Main Chapter: The Sun Falls…

'Things were different, Dai Tian, wasn't that impressive. And though Tan Cui tried her trick. When she was serious she only made it to the fourth stone.

Which of my actions are causing these changes? How far-reaching are each of my actions? How can I-'

'How can you remain pseudo-omniscient? Don't be stupid Yuyu. Back then and now your every action is affecting more than you will be able to tell.'

'You're talking a lot for someone who just woke up today.'

"Xuan Yu, step forward."

Their conversation ended as a different kind of silence descended.

Expectation, Xuan Yu was the reputed young genius of the Clan. The one likened to a Sage. The one who was descended from two legends. The first-born of Xuan Shen, the Flickering Moon, the 4th Elder of Qing Ruo, the Elder of War. A man who was well respected as one of the strongest of his time.

There were so many, thoughts and expectations on him. Some ridiculous, some nonsensical;

Would all those lights surround him as he made it to the fifth stone? Would he leap over the stones to the other end? Would each stone shatter as he passed? Would the sky open up and Qi surround him as countless lights raised him up?

Absurd expectations, though, if Xuan Yu wanted the heavy scrutiny of the Clan. He could meet some, like draining the pool of Qi. Which was still on his mind. An action he contemplated as he walked over but knowing it would leave him defenseless he put it out of his mind.

Like the two before him. He stopped at the southern end of the Qi Spring and waited. The Elders were discussing but Xuan Yu could not be bothered to listen his sense were on the Qi Well instead.

Standing in front of it. Xuan Yu could smell the Qi. It was the only true thing that could be considered a refreshing smell in this world. It cleared one's nostrils allowing their nose to be cleaned of all former smells. Leaving only that one smell that would make one subconsciously take deep breaths. All while, never being registered as a new smell to the ignorant.

But not just smell, Xuan Yu, heard it. The thousands of possibilities that could come from his actions and those around him. It was telling it in a disorganized mess. Yet even if it was untangled. It was only bits and pieces. That would at most give one a sense of déjà vu after encountering the event.

'Oh, Qi, the lifeblood of the world, magic light, the base of life, the primordial essence of this world. Why, oh, why are you here?'

"Xuan Yu, take as many steps as you can."

As Xuan Yu, moved his foot over the Qi Well's edge. Pressure cascaded over him. Not just along the front of his body as well. The feeling of being crushed on all sides enveloped him.

The further he moved the more it intensified. Xuan Yu ignored it. A flash of memory occurred but he ignored it as well. One simple step and then another and he stood on the first stone.

'The Fivefold Argent Qi Stone formation.'

Xuan Yu began to look around him. Those around him thought he was trying to understand what had just happened. In truth, he was evaluating something else.

The test, the formation was serving two purposes. Evaluating and "awakening".

See, Argent Stones were a mineral of the world that had the inherent quality of preventing the movement of liquid Qi. And so, they had the task of giving the examinee a place of respite.

Respite from the true point of the formation. Without making the two actually touch. The formation tested the amount of Qi a body could hold. As well, as fast how that body could gain Qi. The farther one could go equaled the amount one could hold. And the easier they could cross indicated how fast they could gain Qi.

The pressure was simply an indication of how much Qi one could put inside themselves. Or just how much they could force inside.

The Formation was not known as five-fold because it had five stones. But because it did five different things.

And so, Xuan Yu was evaluating the changes in himself. Feeling out his returned connection to Qi.

'Finally, however, were the resources of Qing Ruo worth waiting for. Probably not, though there are somethings among Father's stuff that I want.'

Finished evaluating Xuan Yu returned to his thoughts. Suddenly, a realization hit him.

'Why, do I feel like I can take another step?'

'Why not try to?'

In disbelief, he moved forward. The intensity of the pressure was overbearing. But Xuan Yu didn't slow or halt. Landing on the second stone.

'Why am I able to take a second step? How did mine, Dai Tian and Tan Cui's innate talent rise?'

'I'll be disappointed if you can't figure it out.'

Xuan Yu was annoyed but he was still obedient and gave his full attention to figuring this out.

While he did this people on the Peak began to whisper. Softly at first and then more audibly.

And discussion broke out among the leaders of Qing Ruo.

"Why doesn't he move?"

"Did he give up?"

Mou Yue, the Enlightenment Elder, in charge of education. Knitted his brows his image's eye gazed over three particular youths.

"Why do I feel the upcoming years will be trouble-filled?"

Growing impatient, Neng Zhi stirred the wind a strong, cold breeze blowing into Xuan Yu.

"Xuan Yu, why have you stopped moving."

"I can't go any further."

Disbelief broke out and so did some laughter.

"Xuan Yu, the Qing Ruo Evaluation is not a joke."

Up on the stand, Deng Shui shook his head. And with a helpless smile turned to his fellows.

"The first is valiant, fighting head on till he could no more. The second tries to trick us by tripping. Then leaps across the stones because she could not be bothered to walk. And now the third walks two steps and can't be bothered to go any further."

Laughing bitterly, he continued.

"Brothers and sister, when was the last time there has been an evaluation that went like this."

With a smile, Fan Ya, gave two half bows one to the Enlightenment Elder, the other to the Punishment Elder.

"Brother Yue, Brother Fu, thank you for your future hard work."

While the other Elders joked, Neng Zhi began to grow angry. And the air around his image began to stir.

"Try."

One short, harsh, sharp word. That was all the Elder was willing to give.

Xuan Yu brought his foot back and fiercely kicked out. But it stopped a short distance of the stone. Annoyed, though it didn't show, Xuan Yu turned his face to Neng Zhi.

However, Neng Zhi was still in shock. So was the rest of those on the Peak.

"The firstborn is a waste!"

The exclamation came from somewhere in the procession. However, no one censured him. Xuan Yu was now a talentless, orphan. A talentless, orphan whose cold and arrogant bearing had ensured he was friendless.

Along with his early title as a genius and his position in the Clan. It wasn't hard to call this a fall from grace. And with his lacking talent, many had already begun to believe that the Xuans were just a passing star. That would meet its end in the Minor Cultivating Ring, if not lower.

And there were five typical reactions to this "fall." Schadenfreude, disappointment, disbelief, pity, and indifference.

While the procession was quickly growing loud with laughter and chatter.

The leaders of Ruo were silent.

"He is intelligent, should we send him to be a Scholar. Maybe he could strengthen our ties with the Ning Empire."

"Brother Yue!"

"It may be for the best we can simply cover up the results. And find some reason to send him to the Ning Empire."

"Power isn't everything."

"Indeed Sister, my Assignment Hall, and your Medicine Hall may not require power above all else. But just as power without intelligence is a waste. So is intelligence without power."

"I do not support it. The Xuans are still Qing Ruo. Sending them to the Ning Empire does not sit well with me."

"Even if they remain, the legacy of the 4th Elder cannot fall to them."

"Indeed, at best they can end their lives (be killed) in the Xuan Estate."

"Enough."

"Sect Leader?"

"The firstborn is not always the heir."

"Indeed, then I will continue."

Xuan Yu took his eyes off the Elders. Wondering how much worse that conversation after his previous "fall" had been.

"Xuan Yu, two steps, subpar talent. Affinity unknown, innate."

'So, they did notice.'

During the exam, the Qi Well had rippled. Indicating there was no matching essence.

That was why they considered he was worth sending out as a seed. If he was just a subpar talent. Then they would have considered claiming the Xuan brothers were illegitimate and exiling them.

After the original result. They had considered erasing them. Either way, Deng Shui would have them wait for Xuan Yi's results.