Willowy Mountain Range, Thunder province, Nascent Cloud Land.

  Darkness receded while hints of blue mixed in the sky. Stars hid away as the sun rose over the horizon, casting it in a golden hue. The realm turned into a tapestry of colors, a blend of black, gold and azure.

  A cluster of massive clouds drifted with winds as they stood out like white spots in the colorful sky. They casted giant shadows on the lands they passed by while traversing the heavens.

  Sun’s rays parsed through these clouds, when they drifted above an enormous mountain range. These tall mountains were steep, filled with canyons, cliffs and ridges with dense foliage covering them.

  There was no traversable terrain in sight as fog blanketed the mountain range.

  The mountains seemed to come alive with all its inhabitants from snub nosed monkeys sitting on the branches to lions crouching under the willow trees.

  Red crested ibises in their nest, turtles and fishes in lakes and ponds, to small creatures such as rats and squirrels simultaneously cultivated under the Yang Qi.

  Foliage covering the mountains seemed to blossom while they gently swayed under the sun. The mountains exuded a calm and heavy presence for a moment.

  A breeze weaved between mountains as it carried the fragrance from willows groves. It traveled deep within the fog reaching a large city, which lay nestled on the midsection of Mount Willow.

  The breeze traversed the city swaying grasses and shrubs dotting the city, when it reached a particularly tall willow tree. It swayed its branches, laden with bright orange leaves that were dropping down like an open umbrella.

  There was a small stone table beneath it with a palm sized parchment placed in the center. An ink stick and grinding stone were placed on the left side of the parchment, while a talisman brush and an unadorned wooden box was on the right.

  A man sat cross legged in front of the table. His eyes were closed while his relaxed back faced the brownish-silver tree trunk. He took long and deep breaths in a strange rhythm. His blue robes shimmered a mix of red and purple as Yang Qi flooded in through his pores.

  The cultivator opened his steel-gray eyes, when the moment of spirituality passed and the sun rose higher. His breathing returned to normal and the glow died down. He lightly waved his left hand and dew drops collected on the leaves floated down in the indent of the grinding stone.

  He picked up bluish-black ink stick and pushed it against the grinding stone's surface as he started grinding back and forth. It sounded like a pestle against mortar but softer. The willow's sweet fragrance refreshed his mind while the rhythmic grinding calmed his spirit.

  His lips tugged upwards and his graying mustache was uplifted. He stopped grinding and put away the ink stick when ink on the stone became as viscous as honey. He grabbed the wooden handle of the talisman brush with left hand and dipped the silvery fur tip into the dark-blue ink.

  Qi concentrated on the tip as it traveled through the brush's handle lighting up a silvery crisscrossed spiral pattern etched on it. The brush was like a silver dragon spitting white flames.

  The man straightened his back as his eyes fixated on the talisman paper. He positioned his hand holding the brush steadily above parchment and then his hand turned into a blur as he drew with one swift and uninterrupted stroke. Squiggly lines, circles and incomprehensible symbols appeared on the talisman as it glowed dark blue.

  The wind swaying cultivators long lusterless gray hair stopped flowing when it entered space around the talisman. For a moment there was a weight to the talisman and then, the wind resumed flowing as the patterns settled in the parchment. The inscriptions lost their glow and it seemed like they were part of the parchment since its existence.

  He caressed his slight stubble, satisfied with his work. He placed the now unassuming brush in his right sleeve and opened the wooden box on the right.

  There was a red velvet cloth placed in it, he took the talisman and carefully placed it on the red cloth. He put back the lid and transferred some Qi to it, activating the locking enchantment placed on the box.

  The ink stick, grinding stone and now sealed box vanished from the table as they were placed in the dark-purple spatial bag hanging on his waist belt.

  “Let's head to the ceremony hall, Indra” he said to the teenager sitting right beside him.

  Indra nodded as they both stood up and started to walk barefoot on grass that was abundant in the backyard. The grass's rustling was the only sound on this silent walk.

  Indra locked the door leading to the backyard and then walked down the main corridor towards the main gate.

  “.....Baba” called Indra while the man wore his shoes.

  “Hmm?”

  “I will pass the test right?”

  The middle aged man looked at Indra who was now only a head shorter than him. He mirrored him to tee except his face held immaturity and eyes naivety befit of someone yet to be beaten down by life.

  A smile came to his somewhat wrinkled face as he said “You are son of the great talisman master Bhala, no doubt, you inherited some of my peerless-ness”.

  Indra stared at his father for a moment, his shoulders shook slightly as he burst out laughing.

  “I did,” mouthed Indra while he wore his black cloud-stepper shoes.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Bhala ruffled Indra’s lustrous gray hair, set the black ribbon holding his hair right, as they walked out of their two story house. He activated a protective array laid in the house after closing the door.

  The spiritual moment was like a mirage as the ever going war of survival resumed. Birds twittered and chirped as they took flight to forage food. Ants set out looking to hunt and faint roaring could be heard outside the city.

  Streets came alive as children in standard academy robes and Taoist cape ran towards the academy, while cultivators unhurriedly walked to work.

  Indra and Bhala joined them as they walked down the cobblestone path under the azure sky. Sun dispelled the chill present in the air, warming up the city. Their boots didn’t make a single sound as they walked down the alleyway and reached the main road.

  “Greeting brother Bhala” saluted a burly man in earthy brown robes when they came out of the alleyway. The man had a long brown mustache, a thick dropping beard and hedgehog-like hair that he kept open without binding .

  “Good morning brother Lohar; headed to the forge?”

  “Mahim became fifteen a month ago” said Lohar as he pointed to an equally burly and tall teenager wearing lighter brown robes standing beside him.

  “Then let us head to the ceremony together” said Bhala as he joined Lohar and left Indra and Mahim together walking behind them. They walked up the mountains to the ceremony hall.

  “So, ready for the test Mahim?” questioned Indra while falling behind with Mahim.

  “Nothing to prepare, either you have it or you don’t” came Mahim’s soft voice as he looked ahead.

  “That’s heavy…….., just like you”

  “At least I don't sound like a squeaky rat,” said Mahim as he turned his deadpan face towards Indra.

  “Eyy…., I don’t sound like that”

  “Pfft… Sure” replied Mahim as he kicked away a pebble off the road.

  “Didn’t know you had it you” said Indra as they turned in the left alley.

  “Have what?” asked Mahim while they jumped over the puddle at the alleyway's entrance.

  “Humor, you walked around the academy like world owes you money”

  “Ever held a hammer?”

  “Huh?” asked Indra as they weaved through the road bustling with people.

  “Figures” said Mahim as he nodded to the passerby.

  “Hey, what do you mean by that?”

  “Swing by the forge after the ceremony, I will show you” replied Mahim as his brown eagle-like eyes twinkled.

  They walked out of the alleyway reaching an open area in which was the ceremony hall. This One-story hall was built in a secluded area in the midst of a willow grove, uphill in eastern district. It had a five ridged roof with a motif of a germinating seed carved above the main gate. The hall was already bustling as parents arrived from all over the city with their children.

  “Mahim, Indra lets go inside” called Lohar as they walked inside.

  The hall held a semi-circular stage inscribed with array patterns, built against the wall. There were wooden chairs placed around the stage with more than half the seats occupied. An elder in gray robes sat cross legged on stage meditating.

  “When heavens turned inactive,

  When the Qi flowed silently,

  When Dao turned distant.

  The primordial Era passed away,

  spirit roots turned concealed”

  This poem was carved in the wall bordering the stage, it seemed to move and leave one lamenting.

  They walked to the front row seats that were reserved for foundation establishment cultivators and their families. Shortly after, the hall was filled up and the gate closed. Blue pearls embedded on corners of the roof lit up, melting away the darkness.

  The elder on stage opened his eyes and straightened his robes as he stood up. The chattering in the hall stopped when a heavy pressure spread out from him. For a few seconds he stood there with his hands behind his back, scanning the halls with his jet black eyes. Finally satisfied with their silence and attention, he nodded as he withdrew the pressure.

  “When the age of ancients passed, the Qi became sparse, which resulted in human’s spirit roots hiding themselves. The sages devised methods to awaken the spirit root, while array sage Marg invented the root detection array.”

  “Today is a momentous occasion for the cotton cloud city and our younglings. Whether they hold fate for the mortal world or will struggle on the Dao path will be determined today. I am Darshak, the array wielder presiding over today's ceremony. I will call out your names, and you younglings will come up the stage, sit down in the center of the array and meditate as you focus inward for a tingling sensation. Last but not the least I hope you haven't eaten anything.” the elder said the last part with a snicker as his voice spread throughout the hall.

  “ With that said, first up is youngster Quinn.” Darshak called out the first person for the ceremony.

  A lanky kid in green robes adorned with clouds stepped out of the back row. He walked with a slight jerk in his feet and his shoulder length hair swished left and right. He took his time ascending the stairs and finally stood in front of the array master.

  Darshak placed his tanned hand on Quinn's shoulder and said “Relax and sit down in that circle, take deep breaths, it will be over before you know it”.

  Quinn took a deep breath and nodded. He steadily walked to the central circle and sat down cross-legged facing the wall inscribed with the poem. He closed his eyes, relaxed his shoulders and took deep breaths.

  The elder walked up and sat behind him as he gently placed both his hands on Inn's back. The stage glowed brightly, as array inscriptions lit up and flooded Darshak with a large quantity of nature's Qi.

  The Qi traveled through his hand into Quinn's body. Darshak circulated Qi as gently as he could through Quinn's Body.

  Qi Entered his meridian channels as it traversed to the Dantian, prodding the hidden spirit root, if any, to reveal a trace. Quinn’s body jolted as if a bolt of thunder had hit him. His eyes widened, red veins became visible in them. After a moment he passed out.

  “Sigh… this child doesn’t hold fate for the Dao, but his body has received the Qi baptism. He will fear no mortal disease and live healthy till his demise.” said the elder as he stood up.

  Quinn’s father walked up to the stage with vacant eyes. He embraced Quinn in a loose but firm embrace, as if holding a porcelain, fearing he would shatter with the slightest force.

  “Send him to the mortal world within a month” Reminded Darshak as the man walked down the stage, there was pity in his voice.

  “I-I will” came the man’s slightly choked up reply.

  “Next up is Indra,” called out the man. Indra, now a bit nervous, looked towards Bhala who held up an encouraging smile. He nodded and walked up the stage and sat in the array.

  “Focus inwards on the Dantian” said Darshak, who sat behind him and started to circulate Qi through his body. Indra nodded in agreement as he focused inside.

  The familiar scene repeated as the array glowed for a few seconds and turned blue. Indra started feeling a tingling sensation in his Dantian, which suddenly became like a vortex and sucked in a trace of Qi.

  “Indra holds a spirit root” Announced Darshak as he and Indra stood up. Indra’s lips turned into a wide grin as he turned to his father.

  He was walking down the stairs when suddenly his feet lightened and the hall turned blurry. His father turned red as he split in two. After a moment everything plunged into darkness.