Chapter 5: Chapter 5 - Promotion
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Zhao Feng and Yang Wei also woke up and looked towards Tian Ye in excitement.
Seeing that the other two also woke up from the sound of his test of strength, Tian Ye asked, "How's the progress of the three of you?"
Sun He was the first one to answer, "Not bad. I'm done with refining the mortal roots into spiritual roots, all that's left is to fill the dantian with spiritual qi. According to my estimation, it should take a little over a month before I can break through to the 1st Layer."
"Me too, I'm done! I should break through a little later than Sun He but it shouldn't be that far from him." Unlike Sun He's calm demeanor, Zhao Feng was filled with excitement.
Meanwhile, Yang Wei nodded, he didn't like to talk much, as long as the other party gets what he means, it's more than enough for him.
Tian Ye then smiled in satisfaction before saying, "I suggest that the three of you… form a group when you all break through."
"That's always been the plan but… three of us? What about you?" Sun He looked at Tian Ye in confusion.
Zhao Feng and Yang Wei also looked over in confusion, waiting for Tian Ye to answer.
Tian Ye simply shook his head, "I can't form a group with you three, after all, you're all too dependent on me, you have to be able to make your own decisions. With only you three, you can think of your answers, but if I'm around, you all look at me for me to decide. The world of cultivation is perilous, are you going to rely on me forever?"
Tian Ye's words shook them to the core but knew that his words were true. They were indeed too dependent on Tian Ye, although they would discuss some things from time to time, it always led to Tian Ye taking control. Not because Tian Ye took the initiative but because they look at him for answers.
Their sad gazes fell on Tian Ye and he, who saw this couldn't help but chuckle, "Don't worry too much, it's not like we won't meet each other in the future, it's just that you all will not have to rely on me too much, with our early break through, each of us will be seen as a genius and possibly taken as a disciple of one of the elders. When they ask how you did it, just point at me and say that I guided you so you don't face too much trouble."
Tian Ye soon stretched out his fist with a smile towards all of them and said, "I'll see you later?"
Sun He, Zhao Feng, and Yang Wei stood up simultaneously and also grinned as they bumped their fists together with Tian Ye, "Yeah!"
Tian Ye soon walked out the front door, and took a final look at his three childhood friends. They were close friends, and as long as they meet again, they will be the same as usual, close. Especially since they grew up together.
After taking a last look, Tian Ye proceeded to walk away from the room, every step filled with the feeling of emptiness but… it wasn't that bad, this was the feeling of change, this feeling was inevitable.
As he reached the gates of the courtyard of the Servants' Hall, Tian Ye took a deep breath in and as he exhaled, he smiled, looking forward to the next part of his journey.
…
After contemplating for a while, whether his cultivation was too slow, Tian Ye acknowledged that it was normal how long it took to reach the 1st layer of Qi Refinement Realm considering that he had no support or guidance, only the path that showed itself alone according to the manual.
And even if the breakthrough to the 1st layer seemed slow to himself, at the current sect, Eternal Lotus Sect that he was in, he was considered a genius… maybe even a monster.
Soon, there would emerge 3 more geniuses or monsters, after all, the average breakthrough rate by servants was late twenties to early thirties because even most adults get bored if they don't see substantial results immediately from their efforts let alone children.
As for the offspring of disciples and elders, they have the average of early twenties and even a breakthrough in one's late teenage years was considered a genius.
What about them that broke through, half the general average, at the age of 9-10?
Tian Ye gaze soon turned to the peak of the mountain, and there was a grand 5-floored pavilion.
That was the pavilion in which the elders, their disciples, and exceptional descendants stayed at. To show the hierarchy, just like the sect's style, the 1st elder stayed at the top, the 2nd elder at the 4th floor, the 3rd elder at the 3rd floor and the 4th elder at the second floor.
As for the sect leader… No one knew where he is besides the elders.
Although compared to the Servants' Halls near the foot of the mountain, the Disciples' Halls at the middle of the mountain could be said to be several times better, the Elders' Pavilion could be considered a smaller sized but an exaggerated version of the Disciples' Halls.
One could see the hierarchical placement of servants, disciples, and elders but that wasn't just a hierarchical placement but also the placement of where the spiritual qi was most abundant.
Even the disciples don't know why the spiritual qi was more abundant, let alone, them, servants.
If there were people who knew, it would be the elders and probably selective individuals within the Elders' Hall.
The reason as to why his gaze was fixed on the Elders' Hall, was because, heading there was his purpose.
'I have to report my breakthrough, the higher my status, the more resources will be available for me. Although I'll be an object of fame and will be looked at everywhere, achieving a higher cultivation base is more important.'
Tian Ye thought as his eyes flickered slightly before starting to walk up the mountains.
In his thoughts, in a low level sect like this where most only breakthroughs in their 20s and 30s, it was important to stand out to get an unfair advantage over the others.
The lifespan of even a peak Qi Refinement Realm in terms of age was only about 150, if he doesn't break through at less than ⅓ of that, breaking through to the next realm will be difficult.
It was the conclusion he came up with as he saw the other servants who cultivated yet didn't break through. It wasn't that they became indulgent as they grew up but became more determined but refinement of a fully grown mortal pathway was more difficult than when younger, thinking of it this way, the other major realms will probably be the same.
In a trance-like state he walked up the mountain, and soon, before he even realized, he reached the peak.
At the last step of the mountain's road, the Elders' Hall was finally fully visible in front of him.
In front of the majestic and extravagant golden gate, trinkled with little jade stones of the Elders' Hall, stood two people, each with a spear pointed to the sky, like cliche guards.
And as the cliche scenes went, one of the guards stated coldly, "Halt! You're a servant right? What are you doing here? State your business."
Seeing Tian Ye's coarse clothing, the guards had already known that he was a servant so in their opinion there was no need to be polite.
Tian Ye, who had gotten used to the cultivation world's setting, nodded calmly without being offended and introduced himself, "This servant's name is Tian Ye, I'm 9 years old and I've broken through to the 1st layer of Qi Refinement Realm."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" The other guard scoffed, not believing a word Tian Ye said. How is it possible for a servant without resources and guidance from a higher realm cultivator to reach the 1st layer at.
Although Tian Ye had been used to the cultivation world's settings, that doesn't mean that he would follow its cliche events and waste time on these mobs so he raised one of his hands and clenched it into a fist.
As he clenched his fist, he channeled spiritual qi into it causing his fist to look like it had been caught in blue fire.
"See?" Tian Ye asked as he dispersed the spiritual qi in his hands the next second to avoid further consumption of spiritual qi. With his current qi capacity right now, even maintaining it for 1 minute could be said to be too much.
The two guards stared at Tian Ye in shock, a child, 9 years old of age, reached the 1st layer of Qi Refinement Realm!
Not only did he reach the 1st layer of Qi Refinement Realm, he also achieved something that even they had difficulty achieving, "High Level Qi Control!"
With the shocked words reaching Tian Ye's ears, he tilted his head in confusion and asked, "High Level Qi Control?"
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