Minako Rize stood looking at the various lines that had students lining up to try and gain a master's approval. Rize had a tinge of fear in her heart as she wasn't sure if she would be refused like she had been refused so many times from all the deities. Though that wouldn’t stop her from becoming an inner disciple it would cause her a great setback not to have a Master in the inner court who could guide her.

"What is the matter young disciple?" a voice came from besides her, she turned shocked she had not noticed his presence. Looking over she saw it was the academies Grandmaster.

"Grandmaster!" she yelped bowing lowly "Nothing to concern yourself with Grandmaster, I was just trying to decide which master I should go to."

"I have a suggestion" he gestured over to the far off corner of the testing area. "There is a young master who has yet to take in any disciples go and try over there."

"Thank you Grandmaster for the advice." Rize bowed swiftly before running off towards the master's direction.

Grandmaster Zhao smiled as he watched the young girl run off towards possibly the most eccentric master of the Phoenix academy, but that young blue eyed girl might possibly be an equally as eccentric match for that master.

...

Cui Xinya waited not expecting to find anyone worth of her effort. She secretly was glad that no others dared come to her after she shamed the last two. Word spread quickly. Cui Xinya looked around at the various other masters some who had over a dozen students while others had one or two.

A dozen students? Are they insane? How can you properly train a dozen students? Perhaps it was a deity thing. She couldn’t fathom having more than one disciple.

The two boys stood of to the side the second boy was treating his friends wounds, perhaps she was being rather harsh before to the young boy, but she couldn't go back on her word it would make her look foolish and that was one thing she could not tolerate. Being a master so young caused her to be looked down upon, by the senior masters so the smallest mistakes were heavily scrutinized.

"Excuse me Master" a small girl with midnight black hair and piercing blue eyes approached her. "Master, I wish to become your disciple!" Cui Xinya looked surprised. The girl from yesterday? What a pleasant surprise. Perhaps she will be more interesting.

Cui Xinya smiled. She liked this girl it wasn’t often that you found such a young woman with guts. Even though she had a feeling she was just blessed by an unknown minor god Cui Xinya never made that an issue in whom she would pick as a disciple at some point all deities were unknown on some level. "Alright, you!" she said nonchalant pointing at the young boy from before "would you like another chance to prove yourself?"

"Yes, Master Cui!" he said enthusiastically. His eyes brimming with hope that he could redeem himself.

Turning to Rize she gestured to the young man. "Defeat him."

...

Rize looked at the boy that was approaching her he was thick and built making her feel if she were to be hit by his fists she wouldn't be able to match his sheer power. She closed her eyes and prayed to Naga-Jin give your blessing to me the power of the Serpent god of venom. When she slowly opened her eyes little did she know her pupils had changed to mirror a serpents pupil shape that of a diamond.

At this point several onlookers had gathered around and were disturbed by the change, but it wasn’t uncommon for the blessings of deities to change the appearance of those they blessed, but this was the first time anyone had seen serpents’ eyes in another person. Cui Xinya eyebrow raised slightly as she sat up straight again the girl had already caught her interest.

"Did you see that?"

"Her eyes just changed...it looks like a viper's eyes."

"Is she really cursed or did she promise herself to a dark god?"

The flood of off-handed comments beat on her back, but she chose to ignore it and to just focus on the task at hand. The boy at this point had also gotten larger than before. He was clearly determined to win this fight and end it quickly.

Speed will be my friend she thought to herself as she ran at the boy using her speed to dart around him looking for an opening.

Realizing what she was doing the boy got into a defensive posture waiting for her first strike. Raising one arm to his side at a ninety degree angle and his other across his abs.

Rize darted around until she saw an opening and summoned her spiritual energy into her palms a good palm strike to his lower back should rattle him! As she approached her ki morphed into a virescent liquid like glow. Her strike was just about to land before he shot around and smashed his engorged forearm into her side sending her flying skidding along the ground leaving her heaving for breath he hadn't even connected to her with a full strength hit and he hurt her this badly? She thought to herself. Rize realized that his speed was not nearly as slow as she had predicted.

The crowd laughed in unison.

"See she is so pathetic even in the outer court she couldn't beat anyone in duels."

The boy had gotten up from his position and walked slowly over to her leaving just a couple meters between them. "Don't worry I won't do any permanent damage you can just give up now. You have no hope of winning."

Rize squeezed her eyes shut a single tear rolled down her cheek pathetic! She berated herself get up and fight you coward! Why do you care what these people think they never cared before! Rize lifted her eyes sending glare of determination at the bulky disciple in front of her.

Staggering to her feet she darted to the side running around in circles again which prompted the boy into a defensive position again. Rize ran around him forcing him to continually readjust his position. If she could force him to make a mistake in his positioning she could… There it is. Rize thought to herself. Running at him she went at an awkward angle where he would have to swing across his body to get a good shot in or play defensive. She didn’t know exactly what effects Naga-Jin blessing would have on her, but she was certain the serpent god of venom was’t something that could be taken lightly.

"Are you looking to die!" he yelled as he brought back his fist back to bring it crashing down on her chest.

Rize as she approached increased her speed just as he swung his fist at her diving onto her knees she sent her palm strike into his abdomen the virescent liquid spread out several inches around where her strike hit. Which she quickly dove between his legs.

"Is that all you got!" he roared as if her strike was little more than a minor nuisance. Just as he turned around a pain started burning where her strike landed clutching his stomach he went to his knees the place she hit was like he had just ate poison and his body was violently trying to spew it out. His muscles contracted tightly as he tried to fight it off. Causing immense pain that he had never quite experienced before it was like his muscles were fighting amongst themselves.

Rize saw her opening and charged in. Take your opportunity show no fear! Rize muttered to herself. As he slowly recovered from the venom that had seeped into his skin he looked up to see a spinning kick land on the side of his head sending him to the ground passing out.

When the energy from the fight dissipated the crowd stood in shock they never thought this nobody would beat him so no one uttered a word. No one had predicted this ending to the fight nor did they realize what her ability had done to him as the effects were internal.

*clap*---*clap*---*clap*

Cui Xinya was clapping slowly as she stood up from her seat.

"Young girl what is your name?" Cui Xinya said with a hint of curiousity.

Rize turned to Cui Xinya and bowed "Minako Rize" she said breathlessly still trying to catch her breath from the intense fight.

"Minako Rize" she smiled saying the name "Congratulations on becoming my disciple."

The words smashed the ears of all the onlookers who were stunned that the famous youngest master in academy history had chosen the cursed nobody as her first disciple. The news caused the entire area to start conversing amongst themselves.

“Did you hear that? Master Cui Xinya finally took a disciple.”

“Doesn’t she see her cursed eyes?”

“How could she do something so brash even if she did win the fight?”

Cui Xinya watched her new disciple smile like she just found out she was long lost nobility. Rize could see it in her eyes. She was pleasantly surprised to see the abilities she had. They were not weak by any means, but she had never come across such a deity and Cui Xinya was most interested in finding out who this unknown deity was. Cui Xinya was certain that this deity was particularly vicious one of the first abilities she was able to manifest was so efficient and painful how could it not be. Whatever it was it was sure to be most interesting. Cui Xinya thought to herself.

"Minako Rize you've proven yourself to be of great interest to me so I've decided to accept you as my first disciple. Now come with me quickly we have much to discuss." Cui waved her new disciple over to her side.

Cui Xinya did as the Grandmaster had asked and took a disciple. She was under no obligation to accept more than that. So her hasty retreat was not unexpected by any of the other masters. They knew that she was not one to be particularly fond of having a lot of students.

Leading the way to her personal courtyard, Cui Xinya glanced back every once in a while to check on her student, but she was surprisingly calm compared to right after her victory. Minako Rize... Cui Xinya knew she needed to do more research into her student there was to many unknowns and Cui hated unknowns.

After safely entering the courtyard she turned to her student with a smile "Rize dear, I think we should take this time to talk with one another."

Rize nodded in agreement without uttering a word. "Alright" she said coolly "the first question is who us the deity that gave you their blessing."

Cui Xinya waited patiently watching her new student carefully she was certain this girls deity was trying to conceal himself it was very apparent or she would have been more confident, when she first met her the day before. Cui Xinya was most definitely going to learn more about this girl and her curiously vicious deity that would not be one that was found in the academy.

Rize was still trying to process the whole situation she never thought she would succeed. In her heart she doubted that she would actually pass the sudden test, but somehow she had managed and to her surprise Naga-Jin’s blessing was truly powerful. So she was giddy the whole way here even if her outward stature was slightly less enthusiastic than her mind. Rize looked at her new master wearing a flowing robe that blew gently on the wind giving her an otherworldly beauty as if she were a goddess that had descended from the heavens.

If it wasn't for the sudden question in regards to her deity she would have possibly died from sheer joy. Why would she ask that so suddenly without any delay?

"I'm sorry master, but I am not sure why you are asking so suddenly" Rize said cautiously.

"Well that is simple the abilities you displayed earlier were not something I've ever come across before. I am simply curious." Cui Xinya said her lips curled up into a smile.

"Master. I would love to, but I think I should ask my deity first before making such a decision." Rize knew it would be simply do as she wanted especially considering the nature of her god. The words of her deity you will have many enemies stuck into her head.

"Please do so. I will wait" Cui Xinya said in a controlled even tone.

Rize bowed before closing her eyes "Lord Naga-Jin I need your guidance, please show me your will."

"Sssilly girl there is no sssensse in hiding the truth from your masster, even if you did hide it you would only delay the inevitable. In order for you and her to trusst each other you must tell her." he said objectively. “The identity of myself is ancient and mostly forgotten so she will likely not discover much about me.”

"As you wish Lord Naga! I was worried when you said I will have many enemies."

"Child don't worry I won't be taking my eyes off you for a while ssso don't ask me permisssion all the time I will be here to guide you when I feel it iss necesssary."

Rize felt a sense of peace knowing that even though she still wasn't sure who or what the nature of her god was. Rize was certain he had her best interests at heart... or so she hoped. Regardless to know he would be so active in her life was comforting as it was rare for anyone to put much thought into her ever.

"Master." Rize said softly.

"Yes?" one of her eyebrows lifted up as she waited for an answer.

"My deity is known at Naga-Jin the serpent god of venom."