"The valley of thorns, what does that name signifies?"
"It was a place created for imprisoning the ones who were deemed criminal by the academy and captured. Over time it was found to be a very effective place for short term torture and punishment too. The elders in the academy used it to punish defaulters within the academy. Taking a task and not able to do it not only passes as a punishable crime but also results in a deduction of points."
"But I didn't take up any task."
"We did for you so that you wouldn't waste any time after exiting your seclusion. You will be leaving immediately with all the resources you require. You could go ahead and go through the details of the first two missions and exchange your belongings for the essentials."
"Shouldn't I at least get the mission's essentials as a bonus for taking on a mission without even having a say in it?"
"I would like for you to remember that the choice was made for your own benefit. We couldn't teach you how to walk your own path and survive this world. We will not help you survive the academy. The only person you could depend on is yourself. The master will only teach some texts which would help you forge the path further, but you need to go through it by yourself."
"The task seems to be a good motive on your behalf, but the rush with which you want me to leave is too fast. Something seems to be amiss from the tone of your voice." Li Meng was quite suspicious of the master's decision. The young man looked at Li Meng with a smile. "Your talent isn't the only thing which is good about you. There was an alternate motive which you were kept in dark of."
"I think you have heard about the Thunder-child."
"I have. He is said to be the strongest successor of the Thunder academy in this generation. No offence to you." Li Meng spoke up.
"None was taken. He is quite a monstrous talent which appeared out of nowhere. The reason for this decision is him. Thunder-child has been the reigning senior within the academy and has his own sea of followers who support his succession."
"Your talent put his throne at risk. Although he might be in seclusion, and the grand-elder, his teacher couldn't be bothered with taking care of you directly, the followers are going to be the tools they use. Your presence in the academy would be constantly challenged, not allowing you to go into seclusion for a long time."
"Time is the most precious commodity as of now. You need to prepare for an upcoming event which is going to occur, three years from now. You need to upgrade your cultivation base by a huge extent. These followers would hinder that process. Master designed the process briefly for this situation."
"Wouldn't that make their task even easier? The academy is the only thing which is holding their action back. If I leave the boundaries of the academy, the rules no longer apply." Li Meng suggested.
"Looks like someone is quite suspicious of the dangers around him. Are you afraid?" The young man smiled. "The task has been designed privately by Master himself. He has kept every single detail to himself and his disciples. No one else knows. It is also the reason I am accompanying you as your supervisor."
Li Meng was shown around the academy. He got to see the library, the martial pavilion, classes and lectures about martial cultivation taking place in the temples around the academy. There were even training grounds to test the martial skills they have practised. There were even task pavilions, a medical valley, alchemy associations, pill hall and many more.
"The trip is over as of now. The details could be discovered by you when you finally return from the task. We leave as the first ray of sun hit the world."
.......................
The Thunder-child seclusion den-
"Are there any details regarding Li Meng's plans.?"
"The spies set within the perimeter reported that Li Meng was accompanied by that lunatic around the academy. It is also the reason no one took a chance at him." Another person was standing right across the room in a very respectful posture. Thunder-child was known to be the biggest talent within the academy, but other monsters remain hidden within the academy.
The lunatic being referred here was none other than Li Meng's fourth brother. There were multiple incidents to his name which established the said nickname. He was known to be one of the most bloodthirsty persons within the academy, someone even the Thunder-child didn't want to mess with.
"Check on him regularly. I need regular updates about all his movements. We need to find a window to have a discussion with him regarding our objective.
Thunder-child's policy towards his path of ascension was planned with absolute precision and ironclad ideals. He didn't believe in co-dependency and group well-being. Either you were with him or against him. If Li Meng rejected his offer, he would need to plan execution.
The man left along with his group and Thunder-child was once again left alone in the seclusion chamber. He couldn't help but be cautious regarding this new variable which emerged out of nowhere. The competition drew near. The lunatic was already a pain in the ass and the biggest variable in this year's competition. Another Li Meng challenged his ascension.
"You need to calm your nerves down. Seclusion is going to prove harmful if you pursued the martial way in this manner." The grand elder's voice sounded. "Li Meng has just completed his break-through and came out of his seclusion. He is going to be the centre of attraction for a period of time. Avoid attempting any suspicious activity at the moment."
"Every single disciple of that old bastard has proved to be a thorn in my path. Although the Lunatic was the only one who could best me in a fair match-up this guy appears out of nowhere. The old man is quite cunning himself. He is going to prepare Li Meng as a weapon for that event."
"The boy is quite a talent. Three Heavenly laws make even my eyes twitch. He even completed the whole elemental set just like you with earthen laws." The grand elder was impressed with Li Meng's talent. "You need to adjust your state for your next break-through. I have prepared an incredible location for you to train in."
"About Li Meng, I have planned a rather incredible plan. Every disciple who has broken through the QI King level has to leave on a mission sooner or later. We will strike him down at that moment."
"But that would be after he increases his strength to a certain level. The old man could categorically refer to it as preparing. He could delay the mission with his authority until a good amount of time before you could make a ruckus out of it."
"The old man is quite cautious. Li Meng presence within the academy would result in our people challenging him all the time and affect his cultivation speed. It would result in him falling behind you. He must be planning to send him to a mission, probably a long one at that. We just need the details and send a strike team out."
Thunder-child took a deep breath and exhaled to relax his nerves. His master's idea was up to the point and he knew about his master's tenacity regarding him being the next inheritor of the academy. He resumed his training.
........................…..
The group of men were hiding in and around Li Meng's residence, just to find him not coming out of his dwelling.
"Should we move into the perimeter and search within his house."
"It would alert him and might prove disadvantageous for us." After a lot of argument, the group finally settled down for searching Li Meng's house, but a shocking scene awaited them.
"He is not present within his dwelling. He must have left for some time now. We need to report this news to the grand elder immediately." The leader sent a message talisman to the grand elder.
...............…
Far from the Thunder academy-
Two people were moving with a high speed towards the Taiwan mountains where the first task was about to take place. It was time to start Li Meng's training and collect resources for the break-through of his avatars.
"I will be leaving you in the outskirts, and go on to supervise the outer regions and slowly move in. I will make sure no one from the academy could tail us to this location, but you need to be careful while attempting this mission. The procedure is up to you. Just remember that you need to follow the guideline provided by the slate."
"I will meet you right here after three months, with the hope that you would have completed the mission by then." The fourth senior brother left after saying that.
