Emperor Fate

The World is vast and full of wonders, with crouching tigers and hidden dragons.

I was born into this world knowing where it'll end for me. Who will I become. But not what is beyond my reach.

Our people lives simple, drifting in the passage of time. Expecting life as it is. From time to time, legendary immortals would pass-by. Their battle brings about disaster; Shattering mountains, bringing storms, and bending the will of the heavens. Only their shadows to be seen.

I was curious then, on who they are, and what they are capable of. And one day, when our land was dry. and not a drop of water in the river. An immortal gave life to our land and brought us salvation. We were very thankful. And I realize at that moment, that our people are mere ants for these immortals.

I was 7 years old.

…

I never stopped wondering. It seems my body is on the ground but my soul is searching. Floating in the sky; with the clouds during the day, and with the stars during the night. I'd always wonder what is beyond.

As I grew older, I realize that these immortals would often drop by to our mortal villages. And sometimes give wondrous blessings to or communities. And not just us, I would often hear rumors of immortals giving life back to chiefs and noble people from other towns that lost hope due to being ill.

I was nine.

…

I was lucky enough to learn how to read. It would become my salvation in this cooped-up world I was in. books with tales of adventure, open seas, and vast lands. Stories that would open my eyes to what is beyond what I could see.

I became familiar to the shadows. It was them who taught me how to read. I would work myself out for books. They'd ask me to collect herbs and run errands for them. Of course they'd do it so that they wouldn't be discovered. Some immortals aren't fond of being worshiped or to be found by enemies.

I learned that in the region our town is in, there are two immortal sects competing for power. At first, I wasn't very much privy to these things. And would never mind such information's.

The immortal that was very fond of me was a middle age guy with a huge black beard. He would always wear his thick black robe that hides his muscular build. People would often mistake him as a fat rich scholar that would often search for herbs. It seems that our land is full of these exquisite herbs. He would then teach me how to read and these herbs he would concoct.

I was 12 years old then.

…

The day was sunny and warm. Wind would blow calmly from the western side of town, and sway the trees. My older brothers would get ready for the harvest. My mother together with my only sister would wash the dishes and tidy up our house.

It has been a year now since my father passed away. He was hired by an immortal to deal with some bandits raiding some mine, along with other capable men. He was very unlucky.

I was very eager to go to town. It was the day that my teacher would return. He promised me a book that is more wonderful than any other I have and haven't red. I ran all the way to his cabin. Knocked the door, and found out that it was already open. I was very happy, he's back. As I entered, there was no one. I checked his room, and there was no one. Went to the back, and there was no one. I was disappointed.

I went back inside to lock the cabin. The lock was taken by time, which made it loose. I'm pretty sure that the immortal would be back today. He said so himself. And his never late.

I waited in his porch the whole day. Till the sky went dark and the moon and stars would light it up again. The immortal didn't came, so I went home.

The next morning, I went back to his cabin again. Wind was blowing the door softly. I went inside to find something to temporary close it.

In the table was a letter. I never saw this when the immortal left his cabin, I was with him back then. And would often clean his cabin in case he'd be back early. So this left me wondering. Confused, and alarmed.

The letter had my name in front of it. It was for me to read.

I opened it nervously, and red the contents.

The immortal is dead. It was a letter from his apprentice. Sometimes, the immortal would visit with him around. He would teach us both about the herbs. The apprentice was of the same age as me, but a bit older.

I don't know what to feel back then. It seems like he became my family. And I just lost another father in him.

I was 15 years old.

…

It has been a year now since the letter. The town is bustling with excitement. An immortal sect is opening its doors to new recruits they say.

I was along with my older brothers, and hundreds of village kids forming a line. Most of these where hopeful of being selected. The Roaring Immortal Sect is losing to its competitor the Golden Wind Sect, and so it is recruiting for able bodies that could cultivate.

Two immortals from the Roaring Immortal Sect are presiding over the body examination. They would agree if the person is capable or not.

Ahead, a boy from the next village was being examined. The immortals checked him "hmm, interesting. You pass! Go get your things ready, after we finish, those who pass will be coming along with us back to the sect." and just like that, the boy's father immediately fetch his things. The first to be accepted which made others hopeful.

Alas it was my turn. The immortal was sharp looking, very thin and has an intricate way of examining everyone. I was very nervous.

He held my right hand, and pressed my pulse. I can feel a strange energy surging inside of me. Like I was being possessed by the sun. The heat was moving from my arms to my body, and to my feet. Then the immortal let go of me and I can feel normal again.

I wasn't very optimistic about myself. My brothers weren't selected, so how can I be.

The immortal looked at me. Then whispered something to his partner. And they both agreed to something.

"you passed." He said.

I was stunned, and so were my brothers. I looked at them and they were excited and happy. My oldest brother quickly ran back home to take care of my things.

After the examination, there were 20 of us who passed. And we said our goodbyes. It was an unexpected event in my life. It seems like something inside of me came back alive, and I was eager to set sail to this new adventure.

…

Life as a cultivator couldn't get easier. The longer you cultivate, the harder it becomes to improve. I was stepping into the early level of Qi condensation stage when war took away my time.

I found out after joining the Roaring Immortal Sect's outer faction, that all the recruits together with me was being trained to form the vanguard of the sect's race to dominance. That all of us where feeders for the war of the immortals. Turns out, the sect with more soldiers gains the advantage. And so these immortals are investing so much in searching people who are capable of the Dao. In spite of its talents and abilities, as long as the person is capable they would turn him in.

Our sect is being suppressed by its counter-part. We are facing a giant in the field of battle. Their number ousts our forces 1:4. There'd be no way of advancing, and we'd be stuck defending our ancestral grounds.

Finally, our sect couldn't take any more beating from the mighty Golden Wind Sect and was forced to subjugation. Our sect became the Roaring Wind Faction.

It seems that our sect was already having internal conflicts. And those who schemed for the destruction of the sect were given the higher position that would preside over the Faction. The ones who were loyal to the sect would turn to the other side and be the feeders of the sect expeditions. mostly, cultivators who are average or above. The elders and those with higher level cultivation that wouldn't yield would be killed and be buried to its ancestral grounds.

And for the rest of us who were feeders of war. Cultivators below average would be given an option. To join the sect or to live like a mortal. Most of us would choose to join. We were never sentimental towards the Roaring Immortal Sect. They treated us like trash to be sent in the front lines. Rather, we became jealous of how our contemporary would treat their disciples. Heck, we never became disciples ourselves. So it was easy for the most of us to turn over to the other side.

As I was lining up to register and join the sect. I was examined like the rest. Turns out that the Golden Wind Sect is more privy in selecting those who joins their sect. my level of cultivation couldn't be called average. It is more accurate to call it very poor. I never mind it though, we were going through war and we were stuck as feeders. And so I focused on honing my body and my skills in melee combat.

As the immortal checked my cultivation, he dismissively said to me "with just these? No wonder your sect lost to our advances. You should just be content living as a mortal kid. And with your age, you wouldn't get far in this journey. Next!"

I was thrown out. Again, I don't know what to feel about it.

It all came to me the next day. I was walking towards the exit of town. I became dejected about my wasted efforts. We were still at the ancestral grounds of the Roaring Immortal Sect. and I felt sentimental about leaving it all behind. I never lived here long, but I put work on defending these. My sweat and blood was invested in all of it. But still, it wasn't enough. We were defeated.

My mind is running around. I was adjusting to my life as an immortal. And now it was all gone.

I decided to go home. There was nowhere else I could go back to but home.

My mind went back to when I was selected among the village folks. When my family was very happy, and excited for me.

It just made me sadder.