2 All Ties Cut

Within a gorgeously asian decorated city, the traffic was at an all time high, making the city more lively than usual.

Crowds walked in droves, venders solicited, and the festival sparked like no tomorrow. Today was the yearly event of the Martial Spirit awakening! The day where the younger genetation shall birth their innate talents sleeping from inside of them since birth; Martial Spirits!

Every person in this world possessed such a thing. This determined how far one will go in their life. To be the royal king, or to be destined as the farmer.

There were strong Martial Spirits, and of course weak ones as well. The stronger it was, the easier it became to cultivate into a higher realm, and the easier it was to find powerful compatible Spirit Souls. While the weaker it was, the harder it was to cultivate, and find poweful, or even suitable Spirit Souls as well.

Today was the date where the various powers residing in this region send their children aging six years of age to go awake their Martial Spirits, the Martial Spirit Awakening.

It was a custom for the higher echelons in this area to do this ceremony, in order to show off their prowess and compare themselves. Today the son of this city's mayor would also be attending this event. Chen Hai had turned six years old this year, and it would finally be his turn to see what his talent will be.

He was full of excitement, fear, and bursting energy. This was what will determine his destined fate, and his future achievements. Every little kid will be filled with anticipation for what their Martial Spirit will be. After all, Martial Spirits were the core of how one lives their life. To be a weapon's crafter, to be a business worker, to be a powerful cultivator, and the list goes on and on.

There were different types of Martial Spirits, a type for everything that can be imagined possible. One Martial Spirit could be a dragon, a sword, or even an apple. There were powerful and weak ones, rare and common ones, and the revered or the unwanted Martial Spirits.

Although everyone possessed a Martial Spirit, this did not mean that all people could successfully cultivate. Everyone can indeed cultivate, but the difficulty with each step got exponentially harder, so few succeded as the most common Martial Spirits were the weak varieties.

The varieties were endless, and the types of groups were many. They can be animals, plants, elements, weapons, or even the five senses. Today was Chen Hai's date to find out what his Martial Spirit will be! How can he possibly not be excited!?

Friends and strangers came from all over, to spectate their young ones, and see what they will gain today. Parents and elders all boasted to each other about how their kid has talented genes, so they will also rise to be a dragon and create their own legends.

Living in clans and the higher class of the world was a tiring experience, a world filled with little care and emotion. Cubs were raised to lash out at each other, only allowing one to climb over the other. It was not a good experience, yet at the same time was equally as rewarding.

Expensive Spirit Souls, luxurious medicine, and high-tech training support. Even if one does not have talent, how can they not also become a prodigy in the eyes of others? Today will determine how much support the family of his will give him, and how much care his dad will raise him with.

The ceromony was simple yet grand. The audience filled the sides, sitting on hand crafted bleachers while the kids huddled in groups on the field waiting for their turns. In the center stood an elder wearing a gorgeously woven silk cloak, filled with white and blue, patterned to resemble the vast clouds.

Chen Hai chatted with the other little kids near him, each equally as enlivened for their turn coming near. Like bundles of joy, fidgeting and jumping with delight at all the possibilities that they might become.

One by one they went up to the elder who was stationed in this city, responsible for the awakening of Martial Spirits. Each time a new kid went up, he requested the children to put their small hands on a big crystal ball that was stationed on the stage. With one of his hands on the same crystal ball that the kids will touch, he chanted out lines quietly to awake their Martial Spirits.

This was the Martial Spirit Awakening, and today's was more special than the normal ceremony. This was hosted by the higher echelons of this region, so they didn't go cheap with the things needed. Every time a child awakened their Martial Spirit on stage, the crystal ball will glow, beaming out a light into the sky, showcasing what that kid's Martial Spirit was.

"Grrraaaaaooooooo!!----"

The kid on stage glittered with joy as the crystal ball beamed a light, displaying the mighty tiger roaring as it lunged towards an invisible prey. This boy's Martial Spirit was a tiger! Chen Hai also hoped for something equally as powerful, no- even more powerful and rare!

The time dwindled by, each kid awakening different Martial Spirits. As all the kids were children of the higher powers in this world, naturally their genes were not anything to laugh at. In almost all cases their kids will also be strong and talented.

Soon it was his turn, with nervous anguish Chen Hai went up to the big elderly man on stage. Putting his hand on the crystal ball, he felt how cold it was, and a feeling of how the icy touch invaded him.

"*#-*|<&#..."

The man mumbled out an ancient language which Chen Hai could not comprehend. They were words which he had never heard of, but soon he felt a power boiling inside of him, attempting to burst out from its sprout. This was his Martial Spirit Awakening! This was his moment to see what his Martial Spirit is! His time to witness what his life will revolve around!

Soon the beam of light shot into the sky, showcasing what his Martial Spirit was. There was no roar or noise, but small specks of white slowly flittered down on the ground, floating down from the clouds. They were small and seemingly harmless.

Chen Hai was thrilled with delight! This had to be an element! The snow element! Elements were one of the rarest and strongest of Martial Spirits, and his was the icy cold snow! Intoxicated with joy, he jumped around and looked for his dad in the crowd.

The audience was quiet, filled with an eerie quietness. Filled with confusion at their silent applause, Chen Hai turned towards the man who helped awakened his Martial Spirit today. "Sir... Elements are very strong right? Is snow a weak Martial Spirit?..."

The elder had a condescending sad smile on his face as he talked with the little boy before him, answering what he had on his mind, trying to explain what the truth of the situation was. "I've never heard of this Martial Spirit before..."

Interrupting the elder's speech, Chen Hai became even more excited at the thought of possibilities. "So snow is super rare!? Do-Does this actually mean I'm actually a future genius!?"

Sighing with a breadth of pity, the elder properlly explained to Chen Hai what his Martial Spirit actually was. "Its not snow... I've actually seen a snow cultivator before, and it didn't look like this... Although yours is indeed exotic, being rare does not always mean its good... Yours is just white powder kid... If you work hard enough, hope still exists right?... Just don't give up... You could've gotten worse right, like dust perhaps?...", although the man said one thing, he thought another. Even if one worked to the end of the world, what can one possibly do with white powder? Blind someone to death?... He just didn't want to young boy's hope and joy to forever be ruined...

"Wh-White powder?... Po-Powder?...", Chen Hai already understood the underlying meaning of the elder's speech. He was not a genius, but a cripple... His dreams had never existed in the first place... The bundle of joy quickly deflated.

. . .

The room was unnaturally quiet, filled with a stillness that suffocated the little young boy in the room. His father's stare did not resemble any of the memories of which he had. This did not look like his dad at all, his gaze felt like he was staring at a bug he wished to crush... Chen Hai was pale, hushed as he awaited his father's words and judgement.

He knew that his family was a clan, and his father was the Mayor. He knew what his Martial Spirit will imply for the actions and consequences he shall receive. But, he was still his family... he wouldn't directly cut him off right? He was his only child... his only son... he would bend the rules a little for him right? For someone of the same blood?...

Yet his fears came true, he was just a tool in the bigger schemes of things, and he was to be shed. The father coldly glared at him as he spoke his final words, leaving Chen Hai alone in the room. "You threw away all my face and reputation. You aren't my son starting from today. I've never known you, and you never existed. We live different worlds, and my family never needs to raise trash like you. Grab that bag of spirit stones, and leave this city! Never let me see you piece of garbage again! Don't litter my city with your filth, and get out of this place!!"

Bang!--

The door slammed shut as the last ties of his family was cut. Staring at the small bag filled with spirit stones in front of him, Chen Hai began to cry. He was only a small kid, and today's events were too much for him. This was the worst day of his life! Why was everyone else so strong and talented, but he received something even worse than a weed spirit!

Depressed, gloomy, sorrowful-

This was the worst day in his life... His life was chopped...