got to know I accidentally disrespected *you* of all people." There was a visible shudder that ran through his body at the mention of his master. But the way he addressed Senior Brother Li made Yu Feng think that they were close.

  As he got up out of his kneeling position, Yu Feng regarded the man in front of him carefully. There was a very unkempt look to him that contrasted all the cultivators he had seen so far. His hair was all over the place, reaching his shoulders like a lion's mane, and there was stubble that heralded the signs of an impressive beard. His body too was built differently. Yu had to crane his neck slightly to look at his face, and his robes stretched over bronze skin, with palms looking like they could crush rock.

  As Yu Feng was perusing this man, he too was being given a curious look. "And who may this be, Senior Brother Li?"

  "This is Yu Feng," Li Qian gestured at him, and he gave a small bow. "I found him during a mission near the south-western border, and I believe he has the potential. So I require your assistance in getting him evaluated and settled in."

  Looking him up and down, the Shi person nodded. "I am Shi Qiang. It is a pleasure to meet one who has been spoken for by Senior Brother Li. But Senior Brother," he turned towards Li Qian, "the recruitment period ended a month ago. To be enrolling a new disciple at this stage..."

  "You need not worry about that. I rarely exercise my authority, but I feel this may be worth it."

  Shi Qiang gave a nod. "Then I guess there are no problems. One surnamed Yu," he addressed the mortal, "Tell me, do you know much about cultivation?"

  Yu Feng shook his head. "Not much Senior Brother," (Was Senior Brother the right honorific?) "only what Senior Brother Li has told me. That cultivators take in Qi, and that there are different stages that must be progressed through."

  "Hmm, that is correct in essence. But, the way you cultivate also depends on various other factors."

  Shi Qiang moved out from behind the desk, and opened a door off to the side that Yu Feng had not noticed before. He gestured for them to follow, and as they walked down a long hallway, he continued his explanation.

  "In our body, there is a network of channels called meridians. Just like how our veins funnel blood, these meridians allow for the passage of Qi through the body, and enable its absorption. Not everyone is born with meridians, but those who are find they are eligible for cultivation."

  They reached a small room, not bigger than the living room of his home. In the center of the room was a pedestal on which sat a jade slip. They gathered around it, and Shi Qiang placed a hand over it, causing it to glow slightly.

  "There are also different physiques that speed up or slow down cultivation, depending on the type of physique it is. Those in the right environment will find that their body allows them to cultivate a lot faster than the average cultivator."

  Removing his hand from the slip, he gestured at Yu Feng. "Place your hand on that slip, and it shall tell us your attributes."

  Nodding nervously, Yu Feng walked up to the pedestal, and placed his hand over the jade slip. He did not feel anything, but the slip emanated a bluish-yellow light, lighting up the inside of his hands and allowing him to see his veins.

  A few seconds later, Shi Qiang called out to him. "That's enough. You can remove your hand now."

  Yu Feng took away his hand, and the light died down immediately. Looking back he saw Li Qian and Shi Qiang poring over a piece of paper that had appeared in their hands. There was no expression on Li Qian's face, but Shi Qiang's was going from interest, to curiosity, then finally settling on confusion.

  He reached the bottom of the paper, and gave Yu Feng an unreadable look.

  "Well, there's good news and bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"