Chapter 4 – The Echoing Gong of Fate
The sound of the gong echoed strong and deep, shaking the morning wind across the mountains where the Seven Faced Leaf Sect stood. The sound was not only a sign of the beginning of an ancient tradition but also the beating drum for the future of hundreds of young people who dreamed of becoming true cultivators. Everyone who heard it, whether from nearby villages or from faraway cities, turned in awe and hope.
In the Lawzi family house, the sound was heard clearly. Lawzi Jeu was arranging snares to hunt with his son and nephew when he looked up and nodded slowly.
"That gong..." he murmured. "The day of the selection has finally arrived."
Zienxi turned from his seat on the veranda, his eyes gazing into the distance where the sound came from. Wafei, who was nearby, squinted his eyes.
"Will many people join that selection?" he asked.
"Of course," Jeu replied, glancing at both of them. "But only a few will survive. Becoming a cultivator is not just a wish. The spiritual root... that is everything."
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Quim Zunxi and Defei Heifei were cutting vegetables and laughing softly with Defei Sixie and Vuyei. Jian Sixie helped fetch water from the well, then joined them while humming softly.
"I still cannot believe that the selection takes six months," commented Sixie while pouring water into a jar. "Just imagine living in a strange place without knowing if you will return as a cultivator or fail."
Elsewhere, right at the base of the mountain where the Seven Faced Leaf Sect stood, hundreds of prospective cultivators began to crowd the great black stone gate with the carving of seven leaves above it. Each leaf pointed in a different direction, depicting the seven paths of cultivation that could be taken. The Sect's great banner fluttered slowly in the morning wind.
Verification was carried out in a large hall where the sect elders sat in a row. One by one, each prospective participant placed their hand on the Spiritual Crystal, a blue crystal stone capable of detecting the presence and strength of a person's spiritual root.
Out of a total of 670 registrants, 20 people had no spiritual root at all. They were immediately asked to return home, gently but firmly. 50 people had a spiritual root but it was very weak. They were given the opportunity to learn to become cultivators, although it would be difficult. The rest, 600 people, were declared to have enough potential and spiritual strength to proceed to the next selection stage.
The elders announced that the first stage would begin three days later. The participants would be sent to the Zhi Region, a wild and dangerous area where various kinds of Spiritual Flowers grew. Their challenge was to find and bring back Spiritual Fruit that grew from those flowers.
The types of Spiritual Fruit mentioned in the announcement were
Earth Spiritual Fruit
Sky Spiritual Fruit
Lightning Spiritual Fruit
Heavenly Spiritual Fruit
Only the Heavenly Fruit was truly rare and almost impossible to find. The Lightning Fruit was also very difficult to obtain, but not impossible. The Sky and Earth Fruit were considered mid tier, but still difficult to find and not to be underestimated. Out of the 650 participants who passed, only half would succeed in passing the first stage after six full months of surviving and finding their spiritual fruit.
The next morning, in Yunboa Village, Zienxi, Wafei, Lawzi Jeu, Lawzi Gue, and Jian Lode were ready to hunt. They brought light weapons, snares, and food supplies. Their goal was to stockpile food for several months so they would not need to leave home during the coming rainy season.
Meanwhile, Lawzi Kunren and Tsai Mianzu sat under a plum tree not far from the kitchen, enjoying warm tea while gazing toward the distant mountains.
"Vuyei has been asking a lot about that sect," Kunren said softly.
Mianzu nodded, her eyes observing the fog that slowly lifted. "She is indeed curious... but I can see from the way she looks at Zienxi, she is waiting for something."
"She always follows that boy, like a shadow," Kunren said with a faint smile. "But if the day comes, if she wants to go... I want her to know she is allowed to dream."
Tsai Mianzu set down her teacup and looked at her husband. "She is our blood, Kunren. But she also has her own path. Whether that is in the Seven Faced Leaf Sect... or elsewhere."
Kunren let out a deep sigh. "If there is danger, I will be the one to find her. I will not let her be alone."
Elsewhere, the women were preparing lunch while laughing together. They served dishes from yesterday's catch while sharing stories about their childhoods and their hopes for their children.
Defei Sixie, sitting while drying her long hair, said softly, "I do not know if Sixie will try to join that selection. She is slightly interested... but it seems she is waiting for Zienxi's move."
"Vuyei is the same," Quim Zunxi replied. "She wants to try, but if Zienxi does not join, she will stay."
Lawzi Jeu and the others returned as the sun began to set, carrying a small deer on his back. While sitting and cleaning the game, he looked at Zienxi who was quietly sitting under a large tree.
"Zienxi," he said calmly. "Maybe you are not interested now... but if one day you change your mind, try joining that selection. The world out there is too big to only see from the village."
Zienxi turned, then nodded slowly. "If Vuyei wants to join... I will think about it again," he said without enthusiasm.
Wafei, sitting near the fireplace, smiled broadly. "I will not go to the Seven Faced Leaf Sect. In my village there is the Red Moon Sect, I want to try there. They say they focus on body techniques."
"That sounds interesting," said Jian Sixie, holding back laughter. "I might join. But it is still far away, right?"
That night, after dinner, they sat in front of a small campfire. The sound of crickets filled the air, and the smell of burning wood filled their noses. The children's laughter echoed, then slowly faded as one by one they began to fall asleep.
Zienxi, who was the last to fall asleep, had a strange dream. He saw himself standing among purple flowers glowing faintly. In his hand was the Spiritual Root Ring, shining dimly and feeling warm.
He woke with a slow breath, then murmured, "That ring again..."
Elsewhere in the house, in Defei Sixie's room, the Spiritual Root Ring placed in a wooden box trembled lightly and emitted a soft purple glow, then returned to calm as if nothing had happened.
Zienxi stared at the ceiling, his eyes drowsy. "Strange..." he whispered. Then he went back to sleep, unaware that his fate was slowly beginning to change.