Lift Off

The day had finally arrived, the day of the Inner court promotion test. The sun had yet to rise as Zhong stood with Qing and the others in the once grand petal garden, preparing to take him and group with the other outer court disciples. Even Elder Hwei-Ru had turned up as she looked over Zhong worriedly.

"Are you ready?"

Qing simply nodded his head, his voice had slightly recovered but he had lost the habit of talking to convey his feelings, choosing to use actions instead. The girls stood at the ready, unable to go with Zhong and Qing but hoping that he would return, he had livened up the estate, it wouldn't feel right if he was no longer here.

Ming's face was illuminated by dark bags and the red eyes of a sleepless and tearful night, she remembered the horrors of the test her and her sisters had been put through, they had barely survived and passed thanks to Zhong's help beforehand. Even now more tears threatened to fall as she stepped forward to give Qing her farewells.

"Qing…please… just stay safe," Ming's delicate voice was fraught with fear as she shook slightly, setting off her sisters who also began to grow tearful, her hands clasped nervously she didn't know what to do, she wanted to hug Qing but had no experience in this strange feeling she had been having. Making the decision easy for her Qing stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, her head naturally bowing into his strong chest as she relaxed under the strange earthly smell that he exuded, one that calmed her.

Coughing loudly Zhong broke up the atmosphere that began to build up around the two as his face flushed awkwardly, he was use to intimacy between himself and Elder Hwei-Ru but seeing one of his daughters get so close made him embarrassed.

Elder Hwei-Ru stepped forward with a knowing smile on her face as she guided Ming away, "Please come back safely Qing." Elder Hwei-Ru hadn't known Qing for long but she already knew that he was kind and heartfelt, a good match in her eyes for these girls. Someone that Zhong could trust.

Seeing their eldest sister sob into Elder Hwei-Ru's arms set off the other two as they clutched at Shade and wept into his furs, giving him a ragged appearance as his fur grew damp. He licked at their faces and shot them quizzing looks, why were his new friends bathing him?

Knowing that it was time Zhong wrapped Qing in his essence as he slowly ascended upwards, prepared to fly them both to the meet for the test. As they flew away it was the sound of crying over ruled by Shades own mournful call as his friend was taken away that accompanied them, Shade would already be off running down the mountain to accompany them if not for the collar that bound him.

Zhong had treated Qing of his injuries before he had retreated to rest and prepare for the next day, only to find his own personal bedroom invaded and destroyed. The sight of a demonic beast rubbing itself on the bed that he and Elder Hwei-Ru had shared many times was one that would haunt him, the gleeful and ecstatic look on Shades face had been the final touch. He collared and chained Shade to the ruined petal garden as punishment until it learnt some house manners, he had gone so far as to use Darksteel ore, a metal that grade 5 demonic beasts would struggle to break apart let alone Shade.

Even now as he flew with Qing he wanted to shed a tear at the thought of his once proud and grand bed now reduced to ash, he had burnt it to hide all evidence of Shade's misdeeds. He hadn't the stomach or wish to tell Elder Hwei-Ru of this incident knowing she would get centuries of laughter from it. Shaking his head slightly he continued to fly as he looked over Qing, the morning light happily clearing their way as it illuminated the white clouds ahead.

Qing was wearing a fresh pair of outer court robes, the only item of cloth or armour allowed for any taking the test, and disciples taking the test were only allowed an empty storage bag. No food or water was to be allowed on entry to the beast land, all disciples had to find and scavenge what they needed to survive. If they couldn't do this much then there was no hope for them in the future.

Qing had luckily broken through to the 10th stage of the human realm in the time he had stayed inside Zhong's residence, the 1000 body tempering solution had worked wonders as it allowed Qing's body to cope with his essence, allowing for faster cultivation. Unlike other disciples Qing had refused to carry any weapon that Zhong had offered, his body was already equivalent to that of a 2nd ranked demonic beast, he had no need for a weapon.

This time awake whilst flying Qing marvelled in the feeling of the air coursing past as he spread his arms wide, a bright smile on his face as he began to turn and spiral in the air, his laughter spreading out. Zhong couldn't resist a smile himself as he saw the simple pleasure on his friends face, when had the world gotten so complicated that he couldn't enjoy the simple things?

"Come on!" With a shout Zhong put his cultivation of the Heavenly stage to good use as he sped through the air, the pair of them laughing uncontrollably as they left smoky tendrils of destroyed clouds in their wake, happy to forget their worries as they enjoyed the moment.

…

Elder Chen frowned in annoyance, the many groups of disciples from the surrounding mountains and peaks stayed quiet lest they spark his anger. They didn't know what suddenly caused his face to tighten with displeasure but they knew to avoid it, Elder Chen had brought them all to the peak of a flattened mountain, large enough to hold thousands of disciples as they all prepared to take the test.

Some newer groups of disciples were split into multiple factions, not noticing that the other older groups of disciples who failed last time were united as one and more powerful for it. All waited for the last groups to arrive so the test could commence, none knowing what the test this year would be.

"Ahem…" Coughing loudly Elder Chen was about to begin his speech as he peered down on all the disciples from above, his imposing and powerful start ruined as the sound of laughter echoed out from the skies above. Hurtling down from the sky leaving smoky trials in their wake were Zhong and Qing, they had been too wrapped up in demolishing clouds and travelling the skies that they had nearly arrived late meaning Zhong had to travel even faster, forcing more laughter from the pair.

With a gust of wind Dust travelled up from the mountains flat peak as Zhong landed, gently guiding Qing down, using his essence as the other disciples watched on with surprise written over their faces.

"My apologies Elder Chen, I was too wrapped up in the laws of the world and nearly forgot about you," Zhong send Elder Chen a cheeky grin as he patted the dust from his robes. It was an absolute lie and Elder Chen knew it but he couldn't refute it in front of the disciples or he'd lose more face. Qing standing just behind Zhong shook as he struggled to hold in his laughter, causing Elder Chen's face to scrunch further as he repressed his anger, he had a job to do here as an Elder.

With a few deep breathes Elder Chen calmed himself, "Since Elder Zhong had delivered the last participant of my Inner court promotion test I trust that you will now leave, as this is my trusted duty." With a nod and a pat on Qing's shoulder Zhong flew back up into the air, he could only fool around so much on a day such as today. Elder Chen watched as Zhong flew higher, happy to see him leave, a happiness that was short lived as Zhong stopped just slightly higher than Elder Chen and lounged in the air as if lying on a bed, a bottle of wine withdrawn from amongst his robes.

"I trust Elder Chen will not mind this senior Heavenly stage expert to remain and watch the proceedings?"

The outer court disciples below shuddered as they felt threatened by the crazed look and ill intent rolling off Elder Chen's body, even his teeth grinding together sounded like the crashing of planets as they grated on the disciples' ears.

"If Senior wishes." Each word was stressed as the anger raged inside Elder Chen, wanting to be let out but with his current cultivation he could never beat Zhong in a straight up battle, which infuriated him even more.

The outer disciples were all stunned by the current proceedings, especially the older outer court disciples as they had never seen Elder Chen this enraged before. What surprised them even more was the sight of Qing stood on his own with no one else around him, was he to participate on his own? That would be nothing more than a death wish, it would be hard enough for the groups to survive let alone someone on their own.

Once more coughing aloud Elder Chen repressed his anger further as his words struck down. "Today you are all here to participate in the Inner court promotion test."

"Not all of you will return," Silence fell as Elder Chen's words reached them all, the danger of the test ahead beginning to weigh upon them. "Those that do pass will become Inner disciples of the Mistfire Sect, marking your first days in the true realm of cultivation."

"Only those groups who earn enough merit points will pass, those without will have to try again during the next Inner court promotion test." With a wave of his hand, Elder Chen released hundreds of small glittering jade lights that flickered down towards the disciples.

"These jade slips contain the means for you to earn merit points as well as keeping track of how many you have been able to earn. Inside are missions and goals that we have set for anyone to achieve, whether or not you can complete any is up to your own ability."

Excited disciples ran their essence through the Jade as their minds processed the data inside, even Qing was interested as the new data was processed through his. Missions to collect rare herbs, extract minerals from the ground, slay a set amount of beasts or to capture them alive was all recorded with many more waiting to be read, how did they set the tasks so accurately? The promotion test wasn't as simple as they all thought.

"This year's test will be held in the Thunderous beast lands, south of the Scourge."

Disciples gasped at the name of this dangerous sounding place, only Elder Zhong knew about this area, it was home to a plethora of different demonic species that all vied for supremacy and control. This meant the disciples didn't have to worry about the entire lands uniting against them giving them some leeway to move, but they still had to be careful or they would become food lining the stomach of beasts.

"The Thunderous beast lands are split into zones, the outmost edges are safe enough for you to survive but will not allow you to easily pass the test, whilst the further in you travel the more dangerous it will become. I do not recommend aiming past the third zone, or you will not survive. A map is inscribed into the jades I have passed out, use this to estimate where in the Zones you are, if you lose the jade then there will be no free replacements."

Not giving the disciples time to discuss amongst themselves or ask any questions he clapped his hands together, the noise reverberating as his voice boomed out for all the heavens to hear.

"The test begins."

With a high pitched whistle, the flat mountain the disciples were stood on began to shake and shudder as they looked around, panicking slightly at the course of events. A pair of wings accompanied by gigantic gusts of air spread from the base of the mountain as it rose, the disciples firmly locked in place by the essence of both Elder Chen and Zhong.

They didn't want any accidents at the start.

With a mighty screech, the mountain was flying, a barren hole left in the ground below, vaguely resembling that of a birds nest. The mountain the disciples were stood atop was one of the Mistfire Sects mobile fortresses, carved from the back of a legendary stone Roc, a rare beast the Sect master had tamed for the Sects use, leant to Elder Chen for the purpose of the Test. A portable base in which disciples could pay for new jade slips if theirs was broken or turn in time-sensitive herbs and captive beasts.

This was what enabled them to have their promotion tests in foreign lands and protect their interests, unknown to the outer court disciples the inner workings of the mountain fortress were full of Inner disciples who were undergoing tests themselves and had to travel much deeper into the beast land.

Qing watched in amazement as the mountain climbed up in the skies, the wings blotting out the sight of the lands below, he had never dreamed that something like this was possible. Shouting in exhilaration Qing ran to the edge of the mountaintop as many stepped away for fear they would fall off, peering down Qing saw the majestic Roc as it sailed through the air, its giant yellow eyes seeing near and far as it screeched to make its presence known.

Zhong watched on in interest as Qing waved and shouted towards the Roc, thanking it for the chance to travel on its back. Sitting on the edge of the plateau Qing contentedly swung his legs in the open air, wishing he could fly through the air as he watched the Roc flap its mighty wings below.

Flying down Zhong landed and sat next to Qing, content to bathe in the same sights and share some of his wine, much like his master had done for him when he was younger, what was the use of flying so high if you couldn't enjoy your time with others. Looking upon Qing he felt a sense of pride and accomplishment, this was a disciple he was proud of, one that he would gladly allow to call him Master.

With a laugh Zhong ignored the other disciples watching as he and Qing chatted away, many pondering at who Qing was but unwilling to risk this Elders rage if they disturbed the pair. Elder Chen could only grit his teeth as he flew above, watching in annoyance as Zhong drew in all the attention just for sitting by an outer disciple and forgetting his pride as an Elder, scoffing to himself Elder Chen turned his head.

That was something he would never do.