Chapter 2: Competition

"I want to be the disciple of the God of War," Liuwen said while on her knees and the hall burst into loud chatter.

"What makes you think you are qualified?" Immortal Jin, a beautiful lady from the medicine manor asks after a brief silence.

"Because --- because---" Liuwen stammers as she uses her finger to twist her robe, other female immortals and fairies laugh mockingly.

An aged deity still looking beautiful steps out of the east wing and walks courteously to the hall central, kneels, and kowtows thrice saying:

"Your heavenly Emperor."

"Master..." Liuwen mutters as the aged deity continues.

"Please forgive my disciple, this is her first time coming to the heavenly hall and she doesn't know the rules" she pleads.

"I will let this pass since the child doesn't know her wrongs." The heavenly emperor smirks and says pleasantly as Jue Chen stands up from his seat making attention fall back to him, he clears his throat softly.

"Bold fairy, if you can show me the Kungi formation, you will effortlessly be my student." Jue Chen's voice echoes with power as he says confidently.

"Ku – Kun--- kun – what formation?" Liuwen stammers asking awkwardly.

"Deity Lin, is this how you train your disciples?" Jue Chen asks annoyingly as he pauses.

"She disgraced you!" He added angrily as his voice echoed like fire, immediately Deity Lin fell to her knees pulling Liuwen along.

"Please forgive my incompetence, God of War." Deity Lin pleas fearfully but Liuwen stands boldly and walks further.

"God of War, why do you think I want to be your disciple? Of course, I want to learn and improve." Liuwen said bluntly and courageously.

"This has nothing to do with my master." She added slyly.

"Absurd!"  The sun immortal stands up and shouts angrily.

"It seems fairies are now so confident even in front of their superiors." Jue Chen snorts as he nods his head slowly.

"Lock this fairy up at the Chill prison; block her meridian while she awaits execution!" Jue Chen angrily as he leaves the hall.

"God of War" Liuwen calls out sadly as the guard drags her out while the subjects bow courteously:

"Farewell God of War".

"Liu" Chu mutters softly to herself as she follows incognito while other female fairies and immortals flair in happiness.

At Qinwen Palace where the God of War resides, he is playing game-to-go with his friend immortal Chang. Though Jue Chen is always stern and strict only immortal Chang can calm him down by speaking with him freely. Since decades of playing game-to-go with immortal Chang, Jue Chen has always been the winner.

"Chen, it's been three days. What are your plans for the fairy prisoner?" Immortal Chang asks while thinking of the position to place the slate coin on the board.

"None of your business" Jue Chen takes a cup and sips the tea with an expressionless face, immortal Chang smirks as he places the slate coin on the board.

"Instead of executing her viciously, why not allow her to participate in the discipleship competition? With that, you can easily kill her for failure." Immortal Chang suggests apathetically.

"You lose," Jue Chen said slyly and stands from the seat walking toward the stream in the balcony, immortal Chang follows him saying:

"I know you always win. So what do you think of my plan?"

"That bold fairy lacks magical prowess, she is useless."

"Asking her to participate in my competition is better than easy execution." They continue walking together and discussing.

Chu manages to teleport herself into the Chill prison. Chill prison is an abandoned cold cave in heaven used to torture demons, it kills slowly and breaks each meridians in the body thus the heavenly emperor seldom send immortals there but Jue Chen has the final judgment.

Liuwen shivers and coughs strongly, she feels awful.

"How can one be this vicious" she mutters sadly to herself in a stuttering tone and minutes later Chu runs into the cave where Liuwen sits looking unkempt.

"Wha---what are you doing here?" Liuwen stands up with a stagger as she shakes helplessly approaching Chu.

"Please sit, how are you?" Chu asks sadly.

"I'm alright. Where is my master? Is she okay? Will I ever leave this place?" Liuwen asks anxiously and impatiently while Chu ignores her using warm prowess to sustain Liuwen, Liuwen coughs out black thick blood.

"Are you okay?" Chu holds Liuwen's shoulder sadly.

"I'll plead with the God of War to release you" Chu tries to console Liuwen and Liuwen nods slowly while coughing.

<><><><>

In Jinxue Pavilion, deity Lin is cultivating an elixir in the medicine chamber as Chu rushes in, she kneels and kowtows once.

"Master." She calls sadly and deity Lin stands up to package the elixir.

"What are you doing here?" She asks Chu curtly.

"Master, please help sister Liuwen." Chu pleas sadly.

"Plead? Who am I? Even the heavenly emperor didn't question his decision." Deity Lin walks out of the medicine chamber, Chu stands immediately and follows saying:

"But Master Liuwen is dying and we all know her magic prowess is insufficient."

"Chu, you should focus on improving your prowess maybe this is Liuwen's fate." Deity Lin vanishes graciously and Chu sighs sadly.

"What!"

"Why did he release her?" Immortal Jin shouts angrily at her maid.

"Immortal Jin, the God of War's mind is unpredictable. Don't worry Liuwen won't last in the competition." Immortal Jin is a mini-powerful immortal and is highly respected in the heaven realm, she has always loved Jue Chen right from childhood thus she feels mighty due to the special treatment he renders to her.

Liuwen was freed from prison but was commanded to participate in the God of War discipleship competition, the refined elixir made by Deity Lin was given to Liuwen which improved her magic prowess to thirty percent (30%).

The competition seems easy from hearsay but because of Liuwen's laziness, no one trusts her except Chu.

"The first round is ARCHERY, the second round is TEA MAKING and the final round is MEMORIZING AND WRITING ANCIENT POETRY anyone who fails will be sent to the Mortal Tribulation Prison." These were the commands given to a deity as an announcement to the participants.

"Sister Jin, count yourself as the God of War's student." Immortal Jin's subordinate "Immortal Lou Si" appraises her while other fairies and a few immortals give up the incoming position to Immortal Jin, but Luwen still insists on participating.

"Wake up Liuwen, I'm the head here." Immortal Jin rolls her eyes annoyingly and walks away from Liuwen with her troop of friends, Liuwen exhales in relief.

"You can do it!" Chu whispers with a smile and Liuwen nods affirmatively with a small smile.