(Author: Hello all. Decided to do a second release today. Zhuang Shao has reached the seventh level of qi condensation but must hide his true power. To fight stronger foes, he learned alchemy. Half a year late, Zhuang finally descends the mountains and rejoins the others. Enjoy.)

Chapter 7: Star Calamity Sect

"There he is!" Jian cried as he saw a young teen appear from the mountain. "Hey guys! Zhuang's back!"

"Sorry I'm late," Zhuang said, an alibi forming in his mind. "I did not expect my tribulation to come so late and I was too far to come here for Senior Cecilia's help."

"Luckily it was only the first tribulation," Lily said. "Welcome back. Senior Cecilia figured you would survive as you have destruction element qi and the most basic techniques involve short range teleportation."

"Yeah. I called my technique Astral Steps," Zhuang replied, relieved that it worked. "I can teleport in any direction within twenty feet and it doesn't require much spirit energy. I had to go really far and spent a lot of time avoiding the more powerful magical beasts to find a safe place to play my zither and meditate. I also took so long as I wanted to reach the third level of qi condensation with fire, water, and destruction qi. Having absolute affinity with fire made it easy for me to break the bottleneck and reach the third stage of qi condensation."

"This guy," Jian grinned as he brought some food for Zhuang. "No worries man. I'll bet Shuang also got stronger. I think another reason you took so long was because you had to protect Shuang as it barely hatched."

Shuang snorted an icy mist and joined the other magical beasts. Zhuang waved as he saw Lingqi and Senior Cecilia. He told them his alibi and they were relieved he was fine. Zhuang was shocked to learn that Lingqi had reached the fourth level of qi condensation in both water and darkness qi. While Zhuang used the spirit energy in the wyrm valley and daily consumption of a bucket of blood from a ten thousand year wyrm, she used only raw talent.

"From first to fourth, I'm impressed. Congratulations Lingqi," Zhuang said. "So is there a consequence for coming to the sect late?"

"No. Don't worry Zhuang," Senior Cecilia said. "We have a time limit of two years to return to the sect. This is because other core disciples must travel farther away to find suitable magical beasts for their recruits or forgot to set up a jade talisman formation. Using the formation, we can travel to the last linked location. If they forgot or lost the talisman, they would have to travel on foot as recruits are not at the level to use floatation techniques until they reached the tenth level of qi condensation. The only exception are those who have wind element qi who can use floatation techniques at the sixth level of qi condensation. Get dressed into clean robes and prepare for the transfer array."

Senior Cecilia gave each of them a jade talisman strip, warning them not to lose it. Just as a martial exponent bound their storage bag or magical weapon with a drop of blood, so too does the talisman strip. Senior Cecilia quickly told them to bind their talismans, weapons, and storage bags. All the magical beasts shrunk into the size of a fist and sat on the shoulders of their masters. After binding all his items, Zhuang entered the log cabin the core disciple said she would make for herself and saw only a bed and a large circle with numerous patterns and formulas.

Each of them stood inside the transfer array as Senior Cecilia activated the formation, the group was surrounded in a warm light and disappeared from view. In less than a blink of an eye, they stood in front of a large building where they saw other disciples moving about their business.

"Ah Cecilia you have returned," an elderly man laughed as they entered the house. "And with new disciples. Good. You have the records you were required to make?"

"Here Elder Shan," Cecilia bowed as she gave him a scroll detailing the recruits' information.

"Very interesting magical beasts," Elder Shan mused. "Only a single wyrm magical beast. Pity. This recruiting round only four have survived a soul binding with a wyrm egg. Two mutations already and the grandson of the emperor? Tell me, which of you is Zhuang Shao with a martial body at birth?"

"I am Eder Shan," Zhuang said as he stepped forward.

"Thankfully they are only minor mutations. You have three affinities which is also good. Perhaps you will help our faction in the newcomer competition in a few months time," Elder Shan said. "You don't know this but there are five elders and five factions under the Grandmaster. Each faction has different beliefs and principles. Luckily we don't look down on mutations as we know they have a few benefits. Alas, our faction is not very combative as we focus on spirit energy research and alchemy. Outside, we are revered and respected for our potions but we are scorned and looked down on by the other factions. You may all choose a faction. The greatest faction is the only one that respects us to which Cecilia here belongs to."

"Yes Elder Shan. I am a member of the Dragon Sword faction. Everyone is welcome to join my faction including Zhuang. I am afraid we also look down on people with mutations, but joining is an option. Elder Shan belongs to the fourth ranked faction known as the Venomous Serpent faction. They study music and alchemy and are not a combative sect. My sect respects them as we know the value of alchemy and their knowledge of qi spirit energy is second to none," Senior Cecilia said.

"If only the Phoenix Wing, Snow Tiger, and the Silent Shadow factions felt as your sect did," Elder Shan sighed. "Truth be told, we are the smallest faction but we exist because I and a few core disciples under me are the most powerful in the sect except for the Grandmaster. However, our disciples are looked down one outside of our company. If you wish to join my sect, you are welcome."

"I'm joining Senior Cecilia's sect," Jian grinned. "Dragon Sword faction must be very strong and know a lot of qi techniques."

"I will join too," Lily said. "I don't know people from the other factions and Senior Cecilia is an kind, powerful disciple."

"I have a few experiences with alchemy and I like a peaceful faction. I can also listen to music. A peaceful and free life is always my first choice," Zhuang said.

"I will also join the Venomous Serpent Sect with Zhuang," Lingqi said, starling everyone.

"Why is that Lingqi? With your talent, you will go far under the Dragon Sword faction," Senior Cecilia asked, trying to keep the talented recruit.

"I learned music as a child and I did not want to learn martial arts except to defend myself," Lingqi said. "Strong factions are usually challenged and will involve a lot of fighting. I also love playing the zither and I could learn new music."

"HAHAHA GOOD! Two powerful and influential recruits," Elder Shan laughed, elated beyond words. "We don't require our disciples to join the competitions with other sects and our ways of promotion from outer sect to inner sect and core disciple is different than other sects whose promotions are all the same. Music and alchemy, there is no greater faction than ours."

"We might be in different sects, but we'll remain as brothers and sisters," Jian grinned, the other three agreeing as they had become friends.

"Follow me Zhuang and Lingqi," Elder Shan said. "I will make you both my personal disciples. This way, you will not be looked down on by others. However, if you involve yourself with the troubles of other disciples, I cannot help you."

"I will introduce you to the leader of the Dragon Sword faction and you will be my personal disciples," Senior Cecilia said to Jian and Lily. "I already know what you are capable of and I am a core disciples so this is acceptable. Yu are quite licky to join a faction as outer core disciples. The heavens are the side of you four. Farewell Elder Shan."

The four recruits said their goodbyes and headed into different directions. As Zhuang and Lingqi were officially members of a faction, they no longer wore the azure robes and changed into the uniform of the faction with a badge of the Star Calamity Sect on their new robes. The emblem of the Star Calamity Sect was a flaming meteor hitting the ground. It was a very simple and easy design to remember.

The robes of the Venomous Serpent faction was a white robe with emerald encrusted lotus flowers on the hem of the robes with azure colored cuffs and collar. They had the nicest looking robes with emeralds because they were the most lucrative sect which sold alchemical potions to buy supplies and clothing from the outside world. They were not powerful, but they were the financial backbone of the sect.

"I really lucked out," Zhuang said to Shuang using their telepathic connection.

"It will be easier to hide our true power until trouble comes our way," Shuang agreed. "We might be attacked in greater numbers and we have to hide our true powers. This is a negative outcome you must consider master."

"Yes I know," Zhuang said. "I should probably focus on making potions that incapacitate my opponents so I can escape or defend myself. Remember we joined this faction to live a free life. Try not to eat any magical beasts while we are here. You have my memories so you also know what happens if the Six find out my identity. Especially the martial spirits of the Six. Like me, they are sentient beings. They will know I took over the Seventh. Too bad they won't expect me to join a secluded sect."

Zhuang and the steel cloud wyrm laughed silently as they followed Elder Shan toward the area of the Venomous Serpent Faction. Lingqi and her night breeze monkey, Yingzi, stared silently at Zhuang. As Zhuang was the grandson of the emperor of Yewan, maybe he could help them with a problem they had.

"I don't trust any draconic creatures. Especially wyrms, master," Yingzi said to her master. "They are cunning creatures."

"We might need their help," Lingqi replied. "Our enemy is powerful and I don't like fighting. If we are discovered in the outside world, I don't think we can outrun them if we are found."

Chapter 6: Among Wyrms Main Page Chapter 8: Learning a Lesson