"FUCK!" a young man hastily sits up in a relatively simple bed in a room with simple walls he is drenched in sweat and clutching his head. This young man is as average as one can look, he isnt ugly by any means just average.
He has short brown hair, and brown eyes. He isnt tall nor short.
"Ugh.." the man in seems to be more rather boyish than man, he groans in discomfort.
Suddenly a knock and a girl's voice shouts through the door, "Xien! Wake up, mother and father are back with the expert from Crimson leaf city! Dont keep them waiting or ill beat you up again!"
The boy still disoriented begins to step out of the bed but unfortunately his legs give out as another bolt of pain rushes into him.. .
After a few moments of the pain dulling, "What the hell..."
*Ding!* a sound rings in the boy's head
A moment later a translucent panel appears in front of him.
*****
*Status*
Name: Lu Xien
Age: 18
Cultivation rank: Mortal
Qi needed until next advancement: 500
0/500
Weapon proficiency: None
Skill proficiency: None
Bloodline: ???
Physique: ???
Constitution: ???
Roots: ???
*****
Lu Xien stared at the panel with wild amazement but as he examined his stats he frowned, "I dont really understand.." he tried to put it out of his mind and focus on getting dressed but when he did the panel vanished. Only when he thought of it again did it appear again.
He wanted to test if others could see this or not. So he got dressed pulling on his simple tunic and simple pants he made his way outside of his room. He heared some muffled voices down the hall but he went to the kitchen first, he found his sister younger by two years Lulu, she was the opposite of him beautiful and talented, of course they weren't actually related, his parents died at a young age and her family took the Lu Xien in even though they were relatively poor.
Lu Xien willed the panel into existence and spoke, "Morning Lulu.. can you see this?" As he points at the panel.
Lulu narrowed her eyes, "See what? My stupid brother?" She laughed but not in a malicious way.
Lulu was too young to remember Lu Xien's adoption into her family and her parents never told her for some reason.
Lu Xien willed the panel to vanish so it did then he replied wryly, "Yeah.. anyways what's this about an expert?"
Lulu was short and small framed she had long black hair and red eyes like rubies. She puffed out ber chest and looked all smug, "Mother and father invited an expert from Crimson leaf city, to inspect me, turns out im a genius! Can you believe it?"
Lu Xien was genuinely happy for her, "Try not to burn out too quick miss genius.."
She continued, "Yeah yeah I know, but thats not the best part, I even got invited to be an inner disciple of the Crimson Jade Pavilion within the city, they wanted me to go with them already but I managed to convince them to test you.." she became all sheepish.
"I appreciate it Lulu.. but dont worry about me i dont want to hold you back." He said calmy.
Lulu grabbed his wrist and pulled him to the living room where the voices were, "Come come!"
Lu Xien followed despite being unable to break free.
Within the simple living room sat a beautiful silver haired woman sipping tea with serenity, she wore a red set of robes with golden leaves on the fabric, she sat across from their parents.
"Master! Here is my stup- *cough* brother, I was telling you about." Lulu announced.
He orange eyes scanned over in their direction, her eyes landed on Lu Xien he instantly felt an intense pressure almost like hostility, but it faded almost as soon as it arrived, sweat drenched Lu Xien's back.
The room was filled with silence until the gentle clank of the woman's teacup sat down on the table. She stood with grace and approached, without saying anything the pressed her pointer finger on Lu Xien's chest, he felt like something was snaking through his body looking at every nook and cranny, he felt uncomfortable and completely exposed. A moment later she withdrew her finger and spoke coldy, "Nearly a useless piece of trash..."
"What?" Lu Xien and Lulu spoke at the same time.
The woman returned to her seat, "This was a waste of time Lu Lian..."
Lulu stepped forward, "Master... surely you missed something.."
The woman sent a glare at Lu Lian, "Surely you arent suggesting I made a mistake?" This caused Lulu to falter a bit and back down.
The woman continued, "We should go, ill send someone to collect your belongings, the faster you forget about this boy the faster you'll grow." The woman stood and walked outside ignoring the tense atmosphere within.
Lulu turned to Lu Xien with sadness, "Im sorry... Ill find a way to help you cultivate.." she was on the verge of tears.
Lu Xien wasnt sad, but he was a bit angry about how the woman had written him off like nothing, as well as made Lulu teary eyed, Lu Xien leaned down and held her shoulders, "Dont worry about me. Ill find a way on my own, you focus on you, when I get strong enough ill come visit you."
She looked up and him, "But master said..." she tried but he cut her off.
"So what? Trust me okay."
She hugged him, "Okay.."
From outside the woman shouted, "Lu Lian! To my side!" Lulu lingered for another moment then she turned and left.
The woman frowned as Lulu appeared next to her, they vanished into the distance.
When the tension cleared, Lulu's Father spoke, "Xien... you should find work.. since you've been rejected, you cant spend your life doing nothing.."
Xien looked to him, "Dont worry ill figure something out."
The next morning Lu Xien woke up made his way to the kitchen to see their mother preparing some vegetables, "Xien.. your father and I have decided to move to Crimson Leaf city.. you have a choice, either stay here or come with us, you are an adult now so its your decision."
Lulu's parents were always nice to Lu Xien even giving him their surname when adopting him as a child, her mother Lu Liang never shouted at him, while her father always treated him like his son trying to push Xien on to his own two feet.
Xien thought for a while then spoke, "Ill stay here, I personally dont like the idea of living in a dense city like that."
Lu Liang nodded then walked over with a satchel, "Here, its not much but its enough money to live off of for at least a year or so.."
Looking into the satchel there was a small bag of coins, a herb book, and a hunting knife.
Lu Liang spoke, "There is something else, we were going to wait a bit longer but your father left this for you." She handed over a silver ring with gold inlay.
Picking up the ring he slid it onto his finger.
He spoke, "Thanks, I really do appreciate everything you and your husband did for me, I wasnt always thr most grateful especially when I was young.. but I can see it now."
She teared up then pulled him in for a hug, "Oh.. you rascal.. you'll always be our son even if not by blood."
He hugged her back then after a few moments, "I better familiarize myself with this book.. tomorrow morning ill go out to search for herbs."
She nodded as he ran back to his room, and opened took out the book, "Huh.. Its called Herbing for Dummies.."
'Are you new to touching grass? Or are you just a hermit who cultivates all day in some dingy cave or ratty room, then read this guide it will help you learn about the wonderous nature around you.. p.s if you are interested in learning Alchemy or body tempering then look for volumes 2 and 3.'