Chapter 1 The Fall

Chapter 1

The darkness that covers the land starts to depart as the morning sun rises majestically from the horizon. High above the sky a giant crane flew going through the vast forest in the land of Xi. This place is called the Demon Greens.

It is named as such because of the forest that spreads for hundreds of thousands of miles across the land, and the demon beast that lived within.

The forest is divided into many territories of strong level 7 demon beast and also many other level 6 or level 5 demon beasts have their own territories.

So the deeper you go, the more dangerous it is.

Hunters and cultivators could only enter the borders, and some strong ones can try to enter deeper but of course with the cost. The only exception are flying beast which can fly high above the trees and the mountains.

It is not known why there are no flying beast in the Demon Greens, no dared to find out.

The vast forest is located in the middle of three huge cities which borders the great Xi Empire.

At this time high above the vast forest a giant crane is flying majestically upon the clouds. At the back of this majestic creature sat two men, a middle aged looking man wearing a white robe with red fiery patterns on it and a youth of 15 or 16 years of age wearing the same clothes. Hanging on their belt is a jade tablet with the word "Shao" on it.

"Uncle Dong, I'm really excited to get married." Exclaimed the youth

"They said that Miss Xiao Ni'er is the most beautiful maiden in Jade County. I think I got lucky, ha ha ha ha"

Standing beside him the middle age man called Uncle Dong just stood there in silence like an immovable post.

Unknown to the youth, in the eyes of the middle age man a glint flashed.

'Huh... the audacity. Do you think a thrash like you deserved the maiden of the Xiao's, hump! Dream on!' Uncle Dong sneered in his mind.

'We'll get rid of you sooner or later, shame of the clan. If not for your dad's contribution and your inheritance you should've been kicked out of the clan a long time ago.'

Uncle Dong is an Elder of a small branch family of the Shao's in the small sleepy town of Ning. He was tasked by the clan head as an escort and guide for the youth.

Ning town is a small place, but because of its location within the boundary of Demon Green forest and the city of Quin, this town is bustling with a lot of different class of people, from simple mortals to noble cultivators.

They visit the town for two purpose only and that is to hunt and trade demon beast and precious medicinal plants.

The Shao family branch in the town of Ning is one of the lowest 3rd generation branch. Its head is Shao Fu a golden core cultivator, he is supported by 3 elders who are also in golden core realms.

The youth Shao Kung, is the son of a talented golden core cultivator named Shao Ailan who died while battling a 5th level demon beast. While his mother was a mortal who died while on child birth.

Although his father was a genius cultivator and a very powerful one at that, but he inherited his mother's aptitude, that of a mortal.

Because of this he was despised in the clan for being unable to cultivate, but in spite of that Shao Kung still works hard to strengthen his body and tried every day to practice martial arts. So when it comes to martial techniques he is almost like a guru. He had mastered every moves both armed and unarmed combats.

If he can only control spiritual energy, he might be considered as the strongest in the younger generation in the clan. But alas no matter what he did he just can't control or even feel the spiritual energy within his body.

The only consolation he has was that his father left him an inheritance which is good amount of money. Which will enable him to live a good life in the clan.

Before his father died, he along with his blood brother Xiao Wen Cai from Jade County had an agreement, that is an arrange marriage for their children.

That's why Shao Kung is flying to Jade County with one of the clan elders to propose the betrothal and plan the date of their marriage.

It was the 2nd day of their flight when they neared the middle of the Demon Green forest. Everywhere you look only the color green can be seen down below and the clear blue sky above. The giant crane is a 3rd level magical beast and it can fly in a long distance non-stop.

Shao Kung never wasted his time even though they are flying his martial arts practices never stopped, this made the middle age man despised him more. Then all of a sudden the middle age man felt something and secretly held a signal token in his hand which faintly glows red.

Understanding what it meant, he secretly command the giant crane to fly lower, which the crane followed. This actions actually didn't miss Shao Kung's sharp and observant eyes. So he felt scared and helpless at the same time.

But he still muster his courage and was about to ask the middle aged man when all of a sudden a strong pressure from below rose and a deafening roar bombarded them.

This actually frightened the giant crane and quickly moved to raise its altitude. In its quick action Shao Kung wasn't able to hold on and control his footing and fell.

Acting as if to save him, the middle age man reach out and held him in one hand.

"Huh!? What is going on Uncle Dong?" Shao Kung asked. Although at this time he already have an idea of what's going to happen next but still a sliver of hope clings within him.

"Don't blame me Shao Kung, I'm just following what the head of both families ordered, Sorry!" Dong said indifferently with a sneer on his face.

Then he let go.

But before Shao Kung could fall, he moved and grabbed Dong's hand, then flip upwards while delivering a drop kick to Dong's head. But how can Shao Kung's speed be a match to a late stage core formation cultivator. With a wave of Dong's hand he blocked Shao Kung's leg. But to Dong's surprise a front kick followed which hit him square on the face.

Although it didn't hurt him, but the humiliation of getting hit by a trash mortal angered him greatly. But how can he retaliate, that kick of Shao Kung propel him away from Dong and he fell down towards the ground.

As Shao Kung was falling he clench his fist holding on something that he took from Dong's sleeve, then he cursed, "This grudge of mine to the Shao and Xiao clans will I Shao Kung carry to my death, even if I became a ghost I will have my revenge!"

After that he slowly closes his eyes while falling toward the forest resigning himself to the claws of death.

Dong just watched as a wicked smile bloom from his mouth. Thinking that a fall from this height can even injure a cultivator badly how much more for a mere mortal.

"If his luck is good and survive this fall, death still awaits him in the forest. Ha ha ha", Dong muttered to himself. Then as if nothing had happened he waved his hand and commanded the giant crane to move on.