The Martial Master - 79 Ceremony, Talent Test.

“Well… She seems fine. Guess I should spruce up this crevice. Uh… Why do cultivators live in caves..?”

Su Min’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the rather crude crevice in front of him. However, seeing that there was nothing else he could do, he sighed and wandered in.

“I guess I am somewhat used to this…”

Memories flashed as a distant past shined, one of famine and distraught survival. Those days felt heavy, enough to cause his eyes to sag…

“Mhm…”

Anger set in as those memories continued to blaze past him, repeating itself again and again. His death, those venomous eyes that stared upon such death, it all felt so real…

No other emotion but hatred came from these memories, and he couldn’t find a single one that exuded anything but that. Even those that may have been happy, were now somehow sad.

Anything positive dissipated into nothingness as if it had never happened.

“To live a life of rage…”

His pupils quivered as that onslaught of emotion battered him to no end, but he couldn’t give in and start a rampage for no distinct cause. He has learnt a little about the sacrifice he made for a new life, and that is that he cannot rely on emotion.

He considered his emotions to not be emotions anymore, it is rather just plain rage and hatred. He has to be empty, otherwise, the only thing that will fill him will be as such. He thought at least.

“So I shall live a life of desolation, a void mind…”

His iron-will shook as he disregarded this onslaught and began to vow for something much more lonely. Without stimuli, is it really considered human?

To be human is to be emotional… But, is he human?

“A void mind with only the craving for power. Until said power will relight the void…”

His eyes shook as that hatred and any vigour tinging it died like a wilting flower, that even though disastrous, is something every living being should contain.

For being angry is a must, otherwise, what would be the point of him returning? Why should he go and get revenge then, what would drive him then?

Power? But wouldn’t he be a mindless machine drove on such a cause?

“But. Ah… I…”

Hatred, although hateful, was vital if he no longer felt any but that. Emptiness is just as empty as one can imagine, so being filled with hatred is better than not being filled at all, right?

“No… I am not just angered… I have the greed for power, the unbridled hatred towards those who have beaten me, and no more..?”

Greed and Hatred…

“I have been stripped to only greed and hatred, huh… So that was the price. Then is it right to suppress the hatred and only follow power?”

Confusion sprung as he found the path ahead to be foggy. A definite answer was nowhere to be seen in this fogged horizon, and he grunted at such a realisation.

“Unbridled hatred is better than ungoverned greed for power..? Or the other way?”

*SHINGG*

His eyes began to shine as those ethereal laws he was forced to comprehend blazed into view. Canopies of gold; starlight that shined high in the sky; a beautifying collection of exceptional natural occurrences displayed itself to him!

For most just sensing the ancient energy would be enough, but he could see another world within this energy! One where these strands don’t just move aimlessly, no, they form mystical shapes and unknown phenomena that he couldn’t fully understand.

Some were blurred more than others, yet some were as clear as daylight to him. He didn’t even know why he saw such things getting formed by the strands that should just wander at a random pace, but he knew that it meant something…

“They are so calming…”

Su Min felt the need to view this strange phenomenon with his fatigued head, as they seemed to soothe him. They made his head feel light and dozy; like he was swimming in a lake of cloud…

He didn’t injure himself by doing this, as it was only beholding the sights, not controlling and trying to comprehend them. He just wanted to watch those golden sparkles light the sky like fireworks, as they reminded him of home…

The current sight he could see was a flailing stream of gold exploding in the sky; silent. Yet, these exploded in a way that brought awe and amazement.

“I am not just encompassed by hatred and greed…”

He felt nostalgia from such an event; it was strangely similar to those firework displays he would see with Yu Yan on new years day…

“Sadness… Nostalgia? Heh… I ain’t empty.”

Although silent, these piercing streaks of gold formed from his own vision of law seemed to echo in his heart. They felt close; like they were a part of him…

“Mhm… I don’t need to suppress anything.”

Su Min mumbled under his breath, one that was tinged with an old sorrow. He found a hint of happiness within this sorrow, though, and it made him feel bright.

A brightness of hope, for he hasn’t truly left those emotions behind…

“Do nothing, and let nature take me…”

His eyes sagged and drooped as those memories continued to blaze past him, but, somehow, hidden from him, a spark of happiness blazed within those dissipated memories…

“Tired…”

And so his eyes shut and his mind entered a strange peacefulness.

“…”

A silent force congealed around his consciousness, looking on with a strange aura. This consciousness was, in fact, Su Min’s soul; one that took the shape of a charred golden man.

The golden man was engulfed in a weak aura, tinged in an ancient sorrow. Yet, the golden man was smiling…

The force surrounding the golden man hesitated as it seemed to mumble out something.

“I’ll let you sleep… Master.”

…

…

…

On a floating podium surrounded by an uncountable number of robed cultivators, a burly man thrashed a bell.

*CLANGGGG*

“Welcome sect master!”

The cultivators roared as a single man appeared on the podium. His face was wrinkled, but he wore a vibrant vitality similar to the overseer, just a lot weaker.

His eyes shined a bright white as he gazed down at all of the cultivators, speaking.

“Mhm… Sit!”

The cultivators, standing in mid-air responded as each and everyone one of them formed a layer of white energy beneath them and sat down. Some who couldn’t do so bought flying treasures out and sat on them instead…

They sat in groups, surrounding powerful cultivators and geniuses with promising futures.

One such group, in the dead centre, was calm as a single red-haired man ate an apple that was gold. The apple was beyond juicy, carrying a mystical content that would make ones mind clear.

He didn’t seem that interested in what was happening, but a servant near him scampered up to him with a little excitement.

“Senior Brother, I heard that a beauty is going to be announced! She must be important if the sect master is doing it, right?”

The red-haired man frowned as a strange red aura flashed past his eyes, the servant next to him froze with this, where a crimson force seemed to lock the space down around him.

“Do you think a simple bird is enough to interest me? Insulting!”

He flicked his wrist and threw the servant away with that crimson force. The servant’s eyes went wide as he blazed passed and into a couple cultivator behind him, causing a light ruffle to burst out.

Those who were hit by him grumbled as they forced the servant to a stop.

“He doesn’t learn his lesson…”

“Right? This is fifth time already and I am surprised that Senior Brother hasn’t killed him already!”

The Sect Master didn’t seem to see this as he took a step back and clapped his hands.

“Now, I’d like to welcome a great guest who will be staying and competing in our sect from now on…”

Silence overran as the Sect Master smiled.

“The Heavenly Overseer’s daughter, Wu Miang.”

*Step*

As his words echoed with a strange meaning, an ethereal girl stepped onto the podium. Her eyes shined a tantalising light as she gazed at the group with an indifferent gait, one that exposed a lofty pride of a life beyond their imagination.

“The overseer..?”

Wide-eyes widened as the cultivators shook with shock. They didn’t need to know a lot to know who the overseer was, so for his daughter to enter their sect..?

“She’s like an angel…”

“Yeah…”

People blurted out as they gazed at Wu Miang, who didn’t seem to react to any of this. The red-haired man, in particular, seemed to freeze for a second as his eyes shined a rare blazing light!

“Wu Miang… Wu Miang… I thought I’d never find a woman…”

A lavish grin replaced his indifferent expression as a devilish aura seemed to pulsate out of him. Those close to him paled with fright as they scampered away, but still remaining respectful.

“Chang Hui..?”

Some couldn’t help but blurt out as they saw this, but soon an understanding expression replaced them as they gaped at Wu Miang.

The Sect Master took a glimpse at the red-haired man’s reaction with a smirk.

“Wu Miang, would you please speak a few words?”

He coughed as the dazed Wu Miang jumped a little. However, she was too far away for others to even notice this, so most just took it as her being cold to all. Like an angel from the higher heavens, who doesn’t put anyone in her eyes.

“…”

Yet, no words came as Wu Miang stood like a stiff doll. Nobody spoke as they waited for her to speak, not finding it strange the least. Though, in the corner of the podium, a silent golden-haired figure frowned.

*Bow*

She bent in front of everyone, then after a few seconds, she stood up straight again.

“I-I look forward to f-fighting you all…”

Her voice swept past everyone as they all seemed to gulp. The females in the crowd shuddered and the men quivered…

“Even her voice is beautiful…”

“I don’t even feel the right to be envious.”

She didn’t move from her position as everyone spoke among themselves. The Sect Master had a strange expression, and that was because he could see that Wu Miang was shaking a little.

But, he still spoke like normal.

“Beautiful! Well, everyone, I hope that you all train to your fullest, as she isn’t any ordinary genius if you haven’t guessed already!”

A mysterious smile etched on his face as he waved his hand.

*WANGG*

A sudden whoosh of heavenly energy descended onto an empty area on the podium as a star-like beam thrashed at it. It happened for only an instant, where a small altar formed soon after.

The altar was encrusted in strange flashing symbols all over, ones that contained an incoherent language.

“Wu Miang, how about you do a test to show the sect your unruly talent?”

The sect master smiled as he pointed at the altar.

“Hm..?”

Wu Miang froze as her eyes locked onto the altar, where a faint uneasiness shrouded it. She was never told that she would have to do this…

Everyone watching her gulped with excitement.

“Her talent… I wonder if she can break the record?”

“Idiot, she obviously will!”

Yet, Wu Miang didn’t seem to want to walk towards the altar. But seeing everyone waiting, she felt the need to.

“Ok…”

Her eyes firmed as she strode towards the altar, albeit unwillingly.

*Wanggg*

The altar’s odd pulsations of energy writhed in her eyes as she turned a little pale. She didn’t understand why, but this altar didn’t give her any good feelings…

‘No… I’m probably just overthinking…’

That same thought entered her head as she took a glimpse at the sect master, whose smile seemed to be real enough. But, his eyes were slightly cloudy.

Nonetheless, this disappeared like an illusion as she blinked.

‘W-what..?’

That uneasiness only grew as she found herself in front of the shining altar, brimming with a desolate stature…

‘This doesn’t seem to be from here…’

Her eyes narrowed as she pushed the Sect Master’s eyes aside and focused on the altar. Its simple build didn’t seem to be out of the ordinary, but the energy waves coming off it, although of the first realm, didn’t seem to be right.

The idea of stepping on the altar loomed ever so more above her head as she halted. The Sect Elder’s expression changed a little as a faint pressure formed and pushed her mind.

Although she saw herself as strong-willed, she has been pampered by her master for too long.

‘But… I should if they want me to…’

*Ste-”

*BANG*

Nevertheless, before she could even step on the altar, a sudden thunderous boom erupted from behind the podium. A sliver of gold flashed, and then in a booming wave, a golden-haired man appeared above the altar.

His dull golden eye beamed a faint strange light as he gazed at the altar and stupified expression of those below him. He didn’t seem to care as he spoke with a calm and rumbling voice.

“Miss Wu Miang, this altar isn’t suitable for use. So please step back for a second…”

The Sect Master’s expression turned gloomy as he gazed at Su Min in the air, muttering under his breath.

‘The Overseer planned against this…’

*THUD*

“S-Su Min?”

Wu Miang stepped back as she stared at Su Min who had just plunged in front of the altar. Nobody spoke as they all gazed at Su Min, well only until some shocking words escaped his mouth.

“Sect Master, why is there Martial Energy within this..?”

His golden eye shined an ancient all-seeing light for a split second as he spoke, but the Sect Master didn’t notice this.

“M-Martial Energy?”

Su Min nodded and added.

“Mhm… Ok, I don’t care whether it works or not, but this altar won’t be used. Miss Wu Miang’s safety is at the utmost importance, so I’m sure that you understand…”

Su Min glanced at the Sect Master with a smile before waving his hand toward Wu Miang. Wu Miang jumped as she looked at Su Min, then at the altar one last time.

“Right…”

She strode towards Su Min with a thankful look, and the Sect Master could only sigh.

“Well I guess there must be an issue with the altar, so thank you for noticing it before any damage was done!”

He bowed with a sincere voice toward Wu Miang. The crowd entered a stupor over this.

“The Sect Master is bowing?!”

“Well it seems that there was an issue with the altar, so how couldn’t he when it might’ve endangered her life? She’s the overseer’s daughter remember, so her status is great!”

“… But who is that golden-haired guy? He seems to know Wu Miang…”

Some couldn’t help but feel curious as they gazed at Su Min, who seemed ordinary in every shape and fashion. Chang Hui, the red-haired man, frowned as he saw this.

“Why is such a simple looking man close to my future wife?”