"Ah? I expressed my good will to you esteemed elder. I heard that people who speak profanities are often more honest than those who do not and that people who speak loudly are naturally more confident in what they say. Thus I thought what I said would satisfy you."

Jian Yu clasped his hands together and bowed towards the elder in place. All eyes were now riveting towards him and the elder. No more pleasure was being gained from being in the center of attention now. Jian Yu was the laughingstock of Acirema.

"Kowtow 3 times and shout that you're useless!"

The Elder was infuriated with how Jian Yu used such vulgar language towards him. How dare he?

Jian Yu stared blankly into the Elder's eyes. To kowtow before somebody was a great shame to anybody! It was an act of kneeling down and knocking one's head onto the ground to show the other party that he was submissive. Knowing this, how could Jian Yu, who cared most about his reputation, kowtow to the Elder?

Jian Yu bowed as low as he could to try an compromise with the Elder. However, the Elder just smacked him right across the face, launching him back to the crowd.

*Thud*

Jian Yu spat out blood as he suffered from the impact of the slap. An obvious bruise could be seen on his face after he stood back up, staring back at the Elder again. Yet, this time, he expressed fear from within his eyes.

"KOWTOW!"

Jian Yu obediently knelt down and knocked his head against the hard ground three times.

"Now, shout that you're useless!"

If there were anybody who weren't paying attention at the start of this public shaming, the Elder shouted his every command to make sure that they were. By now, Jian Yu could almost physically feel the looks he was receiving from everybody in the Martial Stadium. This made him hesitate before carrying out the Elder's command.

But from the corner of his eyes, he saw that the Elder's feet were getting closer and closer to him. Fear rose up again in his heart and he took in a deep breath.

"I'm useless!" "I'm useless!" "I'M USELESS!"

Then, the Elder stopped moving towards him and icily spoke.

"Get out of my sight before I punish you some more."

As soon as Jian Yu heard that he was free to go, he immediately got up and walked towards the exit of the Martial Stadium. He wanted to walk faster but he was feeling unsteady and his head hurt, both from the kowtowing and the slap.

This served to agitate him more as he heard people mocking him all around. Nobody stood up for him, not even Fatty.

"Jian Yu is useless! Hah, telling me I should work on my attitude. Hmph! He can't even cultivate an element!"

"This trash told me that refusing to eat meat is stupid and that my beliefs are stupid. Now, I can call him useless!"

Jian Yu's eyes watered up a bit at the sight of it all. Weren't he close to them? Why were they turning their backs when he needed them most?

Then, Jian Yu noticed that Fatty was standing beside the exit, looking down on him. That look was familiar. Ah yes, there's the look he needs sometimes. Arrogance. But what right does Fatty have to be arrogant? All he had was the luck of having genius talent for the Earth element.

Scorn began to surface back into Jian Yu's eyes. The only difference between them was talent, what's there to brag about?

Fatty noticed this and didn't fail to respond, "Trash, don't get too cocky the next time you see me. I'm a disciple of the Ferocity Sect you see."

Jian Yu felt the open threats right from Fatty's mouth but just didn't care. So what if they act arrogant now? He'll just slap them right across the face when he gets stronger than them.

To close the gap of talent, one must work hard!

In the cultivation world, talent was only one aspect of strength. To be truly strong, one must work doubly hard as others no matter his talent.

Jian Yu walked on, resolution in his eyes. Although he didn't know much of cultivation, he knew that it was a world of strength. In the city, he's seen cultivators fly above the commoners and seen others walk extravagantly in the streets. Nobody messed with them as they haven't the strength to back themselves up with.

As Jian Yu was thinking whilst walking back home, he realised that he was already a good distance away from the Martial Stadium. Knowing this, his shoulders slouched a bit and he heaved a slow and depressive sigh.

"Was all my hard work socializing in the past years for nothing?"

Then, out of nowhere, an old man grasped Jian Yu's wrist. The hand was icy cold, like the hand of a dead man. Jian Yu's head rotated with cranky movements to look at who grasped his wrist, feeling a profound fear that rose up from his very primal instincts. He didn't feel this way before with the Elder, that was a fear that came with a show off strength. However, the aura that emanated from Jian Yu's side was freezing cold, enough to completely change the temperature in the surroundings from boiling hot to a freezing cold.

After Jian Yu turned his head enough, he saw an old man standing beside him. No, he was not a dead man but his hairs were all white and his eyebrows drooped down to his nose level. The wrinkles on his skin were very defined, obvious even for people with horrible eyesight. Clearly this man was very, very old, maybe even on the brink of death.

He was also dressed in tattered robes which could be easily found in the dump. The robes seemed ancient, as if time had tattered them through countless years. This old man was naturally the same one who had noticed Jian Yu from the mountains outside Acirema.

"Sit down. Come, let's talk," urged the old man. The hand that rested on Jian Yu's wrist pushed down slightly, but even that amount of exerted strength was enough to show Jian Yu that resistance was futile.

Cold droplets of sweat quickly formed on Jian Yu's entire body before he nervously asked, "w-what is it that you want to t-talk about?"

The old man chuckled hearing the unexpectedly quivering voice of Jian Yu. He hid his cold and fear inducing aura from Jian Yu and continued to chat. Now, he looked like an ordinary old man.

"What this old man can't talk with the next generation now?"

Thinking that he screwed up somehow, Jian Yu's body lurched backwards and his hands waved in front of him. His inner panic revealed by his squeaking voice.

"NO, no. You-you've got it all wrong senior! I'm just curious..."

The old man laughed at the sight. He wanted to continue teasing Jian Yu but he had to leave the city before his presence was known. Thus, he quickly put on a serious expression and he flicked his sleeve to seal off the Spiritual Sense of anybody in the city.

This display of abilities further frightened Jian Yu. He just gazed at the old man, dumb and confused.

"Lad, what's so good about reputation? A good reputation doesn't mean anything when your enemies are powerful. You should understand a bit about the power I'm talking about. Nevermind those people from before. Those Elders don't know what they're missing out on."

Up to here, Jian Yu nodded inwardly. Everything that the old man said made sense. Power was very important in Acirema and the rest of the cultivation world. If Jian Yu looked further ahead, reputation was just something that helped getting stronger or was obtained from being one of the strong.

"Just put away reputation now, grow stronger and find me in the Blood Reaches Sect. Maybe focus on money or something. It's very important to have money in the world of cultivation."

Jian Yu's heart trembled at the slight mention of making money. If looked at with a different perspective, money would certainly help with reputation too. Who would want to mess with somebody with a ton of hired bodyguards? Nobody! Furthermore, he could flaunt his status as a rich boy to those who just bullied him!

"Hmph, just you wait. Papa Jian will be coming to buy you from your families and make you work like slaves!" Jian Yu swore in his heart to make it happen. What kind of bliss would he feel then he wondered.

Before Jian Yu could continue his train of thought, the old man raised his other hand that was hanging freely by his side and pointed at Jian Yu's forehead with his index finger. A stream of energy quickly darted into Jian Yu's mind. With it came information about a cultivation technique, a map ranging from Acirema's surroundings to the Blood Reaches Sect and the dangers in getting there.

Jian Yu's head throbbed at the pain that followed the mass transfer of information. However, his eyes were shining with a strange light. He had never been outside of the city before. His father had forbade it so he had to make do with traveling within the city.

The city was already 20 square kilometers big with most of the space taken up by the six Great sects and families. The area he was left to roam about in the city dropped to 3 square kilometers which he thought was already huge. Now that he saw a detailed map of the area surrounding Acirema, he was filled with the urge to go out and explore.

The old man coughed assuming that his presence was forgotten. Jian Yu's cloudy eyes lit up once again as he was brought back to reality. No more fear rested in his gaze, only reverence towards this merciful senior.

"You should know the dangers you must overcome to get to the Blood Reaches Sect. To ensure your own safety, you can begin your journey at the peak of qi condensation."

Jian Yu admired the benevolence shown by the senior in front of him. His stiff body had long loosened up and he bowed deeply. This was the best way to show respect without opening his mouth. While everybody else insulted him, this old man had showed care and even gave him a path to follow.

"Raise your head."

The gentle voice of an elderly man sounded from behind Jian Yu's bowed head. Jian Yu slowly raised his head at the command only to find that the old man had disappeared as mysteriously as he had appeared.

Sounds of city life entered Jian Yu's ears again as the bizarre field around him dissipated. With his renewed vigor, he continued his return back home.

A few minutes later, he stood in front of the gate to his home. From between the metal bars that made the gate, he saw his father rocking back and forth on his rattan chair, hands locked together with his chin on top. He seemed to be deep in thought.

Jian Yu pushed the gate open, sure that what his father said earlier wasn't true in any way. After all, he was his father's only son. Why would he be casually thrown away?

Noticing the sound of metal creaking, Jian Yu's father turned and looked at Jian Yu from the rattan chair. Jian Yu could sense the disappointment from his father's eyes. He lowered his head, afraid to meet his father's eyes. True, he was a failure and he was a disappointment amongst disappointments. Yet, Jian Yu was quickly approached by his father to receive a warm embrace.

"It's alright Jian Yu. It's alright. You don't have to bother with all that talent nonsense. For all those other children, fuck them. Just spend your time away from them and time will cause them to forget they past grievances."

Jian Yu could feel a trickle of warmth drop onto his neat hair from above. That warmth flowed straight into his heart and comforted him. Jian Yu had never felt this way before. The embrace of a father surely did bring reassurance to their children that they are not alone.

"What will you be doing in the meantime?" Jian Yu's father asked, concerned about what his son would start doing now that his favorite pastime was taken away...

Jian Yu pushed his father away gently and pondered for a bit.

"I think.. I'll find a job to gain money first. I was told it was important in life so I'll focus on that for now..."

He was uncertain about the choices laid out before him. Could he find a job that was tailored to his strengths? What if he just stayed at home and cultivated to avoid further public shaming. Then, the thought struck him. There were shops in the city that sold items that helped with cultivation. If he were to get enough money and buy those, he would cultivate much faster.

"Mn, good choice. Work hard," Jian Yu's father gave him a approving gaze and left for the kitchen. Instead of following his father, Jian Yu headed to his room upstairs.

Jian Yu's eyes burned with resolve as he recollected what the old man said beforehand.

"Money really is an important aspect in the world, might as well try to be the richest!"

At the very moment Jian Yu's foot lifted him up a step, his father's voice sounded out.

"If it's profit you want, you can choose to be a blacksmith, alchemist or a talisman crafter. Personally, I'd choose the blacksmith. The other two are just too difficult."

After Jian Yu thanked his father for the kind advice, Jian Yu resumed his way back to his room. There were urgent matters to be dealt with.

*Slam*

Jian Yu shut the door behind him and hopped onto his bed. Sitting cross-legged, he started to seriously wonder about the old man from before. Wasn't he useless? Or was he not useless? Otherwise, why would he be handed a cultivation technique without a price to pay? These questions were not yet for Jim to know the answers to. With a heart filled with inquiries, he closed his eyes and searched his mind for the cultivation technique handed to him, with a bit of a playful expression on his face.

"I need more power. Then, I can finally kick those damned turncoats in the butt when I get stronger than them. The Elder also needs a beating. How could he do that to me?"