CHAPTER 1

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**CHAPTER 1: DRUIG FAMILY**

_In a mansion, Country H_

A young man in his early thirties walked towards a particular room. The man had a frown on his face and a large scar streaking along his stern face. With a glance, one would know that he was not to be trifled with. On opening the door to the room, a young boy lay on the bed. He had long, jet-black hair and possessed a strikingly beautiful face.

"Get up right now," the man ordered. The boy was about to protest when the man opened up his palm, and a suction force was exerted on the boy, bringing him close to the man. The man smashed his fist into the boy's face, pushing him downwards.

"Chen, you have a poor cultivation speed, so the only thing you can do is to train your body," the man, Druig, spoke. After that, he walked out of the room. Chen stood up from the ground, wiping the blood off his mouth, and spoke, "Is it my fault that I have a poor cultivation?" before leaving the room.

In a large room equipped with training tools and weapons, two brothers stood facing each other. One with a long sabre and one with a dagger. "Are you ready?" Druig, the inspector of the fight, asked. Chen nodded his head while his brother, Michel, followed. Looking closely, it was obvious that Chen was the older of the two brothers.

"Fight," Druig said, and the two boys left their position in an instant. CLANG, the sound of metal hitting metal, was heard across the training ground. Chen thrust his dagger forward, aiming at Michel's shoulder. Michel, predicting the move, evaded the attack and slashed with his sabre. The slash was aimed at Chen accurately. Chen, sensing danger, increased his speed, barely evading the attack. Michel charged his sword, making it glow a faint golden light. He struck, this time hitting Chen on the chest. The strike went deeper before dissipating. Druig sighed before calling in a healer. An old maid entered the training ground, heading towards Chen at a fast pace. She placed her hands on his chest, and the wound healed in an instant. After healing him, she left the training grounds.

"Dad, when do we get to use armor so I can strike with my full strength without bothering about this weakling?" Michel asked. "He can't use the power of the armor; he's still too weak," Druig answered. Chen lay on the floor with a straight face, not bothered at all by their conversation.

"Physical test begins now," Druig ordered, and the boys began to hone their bodies by doing workouts. After some hours, they went to bed. Chen went to his room while Michel stayed out for some time. "Dad, why is Chen so weak?" He asked. Druig answered truthfully, "I don't know." "I despise weak people," Michel added, mockery visible on his face. "Yes, I rose to the top because I was strong," Druig backed him up. "I want to be like you, Dad," Michel said. "You will, Michel," Druig answered. "Don't disappoint me during the test," Druig spoke. "I won't, Dad. I'm not like that failure brother of mine," Michel answered.

_In Chen's room_

"I'm too weak. Even my younger brother is stronger than me," Chen hung his head in despair as he thought. The room felt like a prison, the walls closing in on him, echoing his thoughts of inadequacy and fear. But somewhere deep within, a flicker of defiance began to ignite, casting a shadow of determination across his weary face. He knew that his worth was not just defined by his current strength, but by the relentless spirit that refused to bow down.

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CHAPTER 2

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**CHAPTER 2: REALM TEST**

It was the morning of the next day. Chen woke up from his bed, rubbing his eyes lazily. Yawn. "It's a new day," he said to himself. Upon getting up from the bed, his eyes widened in realization that today was the day of the test—the test that would determine whether or not he would attend one of the most prestigious academies in the world, Ronald Academy.

He rushed to the training room, only to find his brother already there, sweat dripping off his well-built body. "Damn, he is well-built," Chen thought as he secretly compared his own physique to that of his brother. "And I'm supposed to be the elder brother," he cursed inwardly.

Michel interrupted his train of thoughts. "Hey, weakling, what are you thinking of? Go train," Michel said. "He didn't use harsh words, thank goodness," Chen cheered inwardly. "Not like you'll pass. You are and always will be a failure," Michel mocked.

Chen stopped in his tracks, slowly digesting what his junior brother had just said. "You'll take that back when I'm strong enough," Chen responded before starting his training.

Moments later, the doors of the training room flung open, and their father, Druig, entered, dressed majestically. The aura he radiated was not to be trifled with. Both sons looked at Druig with passion, wanting to be like their father. "Don't dream, failure," Michel said, which elicited a chuckle from Druig.

"Dress up, boys. You're going to take the test, but first, it's time to check your realm," Druig spoke. He led the boys to a secret room where a machine lay untouched for years.

"What's that?" both boys asked.

"That is a realm tester. Although you will learn how to determine your realm as you advance," Druig explained to them.

The first to enter was Chen, as he was the older of the two. As he stepped into the machine, he radiated his aura, allowing the machine to read his realm. After some time, he emerged, and his realm was displayed on the machine: "Human realm, level 2, novice human."

This elicited a chuckle from Michel. "Told you, you are a weakling, a waste. Now watch me," Michel mocked.

Michel did the same as his elder brother, Chen, and the result surprised Chen and made Druig proud. "Level 7 master, human realm." Michel walked out with his head held high.

"Michel, you are talented, even though both of you cultivate the Sun Stafe Art," Druig stated.

"You forced me to," Chen complained.

"That's because no other cultivation art suited you. It's like you were not meant for cultivation. The Sun Stafe Art had only ten percent compatibility," Druig spoke, anger and disgust visible on his face. Chen angrily left the room.

"How dare you walk out on Father?" Michel roared. He was about to chase after Chen when Druig stopped him.

"Let me kill him, Father. He'll only bring shame and disgrace to our family name," Michel said.

"You can't. He has a greater destiny. He might surpass you someday if you relent in your training," Druig said.

"Is that a joke?" Michel asked.

"Leave," Druig ordered. Michel left the room angrily. "I'll show you power," Michel promised in his heart.

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CHAPTER 3

***THE TEST***

The brothers, clad in their combat attire, followed Druig downstairs. Michel, in his simple brown garb, and Chen, in a stark contrast of white and black, exuded an air of readiness. Druig, their mentor, stood beside a majestic creature - a snow-white, three-eyed feline, large enough to carry several riders.

They mounted the beast and journeyed to Ronald Academy, one of the world's most prestigious institutions. Druig wished them luck before the test began. The academy was teeming with young hopefuls, a hundred or so, all eager to prove their worth.

A middle-aged man, his face etched with authority, stepped onto the stage. "The test will be conducted in groups of five," he announced, his voice echoing through the hall. "Twenty groups in total. You will battle against each other. Only ten groups will emerge victorious, securing their place in Ronald Academy. The rest... will be dismissed with shame."

The grouping was swift and decisive. Chen and Michel were pitted against each other, a twist of fate that ignited a spark of rivalry. The two groups were led to a vast, open field, overseen by an instructor.

The signal was given. "BEGIN!"

Michel, driven by a desire to settle the score with his brother, charged forward. Chen, more calculated, observed his opponent's aggressive tactics. They clashed mid-air, a flurry of blows exchanged. Chen, realizing the futility of direct confrontation, distanced himself, seeking a strategic advantage.

Michel, relentless, unleashed a series of powerful attacks. A solar ball, a burst of concentrated energy, exploded near Chen, forcing him to retreat. "You've grown stronger," Michel taunted.

Chen, undeterred, countered with a swift strike, aiming for Michel's neck. Michel, with practiced ease, evaded the attack and retaliated with a series of deadly slashes. Chen, feeling the pressure, narrowly avoided the blows, sweat beading on his brow.

Michel, sensing his opponent's vulnerability, unleashed his most powerful technique: the Solar Ring. A spinning ring of pure energy hurtled towards Chen. Chen, gritting his teeth, punched the ring, halting its momentum. However, the ring, driven by immense force, tore through his knuckles, threatening to dismember him.

As Chen clung to the ring, his mind raced. He knew that if he let go, he would be obliterated. The outcome of the battle hung in the balance. Michel slashed his sabre, this time adding more force into the strike. Chen's heart skipped a beat as fear washed over him. It was overwhelming but he kept pushing. "I'll not die here". He roared pushing the ring forward. His muscles began to bulge. He threw the ring towards Michel who parried it away with ease. " your physical strength has skyrocketed ". Michel said. The ring took the brunt of Michel's sabre slashes. Chen sheathed his dagger,he planned on using his bare hands to fight his brother. The murderous intent oozing out of him also skyrocketed. Michel slashed again, this time minimizing the strength of his attack. Chen punched through the slash with his bloody hands making the bleeding worse. Michel showed no pity or remorse," solar punch". He roared.