Most people who have had everything taken from them would become depressed, turning their aura as cold as ice; wanting to get away from life. Others might accept reality for what it is, accept the world for what it is,and choose to tread the fate given to them. Yet there are the strong who choose to accept reality yet choose to forsake that path; for the world is just a place to grow stronger so you can create your own reality.

Purple Sky City in the Red Cloud Sect’s training ground

Xiun Wu dashed forward, an illusory cloud above his head, as he reached Akata in the blink of an eye. He lifted his fist up and punched out towards Akata’s chest. His fist contained enough power to shake the air around it as it sped toward his opponent. Akata, almost having no time to think, immediately put his arms up to block the incoming strike.

Boom!

Akata was pushed back flopping across the ground like a rock skipping across water. Vomit spraying from his mouth as he was thrown back. After being thrown back a meter or two, he was in a sorry state, his face pale, but his eyes still burned with the desire to fight.

"Good good!" The teacher, Master Chin signaled for the spar to stop as he called up the two students clapping hands. “Xiun Wu your Seeping Cloud technique that you developed is truly superb. If you keep advancing in your training and improving this skill of yours it will truly become the number one defense.” Master Chin had nothing but praise for Xiun Wu as he spoke to him. Xiun Wu’s smile was beaming across his face as he took it all in. Xiun Wu was the most talented of the younger disciples in the sect, how could he not be happy right now. In the future he would surely have a life of greatness.

"That’s enough sparring today, excellent work today.” Master Chin was indeed content with this student of his. It was then that he looked at the boy beside Xiun Wu and started to smile wryly. “Akata you should train some more, it wouldn’t hurt to ask for some assistance from Xiun Wu here, he is rather talented you know, so I’m sure he could teach you a few things.” Master Chin let out a sigh as he finished speaking and shook his head slightly. Xiun Wu glanced at Akata with disdain and snorted inwardly not paying him any further attention.

“That’s it for today’s sparring lesson class, meditate on what you've learned and get some rest. I know that in the future you’ll experience great fortune and wonders.” Master Chin looked at the twenty something students in his class as he let his voice ripple out sounding very much so like a powerful figure.

“Yes master Chin” The class clasped hands toward Master Chin and bowed slightly. Even though they all bowed toward him they all knew that he was mainly talking to Xiun Wu. Xiun Wu was a rather handsome 13 year old with blonde hair and blue eyes, he was also a prideful student, most of the time coming off as arrogant. He wore a blue robe that looked like it was made from the depths of the ocean. He was born into a successful merchant family so he was raised with money and the finest things. He knew he was a genius in the family and wasn't going to let that go to waste.

Master Chin nodded and then disappeared off into the distance.

Xiun Wu looked toward Akata and then scoffed at him saying, “Akata, you did well today, you actually lasted a few breaths longer than last time. Like Master Chin said, if you ever need some pointers I’ll be more than happy to give some out.” Xiun Wu laughed coldly.

“Akata is just too weak he hasn’t even broke through to begin training.” A handsome male disciple with a long dark green robe on joined in standing beside Xiun Wu.

“He won’t ever break through to start cultivating, he has no future.” A young girl with dark blue hair and a white robe also laughed coldly and stood on the other side of Wu.

“Xiun Wu, Xi Fe, and Ming Xu there’s no need to worry about me I appreciate your care for me though. As for when I break through it will eventually happen and when it does you all wouldn’t be worth looking at. First I’ll crush you and make you all my stepping stones to greatness.” Akata’s eyes showed with a fierce light of determination and the will to fight.

Akata was a 13 year old boy with modest features. His hair a spiky black while his eyes were a fiery crimson red. He wore a red robe that brought the essence of flames to life around him. His skinny figure made him look weak and frail. But he carried himself with determination and ambition.

Xiun Wu and the rest of his group snorted, “Trying to provoke us again? Just wait till the Red Cloud Sparring Day comes the day after the Body Spirit Exam takes place. If you have the gall to show up we’ll fight there and have everyone as witnesses. I truly hope you improve in your cultivation, cause I find it hard to hold back my power.” Xiun Wu’s eyes showed with a cold light and he laughed coldly.

The Body Spirit Exam was a test held 2 times a year that students take at the Red Cloud Sect to show how strong a disciple is and the future potential they’ll have. Being near the top meant the teachers will spend more time nurturing you, while being near the bottom meant you'll be cast aside. The Body Spirit Exam tested ones Body Rank and Spirit Grade. Xiun Wu who scored number 1 in the youth division this time was a 4th Grade Mortal Ranker. Akata, being the worst, was just a Mortal.

A higher rank means you have a stronger body. With a higher grade you have a stronger spirit. Demigod being the highest Rank and Mortal being the lowest Rank. For Grade, 9 is the highest while 1 is the lowest. Akata being at 0 meant he hasn’t broken through to the Mortal Rank yet. Everyone knew he wasn't going to get anywhere in life.

In the Divine Crystal Continent there were 9 empires that governed the land. The Miscellaneous Empire was ranked number 9. Even though it was ranked at the bottom, it still had some strong cities. Unfortunately Purple Sky City was not one of them. Purple Sky City to most people was considered to be quite weak in terms of strength. Although not at the bottom, it definitely was not anywhere close to the top. In fact, the only reason it wasn't at the bottom was because the other cities below it didn’t have any sects or clans.

Purple Sky City did contain one sect though which gave the people there a sense of pride. The Red Cloud Sect was a mysterious place that sprang up out of nowhere 1,000 years ago. Although it came out of nowhere and is even still shrouded in mystery, major powers paid it no mind because it didn’t rise to power. In fact even the emperor at the time didn’t pay it any mind. Even though many didn’t care about it, some people in Purple Sky City wanted to find out more about it. Soon people began to join and after the passings of generations the people became accustomed to it.

Red Cloud Sect

Akata and the rest of the students started leaving. Akata headed to his dorm room.

His room was simple. It had a single bed covered with a red sheet. The walls were made of gray wood while the floor was made of gray stone. The whole place looked as if rot was the only decoration available.

Inside he immediately went to his bed and sat in the lotus position to start meditating. Trying to feel for his aura he sat for hours but couldn't feel anything. Saddened he started to do his daily exercises to work his body. Since he couldn’t cultivate yet he would train his body, that was how Akata was, he wouldn’t just give up and do nothing.

Magic is a skill that mostly all cultivators in these modern times train in and use in order to become strong and rise to the top. Eventually when training in magic the body would strengthen itself so cultivators didn’t truly focus on it. Besides, in these modern times, magic is stronger than many kinds of body techniques currently available. To cultivators, Akata training his body was useless, he might as well not be doing anything at all.

“I’m beat!” Akata jumped in bed ready to rest up. After half a day of doing simple exercises like running, push-ups, sit-ups, etc. he was truly tired. He fell straight to sleep.

In the dream world

'Where am I? It's so dark I can't see around me. I can't tell if I'm floating or standing.' Akata's eyes burst open and saw nothing but darkness.

'It's cold in here. Yet I can't tell cause I won't be able to see my breath. Are my eyes even open? Wait what's that faint dim light over there?' Akata started moving towards the light he saw.

As he got closer the air became much colder and dense, almost suffocating.

'Such great strength! Whose aura is this? It has to be on the level of a Grandmaster!'

Akata, as he approached, could hardly move forward. Every step closer felt as if every bone in his body was being crushed under the enormous strength. But he felt like he had to find out the source of this God like aura!

The light got brighter and brighter as he came closer, almost blinding him. He closed his eyes tight but still moved forward being crushed under the pressure. Suddenly he felt a blast push him back making him fall backwards. He opened his eyes to see what happened.

A lady was sitting at a round table drinking what could be coffee or tea. She had long red hair that reached to her lower back and calm red eyes. Her elegant white dress showed off all her good features. Her plump chest protruding out but not so much to show off. And her fair skin as calm as a lake with no ripples.

She turned her head to look at the boy and smiled. Akata couldn't stop staring at her with his mouth wide open.

"You there boy come here." She said in an angelic voice that had the power to bring heaven to the surface of the world.

Akata stood there dazed not daring to move an inch. He couldn’t sense any danger emanating from the lady in front of him, but the pressure she naturally produced made him feel as if he couldn’t resist her command even if he wanted to. Even though he was lowest in rankings of all time he still had common sense. He walked up to the lady.

She chuckled with how cautious he was being. "Don't worry little one. I was tasked with delivering something to you. Although I’m not sure if you can receive it." Her eyes twinkled as she looked into Akata's.

Akata just looked on not sure of what to do. In his mind he was thinking of ways he could escape, but when he looked the lady in the eyes he knew there wasn’t a place far enough for him to flee to.

She looked him up and down taking him all in as if trying to contemplate why this person was important. She put on a light smile and tilted her head slightly. Her arm lifted in the air and with it her hand pointed at Akata. Her smile opened to show snow white teeth underneath.

A red glow appeared at her palm. Akata stood still mesmerized by the calm nature of it.

She began to speak with her angelic voice. “Think of this as a test. If you pass you’ll be able to accept this great fortune. But if you fail… you die.”

Suddenly without warning it flew out of her palm aimed straight at Akata. Still captivated by the energy, he stood there.

Swoosh!