Once every decade, when arrogance thickens in bloodlines, when power grows stagnant, the Phoenix wakes up, to select a few individuals whom it believes will be able to change the world and destroy the greed that has taken place.
That is called, the Phoenix Selection.
This is a selection round that happens once every decade to select a few individuals for the celestial academy. This selection round does not care about clans, ranks or power, all it cares about is will. One's will to make a change in the system.
Disciples do not need to gather at a place to pass this. They will be selected if they are capable, no matter where they are. The number of selected disciples is never fixed and the criteria of selection? No one has ever been able to predict it. Not even the Tianlong clan, that claims itself as heaven.
Great clans, master and even astrologers have tried to predict the selection criteria, but none of them succeed in this.
When the Phoenix selects someone, a single beam of ancient light falls on the selected individual and takes the form of a jade pendant eventually. The jade pendant is what makes people recognise them as a student of the celestial academy. The chosen individuals have to carve their names on the jade pendant and that will be their identity in future.
Initially, the jade pendant's colour is black.
Those it chooses must carve their own name into the stone, using their own power.
And when the name is carved…the jade changes color.
The Celestial academy holds a special respected place in the martial arts world because of the Phoenix selection. Just like that, it makes their students special too.
As I said, the numbers of students selected in this process are never fixed. This year thirty disciples were selected, twenty seven boys and three girls.
The light fell on thirty individuals in different places.
Fen Xiaojin was sitting outside cleaning her Wuji staff when the light fell on her. She looked up and the light took the form of a black jade pendant. She took it and raised two fingers, power flickering in them. She carved a name in the pendant and the jade pendant changed its colour to white, when Yu Wuyan came there.
Yu Wuyan took a few steps and said, "Xiaojin..."
Xiaojin turned and looked at him, smiling, "Master..."
Yu Wuyan smiled, "Which name did you choose? Your current identity can put you in great trouble."
Fen Xiaojin smiled and nodded, "Bai Shuāngyīn. This is the name I am gonna use in the future."
Yu Wuyan nodded, "Bai Shuangyin....," He looked up at her and smiled, "Good, it suits you."
Fen Xiaojin smiled and nodded. She looked at the jade pendant.
Yao Tianheng's jade pendant was grey, his master and elders came there.
His father said, "I am proud of you, Tianheng. It is a great honour to us that you got selected for the celestial academy."
Tianheng bowed, "I won't disappoint you."
His master took steps closer and said, "You shouldn't and we know you wouldn't. We have high expectations in you."
Tianheng nodded.
Yan Linhe carved his name onto the jade pendant and it turned red, his cousins came to him and cheered for him.
He smiled and said, "Thank you all of you."
His master came, "Linhe, don't forget that you're going to the celestial academy now. Don't disappoint us there."
Yan Linhe smiled and bowed, "I won't, Master."
Lan Yueyi's Jade Pendant was blue, her father came to her and smiled, "Yueyi, my daughter. You don't know how proud we are of you."
Her master nodded, "We still have high expectations in you."
Lan Yueyi bowed, "Thank you for your guidance, Master."
Tu Zhanxin's jade pendant was green, his father nodded, "Good, now that you are selected as the celestial academy's disciple, don't forget us when you go there."
His little sister said, "Yes brother, don't forget me when you go there."
Zhanxin chuckled, "I won't forget anyone, especially not you, sister."
His sister smiled and hugged him.
Feng Jiying's jade pendant was purple, he looked at it with a neutral expression.
His master and father stepped forward, his master continued, "Jiying, you made us proud by getting selected. Just as we expected from you."
Feng Jiying bowed, "I appreciate your guidance, Master."
Mu Yan was practicing martial arts in the backyard of her house, when a light beam fell upon her. Yes, she had heard about this but never expected she'd get selected.
She carved her name onto the jade pendant and it turned yellow.
She got onto the horse and went to the gambling house where his father was, she went straight inside to her father.
She bowed, "Father..."
Her father straightened, "What brought you here, Yan?"
Mu Yan smiled widely and took out her jade pendant, "I am selected as a disciple for the celestial academy."
His father got excited, "Really?"
She smiled, excited too.
Her father stood up and announced, "My daughter is selected as a disciple for the celestial academy. The drinks are on me today."
Everyone thanked him.
Her father looked at her, "Yan, you really made me proud, you don't know how big this is."
She smiled, "I am going back."
He nodded and she left.