Degrade from Nobility to a Humble Slave

Wurth Zhang was ranked seventh of the outer disciples at Drizzle Peak. His experience and influence earned respect and high regard of Nory, Sean, and Zen.

As the four shared the wine, the spirit turned jovial and mellow. Nory and Sean chatted with the self-effacing predecessor, Wurth.

"I watched your display of marrow refinement skills in the battle ring, Zen," said Wurth, as he tipped his cup back and drained the wine.

Zen glanced at Wurth and answered, "Wurth, you are quite discerning!"

"What? Zen, you have refined your marrow!" exclaimed Nory, unable to contain himself.

Nodding, Zen related, "I probably would've lost to Leo if I hadn't reached the marrow refining level at the right time."

Shaking his head, Wurth complimented, "The way I see it, Zen, you will be our mainstay so long as you perfect the skills your talent warrants."

"Wurth, you're exaggerating! I'm nothing more than a novice compared to the masters at our peak!" Zen commented, maintaining a degree of decorum.

"Zen, aren't you being too modest? Have you heard the legend of Lady Peak?" asked Wurth as he looked around with an air of mystery.

"Lady Peak is ranked seventeenth among the Peaks at the Cloud Sect and consists of only women disciples." Because of the wine, Sean was loosening up, becoming more talkative but remaining sober, thanks to his refining level. Despite the overindulgence, the four present were far from a drunken stupor, and the ambiance remained light and festive.

Smiling, Wurth went on, "Lady Peak is seventeenth ranked Peak this year but, is second to Skytop Peak in the previous years!"

Sean had been at the Cloud Sect a year longer than Zen and Nory. He was also less informed on and blurted, "What? A peak with female disciples ranking higher than men? In my humble opinion, they couldn't overshadow us!"

In Sean's mind, men no doubt prevailed over women in the development of martial arts skills.

"Sean, there's something you don't know, and that is, it was a female disciple who contributed to Lady Peak's ranking and influence....." explained Wurth smiling.

"And with her endowments, she supposedly overshadowed the rest of the Peaks except Skytop Peak?" added Zen.

"Bravo!"

bellowed Wurth as he applauded before elaborating, "You hit the nail on the head there, Zen! She has an unearthly beauty and is extremely endowed, rising to fame in the two years after her admission to the Cloud Sect. So don't be modest. I believe in you. You can strive to accomplish as much as her, Zen. Unfortunately for her, she was framed and is suffering within the bowels of Hell Mountain now....."

asked Nory, curious to learn the female disciple's name after hearing Wurth's engaging account.

Her given name

"Crunch!"

noticed he was crushing his celadon wine glass until the liquid was streaming down

three companions looked at

Zen?" asked Nory, thinking a moment, he then continued,

suspected there was a connection between Zen and Yan, but Wurth was the only one to ask Zen if Yan was his

first time Zen heard news

spoken to Sean another time, he

was always Zen's biggest worry, and he was stirred

stared at him and asked why

Wurth took a serious tone, "There was a rumor that aside from her talent and beauty, Yan holds peculiar lineage. She was pursued by the Cloud Sect playboys, in particular by one named Fancy who is ranked seven hundredth on the Cloud Sect

Chart?" repeated Zen. Since he never heard of it, Zen urged Wurth

you about the Cloud Sect Chart, Zen?" Wurth

"The Cloud Sect Chart is

nodding, 'This fellow, Fancy, must be excellent to hold the seven-hundredth rank in the Chart!' thought Zen. Then, eager to find out more of what happened, he stated, "Wurth,

weaving the tale, "As far as I am concerned, Yan was provoked, and castrated Fancy, which had the Yun Clan, one of the top seven noble clans in an uproar. The Yun leader has only two sons and he asked the Cloud Sect to

about the ill-treatment his younger sister received made Zen furious beyond measure, and he instinctively dug his fingers into the

reaction, his three buddies understood Zen's

composure he managed to

Zen always was too quick to react when it

The Yun Clan.....

heard the name, the three words

Clan, was the third uppermost clan in the

learned, Zen thought, most likely, this guy, Fancy took liberties with Yan, driving her to act out of desperation, based on the

consummate skills to exterminate the Yun Clan

for Zen, and worried Zen might doom himself by acting as desperately

I'm okay. Everything's fine, and it's nothing serious....." "But, how am I going to rescue Yan from within the Hell Mountain?" wondered Zen aloud, intent on saving his

sentenced to four years in the Hell Mountain, but received a reprieve after he paid a fine of

they'll shave a year off Yan's suffering!' Zen was determined