The Setback

During that time, Farjan was working in the city and so, he remained clueless about what had happened in his clan.

Farjan was eating with Holdbert. They saw each other while Farjan was heading back home. Holdbert invited him to eat. At first, Farjan tried to refuse, but after some consideration, he accepted.

Inside the cafeteria at the market.

"Hey, Farjan, tell me, what happened to you this past month?" Holdbert said curiously.

"Nyawthiing just somwe lit-hel rest." Farjan was busy eating, so when he answered, Holdbert can vaguely understand what Farjan he was saying.

"No, I mean, what did you do? Why do you have that kind of strength? You know, you're one of the hot topics here in the city."

"Is that so? Um..."Farjan didn't know what to say, he couldn't reveal his secret to others easily,"I'll tell you in the future, now is not the time."

'Looks like I overdid it. I must act normal again. Using my true strength here was a bit suspicious.'

"Why didn't you help in the mining of your clan? Why work here in the city? You can earn more in mining, right?

"I have unfinished work here in the city, but when I'm off, I help them in mining."

They ate and talked about their experiences. Their laughter rang out through the little cafeteria where they ate and many people turned to look at their direction.

Later, they finished eating. After they bid each other a farewell, they headed back home.

At the same time at the Sofori clan's territory, in a big mansion where the young master resided, a man with a majestic air stood in front of the mansion. He was 180 centimeters tall, his skin was fair white like a woman's and from his looks, you could tell that he was a haughty person. In front of him, a dozen men were kneeling. A particular man was at the front of these men.

"Greetings young master Michael!" They said in unison.

Michael nodded and asked, " What happened in your mission, Samir?"He looked at the man who was at the frontmost of the group.

"The Dowter clan resisted and refused to give the mining site to your majesty," Samir replied.

"Demonstrate them and let them know the 'laws'. Prepare the imperial guards of our clan."

"As you wish." Samir said while he grinned. Then, the men turned and left.

On the other hand...

Farjan reached their house. He quickly saw the gloomy face of his mother.

His mother told him about the matter of the Sofori clan oppressing them because of the mining site.

"I'm sure they will send guards by the time they go back and use brute force to get what they wanted." His mother said.

"That damned Sofori clan. I'm sure they will send many guards that can handle us."

'I must get stronger, although I can take some of them. Considering the Sofori clan, they have many forces.'

He turned and walked towards the door when suddenly, he heard his mother's voice, " Where are you going?"

"I'll just prepare to harvest mom." With that, he continued walking until he finally left the house.

"I will prepare to harvest lives if they dared!" He said in his heart. He was kind towards other people, but not to those who posed threats, especially to the people close to him. He headed to Mt. Tri-mus to consult his master.

In Tromer's house...

"Master, can you teach me how to advance to the second level of Spiritual Stage? I need to get stronger!"

"Just cultivate, and you will reach that level eventually."

"Please master, I beg you, I will do everything you want."

"No."

"Please..."

"I said no! Do you not understand?"

Farjan was still persistent, that was his attitude. If he decided to do things, he would do it. He's very stubborn and will never give up.

Tromer knew Farjan's attitude. After seeing that Farjan was really determined...

"Okay, I will give this to you, but I don't know the side effects, especially for you who experienced something not normal."

"It's fine, as long as it can help me to advance."

Tromer took out a light yellow potion. "This is a potion for cultivators in the Spiritual Stage. As an apprentice alchemist, I can concoct this through some efforts. Consume this and cultivate for ten days."

"Thank you, master. I will surely repay you in the future."Farjan immediately took the potion from Tromer's hands and left.

Inside Farjan's family house, in a dark wooden room, Farjan could be seen sitting cross-legged, cultivating. After a moment he produced a light-yellow colored potion, and without hesitation, he consumed it.

After Farjan consumed the potion, he immediately felt something that ran through his spirit. The spirit became the passageways of anything related to cultivation. It was called 'spirit passageways'. What he felt was like something was burning inside of him. The heat being radiated caused his face to become unsightly.

"Urgh... It's hot! What kind of potion is this?"This was the first time Farjan consumed a potion and it turned out to be like this. Because of his lack of experience, he was not prepared for something like this. Besides, based on what he read in the books, most of the potions can make you feel refreshed.

Still, Farjan endured the suffering just to become stronger. He spent most of his days like this. Although he finished consuming the potion, whenever he sat cross-legged and started to cultivate, the feeling of burning within him always returned.

Now was the seventh day of Farjan's cultivation. He already felt seventy percent of the changes made to his body and cultivation aspect.

He continued to do this routine every day until three more days have passed... However, something that he never expected happened...

The last day of Farjan's cultivation period. He had advanced to the second level of Spiritual Stage. However, it cost him something unusual. Instead of feeling the strengthening, what he felt was the weakening of his body.

Farjan's cultivation base was at the second level, but his body was still at the first level. A cultivator must have their cultivation base at the same level as their body. Having your body in a state where it was stronger than your cultivation was a good thing, but having your body weaker than your cultivation base was not beneficial, it's like having a glass of water containing water equivalent to two glasses.

Because of this phenomenon, Farjan's body was gradually weakened. Knowing his state, he immediately went to his master.

At the moment, Farjan's body was not that weak. But, gradually, it will. His body was only weakened by ten percent, so he was still able to do some things like walking up to Mt. Tri-mus to ask his master about the unusual thing that happened in his cultivation and what he should do.

Inside Tromer's house...

"That's what I was saying before, but you did not listen!" Said Tromer with in high pitched voice.

When Farjan reached Tromer's house, he immediately told his master about the unusual thing that happened after he advanced to second level caused by consuming the potion and cultivating for ten days.

"What should I do? They will come back soon."

"What can you do? Nothing. You can do nothing. If you tried to use your powers, it would cost a great damage to your body."

Instead of a good result that could help Farjan in his problem, what appeared was this unlucky state that he was in.

Farjan ceased to talk for a moment and thought again.

"For now, the only thing that you can do is to rest, it will slow down the process of weakening of your body. Don't worry, it is not a permanent thing, you will recover soon."

When Farjan heard this revelation, a hint of joy could be seen on his face. His previously gloomy face changed into a rejoicing one. "When?" He excitedly asked.

"After a year and a half," Tromer said coolly.

Farjan's face became unsightly again after he heard this. His previously joyful face turned back to become gloomy again.

Farjan had nothing to say. His master didn't have a solution for him, so what can a beginner in cultivation probably do? His only way was to rest and preserve his body. Accept the truth and wait for a year and a half.

Farjan did not regret his decision before, to gain more strength even if the result of it was this situation of hopelessness. The thing that he regretted the most was that he could not help the people close to him. He could not endure the fact that he was able, but he had done nothing.

After discussing the matter with his master, Farjan turned back heading to his house.