Ascension through the Abyss

The air in the Ridge was thin and bitingly cold, marking the final days of the winter solstice. The upcoming battle between the martial families of the Azure Domain is always the biggest event of the year. Every disciple was training harder than ever, determined not to be left behind. But for Ren, it was another season of humiliation. Everyone in the Azure Domain knew he was a failure. While others had already opened their meridians years ago, Ren was still stuck at the Second Meridian. He had become the laughingstock of the Bi Family. Most people believed even his father had lost hope in him. His family had slowly shifted their attention to his younger brother, Kai, whose talent brought pride to the Bi Family. Ren stood at the edge of the training grounds, watching. Lin Feng was going through the Crimson Fist forms again. Even from where Ren stood, he could tell he'd gotten faster. A few of the younger disciples had stopped their own training just to watch him. He remembered that three years ago, that Lin Feng could barely hold a horse stance, but now people were already talking about which family would try to recruit him after the tournament. Ren didn't walk any closer, he knew better by now. "Still just watching?" He didn't need to turn around, because he knew the owner of that voice. "Nothing wrong with watching," he replied. "Sure." Mei Yun stopped beside him, not bothering to hide the smile on her face. "Still at Second Meridian?" A few nearby disciples went quiet. "It'll open" Ren replied. "You said that last winter too." Ren didn't answer, because there wasn't much he could say and she knew it. After a moment, Mei Yun walked away, joining the others. Ren stayed where he was for a little while before quietly leaving the training grounds. He decided to take the longer path home. The shorter one passed by his father's courtyard, where Kai was probably training and he doesn't want to see them, because his younger brother always drew a crowd. Ren used to think one day people would watch him like that too, but not anymore. The next morning, everyone in the Bi Family was awake. That has been the tradition of the Bi family every tournament year. It is expected that every disciple of the Bi Family, from the youngest children to the senior disciples already catching the attention of other clans, had to be in the main courtyard before breakfast. They were nearly one hundred and fifty disciples, each stood in neat rows stretching almost to the outer wall. Attendance wasn't optional, it was mandatory. Patriarch Bi Hancheng liked seeing every disciple gathered in one place before the Azure Domain Tournament. It was his way of reminding everyone how many cultivators trained under the Bi name. Ren quietly took his usual place near the back. With this many people present, it was easy not to be recognized. Standing at the front row, were disciples that have gone far in their cultivation if compared with their mate. Han Yue, who is at the Eleventh Meridian opening. The twins, Bi Shu and Bi Lan, both at the Twelfth Meridian opening—the highest level of the Meridian Awakening Realm, just a step away from the Qi sensing realm. Lin Feng stood a step behind them. Though at the Fourth Meridian opening, he is talented enough to earn a place near the front row. Then there was Bi Yan Qing. The best in the younger generation. He had already stepped into the Qi sensing realm two years ago. He stood a little apart from everyone else. People didn't whisper about Bi Yan Qing. They simply went quiet whenever he was around. Standing with the instructors were Elder Tang, who had lost an arm years ago but could still defeat most cultivators, and Senior Bi Rong, the head instructor, who hadn't lost a sparring match in over a decade. Then Ren spotted Kai. His younger brother stood near the front despite being two years younger than him. He had opened his Sixth Meridian, and people had already started calling him a prodigy. Ren looked down for a moment. He was still at the Second Meridian. The same as last year, and the year before that. Nothing had changed. When Patriarch Bi Hancheng figured out that everyone had arrived, he slowly walked across the front of the courtyard. No one dared to talk. The entire place fell silent as he looked over the rows of disciples. "One hundred and fifty disciples" his voice carried across the courtyard with ease. "In ten days, the Azure Domain will see what the Bi Family is worth." Nobody dared to cheer. But Ren could feel the change in the crowd. Everyone have straightened a little. Determination etched at their faces. Ren straightened a second later and hoped no one had noticed him. As the assembly came to an end, disciples slowly began leaving the courtyard in groups. Some were already talking about the tournament. Others were discussing who would make it into the final rounds. No one mentioned Ren. He quietly turned and walked back to his room. He had only ten days to push past his limit and open his third meridian if not, ...there would be no reason for him to step into the arena at all. Just as he was about to leave the courtyard, he heard two disciples talking behind him. "Do you think he'll finally break through?" The other disciple looked toward Ren's back and gave a small shake of his head. "What happens if he doesn't?"