_Happy Reading_
The snow-white clouds began to change color. Indicating that the day would also end just like that, without any changes. Nothing happened. Slowly a thin mist enveloped the peak of the valley plains to the east.
The main residence of the He Clan stood majestically and solidly. Jade pillars towered so majestically, supporting every corner of the building in that place. The wide courtyard covered in white stones occasionally reflected the light from the rays of the dawn sun.
But in the midst of the splendor that if described was incomparable. In one corner, far behind the main residence of the He family. A place that had a gloom, silence without sound as if forgotten by the passage of time.
None other than, a remote and isolated place from the main residence of the He family. A small pavilion with a simple nuance, located behind the He Clan's armory.
In a corner of the cold field, a 17-year-old boy named He Linyan was sitting while pensive and lost in his seemingly endless daydream. The color of her clothes began to fade and resembled the color of a servant's clothes. Every patch was sticking out at every corner.
She had just cleaned the very large yard by herself, using a very stiff wooden broom. Of course, listening to every taunt thrown at her.
Linyan stared at the evening sky with tired and empty eyes. She was a nobody in this place and also in this big family.
Although the pure blood of the He family flowed in her and her veins, everyone in the family knew. They all also knew very well, that she did not have a Spiritual Root. No Energy radiation, no Cultivation. She was a nobody. Without a Spiritual Root, she would not be able to cultivate, and that meant one thing.
She was a Trash.
Several years ago,
In a Pavilion that was on a valley plain, the residence of the He family. At night, illuminated by the beautiful moonlight, the sound of birds chirping passed by. Everyone and also the family members, were made happy at that moment.
The birth of a new member in their family. A baby boy who that night let out his first cry in this world. They could not deny that happiness enveloped the He Clan.
The baby boy who had a strong physique and condition since birth, slowly began to grow so healthily. A child who had a charming appearance since early on. Sharp eyes, and also long soft hair. Already had everything.
Until the kind child was now seven years old. And was ready to follow the tradition that had been passed down from generation to generation in their Clan. Just like other large Clans, the He Family had a tradition of early Spirit examination for their main descendants who were seven years old.
And it had to be followed directly by the descendants of the main family, including Linyan who was born from the womb of the wife of a son of the Clan leader.
The sacred gong of the He clan was silent in a splendor. The jade pillars still towered high and majestically. Dragon carvings, and also clouds adorned the ceiling of the large hall.
In the middle, there was a white stone altar shining dimly. On top of it, lay a holy purifying Spirit crystal. A powerful object, and used to find out every talent possessed by the children in the He family.
The elders stood beside the altar, and formed a semicircle formation. In front of them, the seven-year-old He Linyan appeared, starting to step onto the crystal stone altar.
Watched by the other main members. Including his parents who were standing from the side, in the distance. Looking at him with a look of great hope.
While the others also looked at Linyan with a look that was difficult to explain. Including the clan leader. Who was also his own grandfather, He Taishen. Linyan was the child of the proud couple in the family.
His mother, Madam Yue, was a fairly great alchemist in her area. His father, He Zhiyang. Was one of the sons of the clan leader of his three sons, who was always proud. Because Linyan's father, one of the cultivators from the He Clan who was very strong.
So of course they all, really hoped and had big dreams that Linyan would inherit the intelligence and talent of both his parents at once. They had no worries about that.
But it didn't seem to go smoothly for Linyan. The child looked very nervous. Seeing every gaze directed at him, made the sweat not stop coming out. Especially his grandfather's gaze, which was so sharp.
"It's time," said the third elder, while lowering one of Linyan's hands towards the crystal.
Tension immediately began to radiate from several members of the main family who witnessed it, in this magnificent hall. No exception for Linyan's mother and father. What was visible was that both of their eyes stared tensely.
Linyan's mother looked at her son who was ready in front of the elders. While holding her husband's hand.
A spiritual aura began to fill the air in the hall. The crystal began to glow faintly but surely. As usual, the crystal should emit a colored light according to Linyan's type of spirit root.
However ...
Ten seconds passed.
Twenty seconds had passed, thirty seconds had passed. There was no light whatsoever. The crystal did not respond at all, even though one of Linyan's hands had touched it.
The tension in everyone in there slowly began to change. They became surprised and also wondered about what had actually happened.
Likewise with Linyan's parents whose worries turned into fear for no reason. For some reason they had a bad feeling.
The crystal remained silent, even though they waited even longer. The elders were silent and they looked at each other.
He Zhiyang clenched his fists tightly. "Try again," he said firmly. He stared intently with eyes that were still full of hope. The second elder answered him, "We will try again."
A wave of spiritual aura that was much stronger than before was directed towards Linyan's body. They all waited, including Linyan who actually didn't really understand what she was doing now.
They had been waiting for a long time but still. There was no response from the Crystal. The atmosphere in the hall was also getting quieter and tenser. The people who witnessed the ritual, did not raise any sound and only focused on waiting.
But how long had they waited. Still, there was no response, making the elders start to take their respective breaths and exhale heavily.
The first elder turned to the Clan leader, He Taishen. The elder shook his head while exhaling repeatedly.
He Taishen exhaled heavily. Then he stepped forward a little, looking at Linyan who was just silent. "Stop," after saying that, all gazes began to turn to the Clan leader.
Mother Linyan shook her head in panic. Slowly her face began to look pale after He Taishen said that in such a flat tone. "N-no! ... this is impossible ... my son! ... h-he-" before she finished her sentence, her brother-in-law began to speak.
"Hah!, now we know, that he is not a special child. He is just a trash to the main family!" he sneered.
Followed by other family members, "Brother Zhiyang, it seems like luck is not on your side again," said Linyan's uncle. He patted He Zhiyang's shoulder.
He Zhiyang did not answer. He was pensive, with his entire body stiff and heavy. He could not believe, that his only son who he was so proud of did not have a Spirit Root in him at all.
"Do we have to be brothers with Linyan who is only equal to an ordinary human?, he can't cultivate!" shouted Linyan's male cousin loudly.
The atmosphere of the hall that was previously full of tension and silence suddenly changed drastically. Sneers after sneers came out from their mouths. Throwing words at each other, but only one goal. To bring down Linyan's mentality.
"Everyone shut up!" hearing He Taishen, the brothers who gathered with their children began to close their mouths after calling Linyan.
Linyan seemed to be standing straight, but with his head lowered downwards. He didn't understand everything that was happening right now. But what was certain was that the gazes of the main family were increasingly piercing him. Including He Taishen. "Grandpa," Linyan blurted out so small.
"He Linyan ... when I first heard that he had such a strong physique. I had high hopes for him. But it seems like I got a deep disappointment," said He Taishen.
Linyan's mother stepped forward a little, "Father, I beg you ... don't make the wrong decision," Linyan's mother pleaded.
Which was followed by He Zhiyang. "That's right father ... listen to your son's request!" Linyan's father replied. He lowered his head, along with his wife.
Before answering him, suddenly one of Linyan's uncles named He Qingshan, started to step forward and raised his voice urgently. "Sorry to interrupt father ... but, do you need to think again about this matter?"
"What do you mean He Qingshan?" the Clan leader was a little silent. He tried to hear what his third son wanted to say to him.
He Qingshan grinned slightly on his lips. Then he spoke again with a ragged breath. "Haha, I mean ... we already know very well, that Linyan does not have a Spirit Root in him. That means he will not be able to cultivate the heavenly path. While we need a very strong successor, to continue this great Clan. What are you waiting for, father ... what should we see from Linyan," He Qingshan said that in a mocking tone.
"Brother Qingshan! ... do you still consider me your brother?, why did you say such bad things?" Linyan's father suddenly stepped closer.
Linyan's mother ran towards her son, passing the Clan leader. When she arrived, she didn't wait long. She immediately hugged her son who was just silent. "Calm down my son, everything will be fine. Yes, surely everything will be fine," she said softly, to calm Linyan down.
"Brother Zhiyang, what do you mean? ... we are still blood relatives. Why do you think I have bad intentions. I only said what I should say, my brother,"
"Just shut your mouth, Qingshan! ... don't I know your intentions?, don't make any more mistakes!" The other two family members tried to hold back Linyan's father, who was starting to get annoyed with his younger brother's mouth.
He Qingshan smiled again. Looking at the Clan leader who was still watching silently. "I really pity Linyan. But what can I do, he already has his own destiny. Maybe he can learn from my son." He Qingshan paused his words.
He turned his head back and called his son who had insulted Linyan. "He Jiushan, come closer, son!"
The son of Linyan's third uncle, He Jiushan, started walking with his head held high. "Yes, father!" he replied.
Now he was standing in front of the Clan leader side by side with his own father. "Give your honor to your grandfather,"
He Jiushan slowly lowered his head. "My respects to grandfather," he said softly.
He Taishen who saw one of his grandchildren, began to look in silence. He reached for Jiushan's head and began to stroke his black hair that was only shoulder length. "He Jiushan ... you are eight years old now. But you already have extraordinary talent ... one day you will be an extraordinary person," said He Taishen.
Jiushan grinned so widely looking at his grandfather. "Of course, grandfather! ... I will become an Immortal and will protect the He Clan with my own hands!" his voice echoed one hall.
He Taishen smiled thinly. "Smart boy," he joked.
"How is it father?, do you understand what I mean? ... He Jiushan will be the best choice for the successor that father is looking for. He is also very talented. No child his age can match him." He Qingshan suddenly spoke again.
Linyan's father wanted to act, but several families held him back. Because if there was a commotion in the sacred hall, then something bad would happen to the Clan.
The Clan Leader still had not answered. He was still silent while staring at Jiushan with a flat gaze. Until one statement broke the tension that was happening.
"I will also protect the Clan," from behind, He Linyan raised his voice lightly.
Making all eyes immediately focus on him, including the Clan leader who turned and looked at him without any expression. "I ... will protect everything in this place. Including grandfather and also father, and mother." Linyan looked at his grandfather. His lips curved into a thin smile.
Seeing that, her mother also smiled. "Yes, Linyan will do that. She definitely can," replied her mother with a moved look.
"HAH! ... hahahaha!!!, y-yes, m-maybe so. But how do you protect this Clan, Linyan?" He Qingshan suddenly asked a question.
Linyan was a little silent. She stared at her mother for a moment, then began to answer, "With love. If everyone loves each other, then there will be no problems." Linyan answered that in a very innocent tone.
Making her mother and also her father immediately fall silent and unable to say anything else. All the members of the main family who gathered in the hall immediately laughed out loud. Their voices echoed in the room, including the elders who just stood still.
The Clan Leader took a deep breath after hearing Linyan's words. "I have made a decision." Everyone fell silent again.
Their gazes focused back on the Clan Leader. "Father!, don't listen to Brother Qingshan's words!" said Linyan's father who was starting to panic.
Linyan's mother, holding one of her son's hands, while waiting for the decision of the He Clan leader, on what he would do to Linyan after knowing that the main descendant of the He Clan did not have the Spirit Root to cultivate.
"I will expel Linyan from the main family members. And you will be exiled from the main family, forever!" after saying that, He Taishen walked out of the hall, followed by the three elders behind him.
He Zhiyang shook his head repeatedly because he could not believe this was really happening. "N-no!, t-this is impossible. Father!!, what did you say?!, how could you say that!!" Linyan's father shouted so loudly.
The veins in his neck were even visible, his face was red because he really could not accept this insult. Linyan's mother sat on the floor of the hall, both her legs weak, her grip slowly collapsed. Linyan who saw that immediately squatted down and looked at her mother's face which was shedding tears. "M-mother," Linyan said worriedly.
"Brother Zhiyang, don't make a scene in the sacred hall. Whatever decision father has made, it is the best for my brother." He Qingshan suddenly stepped closer to Linyan's father. He patted his shoulder for a moment and started to smile.
He Zhiyang was very annoyed. "Let go of your hand! ... if you weren't my brother, I would have killed you!"
"Gosh, Brother Zhiyang! ... how could you say that to your own brother?, I really pity you. Come on Jiushan, let's get out of here," said He Qingshan. He stepped out of there. Along with the other family members who didn't dare to say anything else, and left the hall.
He Jiushan stepped forward to follow his father. But before that, he stopped near He Zhiyang and glared at him. "I will kill uncle, if uncle dares to touch my father!" he said and left there.
"That kid!" said He Zhiyang full of annoyance. Now only he and his wife and only son who had now officially held the title of trash in this Clan, were in the hall that had suddenly turned gloomy.
He Zhiyang stepped closer to his son who was looking at him with a puzzled look. "Father, look at mother's condition. She seems sick, we should take her back to the pavilion," Linyan said softly. He was truly worried about his mother's condition.
He Zhiyang lowered his head slightly. Then he exhaled heavily. "Yue ... raise your head my wife, let's get out of here." He Zhiyang wanted to help his wife stand up.
But suddenly his wife started to rise from her position and let out a loud scream. "What my husband?!, can you still say that after all this has happened to us?!!"
"What do you mean. Why did you say that,"
"Hah!, we have been insulted in this holy place. We are not respected!, Linyan our son will never be able to cultivate!!, and now ... now we are expelled from the main family!!"
"M-mother," Linyan stepped back a little after seeing her mother who was so angry.
He Zhiyang glanced at Linyan for a moment with a worried look. Then stepped closer to his wife's body. "Calm yourself!, Linyan heard it!"
Linyan's mother just realized. She glanced at Linyan who was silent with a frightened face. "Haahh ... forgive Linyan's mother. Forgive mother's mistake. Sorry my husband, I couldn't control my anger."
"It's okay! ... we just have to endure. We have to endure for Linyan," continued He Zhiyang. He and his wife stared deeply at Linyan who looked at him with the same gaze.
_Continued_
Cultivation Domain: Fallen Immortal (weakest to the strongest from the bottom up) Cultivation of the Sky Path:
• Void Heaven
• True Immortal
• Immortal Tribulation
• Heaven Vein
• Spirit Ascension
• Nascent Soul
• Core Formation
• Foundation Establishment
• Qi Tempering
• Mortal Root
There may be additional Cultivation Realms as the story progresses/ Each Realm has three stages. So even though they are in the same Realm, but are in different stages, the strength will also be different. (For example, Nascent Soul stage one/1, and also Nascent Soul stage three/3)