72 Qin

BANG!

Qin was thrown out of the circle drawn by white chalk,

"Participant Qin has been eliminated." the black-robed referee declares in a bombing voice.

Qin tried to make it to his feet. But For Qin's tired body after an intense battle, this is quite a challenge, but the energy circulating through him helps while he carries on with clenched teeth.

Huff

Huff

With heavy breathing as if working the bellows, the youngster's pale face is starting to show a hint of red. After a breath, Qin stops with heavy steps, his body swaying slightly and ears ringing.

He struggles to stand straight, closes his eyes, and calms his breathing. After his heart calms a bit, he turns his body around and going back the way he came.

He had accepted his fate, that he was not going to be selected by any sects, being eliminated in the first round. He walked towards the crowd where he could see his mother, covering her mouth probably stopping herself from bursting into tears.

But before he could reach the end of the arena fields and cross the rope divided the spectators he was approached by a pockmarked man who beamed him a smile,

"You are lucky kid, the sect elder of Shattered Ocean Sect has decided to take you in."

"Huh?" Qin's mouth opened wide enough that a chicken egg could be stuff in one go...

"But why? Didn't I lose in the very first round." Qin asked suspiciously.

"It is my job to convey the elders wished if you want to reject Sir's good intentions then you are welcome to do so." the pockmarked man said in a mocking tone as he turned around and started walking not caring whether Qin followed after him or not.

"How may I address you, sir?" Qin asked politely as he jogged after the man.

"You can call me, Yang," the pockmarked man said as he turned to look at the man following after him he couldn't comprehend what the Elder had seen in this youth who was only in the stage for more than half a minute before getting knocked out.

"Ah!, yes Mr. Yang which sect did you say the elder belonged to?" Qin asked again curiously as he was not sure he had heard about the sect before.

"Shattered Ocean Sect it is a branch sect of the Spirit Ocean Sect," Yang replied nonchalantly.

"The Spirit Ocean Sect!" Qin fell silent as he mulled that it appeared too good to be true, Qin was 8 this year, he was the only child of his single mother who had raised him with all her being, his family conditions had caused him to mature faster than the other children of his age.

Being from a poor background he was not able to get the same foundation as the children of the larger families.

He had trained since he was 6 years old, training his body and practicing the most common Qi cultivation manuals present out there, all in hope of improving the lives of him and his mother.

He was determined to get a better life for his mother, once he got into a sect.

Thus when he was eliminated by his opponent, he was heartbroken to the fact that he would not be able to enter into a sect, he was consoling himself, by reminding himself of his age and how he will have more chances in the future.

As he was busy pondering he looked up to see the pockmarked man moving towards the back area of the stage that led to the area where the elders were present.

"It seems this was not some scam." Qin rushed up the stairs closely following behind Yang.

Qin soon reached before a man who appeared to be the same age as the pockmarked man but he was sitting on the seat of elders while another youth stood beside him.

"Junior Qin greets elder." Qin bowed his head politely.

"Are you willing to join my sect, Qin?" the man in front of him said while staring at Qin.

"I wish to join the sect elder but.." Qin hesitated as he was unsure about leaving his mother alone while he moved to the Southern end of the continent.

"Hmm, Do you have some difficulties?" the man asked as if he could guess his train of thoughts.

"Yes, Elder I can't leave my mother to leave fro the sect," Qin said determined to accept his rejection for his demands.

"Then you can bring along your mother too." these words stunned Qin as he stared at the elder in front in bewilderment.

"Really?"

"HAHA, Yes kid, go bring your mother.." the man then turned to look at the pockmarked man in beside Qin,

"Get the one in the brown robes,..." "Yes, the one that got his tooth broken from the punch, yes...."

Qin looked dumbly at the elder in front of him not knowing what to make of the current situation.

"You, Why are you still here? Get going, Don't you need to pack your stuff or something!"

"Yes!, yes..." Qin said as he rushed down the stairs jumping in delight as he made his way towards his mother.