Chapter 7 The struggle

With her declaration, and her flying off as the igniter,the large crowd of thousands roared as they chased after the flying handkerchief. And as you can imagine, the chaos, some people getting trampled on, aggressive shoves, and insults flying everywhere.

And with the chaos, the once before closely together crowd spread out. In order to allow more people to run at once, but still the chaos didn't stop.

Amidst the chaos, As Icaros tried to run,"fuck!" he inwardly cursed as his instinct almost overtook him. He almost flew, instead of running like a normal body refinement realm cultivator. Although in reality he hadn't even cultivated before,but he was sure other people viewed him as a body refinement cultivator. Aside from Deimos and his company who witnessed his strength in the forest,and his father who is supposedly the sect leader. Taking note of all this,and the one armed elder commenting about his strength,Icaros already suspected that it was already spread out, among the upper echelons, this had made him,to gradually realize that he may not be able to conceal his power in the long run.

He couldn't help but ran awkwardly, as he mostly flew in his previous life, whenever he needed to get anywhere fast,and even during doing normal stuffs. That was mostly his means of movement aside from walking.

While everyone seems to be struggling or even trying, one person wasn't – Icaros. Or at least he was only trying not to mistakenly fly off. He focused his senses as he evaded people, while not quickly rushing forward. Even though he doesn't have super speed while running,he was still fast compared to mortals,and very fast if he really pushed very hard.

He was steadily making it out to the front, where people were actually running after the flying handkerchief, instead of getting trampled and fighting for a chance.

And soon enough,Icaros was already gaining attention. As people he passed,couldn't help but wonder about his speed,and the fact that he was still doing it casually, without looking like he was putting in much effort.

Icaros eyebrows raised at this,before he started copying the attitude of other participants, now appearing like he's trying and really putting in effort.

"I must not stop, I must keep running faster. This is my one in a three year chance of entering the great li sect,which i might not have again,due to the age limit. This is my chance of finally making my parents proud,my dad,my mom." This was the thought going on in the mind of one of the participants,Yang Kai.

After some time has passed while chasing the flying handkerchief,the crowd was already divided into three,one was clearly lagging at the back,with the least amount of participants. The ones in the middle,were doing better than the ones lagging and comprises of most of the participants. While the first group,was already evenly spread out,allowing clear running,and they were keeping a good pace with the flying beauty.

Icaros was in the middle of the first group,maintaining his act. As he no problem doing so,even the few times he did ran in his previous,on earth. He never ran out of breath,or got tired,not that it was special compared to his other powers.

While Yang kai,was in first group quite alright,but in the last if them. Not just that,he was clearly straining to keep up. His eyes locked on to the flying handkerchief,as if his life depended on it. Perhaps it actually did.

After running after the flying handkerchief for some time, it sharply turned to another corner, which was a vast plane of green field and continued flying.

As the participants at the forefront, who already has their stamina strained,made that turn.

They saw the most beautiful thing they had ever seen – no beauty could compare,a flying ship, half the size to the one young master Deimos used in his mission where he found Icaros. Which the flying handkerchief was quickly closing in to. Their ride to their first mission.

The first batch of participants at the forefront who saw it first,increased what ever they could to their max speed,determined to make it to the ship and stand out from the rest.

Meanwhile Icaros who just saw the ship,only felt determined to maintain his pace and appear more stressed.

Yang Kai finally made the turn and saw the ship,he realized his dreams were coming true gradually, "I just need to hold on till I reach it." He thought as he held on,while trying hard not to let his pace drop.

By this time, only a pitiful few thousand had made the turn to the ship, and those at the forefront were only in the hundreds.

The lady on the flying handkerchief looked back at the crowd behind her. Assessing the outcome with a cold and detached look on her face, before deciding on a timer. Just before she looked away, her eyes unknowingly paused on Icaros, just for a moment though as she turned, before descending to the ship.

There was another lady already there,and li Han,who they were waiting for in the training ground, all in green robes,showing there inner disciple status.

Seeing the lady drop down on the ship,li Han nodded at her,to acknowledge her,without greeting as they were both inner sect disciples and possibly of the same cultivation.

She nodded back at him,while saying coldly to him,which li Han didn't mind,"Start a count down to Ten,with a mid pace,when it's over,were setting of with the ones that made it"

Li Han nodded before bringing out a wine bag,with a swipe of his hand on an ordinary black ring on his fingers,clearly it was a magical item. He took a sip of the wine,swallowed it,with his movements appreciating the taste,before beginning the count down – Ten! His voice booming across the distance, enough for the far away participants to hear.

The effects were apparent as the participants intensified their struggle, but it was apparent that Icaros was just leisurely keeping up, while keeping up the appearance of struggling.

The lady who flied on the handkerchief, walked calmly to the other lady,as a smile slowly bloomed on her face,making her look heavenly,but just with more human features. The lady in return had a faint smile on her face,which was very pure,making her look like she'll not be able to cause any harm. She said warmly and softy, Su Yan, you're here. The girl who flied the handkerchief, clearly Su Yan,replied in a gentle and casual tone,which she never used before why interacting with the crowd,"Nelly,You really signed up for this mission because of me? Am so glad you're here " Nelly smiled warmly before saying with a small blush,while waving her hand shyly,"It's noting,besides I heard that the reason you signed up for this mission was because a certain person requested for it" Su Yan nodded gently, before whispering in Nelly's ear and they started to silently exchange banters. A warm attitude compared to what Su Yan put up with everyone else.

Nine!

Li Han shouted,but not without sipping some wine,from his wine bag. And so he continued,even shouting some words of encouragement to the participants sometimes.

Eight!

Seven!

Six!

Five!

Four!

Three!

With each count, thousands felt their dream of entering one of the four great superpowers flying away, just like the beauty earlier, while hundreds felt it drew closer with much effort, which they only managed to draw due to their body refinement realm cultivation, making them better than mortals physically.

Two!

Yang Kai heard this number, as he was almost at the massive ship, with some few already reaching it – just a little more, seeing his dream so close, he turned to his sides to see how other participants were faring, and his eyes widened when he saw Icaros, who was not struggling like everyone else. "How can a fellow body refinement realm cultivator run this fast, and long, without struggling" he wondered, but he could only focus as he heard the number one! Not that he needed to, as he quickly climbed onto the ship, with the help of the rail provided, as soon as his foot touched the floor of the ship, he collapsed from exhaustion, but not without turning slightly to see Icaros – also gasping for breath, but why did it seem so fake?

Zero!

The final verdict resounded, as the ship's mast closed, ending the dreams of thousands, while only beginning those of hundreds.

The thousands who failed could only collapse on the ground,from exhaustion and failure.It was clear to them,that they has failed as they saw the ship's mast close,different reactions was exhibited by many of them,but they had in common,was that they were all tired and spent from the tiring race they just had.

The lady Su Yan,has already returned to her ice cold appearance, with Nelly standing behind her,and li Han standing in one corner of the ship.

She said coldly to the participants, but albeit with what the participants thought to be a little warmth in her voice,"congratulations, you just passed your first initial trial."