Few days have passed since Zhu Furong's birthday. He is eleven years old now, life is moving at a steady pace in the sect for Zhu Furong. He has nothing pressuring him right now. He spends most of his time wandering around the sect, collecting various information. The only times when he has to sweat are the times when he is challenged for duels. Though not a noticeable rank, Zhu Furong has climbed up to a good enough spot in the disciple rankings in his pavilion due to winning some of his duels with the challengers.

Though he had no intention to seek the attention of others in the sect, mistakes happen. Just like today...

There are people gathered around Zhu Furong's humble abode. Everyone has a peaceful expression on their faces. No one is making any sound. They all are attentively listening to the melodious music flowing out of Zhu Furong's room.

Zhu Furong played the flute for half an hour before stopping. Some people left, some people stayed with expectations of another performance. Which didn't happen.

In the crowd, people whispered...

"Whose residence is this?" A man asked.

"A newcomer. What was his name again..." Someone answered, scratching his head in thought.

"Zuo Rong! His name is Zuo Rong." Tian Su spoke with a smug face.

"Ah! Yes, yes, his name is Zuo Rong." The man agreed.

"I heard, Junior Brother Zuo is a one in time genius. I heard he is at the second level of Meridians Opening stage at just the age of eleven years." The man stated.

"Ten." Tian Su interrupted.

"Ten?" The man looked puzzled.

"Yes. Brother Zuo turned eleven years old just a few days ago, he was ten years old when he reached the second level of Meridians Opening stage." Tian Su replied with a proud look.

"Er... Umm..." The man took a look at the jade token hanging on the waist of Tian Su to confirm his standing in the sect.

Tian Su has a green jade token just like everyone with the word Sunlight carved on it. But in his token there is a single 'star' drawn. In Sunlight Sect, all disciples have 'star' marks on their tokens. The number of stars indicate their seniority among disciples in the Sunlight Sect. The star denotes 'Cultivation rank'. In the Sunlight Sect, age has nothing to do with seniority.

One star denotes Cultivation rank under Foundation Establishment rank. 2 star is early Foundation Establishment rank, 3 star is mid Foundation Establishment rank, 4 star is peak Foundation Establishment rank and 5 star is Core Formation rank. Though the color of one's hanfu is first priority above these ranks.

Sunlight Sect accepts disciples of any rank under Core Formation rank. Though if people are not as talented as Zhu Furong and Tian Su  they are put in the Outer Sect. From there the disciples get a chance to enter the Inner Sect by taking the year end exams.

The criteria for Outer Sect disciples to enter Inner Sect is to have early Foundation Establishment rank with bone age of less than 20 years and to win against 10 Inner Sect disciples of similar rank or 1 small rank higher. The battle rules are the same for any form of battle held inside the sect. The difference among competitors shouldn't exceed 1 small realm.

...

After confirming that Tian Su has 1 star while the man himself has 2 stars he continued speaking. "This Junior Brother, you also seem to have entered the sect this season, are you acquainted with Junior Brother Zuo?" He asked.

"Of course I am, we are friends after all." Tian Su replied.

"I see. By the way, what is your name?" The man asked.

"Me? I am Tian Su." Tian Su answered.

"Ah, I have also heard of you. Another genius who reached the Qi Condensation stage at the age of 14. This time the sect really received some good talents. On the other hand, this Senior Brother is ashamed." The man hung his head and shook it slightly showing his disappointment in himself.

"What are you saying, Senior Brother, you overpraised me. I am just lucky. Life is too long, who knows what my future holds, hehe." Tian Su blushed while fiddling with his bangs.

"This Junior Brother, tell us something more about your talented friend." Suddenly a good looking female inquired from the crowd.

Tian Su turned his head to find a woman about the age of 19 looking towards him with somewhat of a mischievous look.

Tian Su clearly understood what she was asking for. 'People really don't care about age in the world of Cultivation, even an old cow doesn't frown to eat young grass, let alone these young sisters. May god help Brother Zuo, well maybe god doesn't have to. Girls like these care more about looks than talent. And Brother Zuo's looks…' Tian Su kept all these thoughts in his mind.

"Hehe, Senior Sister, my friend has a good personality, great demeanor and he is quite smart too. Ah also, he is rich, hehe." Tian Su spoke with a humble look.

"Ah I see." The woman nodded her head. "And?" She asked.

"And?" Tian Su showed a puzzled look.

"I mean, tell us more about him, something like what he likes to eat or, or, something like his looks." The lady blushed a bit but just for a moment before he came back to look normal.

A few girls around the woman also raised their ears to listen.

"Ahem!" Tian Su cleared his throat. "Er... Sorry, I don't know what he likes to eat but his looks are good." Tian Su gave a superficial answer. Though Zhu Furong's disguised look can only be said to be average, being a friend, there's no way Tian Su will let anyone look down on his friend in any way.

"Good? How good? Can't you be more specific?" The lady frowned. The girls nearby also seemed unsatisfied with the answer.

"Good means good, what else? I don't know how you women judge a man's looks but in my eyes Brother Zuo is smart and handsome." Tian Su commented.

The girls rolled their eyes not believing anything. Now the only way to find out is to look at the man himself. So they looked towards the door of Zhu Furong's abode, expecting him to get out.

Inside the single room house...

Zhu Furong is fiddling with a flute in hands. He was playing this flute just a moment ago.

"It seems all good now." Zhu Xingzuo spoke.

"Fwooo..." Zhu Furong breathed out. "Yes I have calmed down. And there doesn't seem to be any irritation or urgency." Zhu Furong spoke somewhat worriedly.

It's evening now. For a few days Zhu Furong has been visiting the Gravity Chambers of Sunlight Sect for physical training. Though his physique is probably the strongest at his age or maybe strongest in this world? He still doesn't want to give up any slight chance of becoming stronger. For this reason he went to the Gravity Chambers. As he can't leave the sect yet and has nothing else to do at the moment, this is the only way to kill time.

But unexpectedly, his negligence to go for the highest tier of Gravity Chambers all the days ended up creating troubles for himself. Being introduced to the  immense bone smashing pressure time and time brought out the reaction from Zhu Furong's body. Just like the white blood cells instinctively fight against infections, a human body has the instinct to break through its limits.

During the practice sessions, Zhu Furong's body instinctively tried to go against the gravity pressure and as it couldn't absorb Spiritual Qi because of the restrictions placed by Zhu Xingzuo, Zhu Furong's body started creating Demon Qi from the flesh. This in turn affected Zhu Furong's mental condition somewhat.

As this is not the first time and has occurred quite frequently, the Nirvana Life Seal seems to have adapted to it as Zhu Furong's own energy and has started to neglect it, making it more dangerous for Zhu Furong.

"Though I suggested playing music as it seemed to be the best way to calm one's mind, I didn't expect you to be so good at it. Now and also before when you were at the Zhu manor. You play really well. Are you sure you weren't a musician in your past life?" Zhu Xingzuo asked in a mocking tone.

"Sigh! What can you expect from someone who seeks to find out what he is best at in his whole life. Since I had no talent in Cultivation, I tried to learn everything. I was hoping I may find something I am good at and that way I may gain some affection from my family." Zhu Furong made a sad look.

"What family? Didn't you say they never treated you as a family? Moreover they are the reason your mother... Well, you know." Zhu Xingzuo retorted.

"Well my past self was a fool who sought affection from people who were after his life. The fact can't be changed, so all I can do is to take revenge for him." Zhu Furong said with an affirmed look.

"Well at least your past self was not a lazy bum. See you learnt quite a lot of stuff thanks to him. Even if you can't be called a master in any of these, at least a foundation is formed." Zhu Xingzuo complimented.

"Hmm." Zhu Furong nodded.

"But you are unexpectedly too good with music. Even though I have never paid attention to this stuff in any of my lifetimes, I can tell that you are exceptionally good at playing music. Even I get emotional listening to you play."  Zhu Xingzuo praised.

Zhu Furong sighed heavily. He looked at the distance. Since the room is locked and even the windows are closed, he is gazing at the wall. Lost in thought.

"She liked listening to me play." He muttered after some time, reminiscing.

Zhu Xingzuo played a gentleman and didn't say anything, he quietly Cultivated inside the egg.

Zhu Furong didn't leave the house that day and also didn't play any more music, disappointed, the spectators have no choice but to get back to their work.

...

Next day, in the morning, Zhu Furong opened the door to go for a walk inside the sect. He only took several steps when he heard someone calling him.

"Are you Zuo Rong?" Zhu Furong turned back to see a lanky man, about 20 years old, brown skin, and kinda tall, wearing yellow hanfu looking at Zhu Furong rudely.

"Yes, and if I may ask the Senior Brother for his name." Zhu Furong saluted.

"Humph! Follow me." The man kept behaving rudely. Without answering Zhu Furong he just turned back and started walking.

Zhu Furong scratched his head, not remembering when he offended this dude. Well, anyway, it doesn't hurt to follow him.

The man led Zhu Furong towards the top of the hill. At first Zhu Furong thought he was leading him to his abode, but soon the height surpassed that of any disciples residence. Soon they crossed the elders residences too, so their final destination came to be the residence of Pavilion Master.

The residence is at the top of the hill, the Spiritual Qi here is quite rich and the air feels refreshing to breathe in. Though it is still no match for the Upper Realm.

The residence is more of a small manor, with a large courtyard, pond, a small bamboo garden, flower garden and many more. The environment here has the vibe of a female resident living here. Every decoration is as a female would like.

Walking past the gates, Zhu Furong and the lanky man entered the center room of the manor, which is a guest hall. At the center of the hall, is a somewhat raised platform with a luohan bed placed in the middle. On the bed lay a beautiful lady with long black hair wearing a purple hanfu. The Martial Arts Pavilion Master, Fan Xin. 

To the direction of Fan Xin's feet, stood a girl, about the age of 16. The girl has fair white skin, an attractive face with facial features all perfect. Her black hair is quite long, reaching to her butt. Half of her hair is tied in a round bun behind her head with a blue jade pin. She is wearing a white hanfu, well decorated with a cream embroidery.

With a single glance one can tell, this girl is a country toppling beauty.

Zhu Furong doesn't need to ask for her name. Knowing her name is a common thing in the Sunlight Sect. After all, all the male disciples of Sunlight Sect are mad about her, and all of them dream of having this beauty's affection. This girl is none other than Fan Xin's personal disciple, one of the Core Disciples of the Sunlight Sect, Chu Dongmei(winter plum). The master is a beauty but the disciple even surpasses her.

Zhu Furong couldn't help but appreciate their beauty. Even though he has a fiancee back home, she is just a kid, Zhu Furong can't help but think of Ming Lan as a little sister right now rather than a romantic interest. It's hard to fall in love with someone with such a huge age gap, considering Zhu Furong's mental age.

Though it is quite rude to look up for one's age in the Martial World, you still end up doing it subconsciously. But nonetheless, the absolute rule still applies here. Never ask a woman for her age.

Ming Lan is just too persistent and demanding, also her position as a princess matters for the Zhu family. Zhu Furong is helpless in front of her and finds it hard to say no to her. Also Zhu Ling adores that little girl. He can't help but play along for now waiting for the future to come. By the time they both turn into adults, things will change by a lot. Maybe Ming Lan's preference for men will change too? Who knows?

Back to the current situation...

After entering the sect, did Zhu Furong learn that Pavilion Master Fan Xin lied about not having a personal disciple during the trials to boost the morale of the participants. Who doesn't want to have beauty teach them? The boys are all simp. Well… Ehem… Most of them are.

Now looking around Zhu Furong noticed Elder Ma Li also present here. He is standing at the left side quietly looking at Zhu Furong and smiling.

Zhu Furong got a headache looking at him. He now knows that things are going to be a pain in the ass from now on.

Pavilion Master Fan Xin lying lazily on the luohan bed inspected Zhu Furong for a while. She sat up in the luohan bed, picked up the teapot from the tea table beside her bed, poured herself tea and took some sips. Putting the cup down, she is ready to speak.

"I called you on the request of Elder Ma here." Fan Xin pointed at Elder Ma Li with her eyes.

"Elder Ma here wants to take you as his direct disciple." She talked till here, then again started sipping tea in an elegant manner.

Her role of an overseer is over, now is the time for the people to talk it out.

"The disciple may sound rude, but doesn't Elder Ma already have a personal disciple?" Zhu Furong asked, cupping his hands in respect.

"Hehe." Elder Ma stroked his beard.

"Disciple, I already told you before that I want to take you as my personal disciple. I have taken quite a liking to you. I believe with my directions, you will turn into the best Cultivator of this generation." He said with a wide smile, with slight nods in between his speech.

"I believe Elder Ma, but still it doesn't seem fair for Senior Brother here if you suddenly change your personal disciple." Zhu Furong pointed to the lanky man who led him here. He is sure this lanky man is the personal disciple of Elder Ma.

"Humph!" "It is his own inadequacy to lose the position of a direct disciple." "I took this bastard in, three years ago, three years ago he was at the early Foundation Establishment rank, three year later he is at the peak Foundation Establishment rank. It takes one year for an average person to cross one small rank of Foundation Establishment, this lad did well in doing that and reached the peak Foundation Establishment rank in two years." "But what after that? After that is to form a core and step into the Core Formation rank." Elder Ma glared at the lanky man.

The Lanky man quickly hung his head in fear and shame.

Elder Ma slightly humphed. "There are three ranks of cores that can be formed to step into the Core Formation rank. Bronze, Silver and Gold." "The quality and quantity of Essence Qi one can convert and hold highly depends on the color of the core formed. Bronze being the worst and gold being the best."

Elder Ma looked at the lanky man again and then shook his head disappointed. "This bastard failed to form a core two times in the last year and by the looks of it he is struggling to form a golden core. If he doesn't struggle he should have already formed a silver core. He thinks he can hide it from me, but I know that he is incapable of forming a golden core."

On the other side Fan Xin and her disciple are just acting as spectators, or more like they are here because this is their house. Fan Cin is even yawning from time to time. She doesn't care for what is going on here.

Zhu Furong looked at the lanky man, who was still hanging his head, not daring to lift it up. Zhu Furong shook his head. 

It's not the man's fault. His fate is not strong enough. He reminds Zhu Furong of his past life. Where he struggled day and night to just take even a small step in the path of Cultivation. But he failed time after time. He never gave up but all his efforts were for naught in the end. Heavens really played a fool of him, and now is playing a fool of this lanky man.

Hard Work may help you to overcome any obstacles, but there are certain things that can't be achieved even with hard work. Having good roots and talent are important in Cultivation. Having strong luck is also a factor. The lanky man here may have talent, but he doesn't have good roots, as for luck... He doesn't seem to have that either.

"So you will become my disciple from today, as for Pan Ju(enormous)... He has to find his own way from now on. I can't help him more than I already have." Elder Ma is totally disappointed with the lanky man.

"Pavilion Master Fan, I hope you will allow me to change my direct disciple." Elder Ma saluted and slightly bowed to Fan Xin.

Fan Xin nodded slightly. "If Pan Ju is ok with it and Zuo Rong accepts, you may proceed with the formalities and rituals." She ordered.

'Proceed my ass, not happening.' Zhu Furong cursed in his mind.

Hearing her, Elder Ma glared at Pan Ju. Even though Pan Ju is still hanging his head, he could definitely feel the piercing gaze of Elder Ma. He is having goosebumps.

Pan Ju cupped his hands in salute. He slightly stuttered. "The d-disciple is un-untalented and has brought shame to the name of his master. I ask for forgiveness." He dropped on his knees and dropped his head on the floor, towards Elder Ma.

He continued in that posture. "Even though, disciple has failed to stand up to Master's expectations, I will do my best to Cultivate even harder and strive for the peak of Martial Arts." He raised his head. Still on his knees. He intertwined the fingers of his hands in front of his chest in prayer. Tears ran down his cheeks. "Even though I won't be a disciple of Master from now on, I will not forget Master's teachings. I will work harder, and there will come a day when I will bring glory to the Master's name."

Hearing Pan Ju, even the selfish Elder Ma Li, felt touched. The other three people present also felt sincerity from Pan Ju. Fan Xin couldn't help but shake her head feeling sympathy for Pan Ju. She glanced at Chu Dongmei from the corner of her eyes, she could see Chu Dongmei looking at her. Fan Xin ignored and didn't show any signs of disturbance.

'Well, I don't think a day like this will ever come for me. My disciple is the best. You can't even find one like her even if you comb through the whole Upper Realm and Lower Realm together.' Thinking this, Fan Xin felt relieved. A gentle smile bloomed on her face, which she hid with a quick reflex.

For Zhu Furong, the current situation is a tough one. He is in an awkward position. He doesn't want to take anyone as his master. For him there are only two people who are his master and will always be. There is no place for a third one and there will never be.

"Sigh" He sighed slightly. 'What to do? Do I really have to accept him as my Master?' He thought in a dilemma. He turned his head to only see Elder Ma look back at him with a gentle smile filled with anticipation. Zhu Furong felt like throwing up. 'Fuck!'