Birds chirped loudly on the trees. The same loud and annoying noise they always do. It woke everyone in the village up before the sun's first rays hit them.
Rui slowly crawled out of bed, beginning his morning routine. It was very simple, but it was important. First, starting with some stretches, then taking a dip in the river to wash off any of that night sweat stuck on him. It was imperative that through this whole process, there is a calm and serene atmosphere.
But before he could finish his river bath, "Rui! Bro! They are here! Its m- our time to shine!" An annoyingly loud voice, only second to the morning birds, startled Rui.
With only a few friends in the village, Rui wasn't too extroverted, but he wasn't like that with his best friend and cousin, Perv. He also grew up with him, so they get along very well. And today was the day when some cultivator masters would come in and find some talents...
"It's today? Oh, yeah, I forgot! Dude, we are totally gonna kill that examination and become famous!" Rui said loudly, expressing his confidence.
To be honest, he didn't think he was gonna pass. But a little extra optimism won't hurt anybody.
Before Perv could respond, a loud bell rung in the center of the village.
"Alright, man. I'm gonna go now, so you better put on some clothes and catch up with me before they think they tested everyone and you don't get a chance."
With that said, the fat kid ran away at full speed.
...
Rui's home.
"Thank you for the food, mama. It was great, but i really gotta go now.. the masters might leave any moment!" Rui said hurriedly, glancing at the door.
His mother turned to look at him and sighed, how could she tell him? In truth, she had tested him a long time ago with the help of his father's connections. But... the result? She could remember the words of the cultivator vividly.
"Talentless! Absolutely talentless! I've never seen such a worthle- I mean, weak child! How can there be not even a miniscule amount of qi in his body? Is his dantian and meridians just for show?" The examiner said in disbelief.
It really was strange. In this world, everything had qi in it. Even blades of grass have some amount, but a human not having any was impossible, or so he thought. Originally, he assumed Rui had some sort of unawakened constitution, so he spent some time digging in records and testing the boy for any hidden powers.
End result? Nothing. And through the entire process, baby Rui was fast asleep.
...
Village Center.
Rui jogged all the way to the middle of the village where he saw a huge red banner reading, "Sect Recruitment/Talent Reading."
Though the crowds weren't small, he could easily spot Perv in the middle of it all with a puffed up chest like a rooster.
"So you've come, Rui. It's about time you see the supreme talent that is I, Perv." He declared loudly, drawing eyes from nearby villagers and chuckles from the kids.
"Yeah, yeah," Rui muttered, looking over at the lines forming. "Don't get your hopes up too high, realistically we will never reach the level of the past chief..."
After squeezing through the crowd, Perv couldn't help but look at him strangely, "Man, what are you talking about? Whats got you all negative now?"
Rui opened his mouth to answer, bur before he could, a loud voice came from a stern looking man.
"Alright! Enough! Everyone in single file, we will begin testing immediately, we've slacked off enough. To start, you will place your hands on the crystal ball, it will draw out your dormant qi, so you will feel fatigue." He instructed, demonstrating on the ball.
Once his hand was placed on it, the crystal ball shook violently before turning a deep orange with red swirls.
"What a strong fire affinity..." Perv said in admiration.
Rui raised his brows, "It is really dark, he must be super famous outside of the village, right?"
Perv shrugged, "Why does it matter? We will surpass him anyway."
Only then did Rui notice an inexplicable confidence shining in his eyes, "Since when did Perv have such an expression?"
He's kind of fat, with thick meaty arms and legs. With the addition of a round head you'd want to smack around, according to the female villagers anyway. Where's he getting this self-confidence from?
All of a sudden, it was already Perv's turn.
Perv stepped forward with an exaggerated march. He rubbed his hands together, then dramatically placed his right palm on the crystal ball.
For a few seconds, nothing happened.
The crowd murmured.
Rui winced a little, ready to console him if necessary. After all, he was so confident. Rui had to–
Suddenly, the crystal pulsed.
Then again.
BOOM!
It erupted in a wave of golden light, flaring so bright that several of the villagers had to shield their eyes. The image of dancing beasts could somehow be seen. The swirling colors inside it shifted chaotically. Orange, red, yellow and then gold again - until it turned into a brilliant, flickering cloud of golden sparks
Everyone went silent.
Even the cold looking man raised an eyebrow. "...Triple affinity? No.. wait. This…" He narrowed his eyes and leaned closer, squinting at the crystal. "This is… something I've never seen before!"
Perv's grin stretched wider than ever, sweat rolling down his round cheeks from the pressure. Ignoring the tears that almost formed, "Told you," he muttered smugly. "Supreme talent."
"Step back," the cultivator said sharply, though not with annoyance. There was a subtle temor in his voice now. "Next."
Rui blinked rapidly. "What the hell just happened?"
"Triple… affinity?" someone whispered from behind him.
"Did you see that gold?! That's celestial-level talent!"
"No wonder he was so confident…"
Rui's legs suddenly felt heavier from the shock, or maybe another feeling. "This fat bastard really wasn't bluffing…"
The crystal was glowing faintly now, still recovering from the spectacle. The cultivator glanced at it for a while with a jealous glint in his eyes that couldn't escape Rui's gaze, then at the line.
"You. You're next," he pointed at Rui.
Rui stiffened. "Me...."
Perv stepped aside, still smirking. "Go on, Rui. Don't be nervous. I left some talent in there for you."
The joke didn't help. Rui approached the crystal like a man walking toward a grave. ' This is it,' he thought.
He raised his hand, hesitated for half a second, then placed his palm flat against the crystal.
Silence.
One second. Two.
Nothing.
Rui stared, his heart sinking, what happened to Perv wasn't gonna happen for him...
Three seconds. The cultivator was about to open his mouth when—
Crack.
The crystal made a sharp, splintering sound.
Everyone jolted.
Then… something dark began to seep into the crystal from Rui's hand. Not black like ink, but like absence, like light being swallowed up and devoured.
The crystal dimmed. It didn't glow any color.
The cultivator's eyes widened. "Get your hand off. Now!"
But Rui couldn't move. His hand was stuck. The surface of the orb felt like it was dragging him in.
Suddenly, crack! The crystal shattered, bursting into a cloud of black mist that dissipated near instantly.
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
Rui fell backward, panting hard. His hand stung. When he looked down, there was a strange, faintly glowing sigil on his palm. Extremely faint, to the point of almost invisible, but he could see it. It looked like a tooth, a sharp one.
The cultivator crouched down beside him, staring at the mark. "...That wasn't-" he muttered. "That's not something I've ever heard of happening.."
Perv knelt next to Rui immediately, grabbing his shoulder. "Bro!? What was that?"
"I… I don't know." Rui looked around. The villagers had all gone quiet, staring at him with wide, uncertain eyes.
Then someone whispered it.
"Cursed."
Another voice: "It broke the crystal- devoured everything inside as well…"
And a third: "What is he..."
Rui felt cold and scared. For the first time in his life, he felt like he really might be alone after this. What will his parents think of him now?
But the cultivator stood up and faced the crowd. "Silence," he ordered, his voice commanding once more. "No one touches the boy. Not right now."
Then he looked down at Rui again. "You're coming with us."
Perv scratched his round head wirh closed eyes, "I guess we will be famous at least... but, not in the way you wanted..?"
Rui blinked. "Huh?"