The child looked very young; doesn't even look like he reached 3 years old yet. The child was obviously Viel.

Viel always liked being far away from the city. When he was a year old, even though his home was about 500 meters away from the city, he can hear the people there like they were almost infront of him. This caused him to find solace in places far away from the bustling city.

Although he learned to control his hearing as time went on, Viel still had the habit of going to this place. Originally, this place was barren and only had blades of gra.s.s growing on it, but after Viel made this place his hideout, the most beautiful of flowers suddenly decided to grow here like they wanted to show Viel how beautiful they are.

"VIEL! Where the h.e.l.l did that brat went off to again?! VIEL!". Suddenly, he heard an old man shouting in his ears. Viel chuckled and covered his mouth like he was afraid someone would hear him laughing. He looked at the direction at where the sound came from, but no one was there. Only the flowers greeted him.

Suddenly, sparks of electricity appeared from his feet until it covered his whole body.

'Soul 03: Walk of the Lightning G.o.d activated', a voice suddenly popped up in his mind.

"Thank you, Mr. Voice", Viel stopped chuckling as he replied to the monotonous that only he could hear, followed by a loud sound that sounded like thunder.

Viel, who was currently just standing there, was no longer to be found on the field of flowers. Only the rustling of the field and small streaks of electricity can be seen.

-------------------------------------------------

"Ancient's t.i.tties, where could have that brat ran off to now?!"

An old man was pulling a cart full of wood while shouting can be seen near a small house in a small village near Taizhou city.

"Boo!", suddenly a child appeared out of nowhere behind the old man and startled him. The old man shouted and jumped 3 feet high in surprise, almost leaving his fake teeth in the process.

"V-viel! You brat! Why do you always do that!", the old man reprimanded the child while his saliva rain down from his face.

"Eew, grandpa Ling. Hehehe!". Viel covered his mouth and chuckled.

'Excess Soul 03 is bleeding from her nose'

"T-tch, this brat. Help me with unloading these woods instead of mocking me! I swear, I don't know what your Grandma sees in you!", Grandpa Ling commanded.

"Hehehe.", Viel continued to chuckle as he motioned his hand to the cart full of wood.

'Soul 02: h.e.l.l's Gate'

Suddenly, 2 vortexes appeared out of nowhere. One on top of the cart full of wood, and one beside their house. The first vortex sucked the wood in and the other puked it out. Just like that, all the wood was unloaded from the cart.

"Tch, at least you're useful for something. You brat! ...H-Here, have some sweets from the city", the old man commended as he gave something to Viel,

"Thank you, Grandpa Ling!", Viel bowed politely then revealed a smile and grabbed the candy, before running off to their house.

When Grandpa Ling first saw Viel using his powers, he was afraid at first, thinking that Viel was a son of an immortal cultivator. He was afraid that someday, someone might knock on their door, claiming to be the parents of the child and forcefully take Viel away from them. But alas, 4 years have pa.s.sed since they adopted him and no one still knocked on their door. After a while, he got used to the powers that Viel exhibits and just treated it as an everyday occurrence.

------------------------------------

"Grandma Ling! Grandma Ling! Look at what Grandpa gave me! Hehe!"

Viel came running inside a room, brandis.h.i.+ng and waving a bag of sweets. There, an old woman was sitting on the bed and reading something. The old woman was startled as she coughed vehemently.

"V-viel! You need to stop surprising me, I am getting old, you know!", unlike Grandpa Ling, the old woman smiled as she scolded little Viel. After a while though, a hint of sadness can be seen on her face, however, it only lasted for a split second. She called Viel over and hugged her.

"Anyway, how was your trip outside? I hope you didn't go too far!", Grandma Ling squinted her eyes as she cutely question Viel.

"No! I made sure not to cross the big ocean this time! Hehe!", Viel proudly lifted his chest up, while having traces of sugar in his mouth.

His statement wasn't an exaggeration. A year ago, the city of Taizhou celebrated the 3rd anniversary of the death of the evil monarch. The celebration was too loud that Viel could feel his ears ringing from the inside, when he couldn't take it anymore, he ran and ran so fast until he didn't realize that he was already floating on top of an ocean.

"Good.. good", Grandma released a breath of relief.

Viel and Grandma Ling continued to talk about mundane and silly things. After a while, Grandma Ling took something from beneath her pillow and gave it to Viel.

"Viel, happy 4th birthday!"

"F-for me?!", Viel was happy to receive another gift in just one day. But when he grabbed it and saw what it was, he couldn't help but tilt his head. "Grandma Ling, what is this?".

In his hand, was a slab of s.h.i.+ning copper with a label on it, "Taizhou Academy".

"That's a token to take the examination for Taizhou Academy! Lots of scholars and top cultivators of famous sects have graduated from that school!", Grandma Ling clapped her hands as she explained to Viel.

Originally, both Grandpa Ling and Grandma Ling were opposed to having Viel go to the academy, even though they don't know much about the cultivation world, they know enough to realize that Viel was ultimately different than the rest of the cultivators.

They were afraid that Viel would be isolated in the academy, and even more so because he was a westerner.

But when they thought it through. Wouldn't they be isolating Viel themselves if they do not allow him to mingle with other children?

And why should Viel hide himself when the rest of the cultivators enjoy their royal treatment? Why should Viel be the one to cower in the shadows?

Thus, they decided to let Viel take the exam in Taizhou Academy.

"Eeehh, but couldn't I just stay here with you and Grandpa? It's noisy there in the city!", Viel cutely raised his face as he asked her Grandma.

"No no, besides, there will be other children there. You can play with them!", Grandma Ling tapped her finger on Viel's forehead.

"Whaaaat!? I get to play with other people?!", Viel started to jump up and down the bed.

"Yes, the children there will be as strong as you… so we are not afraid that you will accidentally hurt someone there.", Grandma Ling replied with a.s.surance, not knowing how wrong she was.

Viel was about to celebrate in joy again but Grandma Ling suddenly coughed vehemently and loudly.

"G-grandma Ling?", Viel asked with a worried face.

"*cough* I-I'm alright, Grandma Ling is just too happy that she got tired.*cough*", Grandma Ling comforted Viel as she forcefully revealed a pleasant smile.

"O…okay, I will go now so Grandma can rest!", Viel hurriedly jumped off of the bed and bowed towards her Grandma and thanked her again.

As Viel was about to exit the room, he turned towards her Grandma.

'Soul 01: Eyes of Judgement'

Viel revealed a sad expression as he looked at her Grandma once more before he finally exited the room.

------------------------------------------

A few weeks after, in a large courtyard, hundreds of children can be seen forming a line.

This courtyard is one of the training grounds for the students of Taizhou Academy. Currently, it is also the place the academy is using to hold their entrance examinations.

Infront of the long line of children, a boy with white hair can be seen in front. He was wearing a joyful expression and was looking at the line of behind him.

Viel was currently in front of the line because he was the very first one to arrive in the academy, thus occupying the front of the line.

"h.e.l.lo, my name is Viel! What's yours?", Viel excitedly asked the girl behind her.

"….Diao Mei", the girl quietly responded to his question before looking into the other direction. Diao Mei was very beautiful, even though she was still very young, about 6 or 7, she exuded a graceful aura.

"Hehehe, nice to meet you, Diao Mei. Are you excited to get in the academy? Do you want to play after the exams? Ooooh, I hope I pa.s.s. Are you confident in pa.s.sing? I am a bit nervous, it's the first time I am standing infront of a lot of people",

Viel continued to bombard the girl with questions. But the girl, as if not hearing anything, just continued to stare at the other direction, completely ignoring Viel.

"Lady Mei, is this westerner bothering you?!". Suddenly, a tall boy, about 8 or 9 years old confronted Viel. This boy was originally in the middle of the line, but he decided to step in when he saw a westerner was talking to her "G.o.ddess".

"Oh! h.e.l.lo, my name is Viel! Nice to meet you!". Viel didn't mind the arrogant tone of the boy. He reached out to shake his hands with the newly arrived party. But the boy just slapped his hand away.

"Tch, so you were a boy? You westerners all look alike.", the tall boy sneered in disgust.

Although Viel's face was very beautiful and could be mistaken as a girl's. Some Easterner's have a deep-rooted hatred and disgust for westerners as the evil monarch came from their lands.

"Anyway, don't you dare talk to Lady Mei again!", the tall boy looked at Diao Mei for approval. But Diao Mei just looked at the side and ignored him.

"See?! Lady Mei can't even stand the sight of you! You should go to the end of the line, you white haired mongrel!", the boy continued to bicker and insult Viel.

"Back of the line? But why?", suddenly a heavy pressure came upon the tall boy as he slightly backed away.

"W-what do you mean why?! I already told you, Lady Mei is annoyed to see you standing infront of her!", although the tall boy was slightly fl.u.s.tered with the sudden pressure, he couldn't back down as he was afraid to look like a sissy in front of his G.o.ddess.

"O-oh...R-really?! Then, I shall go to the back of the line. Miss Diao Mei, sorry for annoying you". Just like that, the sudden pressure on the tall boy was gone.

Viel bowed to Diao Mei and the tall boy, before innocently walking away to the back of the line. Everyone watching was totally surprised to see Viel actually going to the back of the line. They sneered at Viel, looking at him as if he was a pathetic weakling who didn't even want to get into an argument.

"W-what, he really did go? Ha..Haha! That's right! Go to the back of the line! Your weak little a.s.s belongs there, you filthy westerner!", the tall boy wiped his sweat off before he once again insulted Viel.

Suddenly, Diao Mei, who was keeping quiet from the start, opened her mouth. "Brother Wei Song, that was unnecessary", Diao Mei spoke to the tall boy, before looking at Viel, who was currently walking his way to the back of the line.

"Hehe, no need to thank me, Lady Mei. I just did what I thought was right, that westerner was sullying everyone's mood. People like him don't deserve to lead this line.", Wei Song was very proud of what he did, even claiming that he did for everyone.

He tried to speak to Diao Mei for a while and get into her good graces, but decided to go back in the middle of the line, as Diao Mei was not interested in talking anymore.

Everyone here knows who Diao Mei was, after all, the Diao family was a prestigious name. They have always produced top cultivators and were one of the leading families who defended their country when the minions of the evil monarch invaded their land.

Viel who was now on the back of the line was completely oblivious that the other children were gossiping about him, secretly mocking him for being weak.

Suddenly, the boy in front of him reached out his hand.

"Hey, don't worry about it. Wei Song has always been like that, being a leech of his family is all that he is good at, after all. My name is Xiao Pei. What's yours?"

The boy who has his hands stretched didn't really have any special features, except that he has a long scar on the left part of his face, going from the brow to bottom of the chin.

Hearing this, Viel was surprised at first before excitedly shaking Xiao Pei's hand.

"Woah, finally. Someone normal, h.e.l.lo. My name is Viel.". Viel was still vigorously shaking Xiao Pei's hand as he adorned a wide smile. Finally meeting his first friend.

"Eeh?! You're a boy?!". Xiao Pei revealed a shocking expression. He couldn't believe that the beautiful child in front of him. Although he saw the scene earlier, he couldn't hear what they were talking about.

"I suppose it doesn't matter. Man, that Wei Song… always so domineering. I can't wait until I put his beautiful mug in place. Hehe, too bad huh? Just earlier, you were at the front and now you're here with me, the latecomer". Xiao Pei said as he shrugged, lamenting the fact the he came late. Well, what's important was that he was no longer the one who was at the end of the line.

"Eeh, I don't really mind being on the back. Afterall, my Grandma Ling said that I-", but before Viel could finish what he was going to say, he looked at the direction of the examination platform adjacent to their line.

"Silence! The exam is about to start!". Suddenly, a loud voice can be heard as an old man suddenly appeared on top of the examination platform.

"You are gathered here today not to bicker amongst yourselves, but to take your first step of being a cultivator! Probably, most of you will not even pa.s.s the first entrance examination, so there is no point in making friends. I am An Da, I will be your examiner today".

Examiner An Da raised his hand as a huge slab of stone appeared beside him.

"This is a Strength Revealing Stone from the West, as its name suggests, if you hit this stone it will display the corresponding strength that you put into it." As the old man said this, he hit the stone lightly and a number suddenly appeared infront of it.

'600'

Seeing this, all the children were startled and revealed faces of shock.

"W-wah! 600! As expected of a teacher in the academy!", the children all shared the same exact thought, except for one who was wearing a confused face.

"That's right. The first test is a test of your physical strength. Even though most cultivators don't rely on their physical strength, it is still important to train one's body! If you can not even pa.s.s this simple test, then you have no right to enter the cultivation world! In order to pa.s.s this test, your strength needs to atleast be above 30!". As An Da said this, he pointed at Diao Mei, who was currently the one leading the long line of children. "You will start first!".

Diao Mei hurriedly walked on to the stage.

"Diao Mei greets teacher An Da!" Diao Mei politely greets An Da as she stood in front of him. An Da just smiles and nod before telling Diao Mei to proceed to the test.

Diao Mei stood in front of the huge slab of stone. She switched to a fighting stance and readied to strike. She stayed like this for a while before releasing a fast jab with all her strength.

'66'

Diao Mei looked at her score before revealing a happy smile, after a few seconds, she returned to her usual calm expression. The other students revealed a shock expression, for children their age, a physical strength of 66 can be considered very high.

"Very good! As expected of General Diao's daughter!", he nodded and smiled at Diao Mei. "Next!"

After Diao Mei, all the other students who pa.s.sed only gained a normal score of around 35. Most of the students have already failed, scoring below 30.

This pace continued until it was Wei Song's turn.

*Pang*

'53'

Seeing his score, Wei Song quickly revealed an arrogant smile as he looked towards the other students who went ahead him and scored below him. He also looked at Viel and sneered at him as if looking down on him.

"Good, very good.". Examiner An Da was very satisfied to see another good offspring coming into the academy.

However, after Wei Song, there weren't any other exemplary student.

Finally, it was Xiao Pei's turn, the child who was at the back of the line before Viel took his place.

'58'

All the students were in shock to see another examiner score above 50, and it was even higher than Wei Song. Seeing this, Wei Song gritted his teeth and looked at the boy on the stage. Xiao Pei returned Wei Song's glare with his own, revealing a mocking smile, as if saying that he has won.

An Da was delighted to see 3 talented students enrolling in his academy this year, but his expression immediately turned in to a frown when he saw a small boy with long white hair going towards him.

It was finally Viel's turn.

"Tch tch. Those who are late will always be last in life. If you keep up this att.i.tude you will not achieve anything in life.". An Da lectured the little boy in front of him.

Hearing this, the other students couldn't help but chuckle and sneer at Viel, especially Wei Song, who was currently wearing a wicked smile.

"Haha! That's right! Westerners like you should just go back to the end of the line all the way to your country!", Wei Song couldn't help but comment, garnering the attention and laughs of the other children.

"That's enough! The academy does not discriminate race! Little boy, you may begin!". An Da reprimanded Wei Song before urging Viel to start immediately.

"I thank Grandpa An Da! ...But I do not mind being the last.", Viel replied politely to An Da.

'G-grandpa?!'. An Da revealed a weird expression as a little boy called him An Da. Although he was growing on his years, he was still fairly young for a cultivator, 120 years old.

"What do you mean, little boy?". An Da couldn't help but ask, making sure to emphasize the word "little".

Viel stood in front of the huge slab of stone and slowly reached out his hand.

"Because Grandma Ling taught me…". Viel smiled as he flicked his finger.

Suddenly, a loud noise can be heard as everyone stood in their place and stopped talking to each other. Some children even forgot how to breathe.

Wei Song, who was currently talking to the other children near him and was currently in the process of mocking Viel, started to redden in shame.

Xiao Pei revealed a sweat before finally whistling in admiration.

Diao Mei, who has been quiet throughout the whole test, had her mouth opened in shock. She couldn't believe at what she is seeing right now.

'67'

"…to be kind and give way to people weaker than me"