Above Heavens I Stand

Chapter 1 - Li Lan

On the peak of a mountain, standing large amongst the other mountains formed by the mountain chain. Cross-legged sat a young man. The name of this particular mountain was enough to calm this young man's mind. It was Peach Waves Mountain. Feeling better again, with a short sigh he started focusing on his breathing.

The young man stood up and looked down to the river at the bottom. One could see how the side of the mountain had been harnessed by the river that had been pounding on the side. Strong cliffs stood at the bottom of the mountain. The young man could not help feel dreadful, clenching his fists with the sweat dripping off his hands.

He calmed himself yet again, with the wind flowing in his hair he finally decided to turn around and head back through the shallow road he had taken to come up. His goal had been shattered and his only thoughts was to find a place to sleep for now. The county he was in was ruled by the xingxiu sect. They were particular with their pupils and would not take in anyone who could not train in the art of spiritual condensation.

On the way down the mountain back to the county named xiejia. It was a small county in the vast world, not entirely poor but could only be classified as inferior. The young man met an old man who nodded and greeted the young man.

"Greetings Li Lan, what is a youngster' like you up to these days?" the elder spoke in a manner that neither seemed immature nor mature. "I came to clear my mind, once again I have failed to enter the sect and be taken as a disciple." Li Lan sighed. The elder pitied Li Lan but could only reassure him. "All you young ones seem to want is to become an immortal, look at me, seventy-eight and still alive. I feel that you will be able to accomplish great merits Li Lan."

Li Lan could not help but sigh once more. They stood and spoke for a few minutes and went their separate ways. Li Lan had failed to enter the outer sect of the xingxiu sect. When one managed to enter the outer sect it could easily be told that their lives were taken care of. Li Lan though did not want to join to be taken care of, he wanted to become strong, to be able to protect.

At his thoughts he clenched his fist before taking the last step down the mountain and go home. Calling it home is rather farfetched. Li Lan lives nowhere, he is homeless and have been ever since another sect, particularly the lingjiu sect, had attacked the xingxiu sect and its respective counties. He was the sole survivor of his family, though they were not part of a clan so he had no legacy.

Li Lan headed to a distant place a long way to the east of the county, in a placid forest where he usually spent his time. He looked around to ensure there was no one around, then he popped onto a stone where he sat cross-legged and started training. What Li Lan did is not physical training, he tries to feel the energy emanating from nature and the heavens.

Once when Li Lan had failed the test to inter the outer sect of the xingxiu sect, an elder had given him a few hints. One is that he should try to feel the energy, then lead it through his whole body through the dantian area and at some point a spiritual core will be formed inside his body where he will be able to condense his qi and become stronger.

Only when one has formed the spiritual core will one be able to step into the outer sect. Many people without knowing was born with the core already formed, and therefore many attempted to join without the knowledge of whether or not one had a spiritual core already. Before reaching a certain cultivational level one does not emit any aura.

A few hours passed while Li Lan sat meditating trying to lead energy through his body, yet he still fails. He stood up in a slight annoyance and rage, looked at the stone he had spent more than two years sitting on. He felt dissatisfaction and decided to try to move to another place. He had recently heard that in some areas the energy would be denser than other areas.