"Is this really necessary?", Qingya Xue asked her grandfather while the facade of a warm smile laid bare for the onlookers.

"Little Xue, you still have much to learn. Even in the furthest backwaters dragons and tigers are lying dormant." -Bright Moon's sect master halted for a second as he turned his eyes her way- "Never! Never let your arrogance be your downfall. Be calm and collected, without a ripple. Only then will you truly reach the pinnacle."

The silent words transmitted directly into her consciousness, retaining a crisp and clarity as if they were directly spoken next to her ear.

Her grandfather's words sounded all good and well, but how high was that chance really? That some sort of profound, millenial genius was just waiting to have his abilities unearthed by them. Foolery!

Put together the likelihood was, unsurprisingly, zilch.

"Haah...". Qingya gave a lamentable sigh, whatever profundities her grandfather puzzled over, she was far from comprehending them.

For now cold smiles and stoic silence were adequate enough for these... peasants.

As the noble and favoured daughter of the heavens Qingya felt slightly miffed about her grandfather's attitude. After all she was born with the exalted 'Eight Gates to Heaven' Meridian; and as if that hadn't been enough of an edge to her superb talent she had instead of an ordinary Heavenly Vessel the rumored Guardian Angel.

A Meridian with a whooping eight scions, facilitating the accumulation of the Grand Essence, and a Heavenly Vessel carefully wrapped around her heart, empowering her vitality by unknown margins.

She was one in a... billion, nay, trillion or even quadrillion!

Unlike an affinity or talent she had a more palpable advantage, one that propelled her miles ahead of her peers in terms of strength and attainment in the mystical world of the Dao.

Her current realm was ineffable, closing in on the Protectors with a tender age of 17! Anyone would be astonished by her progress and the fierce power lurking underneath her jade skin.

***

Zhu Xiao was in vertigo as he saw those celestial figures slowly tread down from the sky, as though they were the favored people of the heavens, looking down on each and everyone of them, no matter how spectecular they may be.

"Mortal Eclipse Realm.....", it took him great strength to utter these words.

Two great realms beyond the Crystal Core, something none of the Verdant Parlor, Little Spring or Red Feather clan could ever hope to achieve.

Those two were tyrannical existences, overlords that could cup all lands and plains in their palm, like a handful of sand; and just as insignificant as the trickling sand were people like Zhu Xiao in front of them. A gust and he would vanish from the face of the world.

And yet when Zhu Xiao had to shield his eyes from the dazzling lights, undaring to delight in its warmth, there was a part of him that thought: Are they truly that 'heavendefying'? As frightening as... 'that' thing?

And sure enough his mind assured him: No, they are not.

Maybe a bit uncanny, but that was it. He knew those two were not real apex existences, creatures sitting together at the cusp, dining on True Gods and Undying Ancients... Not even close.

Brats, flaunting and smug brats! THAT is what they truly were.

Vultures! Vultures seeking out only the most profitable morsels, STEALING from THEM their geniuses! Preposterous!

"Hehehe, if it isn't venerated Bright Moon Sect headmaster Wou Shi Xue! And even Great Saintess Gingya Xue... This unworthy one has heard tales of yore, and from hither and yonder of your exploits. Truly, a brilliant and most capable genius.", Rhong Muzo flattered like the filthiest of swindlers. His lacking jawline, swollen cheeks, dazed with beady sweat.

Zhu Xiao felt an unimaginable anger arise from his stomach, how dare this filthy worm actually bow down to other people in HIS territory!? If he could he would tear this festering maggot apart, rend his flesh into ribbons.

But as the host and sectmaster he couldn't act out, even moreso disrespect Gingya Xue and Wou Shi Xue. That was tantamount to suicide.

"Red Feather Clan's Zhu Xiao greets the esteemed guests. Make yourself at home in our small abode and do enjoy the competition.". Whilst curtsying Zhu Xiao felt his choler rise up his throat, how humilating, he thought and unable to bear it any longer he took his leave.

Wou Shi Xue raised an eyebrow for an instant but said nothin otherwise, while Qingya Xue frowned with unbriddled displeasure.

'Now you did it!', Rhong Muzo wanted to scream out with all his might, yet in the end he simply stood on the sidelines, his back profuse with sweat from the withheld threat that could swallow them all up.

***

Taking a seat far away from the commotion, the terrific grandfather and -daughter pair were eyed by all even as they choose the most inconspicuous spot.

"Don't take it to heart Little Qingya, everyone can have a bad day, haha.", Wou Shi burst into a short chortle as he saw the pout of his adorable granddaughter deepen.

"But grandfather! Ho- How... How could that... that, what was his name again? Zha Xi? Zhu Ksu? How could he speak to us, like... THAT?! Disrespectful peasant, we should level their whole sect!"

As endearing his little granddaughter was he couldn't help but frown himself from her words. Her father had coodled her waaay to many times, and now she nearly speaks and behaves the same as those stuck-up nobles...

He only shook his head ruefully and sent her a silent whisper.

"It is one thing for people like us to destroy, no, obliterate! those weaker than us. It is easy, very much so. If you or I turn our hands we could flatten this province entirely, killing millions in the process." -He grabbed her softly by the shoulders- "That's why it so much more important to cherish our own morality, to not succumb to the beckoning power. To show kindness in the face of hate, to not discriminate but to befriend. Do you understand?"

Qingya stared weirdly at the serene faceed Wou Shi, the profound words coming in from one ear and leaving the other. Who should she befriend here? What would she even want to do here in the first place? In these murky backwater...

Neither could she cultivate nor witness some epic confrontation of genius the same level as her own.

But her grandfather was persistent.

"You know, you turned pretty cheeky since I saw you last. Mind your position, you have yet to ascend the seat of Sectmaster and although your talent is without compare there are many adherents and disciples who are stronger than you at the moment." -Wou Shi clapped his hands as an epiphany struck him.- "I know! Get to know one of those youths down there, how does that sound. Talk about each other's experiences, you might even learn something."

With a face flushed in mirth Wou Shi pointed down into the budding crowd.

Qingya plaed as she saw his finger tracing the throng of people, landing on a smooth-faced, raven-haired and brown eyed boy. He had a foolish grin on his punchable face as he conversed with an unblemished beauty, not missing out in comparison with herself.

Carefully the boy fiddled with a marbled ring in his hands as the two conversed, the item exuding an enigmatic air.

Wou Shi scrunched up his eyebrows as his eyes focused in on the ring, after a second thought his finger moved on, finally resting on a lone boy sitting beneath the shade of a tree.

"That one! Go and talk to him!", Wou Shi commanded with an admittedly complacent smile.

"B-But grandfather... you- you can't-!"

"Silence!" -The gentle elder gone and a stallwart tyrant taking its place- "You will do as I say!"

"Y-yes...", Qingya stuttered and plodded away like a sullen kitten.

"Geez! Speaking back to your elders like that, watch out that I don't beat some sense into you some day.", Wou Shi spoke to himself before he found himself unconsciously eyeing the random loner.

Unlike the other brat with his mysterious charm in hand this one just felt... different, and he was compelled to find out why.

***

Beneath the small beech.

"Achoo!" *BAM!* "Fuck!", Ling Bo sneezed and his head jolted againt the hard wood.

He may have just imagined it but he could swear someone was talking smack about him.