Breakthrough!

"Well, it's fine as long as no-one gets hurt. But what are you going to do now, your secret is out." Meili asked as she continued to devour her food.

'If only she was able to focus more on her cultivation as much as she does on her food, she would be able to surpass more of our peers.' Xing Huang thought to himself, "It's fine I know they won't say a peep. I have ways to make them disappear if they do."

Though what Xing Huang wasn't worried about those idiots not being able to keep their mouths shut. What he was more worried about at the moment was that dream of his. Ever since his fifteenth birthday, the dreams have been occurring more often. Especially so ever since last night, that dream had never felt so real before.

After some time though, he was able to slowly connect that it probably had something to do with his coming of age. His sixteenth birthday was just around the corner, only 5 days away until he was finally of age.

"Okay Meili, after we're done eating, we need to head back to the courtyard. I have a few matters I need to take care of."

As evening approached, a bunch of figures could be seen under the light of the lampposts in a fair sized courtyard. If one were to walk by the outer walls of the courtyard, one would be able to hear the constant sounds of whispering and non-stop conversations. But all of a sudden, the voices stopped as another shadow came out from one of the rooms.

"Thank you all for gathering in such short notice. I believe that you should have all heard of the incident that occurred at the Phoenix Sky restaurant. Though I am very disappointed that matters were able to escalate to such a point, it was also good in a sense. If that had happened with some powerhouse, we would not have been able to salvage that. In lights of that, security is to be bolstered. All those at the 6th-9th level of the Primer Stage will go and grab a grade two essence pill to breakthrough. Accordingly, all those who are at the 10th level of the Primer Stage will be given an elemental sensing pill and element chart to help them breakthrough to the Element Establishment Stage. Okay, that will be all, go to the pill room to pick up your respective pills. Everyone can head back to their posts, Xing Shan and Xing Long stay behind."

For those at the Primer Stage, a simple Essence Gathering Pill would help them with cultivation and provide them with a much purer essence to cultivate with. Essence Pills on the other hand, though more simple in name were worth tens of times that of a single Essence Gathering Pill. Those who were able to forge such pills could be counted on one hand, and they were Divine Pharmacists. One should know that of the few Divine Pharmacists, one belonged to the Cryo Wolves and the other was more of a money buys you pills kind of pharmacist.

If it were found out that such pills existed in such quantities, blood would spill at the 3rd house. One had to know that to create these pills, one needed an insane amount of herbs and beast cores. Not only that, one must also know how to properly refine the ingredients, else it would all be for naught. But of course, if the pill was so easy to craft, peak level Primer Stage powerhouses would be everywhere. In addition, the pill itself had a side effect. Because it required a beast core, the impurities of the core must be properly refined to lower what is consumed by the body. Yet, even then, any amount of impurity will hinder one's cultivation in one way or another as one advanced on the path of cultivation.

But Xing Huang was not like those other pharmacists. Ever since that strange dream and finding that star in his conscious, he felt like whether he was cultivating or refining, something seemed to have been guiding him in the process. Compared to the pills found outside, his pills were without any hint of impurities. Though, one was only able to consume two of those pills anyways, as consuming anymore would have no effect on one's cultivation. All in all, it came down to one's talents and hard work, as external resources could only bring one so far.

"Xing Shan, today's matters must be controlled and contained. This is to never happen again, it is inconceivable that such a thing was allowed to be blown up to such a state. That being said, it is good that no one was truly harmed during this. That being said, though this was a situation, we were lucky that it was still within our grasps to put out. We must now tighten security and keep a tighter hand on assuring everyone's safety, be it customer or employee. How is Xing Han?"

"I understand young master, this will not happen again. I have already implemented plans to bolster our security. As for Xing Han, she is still a bit shaken up, but she should be okay. I will have her rest for a while until she is back to normal before having her come back to the restaurant."

"Very well, let's do as you planned then. Have her rest up. If there is nothing else, send me the report for our restaurant's earnings for this week. You may take your leave now."

"Yes, young master. I will have it sent to you by the morning."

One must keep in mind that though it would be much easier to just refuse service outright to idiots like Feng Jiao and crew, one should not just refuse money because they are uneducated swines. Rather, it is because of that, that they should be allowed to eat. They aren't gaining anything much but nutrients to fulfill a bodily need. While, money is coming in that will strengthen Xing Huang's forces.

"Xing Long, how is the expansion going? Has there been any trouble with the building of the Red Zephyr Auction House?"

"So far everything is going as planned. We have successfully finished the establishment of the Sky Lilie expansion. The building of the auction house had hit its bumps, but that was only due to the lack in manpower. Though that is no longer an issue, and we are now back on track."

Aside from the Phoenix Rising restaurant, Xing Huang also had a faction he created called the Sky Lilie. Sky meaning that he is to know all that lives under it. Lilie, though pretty as it may be on the Astral Continent, that is all it is. To others, it may just be nothing more than some small thing that doesn't warrant to much worry, yet that was the sole purpose. Many would just see it as a little shop that sold flowers, yet it was a front for Xing Huang's intelligence gathering headquarters.

Of course, he knew that he wasn't the only one who had spies out there, so his people were told to do everything in utmost caution. Because he was still young and they had yet to consolidate their newly risen power, one slip-up and that would spell for a catastrophe.

"Very good. My coming of age ceremony is also in 5 days, many people will use this opportunity to pry for as much information as they can on our family. There also might be some trouble from the 1st house as a blowback from today's mishap. Prepare for such, should the issue arise. Other than that, you may go back to your post."

"Yes, young master, I will have people see if there is any chatter about such from the 1st house. As for the ceremony, I have already made preparations for our people to be ready should the situation calls for it. I will take my leave now."

'Hmm, I guess I should take hold of the time before family dinner to cultivate a bit. Hopefully I will be able to breakthrough to the 10th level of the Primer Stage by the end of the night.'

As Xing Huang began cultivating, he failed to notice that a shadow had landed on the branch of a tree near his room.

"Interesting, I hope that you will not disappoint us. I will be waiting for you. Stay strong, have faith, and the stars will light your path…" The mysterious shadow whispered.

Not too long after the shadow left, a servant came to tell Xing Huang that dinner was ready. As such, he stopped cultivating and got ready to head to dinner. As he arrived, he had already heard the voice of his father.

"Huang'er I heard of what transpired today at the Phoenix Rising restaurant. *shakes head* You are too rash, it was merely a waitress. You should not have gotten yourself involved in such a thing. You know that your coming of age ceremony is drawing near, yet there is now bad blood between you and the young one of the 1st house. I know you are kind, but...never mind. The deed is done. I will go apologize to the head of the 1st house tomorrow. You are no longer young Huang'er, and your mother and I won't be around forever. You must learn to act with prudence."

"I understand father. I was a bit rash, but I also could not sit back when I know that such deeds were transpiring to an innocent girl. I will reflect on my actions and will act with prudence henceforth. Do not worry father."

Of course, Xing Huang was only being taught because he family did not know that it was his people who were being bullied. Xing Huang's courtyard was seperate form the main courtyard and all those who came in and out were his own people. So nothing was ever leaked. Thus, Xing Huang was reprimanded by his father.

In regards to trying to stop his father from going to apologize, that was nearly impossible. As everyone knew that Xing Huang was kind, righteous, and stubborn, it had to come from someone. That someone, was his father, Xing Delun. So, Xing Huang knew better than to stop his dad. Plus, he knew that the 1st house would not dare to harm his father or stir up too much trouble, as it also affected the image of their house. So, there was nothing to worry about. Even so, he would have some men follow his father just in case something unexpected occurred.

"Okay, that is enough talking now. The food is going to get cold soon. Huang'er, sit down. Let's eat." Xing Huang's mother said.

After dinner, Xing Huang made arrangements for some of his people to follow his father in secret tomorrow as he headed to the 1st house. When everything was prepared and orders were given down, he then slowly returned to his room and began cultivating again.

As he began to revolve his qi, the little star in his conscious began to very slowly revolve as well. It then began to glow and flicker. As it was doing so, outside in the night sky, there stars above Xing Huang's courtyard seemed to have begun to shine more brightly. But of course, if one did not really pay attention to it, everything would have looked like normal.

Two hours later into the night, sounds like the cracking of one's knuckles could heard. Slowly, Xing Huang opened his eyes. His body seemed to have become much sturdier, and his skin even have become more fair. After reaching the 3rd level of the Primer Stage, his body was rid of all impurities. So, there was no black ooze or stench to worry about anymore.

"So this is the 10th level of the Primer Stage. Though there is still some ways to go before I will be able to be at the peak of the 10th level, it shouldn't take too long. I should prepare for my breakthrough to the Element Warrior Stage and also begin to consolidate my qi. I need to get used to the new level of the Primer Stage. That being said, after tonight, there are only 4 days left."

As the night grew on, Xing Huang slowly fell into a nice deep slumber...