Grand Trial

Our own secrets

Anthony's consciousness had returned to his body and he could see Susy and Martin waiting with another male, He was roughly Martin's age and stood at 6 foot 2, he had light silver hair in a low fade, he had dark green eyes and brown smooth skin, he wore a red sleeveless top and black joggers, he had a twin-headed spear strapped on his back and a necklace of thorny crystals pointing outward that hid his cultivation.

" Senior chang you are out?!" Anthony exclaimed in slight surprise as, like him, this youth who is the previously mentioned Jiho Chang had been in seclusion for less than two weeks.

"Naturally, I was not weak per se even before your arrival, now with your help, I definitely have the qualification to participate in the Trials," Jiho Chang said with a smile, "Seeing as my fellow martial brothers are also going to the Sacred hall to participate in the coronation trials I would like to make a request," He said almost feeling awkward.

"Of course senior Chang can accompany us, after all, we are using a special means to travel" Anthony accepted without hesitation, "Let us set off," Anthony said tidying himself up before leading the group out.

The group had already made it back into the forest before long, Jiho Chang and Martin were lagging while Anthony and Susy were upfront talking about their childhood and catching up, in general, to make up for the years they spent apart.

"Why did you do it??" Jiho Chang asked Martin in a low voice, "Why not just give it to him directly??" He sounded almost angry.

"For many reasons, some of which I admit are selfish, but the highlight reasons are so his power doesn't get him targetted by people who he can't resist that feel the world revolves around them and he would rise against them. Besides, I want you to pass it on to him" martin explained honestly.

"Then you can do that later" Jiho Chang said forcing a red book into Martin's hands. "No I can't, I am too weak and will at some point hold him back, with your unsealed talent you can watch over him as an equal and even a senior when I do, so I want you to pass it on to him," Martin said with an empty expression as he hung his head down in shame.

"No you won't, as the older brother you must be willing to give your life for your younger sibling," Jiho Chang said seriously, "I made an irreversible error like the one you are about to so I speak from experience, If you feel yourself too weak then force yourself to become stronger, after all, Cultivation is not defined by talent nor hard work, but will and a trace of luck, If you drive forth before him with an unwavering will, you can always protect him, even if for a few mere moments," Jiho Chang said before quickening his pace to catch up to Susy and Anthony. However, Martin held him back with a serious expression. "Fine, then tell me what you meant by coronation Trial earlier" Martin demanded with a determined look on his face.

"We all have our secrets, so let's just say It is the one true cause of my mistake back then, so don't get involved, only those of our sects older generation know of it, my grandfather only informed me 10 years ago because he was drunk and assumed I was asleep," Jiho Chang said sadly before fixing his expression and rushing to catch up.

Martin sighed and muttered something under his breath before rushing to catch up as well. When Anthony felt they had gotten deep enough into the forest he stopped them. Anthony pulled a bead out of his pocket, It was brimming with White Mark Link power, He gestured for the others to surround him which they did, he activated a small circular array at the center of the bead, a dome of light enshrouded the group of four before disappearing and Taking them with it.

Outside the Kingdom of Marfil

Anthony, Martin, Jiho Chang, and Susy arrived at an open plain, it was filled with knee-length blades of grass, there was a profound and immersive feeling one got when they looked around to enjoy the view in the truest sense as even Anthony who was determined to improve as quickly as possible was enjoying the view.

A few hundred yards away from them were the golden walls that surrounded the city of Marfil, there and the entry point that was heavily guarded with 15 cultivators all wearing dark silver armor, Anthony suspected the to be Floral Tier armor but was too far away to tell. 

"So you lot actually dared to show!!" an all too familiar voice called to them. The group turned to see a furious Matheo glaring at them wearing Nothing but a pair of black shorts and a fur coat. His presence slightly surprised the group as they were under the impression that all the selected disciples of the varying clans would be at the sacred hall or at least on their way there so there was no reason for him to be here after all it had been a week since the departure date so there shouldn't be anyone left.

They all noticed palm marks ingrained in his skin and the fact that his cultivation dropped to a Rank 9 grass root cultivator. Martin smiled faintly and said. "I'm sure you were abandoned for a reason but, it has nothing to do with us so leave peacefully and we won't be forced to kill you".

Matheo's expression twisted into a sneer, "You?! Kill me?! you sure overestimate your capabilities, Martin... after all a dog is still a dog with or without its collar" He yelled as he flashed the black ring on his left hand's middle finger, It had a crowned skull on the surface and bony spikes at each side of it, and seeing it caused Anthony an unholy amount of worry