(Author: Hello all. My main story, The Dragon Fiend, is back in action but I will still release chapters for this story. Zhuang must now choose a martial arts sect to learn under. Enjoy.)

Chapter 2: Affinity Test

"Zhuang! Wake up son," Kong said as he entered Zhuang's room.

"Father? It's still dark," Zhuang said as he rubbed his eyes and shook his head to stay awake. "The affinity test is in the morning."

"The official one is, but you will be tested now with one of the officials here," Kong said and an elderly man in black robes walked in, holding a clear crystal orb. "This official here will test you now. Any qi affinities that are rare will not be announced in the official test in the morning. This way you will have a trump card against those who would try to kill you in the future as they will be unaware of your true capabilities."

"Hello young prince," the official said. "My name is Fergus and I will be the official tomorrow who will reveal your affinities. Your father is a close friend of mine and none know of our relations. Do not worry. I will awaken your martial spirit and reveal your affinities to you now. Tell me young prince, do you know what martial spirits are?"

"According to my studies, they are the physical embodiment of the qi of a person," Zhuang said, his mind fully alert. "They grant the martial artist unique abilities based on what they are. If a person fuses with his martial spirit, they gain a martial body. I don't need have my martial spirit awaken as I have a martial body already. I just don't know my abilities yet."

"WHAT?" Kong and Fergus shouted.

"When did you fuse with your martial spirit?" Kong asked, shocked.

"From birth?" Zhuang said. This was true as he was a evil jade spirit that was supposed to become the martial spirit of Thomas Keller before they fused souls and he destroyed Thomas Keller's existence upon the fusion.

"Birth?" Fergus said, awe in his voice. "What did you fuse with?"

"An evil jade spirit," Zhuang said. "Can I still find out my attributes?"

"Oh yes," Kong laughed. "More than that, people will be less likely to target you know that you have a martial body. Fergus, let's proceed with the affinity test."

"Yes, Prince Kong," Fergus said, regaining his composure. "Please place your hand on the crystal orb young prince."

Zhuang placed his hand on the orb and it shook as five spheres of light appeared and began to take shape. One sphere contained a flame burning inside and actually burst the sphere, but remained hovering in place. Another sphere contained water which splashed around inside the sphere. A third sphere appeared that contained a dark purple liquid that was actually liquid poison. It was the last two spheres that came afterwards that shook Fergus and Kong to their core.

"You said evil jade spirit," Fergus gasped. "It definitely was an evil jade spirit and not some ordinary jade spirit. Those two spheres are death and destruction! You fused with a rank 10 martial spirit. Out of the ten, rank 10 martial spirits are the best!"

Fergus stepped back in fear upon gazing at the two remaining spheres. One sphere seemed to contain a weird energy and even broke a tiny speck of space. Destruction type qi was special as it broke space. It was the most powerful qi affinity that even allowed the practitioner to teleport. A magus had to use scrolls or a few powerful spell to use teleportation.

The final sphere was a common affinity that a few mages had but very few martial artists could train. It was death. To a magus, those who had enough affinity could become a necromancer. They didn't really bring back the dead but manipulated mana and forcibly bound it in physical form which tended to be a skeleton as it was easy to make as it required no features such as hair, muscles, and other human details.

To a martial artist, it allowed them to use spirit attacks, the most useful kind of qi technique as it could not be blocked physically. The sphere contained an evil aura and as it moved, small noises similar to a scream were heard. After three seconds, the sphere also burst.

"So those are your five affinities," Kong mused. "As expected of a descendent of our founder. You too, have five to master. Having five affinities is rare, but not surprising as all people, be it magus or martial artist, have five they can master. However, choosing to master more than one or two is very difficult and is avoided by many. What are his levels of affinity?"

"Absolute affinity with fire and death," Fergus said. "As for the other three, they are all exceptional. This is not a problem to conceal as people who had jade spirits as martial spirits always had exceptional levels and one absolute level of affinity as they are rank 10 or rank 9 spirits. I suppose you will not want me to reveal his affinity for poison and death?"

"Why those?" Zhuang asked.

"People are nervous around those who contain those two qi affinities," Kong answered, agreeing with Fergus. "Poison attribute works best with hidden weapons and many people would believe you are an assassin if you were known to have it. Death is as rare as light and dark affinity to martial artists and allow the practitioner to use spirit qi techniques. None but those who have those affinities can use such peculiar techniques. Qi techniques that disrupt a martial artists flow of qi, those are the most useful and dangerous to fight against."

"I understand father," Zhuang said. Being an evil jade spirit sure had its advantages.

"Since we are publicizing your absolute affinity level with fire and exceptional affinity with destruction qi, many powerful sects will be willing to recruit you. It is best to join one of the ancient sects no matter how powerful or weak they are. They usually contain a wide variety of techniques and knowledge that will help you. After all, ancient sects still exist because they are powerful and respected. Rest now. Tomorrow is a big day. Try to act surprised when Fergus mentions you have a martial body."

Zhuang, Kong, and Fergus briefly continued to gaze at the five attributes before resting for the night. The following morning, Zhuang and his father were gathered at the palace's plaza where the test would be taken. Zhuang noticed several sects and academies gathered around the plaza as the participants waited at the center with their parents. Many made room for Zhuang and other powerful nobles and their children from across the Yewan empire.

Many people were surprised while others cried. Some chose academies as they were neutral to martial arts sects and their students didn't have to be worried about being attacked by other sects or academies. Others chose martial arts sects as they were more focused on training and more powerful than academies.

Zhuang grinned as his name was called. Kong chuckled and watched Zhuang stand at the erected podium where Fergus and the crystal orb waited. Fergus smiled a little as Zhuang placed a hand on the orb and watched as three spheres of qi hovered overhead, the flame bursting out of its sphere.

"Zhuang Shao has three affinities. Absolute affinity with fire and exceptional affinity with water and destruction," Fergus announced and faked an intake of shock. "No need for martial spirit awakening. Zhuang Shao has a m, mar, martial body with a jade spirit!"

If hearing his levels of affinity surprised the audience, the fact that he had a martial body shocked them to their core. This boy had talent. Amazing talent. Many martial arts sects and academies wanted to recruit the boy, but refrained from causing a scene as he was the grandson of the emperor and did not want to make an ill impression.

Zhuang looked around for an ancient sect and finally chose on one. It was known as Star Calamity Sect, one of the ancient sects that existed since the founder of the Yewan empire lived. Even thought the sect was not among the most powerful sects, it was a secluded sect that existed for years! It was bound to have many techniques and treasures that haven't been seen by the outside world.

Most of all, this sect allowed their disciples to roam the outside world once in a while to gain experience. It was a sect where he could learn and explore the world freely without being confined in one location too long. He did not like freedom. He loved freedom. The sect representative said that people who had all kinds of attributes studied there and that they only accepted those with above average and above affinities. It was a small, secluded sect, with powerful disciples and he could obtain techniques for all five of his affinities. It was perfect.

"Great choice," Kong said later that afternoon. "It would be as if you volunteered for exile so those who aim to take your life won't do so anymore. It is a clear statement that you don't wish to be an heir of the throne or receive its benefits. I will also give you ten thousand gold coins. Even if you study in seclusion, it doesn't mean you always will be and you are the grandson of the emperor, heir candidate or not. I will also give you these four indestructible daggers made of immortal rank metal. A poison qi technique practitioner should always have a hidden weapon."

"Thank you father," Zhuang said as he put them in his storage bag.

"I also told the emperor of your affinities and martial body last night," Kong said. "My father was greatly pleased to have a grandson so gifted and is sure to be a great asset for the empire. As you know, some nations don't even attack other nations if they have powerful martial artists or magus defending them. To aid your efforts, father decided to give you these three lost arts of qi techniques used by the founder. None but you will know them I expect. Learn it well."

Zhuang's eyes opened in shock as he opened the scrolls containing the techniques. One of them was known as Fire Serpent Strike. It required its user to transform his qi into fire and blast it toward the enemy in the form of a serpent. Another technique was called the Sundering Dragon Slash and required the user to wield a halberd. The halberd would strike with destruction qi, destroying space as it slashed toward the opponent. It was one of the most powerful techniques as it was an spirit energy slash that had longer ranges depending on the user.

The final technique did not inflict harm but was the most useful. It was called Water Dragon's Pulse. It was a qi technique that would circulate water qi and heal the user's body, regenerating wounds quickly. Such techniques were valuable and a must have for all martial artists.

"You leave at sunset," Kong said, tears streaming down his face as he held his son. "I will not see you off as I have imperial business with the emperor. Train hard and bring honor to the Shao clan. Become an immortal like the founder would have. You can do this. I know it."

"I won't let you down," Zhuang said, meaning the words from his heart. "I will be so strong that none can kill or imprison me. I swear it."

Zhuang spent the last few hours packing things he would need into his storage bag. He changed into the robes worn by the Star Calamity Sect's disciples and waited in front of the palace. He wore an azure blue robe with silver seams with hidden pockets. Zhuang put his daggers in the hidden pockets and had a zither made of ashen wood with black strings on his back. Apparently the Star Calamity Sect also studied music and let its disciples roam with instruments hiding their weapons inside.

Zhuang breathed deeply as he would soon walk the path of a martial artist and become an immortal. This was his new fate not as a martial spirit bound and controlled against its will, but as a human being in complete control of his own fate.

Chapter 1: A New Life Main Page Chapter 3: Realm of Spirit Energy