Ping Tian Continent (1)

Walking down the streets of Xi Zhen, a handsome youth of around fourteen years old in black uniform robes looked around the town with excitement in his amber eyes. His eyes were so beautiful that it matches the gold trimmings of his uniform and especially captivating when excited. He looks like a child that has just entered a candy shop, eyes darting in every corner of the street. He is a disciple from the GongCi Sect.

By his sides are a pair of twins whose heights are slightly taller than the black-robed youth. Although it is not possible to tell the ages as the three looked similar in terms of age. The twins are draped in white uniform robes, one carrying a flute by his waist, while another carrying a fan in his left hand. Both are equally handsome but the vibe that was given out was slightly different. The one with the flute seems to have a distant or cold air around him, while the one holding the fan seems to emit a gentle aura. Both of them are from TianAn Sect.

"Finally I am free from the medications and being in bed for a month straight!!! I'm going to eat everything delicious today!" Ye Chen yelled into the air as soon as he reached the middle of town.

"Behave yourself. This time if you get into trouble again, I'm not going to heal you and will leave you there to die." Mu Lian angrily commented. The youth with the flute on his waist proceeds to use his flute to knock against the black-robed youth's head walking in front.

"Ehhh???? Lian-Xiong, since when did you become a meanie?! Don't be so mean to me, your cute Ye-di ahhhh." The black-robed youth stopped in his tracks and gave a pout to the strict looking twin on his left and ran behind the gentle twin that was originally on his right. "Yang-Xiong! You see this evil twin of yours, he wants to bully me again!!!"

"Alright, alright.." Mu Yang patted Ye Chen's hair with a soothing voice and continued "You should know it is not the first time Ah-Lian has said this, but he will still heal you anyway...." he ended with a sweet smile on his face, coaxing the big baby Ye Chen.

"Stop acting like a baby in front of Ah-Yang just because you want him to coax you." Mu Lian exclaimed, breaking into a frown and giving a hmmph before looking away and continuing to walk down the street.

"Yang-Xiong treats me the best!" Ye Chen refuted and stuck out his tongue towards Mu Lian, even though Mu Lian was already walking ahead of them.

Mu Yang looked into Ye Chen's eyes directly and softly said "Ye-di ah...Don't make Ah-Lian angry anymore, the last time you got hurt he was so worried and he even blamed himself for not being able to protect you. He didn't eat or sleep for the three days you were out cold on your bed. It's only been a month since then, of course, he's still fuming at that incident." he gently tugged at Ye Chen's sleeve to continue walking down the street towards Mu Lian.

"Yeah right! You don't have to put in a good word for him at all Yang-Xiong... if that happens I bet the sun will rise from the west ah!" Ye Chen firmly spoke before getting himself distracted by a familiar fragrance and heading towards it.

The locals on the street were startled by the small quarrel by the three youths from different Sects, but didn't pay much attention and continued with their daily life. Ping Tian is a continent governed by four main Sects. Each of the Sects has its own cultivation focus and works very well together to maintain peace and harmony in Ping Tian. Because they work together often to promote teamwork among the Sects, it is not surprising to have different Sect's disciples spending time and hanging out with each other. It has become a very normal thing in the eyes of Ping Tian people.

One can identify which Sect a disciple is from based on the colours of the uniform robes. Black Robes with golden trimmings belong to GongCi Sect, White Robes with Silver trimmings belong to TianAn Sect, Green Robes with Bronze trimmings belong to ZhongQi Sect and lastly, Blue Robes with Black trimmings belong to JianZhu Sect.

Although cultivators are not considered rare, it is still an uncommon talent.

When one is born, they are classified into two simple categories - Gold People and Silver People. Gold People are people with spiritual powers, but Silver People are normal people with no spiritual powers - In other words, normal human beings.

Gold babies grow up, attend Sect schools and fill up job posts such as guards, doctors, botanists, instructors etc.

Silver babies grow up, attend normal schools and fill up job posts such as merchants, artists, teachers, simple farmers, entertainers, scholars etc.

Both types of people are equally important and cannot do without each other. However, as the chance of having spiritual powers are relatively low, the ratio for Gold to Silver people is 1:100.

To identify if someone is a Gold or Silver person, a crystal round orb about the size of a ping pong ball is placed on the newborn's chest. If the orb glows, regardless of how strong or weak the glow is, that baby is a Gold Person. If the orb does not react, more often than not, the baby is a Silver Person. This will help the newborn's family decide on the direction of life.

If it is a Gold Newborn, the family would arrange for the child to attend Pre-Sect schools, usually at the age of 4. However there are also cases of children attending the Pre-Sect schools at a later age - but it is uncommon. If it is a Silver Newborn, life goes on and would lead a civilian life, going to normal schools receiving a normal education.

Pre-Sect Schools are introductory schools that introduce the world of cultivation to the Gold Children. The school includes teaching the basic understanding of the existing Sects, their speciality and the available paths for their future. The school will also develop their characters to ensure they adhere to the morals and values of a cultivator. - not using their powers for evil means.

After 3 years in a Pre-Sect school, a Gold Child would be given an option to enrol in the 4 main Sects.

GongCi Sect - Beast Taming and Melee Combat techniques.

TianAn Sect - Healing, Sound Manipulation and Support techniques.

ZhongQi Sect - Nature Powers specializing in Defense and Growth techniques.

JianZhu Sect - Offense Specialization, Weapon Manipulation, Specifically Swords.