1 Chapter 1: The Valley Hidden from the Rain

The weight of the water pressed down on Jason like a mountain. Each barrel was tied to the end of the pole he carried them on. Foot over foot, he trekked up the rough trail back to his family house. His house. Only he and his sister lived there now, as they had for almost a decade. He stumbled, nearly falling, but caught himself in time, the barrels of water scraping against the ground. Water sloshed out of them, but he picked them up and continued until he reached the gravel path. He smiled as he caught sight of his village, the Village Hidden from the Rain. The sky was bright, but the sun couldn't be seen, and sometimes, the clouds would bend and twist unusually, an illusion caused by the formation that spanned their entire valley.

Jason's heart still panged at the thought of his childhood growing up here, of living with his parents, of keeping a small garden. While every day living in the house his family used to share hurt him, he still had to carry on. For Lisa's sake. His younger sister had been born crippled; she was unable to cultivate. None of the techniques of the Fowl Clan had worked for her. They had even given her access to the clans technique library, and the towns refiners had worked to attempt to make life saving medicine, but none of it had helped!

Armed with only his hard will and determination, Jason would still try to give her the best life he could.

Their mom had died giving birth to Lisa, and he hadn't seen his father for almost a year before that. His father had disappeared after leaving the valley for a hunting trip; something not uncommon. The wilds beyond the Valley that held the Village Hidden in the Rain were desolate, dangerous, and untamed.

His reminiscing ended early as he reached the door to his family home. It was almost hidden; squat, it was pressed against a mountain of stone, nestled into the shade. Their family garden had barely grown this year, but he could perform the labor they needed to get food, and he carried the water they needed up from the river himself. He set the buckets down, stretching to relieve his strained back. They hit the ground with a dull thump, kicking up rocks and dirt, and he leaned over one, washing his face in the water. The second, he untied from the pole he was using to carry them.

Reaching his arms as far as he could around the huge barrel, he kicked open the door and stumbled inside. The door frame scraped against his arms, but his body had reached the Second Ring. Enhanced by Qi, the wood wouldn't even leave a scratch. In fact, he needed to replace his door frame soon.

And widen it. But that require the help of the clan carpenter.

Wood in Hidden Rain Valley had a great cost, too. And Jason had no skills to earn more money than would feed his sister, and on a good day, himself.

"Lisa! I'm home!" Jason yelled through the door way.

"Brother!" Her reply was shocked, jumpy. And close. Out of bed. The medical practitioners of the Valley had recommended she rest as much as possible. He peeked his head around the bucket he carried, able to see into the living room, and immediately set the barrel down. The dining room table was covered in food, and his sister was dressed in finery. She looked away when he met her stare, looking down wards and fidgeting.

"What is all of this!?" There was no way she could have afforded any of this food on her own, let alone prepared and set it out.

"The elders of the Valley sent it here as a gift for you reaching Second Ring. I helped prepare it…" she played with her hair. Jason sighed, picking up the bucket and bringing it to the kitchen.

"How is your body feeling?" Jason shouted back through the house as he prepared water.

"I'm fine Jason, really." She replied, meekly, though Jason could hear it even from a room away. His senses were as sharp as a wolf since he had reached second ring. He let the conversation end there, coming back to the dining room to examine what the Elders had gifted him.

It was a feast indeed. Meats that exuded life energy decorated the plates, along with fruits and vegetables. The table was noticeably absent drinks. Most of the time these gifts would include alcohol, but Jason was still too young, only 16. Jason felt worried as he looked at the gift before him. The elders had set three dishes on one side and five on the other… he quickly rearranged them to have four on each side before sitting to eat.

His sister was unusually quiet. Typically she would ask how his day went, whether he went hunting or logging or helped chop wood for old Al. He took a deep breath of the rich scent of the meat on his plate, only briefly wondering if these dishes were properly washed. The scent of mixed spices sent that thought scuttling to the recesses of his mind, and he stabbed into the meat, chewing.

The meal disappeared far too fast. Typically their meals would rarely consist of such prime cuts of meat, especially that cut from Monstrous Beasts. At best Jason could expect a stew, broth made and flavored with bones or giblet cuts. When he was done, he immediately stood and collected the plates to clean them. Taking care of his sister from a young age had ingrained in him a constant need to make sure everything was orderly.

"Brother, wait!" Lisa interrupted him.

"Do you need help getting back to your room?"

"No! The elders… told me to tell you that they want a meeting!"

Jason sucked in a breath of air. A meeting with the elders couldn't be anything good. It must have been about his break through to Second Ring. Jason was the youngest Second Ring member of the Valley that he knew of, having advanced past the Sect Leaders son, who hovered at Half Step Second Ring.

But cultivating was the only thing he was good at. He had no talent for refining; pills and elixirs burst from the cauldron when he attempted. His constructs had run wild with qi, self destructing. His formations would fall apart with little to no effect. Cultivation was all he had. At least he could help quarry rock and cut wood.

"Alright. I'll go to them the morning." His sister rose, stumbling, and he was there to catch her in an instant. He lifted her onto his back, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

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Jason knelt in the court house of the Fowl Clan. Five bearded elders shared the quiet, but Jason waited respectfully, his back straight, his ears open.

"Jason. Your cultivation is advancing steadily."

"Thank you elder Ed. I have worked hard at it to contribute to the clan."

Ed shared a glance to Al, another elder, and they exchanged an awkward look.

"That's the thing." Al replied. "Your skill with cultivation is great. Too great."

Jason was startled, but quick to reply. "Honored elder, I believe that with enough time I will be able to learn the skills necessary for a profession. I hope to be able to one day contribute to the clan—" Jason was cut off by elder Ye raising a hand. Elder Ye was the oldest of the elders, and his beard was the longest to match. Pure white like snow, he stroked it with his fingers as he thought.

"Jason, you may be one of the first in our clan in a long time to be able to reach much greater heights."

"Greater than Third Ring?"

"Third ring? With your cultivation speed, surpassing the Realm of Nine Rings entirely would just be a matter of time."

"What stage is beyond the stage of nine rings?" Jason asked, curious. He had never even heard of a stage beyond Ninth Ring. No elder had risen to Ninth Ring in generations. There was no need to cultivate all day when those in the Valley lived a peaceful life, protected from the Monstrous Beasts outside. There was hardly any conflict in the valley, and no need to go beyond. Rarely, if ever, did we trade with the outside world, as we all knew it was full of savages. Our clan was one that honored our words, living on honor and reputation above all else.

"In our time, much of the knowledge has been lost. It is said that the Core Realms are beyond the Ring Realms. This is how you may best serve the clan, Jason. By going and seeing the wider world, then coming back to report to us. In that time, we will be more than happy to provide for you and your sister.'

"The outside world is savage. What if I do not return?" Jason asked.

"You can count on us to take care of your sister for the rest of her days. I, Ye Fowl, promise it."

Jason locked eyes with Ye Fowl. "Then I'll do it. For the clan."

A few hours late, Jason was given a bag of prepackaged supplies, a formation key, and lead to the exit of the Valley hidden from the Rain.