Chapter 1-2-3-4

 Chapter 1- Consider the advice of the old

 

 An owl shout hit the hero's ears, then the bird flapped its wings flying away. Larchen shook his hands regardless,

 making an overhead motion, for some reason, be it playing a mime for fun, being alone in dark lands for so long,

 or that the bird simply could be after his life for not much reason really, as these things went.

 He desired to rest, and recover in a familiar place. He thought of a warm fire. But there was no time. He planned to pass by

 village and go back to his room at the disciple wing. He was carrying some nice haul, from his recent foray into dark forest.

 Monster cores, soul stones, various artifacts, unicorn blood, fish scale... things like that. It was better if he slipped 

 unaccosted d by the guards or sect elders patrolling the grounds nor anyone else curious enough to make trouble for him, really.

Thankfully, he managed to pass by unnoticed. The hero contest were approaching so he needed to set his affairs in order

quickly. He was a distant person, he enjoyed solitude, but that didn't mean he was anti-social or he lacked ambitions. He preferred

the company of training and cultivation over others..

The contest would take place in the desert dunes near the main city that sect was based on. The grounds were being constructed,

with workers moving about, even at this time of the night. 

 

Larchen sighed, and collapsed into his bed...He didn't consider the advice of the old, to stay away from darkness, thus in his heart,

he was tired, not feeling evil or dark, or hopeless, but it was out of sorts, difficult to settle. The dark lands, were a place of strangeness.

Thus it was human's first instinct to avoid the place. A normal person knew you couldn't win against the casino. He sighed again, and got up.

Chapter 2- The Judge

The judges were of the human race. But that didn't mean there weren'tother species around, both in the competition but also

the visiting elders of various sects. Not only that, some people simply preferred to stay in various animal forms. His sect's elder

was particularly a strange person, choosing to appear as a fish in the presence of others. So there was quite a scene, a fish

chatting with others casually, with its crisp voice, while others were in serious attention.

  "But, elder, aren't we enemies with the Ectoparasite Court sect ? How can we allow them to roam freely in our sect grounds..."

   a smooth slightly melodic and sour high pitched voice of a female elder rang..

 

  -"It doesn't matter Fowliang, elder said... there are at least 50 other sects here, not to mention their various entourages, and

  their proxies, and also other independent minor factions, and whomever else..., its our duty to present a kind welcome..."

- "Yes, elder", minor elder Fowliang nodded helplessly. 

 

 She thought that at least, if she was a judge, so she could target the enemy disciples and contestants, to take her anger out. They were

 really quite easy to notice, born in northern lands, their skin were also whiter, compared to others. It was quite distinctly noticable since

 mostpeople of the main lands tended to have more sunny complexions.

 The elder was being.. optimistic, but the daily structure of the city were under pressure. While everything was going without much troble, it

 was a stretch to say that there were no problems. She naturally blamed the Ectoparasite Court, in her heart, they were all trouble makers.

 

 The city, were an amazing place to her. It was a remarkable wonder of these lands. One felt hopeful here, even the air was so warm and serene,

 there was hardly any despair, nor it was overly suffocating, with over serious buildings. From time to time ofc, some made their mission to

 be honorably enact order, like marching in parades of armors and doing quests and stuff, still she really liked the place. She felt at peace

 but recently she was starting to lose her calm.. once again.

 

 

 She had a package delivered, it was sort of a judging-kit. It talked about the rules that one must abide, nothing she didn't know really.

 The ways to fairly judge the strength of the contestants, and givethem a balanced score... The information about traveling elderse from

 other sects.. lots of information. It went on and on...

 

 She speculated on the nature of the competition. The package and delivery were quite extensive, it included lots of valuable gifts. These

 were rare cultivation items, and unique artifacts, clearly somebody were greasing them before hand, for they wanted a healthy competition.

 It was the reward for her spot as a fair judge. Judging by the amount of official nudging and the amount of gifts, she could say, this wasn't

 just a simple affair to be.

 

 The package also included a letter. It said, to advocate fair justice, and

 live your life honorably..

 

 

 Chapter 3- Somehere

 

 The class, were taking place near the city walls. The river flew healthily and mightly, the sun was almost one fourth of the way up to the top.

 Larchen sighed so heavily it could almost match the cracking of trees, that went along with the shaking of his body since the dawn. 

 He advanced a cultivation level and the kick back was deadly, but there was not time, he needed to attend the lesson. 

 

 Not only he was depressed, he was literally compressed. One of his eye barely saw anything,

 and one of his leg were aching quite alarmingly. Dealing with the monsters of the dark forest

 werent' an easy task at all. It went with contrast to birds singing under the normality of

 the day. Darkness or depression still hang on his mind, the body and brain after all, got used

 to the motions a person did at the environment they were.

 

 The disciples were running along the elf-god river quite enthusiastically but in a certain order. They were scouting/scouring

 and were trading jabs via various moves and spells too. They scouted along the coast for dangers to deal with, but also to

 train amongst themselves,. This was a quite a standard training practice. Larchen wondered what the hell he was doing here

 for a moment, but instead of fading into his thoughts, he made his body move to  practice with others. It was quite a spectacle..

  Even the presiding elder Prosarthri were in good moods.

 

 After some time, the disciples gathered in front of the elder, for today's lesson. Larchen winced..

  

  "The cloud arts," the elder said, "is the connection between you, and your potential. The righteous

  behavior dictates that one has the understand the levels of the supreme power. But don't think

  you've advanced to the ends of cultiuvation, just because you've reached to an end of a path. There

  are multiple realms beyond the one most of you are currently in."

  

  ugh, larchen was alarmingly close to fainting. He stedied himself.

  

  "Today, i'll teach you the casuistry prayer art. Its internal rhytm could help you quite a ways to stabilize,

  and increase your stamina. But this power doesn't come from technicals but strength of your

  soul also..." 

  

  There were excited cheers, some were even appeared to be crying from joy.

  

  "Alright, pick a partner, and concentrate..."

  

  Everyone picked a partner, and they sat down a few paces from each other, meditating. 

  

  "Make the connection between you.. don't talk and make any movements. Ease your mind of worries"

  

  After some while, there were some buzzing sounds from some of the pairs...

  

  "Good.. the next phase is..."

  

  Suddenly some pairs have started floating in air ....

  

  "What the hell is that..." people started shouting as they stopped their efforts...

  

  Larchen were sinking to ground... almost half of his body was in...the ground..

  

  "The elder were shocked... rarely anyone a being could see someone this stupid..."

  

  Ehm, what's going on ? others asked... 

  

  "Ehm, let me call smo else, the elder said..."

  

  ---

  

  - Well what do you think ? elder Eumolpd said.. 

  - This can happen... if one's heart is too heavy, another elder said, its quite, normal..

  - You mean this is a legit application of the cloud art ?

  - Its quite so, alth its an exception, i've heard of this happening before...

  

  

  Larchen was somewhere.. he didn't even hear the jeers or gigles, peopel unable to

  stop their laughter.. The depressive thoghts finally took over, and he started gnawing

  the reasons and causes and philosophies... and as usual it went on and on.. Thankfully,

  the commotion was over, it wasn't that big of an event.. These things frequently

  happend on lessons, and it was often entertaining.

  

  He needed immediate alcohol... or smt.. 

  

  -Ehm so can we record your achievement in inventing this art ? Some sect official said.

  -What.. Larchen said, opening his eyes.

  -So much concentration,.. in the wrong way.. someone said, everyone laughed..

  -Ehm, perhaps later.. I've quite a busy day... See you

  -Ehm, you can be rewarded...for your contribution, to sect's codex of arts..

  -Sorry, elder, i've to go. i've classes... said Larchen, and quickly took off while people

  watched him fly away.

  

  

  Chapter 4 - Nothing

  

   Larchen sit on his bed, and concentrated. The new level needed stabilizing. The impurities

   were outed and his bone structure were shifting and changing. He went at it for at least

   10 hours.. But there still weren't a complete success. 

  

   -Hello, excuse me, there were a door knock..

   

   Larchen opened his eyes.. Yes ?

   

   -I'm the elder Fowliang,  can i come in ?

   

   Yes.. ofc Larchen stood on his feet immediately. Please..

   

   -The smell of perfume filled his nose, thankfully he was just cultivating.. it could be an acceptable

   state of presentation...You know, doing nothing wrong..

   

   Ehm, hello, the eldress said, looking at larchen up and down for a second... About the issue with

   your lesson this morning.

   

   Ofc elder, sorry i left, i had an insight to train.

   

   Ofc, Larchen, quite understandable. Regardless sect has requested me to investigate.. the matter.

   

   What do you need ? Larchen asked..

   

   Well, the rare traits are usually documented.. Let me ask you, do you have any other unusual

   features ? Don' worry, sect keeps these in absolute private secrecty..

   

   Im not quite sure...

   

   Can i have a look ? 

   

   Sure, Larchen said.

   

   The elder took his wrist and checked his pulse for a while. I see...

   

   Yes ? Larchen asked

   

   So much potential..but you'll have a difficult path.. to cultivation. Your meridians aren't expanding enough..

   

   I see, its more or less smt i figured, Larchen said.

   

   Well, elder said, do you wish to participate in the hero contest ? , you seem to have broken through to qualify..

   This must also be recorded in sect ledger...

   

   Why would i do that ? Larchen asked.

   

   (Its because i need to find participants, elder thought helplessly..) We just need some participants to

   be honest with you, you don't need to be particularly strong, you can excel at your strengths... and

   don't worry about others, representing our sect, we are quite easygoing. You could be a point of

   interest for some too, with your unusual traits. Our stoneyard thunder-god sect is quite proud

   to always provide high quality events..

   

   Alright,  i'll participate Elder, Larchen answered. He knew he would be an odd pick, and were picked

   as an entertainment. But he also knew, that he was above average in strength, the sect just needed

   some props..to fill the event..

   

   The elder were... quite non chalant. See you then, and clean this filthy place up.. Its very improper, what

   is with all this junk around.. Don't you have a soul ?