Written in Blood

The Assessment 3

The rest of the first round went by quickly several eyes watched as the youth known as Ao Ruang stepped to the second platform where the second test would take place. All in all they were all pleasantly surprised by the dark horse.

"The Boy is clearly a talent, but how have we not heard of such a youth before? Surely his name would be widespread by now." One of the voices said curiously the rest in the room nodded in agreement.

The group was the elders of the four sects in Firedawn the strongest of this region of the empire. Of course that wasn't saying much since they were a smaller city compared to the grand port cities or the capitial of the empire.

"Perhaps he is from outside the region in the rural backwaters and not from the city." a gentle voice echoed "I'm curious to find out what this boy is capable of in the next rounds."

"Fairy Feng already has her eyes on him best not to get in her way gentlemen." a hearty jovial man said he looked innocent and non-threatening with his bushy white eyebrows that obscured his eyes and fluffy white beard.

The entire room smiled in amusement no one dared cross paths with Fairy Feng her reputation was well known for being ruthless.

...

Ao Ruang watched as only about fifty percent of the applicants had passed the first round, but despite passing which he was happy about he had no desire to be in the spotlight. Previously all eyes were on the twins from earlier, but now he was the dark horse and all eyes were on him including the harsh glares of the fellow applicants.

This meant that potentially powerful cultivators may figure out what he was before he himself did which was potentially a disaster. Before long a Deacon of one of the sects walked up and brought forth a crystal like object about the size of a large fist.

"Next you will each walk up and inject some of your spiritual ki into the spirit crystal. Depending on the color and the brightness it will determine what type of Ki your body produces which will help the four sects of Firedawn city choose where you will be placed" the deacon paused to be sure none of the youth were distracted. "Now some of you may have been fortunate enough to be tested already, but that is private and not something we can rely on when assessing newcomers so everyone will have to be tested. For those unfamiliar with Ki types we will explain briefly. Their are eight main catagories and more rare specialist categories that overlap into more than one. Water, Fire, Earth, and Air representing the elements. Then their is Chaos and Order which represent the primal energies of the heavens and hells. Lastly Dark and Light representing more than just light and lack there of, but also Yin and Yang energies that are often represented in females and males."

Having finished his brief speech he looked at the youth and noticed most were bored only a handful were listening intently as if they had never heard of this again including the dark horse from the first round. Which surprised him considering few people talented as that dark horse would not know of these things to get to this level.

"First up will be Tang ChaoXing since she was top in the last round."

All eyes fell on ChaoXing, Ao Ruang finally had a chance to size her up properly. Her face was delicate and noble like a Luan read about in the stories. Elegant and regal was how she walked like the noble family she came from. Ao Ruang stared intently at her as she lifted her lily white hand and placed it on the spirit crystal. The moment her hand touched the crystal it turned a deep purple shade and the entire arena turned a slight purple shade a chill began to seep into the bones of all the people around.

Ao Ruang could tell it was a dark sinister energy as if it was the hands of the dead reaching from the ground and grabbed him. The fact that such fierce power came from that could only mean that her future was bright and would be sought after by many powers in the future.

Stuttering the deacon finally snapped out of his daze "The Ki attribute is specialized! with primary attribute as Yin energy."

Taking her hand off the crystal the air and crystal went back to normal taking a small bow she went down besides her brother who then walked up without being called forward. The Tang Clan clearly already knew what her specialty was and they were doing this only to give a look of power to the rest of the city and powers with in it.

"Next is..." the Deacon said before pausing.

The Deacon realized Tang Bolin had already predicted he was next and was in front of the deacon he was taller than Ao Ruang, but not by much and had a stern emotionless face. Placing his hand on the the crystal nothing remarkable happened. After several seconds the Deacon shouted out in surprise "Ki attribute specialized is metal!"

The entire crowd was in an uproar as it was nearly unheard of to have twins of such high talent and both be specialized in a specific Ki attribute.

"Surely this is the rise of the Tang clan!" Several voices shouted out in excitment.

"Tang BoLin marry me!" a young female voice cried out from among the stands.

For young maidens marriage to a rising talent was often the best they could do as many would have mediocre cultivation talent as it were even becoming a concubine was better for them then wasting away struggling in vain to advance to the higher realms of cultivation.

Among all the shouting and exclamations. Tang BoLin took his place back with his sister.

Ao Ruang couldn't understand what all the intensity was about, but apparently specialized Ki was not common at all.

"Ao Ruang. Please approach."

The familiar Deacon's voice reached his ears and the crowd quieted quickly as they all looked forward to the dark horse.

...

Tang BoLin walked up to his sister and stood besides her crossing his arms over his chest he ignored the commotion he knew that his sister and himself would be given this much attention their family had gotten them tested long ago so they were already very familiar with their Ki attributes since along ago.

What he didn't expect was that the dark horse known as Ao Ruang would steal a large portion of the spotlight and when he was called up after himself he frowned.

"Jealous brother?"

"Of course not. What would a no name commoner make me feel jealous for?" Tang BoLin bit his lip as his face flushed red with embarrassment.

"It is fine brother we will naturally surpass him and in several years time father has already planned for the Tang clan to rise beyond this third rate city. This place is merely a stepping stone. That boy..let him have this moment this city will be the highest and farthest his name reaches in this world. Father has plans beyond what this boy can attain."

Tang BoLin nodded in agreement his sister always was the more level headed of the two, but even with her slightly higher cultivation he still bested her in combat. They were the perfect duo and where she went he would go. He had no love for a particular sect especially since his Ki was metal attributed it wouldn't matter much in the long run as it was.

...

Ao Ruang approached the Deacon his nerves were killing him as he did not know for certain what sort of reaction his Ki would have particularly since he had turned into a blood thirst monstrosity. Would they know what he had become? Ao Ruang wasn't even entirely sure as it was.

Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes he reached out and placed his hand firmly on the spirit crystal as he allowed a connection between his dantain and the crystal his Ki began to flow freely into it.

Opening his eyes he looked at the Deacon whose eyes were wide as saucers. The crystal had turned deep crimson and the aura seemed to drip off the crystal like flowing blood only to vanish slowly after dripping off the sphere crystal. A stench of blood rose into his nostrils and wafted into the arena causing many to get sick to their stomachs.

"B-B--Blood Ki sp-s--specialized blood Ki!" The Deacon finally let out as he took a step back so Ao Ruang's hand no longer touched it causing the stench and aura to vanish immediately. "Please go to the next area! Await for myself there!"

Silence in the arena deafening the smallest grunt or shift of someone's position could be heard. Ao Ruang knew something was not right with his Ki and only had the desire to leave as soon as possible.