During the time John Cage was leaving the tomb, his last words spread though the cluster of players.

"Did you hear that? A fire vain, and it's an advanced one at that." His self-proposed number one diehard fan repeated.

"Tsk, do you even know what a vein is?" A miser chimed in.

"Uh, no. But it must be something amazing because only my Johnny got it."

The fan really did not know. Actually, nobody knew what a vein was. But the question as to what veins were and how to get one, ignited a new round of chaos. Everybody grabbed onto a martial book anew to find out.

Pages were flipped in a frenzy and merchants overwhelmed by an overflow of improvised motions that even they had to take a step back. The fruits of the players incense long labor, however, fell out short. There was not even a word mentioned about it in any book. At least they got an answer from one of the merchants. However, the answer they got made them only more devastated.

'One must be born with it.'

Luo Si looked at the depressed faces of her inmates remembering a threat on WeChat, that should appear a year later.

First of all, what were veins?

Based on the concept of games, veins were some sort of naturel perk, giving the host a certain degree of affinity towards its nature.

In John Cage's case, his vein had an affinity towards fire. As for the question what advanced meant:

The degree was separated into tiers: beginner-lesser-advanced-high-perfect. One could achieve a higher tier by different means, but even that was up to luck.

What had picked Luo Si's interest, was the fact that John had awakened an advanced tier vein. Something she was pretty sure about not to have happened in the past.

Most of those who had awakened a vein were of the beginner, or a lesser at best.

'The pill.' A thought popped out in her head. It was the only explanation she could come up with.

The pill John had received, was a mutated pill that not only hastened John's awakening, but also evolved his fire vein.

"Whatever, it was fated to happen anyway." Shaking her head, she moved on from the what to the who and how.

Not everybody was blessed to awakened a vein, as gruesome experiments showed that only 1 percent was entitled to this phenomenon. And it was always the same group of people. No matter how many times they died, they would always awaken the same vein.

Those who awakened a vein were called 'naturel elites.' At least that's what they called themselves. As if fate had already decided whom to favor. Not only were they blessed with a bonus perk, they were generally also the first to embark on the path of cultivation.

Even Kushan Owen was a part of the natural elite troupe. His affinity. Wind. It was just too hard to perceive because it was of the beginner level.

The staking facts made the other 99% feel nothing but more frustrated, including Luo Si, at that time.

There was a drawback though, making the losers sighed a bit in relief, because whenever the natural elite died, the progress would fall back to the starting point.

Luo Si looked at the babbling merchant. "An honest answer."

The ends of her lips hooking up. 'An honest answer from somebody who is ignorant towards the myriad of possibilities this world has to offer. Veins are as much only the beginning of something greater as they are a drop in the ocean. Besides, I did not get my title for nothing.'

Her eyes darted through the dealer's pack, landing on an old man who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. A golden pin on his elegant attire, next to the tip of his white beard caught Luo Sis' eyes.

"Finally, it's my time to shine."

'!'

PAPAP…*

The sound of another awakening echoed inside the cage.

The old man took a look at the newly ascended. The fresh cultivator coincidently met his gaze. Reassured that Lady Luck must be smiling at him, after inspecting the old man, he tried his luck and approached him. To his surprise, after taking a second glance, the old man shoed him away.

The dealers were also surprised, but looking at their appalled faces it was for a totally different reason. They had only now realized who had appeared behind them. The importance of the elder could be seen, as the business men retreated one step at the time while bowing repeatedly.

"6 Meridians opened… barely a youngling… no vein… disappointing." Nearly inaudible words escaped the elders' mouth, but still traveled into the targets.

"Old man, don't think you can humiliate me like that." The young man was rather proud. Now that he could understand the old man's words, he felt infuriated.

He lifted his leg, striking down with an axe kick.

Slash*

The kick that everybody expected however, never happened. Instead, the face of the striking youth went pale and paler. A small but clean cut extended under the youth's feet as he fell backwards.

The body split in two as it hit the ground. Mouths stood agape. Nobody knew what happened. Even the awakened could not make out how the cultivator was split in two.

The proud boy fell on his knees as he respawned. He had lost everything without even realizing how he died. A painful expression formed on his face as he had to start anew just because he didn't know Mount Tai.

The inner pain only worsened after recalling what the elder had mumbled. 'No vein.' Coupled with what was discussed earlier on, he could conclude, like 1+1=2, that he was not born with a vein.

Luo Si had watched the act with an expected expression. She made her way through the players maze to the front, quickening her pace slightly to not miss her bus.

A determined gaze fell upon the old man, making him look back at the person, who seemingly also wanted a piece of him, taking broad strides in his direction. His interest deteriorated though when he perceived this girl to be no different from her inmates.

"Oh wow." A person recognizing Luo Si when she was passing him spoke in sarcasm. "You have legs now, I thought you only knew how to sit."

Giggles spread from those who had once took notice of her as well, elevating the mood slightly.

"Hey miss, did you trade your eyes for legs, because this is not your exit?" The fatso she had killed the previous day screamed up. He wanted to get back at her at least verbally.

Hearing the howling feedback, he wanted to let out one more, but Luo Si cut him off while walking right into the fence.

"It is now." She balled her dusted hands into fists and took a deep breath. Letting go of the restrain.

PAP*

"Mm." A small moan escaped her lips when she passed through the steel-like bars. The scene somewhat resembled T-1000 in Terminator.

The laughter froze, and even the old man raised a brow, but his eyes became more displeasured by the second.

"I take my statement back; 'you' are a true disappointment."