Void Ripples

Li Zian was sitting by the koi fishpond, watching them swim around. The grass that had decayed was back to normal, and the scenery was vibrant once more.

He watched the koi fish around, living their simple lives. He had one more month to reach the Qi Condensing Realm, and he felt his body becoming stronger and stronger every day.

He stood up, approached a nearby and clenched his fist. He punched the tree with all his might.

It would be a hilarious sight to see a three-year-old child trying to punch a tree.

What's not so funny is if that child then knocked over that tree.

The tree collapsed with a single punch, and all he felt was a slight tingling in his fist. His knuckles were slightly red, but other than that he was fine.

Powerful spiritual energy burst out of the ground, lifting the tree back up and healing it.

He had noticed this strange phenomenon before, and believed it was what had helped the grass grow back so quickly. A strange force that made sure the villa grounds were as perfect as possible.

The tree stood tall once more, its luscious green leaves waving in the wind.

He huffed and turned around, spotting his father standing nearby.

"Father," he smiled.

"Your strength is improving rapidly. You'll definitely reach the Qi Condensing Realm in a month or less," he smiled.

Li Zian didn't know what to say and simply smiled.

"A three-year-old at the Qi Condensing Realm… It's a terrifying thought. By the time you make your debut when you turn ten, you'll probably be at the Foundation Establishment Realm."

Li Zian was secretly shocked. He assumed it would take more than ten years to pass through the Qi Condensing Realm, but his father has such high expectations.

'I must meet those expectations.'

"I'll definitely reach the Qi Condensing Realm soon and shock the world!" He said with a smile.

"Good, good, you should be confident," He ruffled Li Zian's hair before turning around and vanishing.

He wandered back over to the koi fishpond and Li Shen joined him. "We should start our cultivation soon," he told his younger brother, clearly ready to go and begin cultivating.

Li Shen sat cross legged on a rock by the koi fishpond, observing the fish swimming around.

"Will you leave when you turn ten?" Li Zian asked out of the blue.

This shocked Li Shen, but then he recalled the conversations he had with his parents about this matter.

"Yes," he answered truthfully.

"Where to?" Li Zian asked. He was slightly said. In two years, his brother would leave, and he would be alone for another five years.

"Father says it's a sect. It has close ties with our Li family, so it'll be safe. You'll also go there when you turn ten."

"What's a sect?" Li Zian further questioned his older brother.

The books in the library were only fiction, story books, and books on things like history and geography. There was nothing about cultivation.

"Ah… A sect is like a school that helps you become stronger. They give you things like artefacts, pills, and lots of benefits to aid you. At least that's what father said."

Li Zian nodded his head. 'So it's basically a place young people go to become stronger. Seems pretty simple.'

"How long will you be in the sect?" He asked Li Shen.

"Father says most people stay in the sect for nearly eight to ten years. Once they reach a certain level of strength, they can either choose to leave or help run the sect as an 'elder'. However they will always be a part of the sect, even if they choose to leave, and must come to their aid in a time of crisis."

Li Zian nodded. He had heard about the elders of the Li family from his father, and understood they were people of great influence in cultivation organisations.

"Don't worry, I'll still be here for another two years," Li Shen ruffled his younger brother's hair, which annoyed him a bit. "I'll protect you once you come up to the sect."

"I'm stronger than you though," Li Zian mumbled.

"What was that?" Li Shen asked.

"Nothing."

"Hm."

They observed the fish for a while when a strange gust of wind blew past them, causing their clothes and hair to blow forcefully.

"What strong wind. Maybe it's a storm?" Li Zian asked aloud, looking up at the sky.

There were no clouds in the sky, but instead something mystical.

A ring of white light spread across the sky, and then another one appeared.

Li Zian observed the rings of light and recalled his time in the void. Those were the ripples that spread through the void- why were they here?

He stared up at the ripples in the sky, and so did Li Shen.

Suddenly their mother appeared, which spooked them.

"Mother, what is that?" Li Shen asked, pointing up at the ripples.

She smiled and watched the ripples carefully. "Those are void ripples. They occur whenever a supreme talent is awakened."

"Supreme talent?" Li Zian asked.

"Yes- a child who suddenly awakens to an extremely powerful talent that will let them become a great cultivator in the future. You know, Void Ripples occurred when both of you were born."

"Really?" Li Shen asked, shocked.

"Yes," She nodded her head. "Supreme Talents are greatly sought after, which is why many of them stay hidden in sects or families. One of the reasons you're not allowed to leave until you turn ten is because many people want to find you and recruit you into their sects- or they want to hurt you."

Li Zian understood what she meant. Supreme Talents were so sought after that people would do anything to get their hands on one.

That was why they were being kept behind these stone walls and arrays, away from the cultivation world. Nobody knew of their existences- they were invisible to the world.

"You two should start cultivating soon. Your grandfather will teach you a technique in a month, Zian'er," She ruffled his hair, and he was beginning to get annoyed.

"Why can't I learn a technique from grandfather?" Li Shen asked.

"I'm not suppose to tell you this yet… But oh well, I'll tell you anyways. Once you break through to Qi Condensing, your father is going to teach you the Azure Dragon Blade Technique."

Li Zian was shocked. That was the technique that split the sky back then… And that was merely using the first form.

"I want to learn a technique from grandfather…" He complained.

"Don't be like that. The Azure Dragon Blade is one of the top three techniques in the entire Li Family. Li Zian is just going to learn another one."

"What technique am I going to learn?" Li Zian asked, curious as to what power he would acquire.

"You'll find out soon," She smiled.

He huffed. 'You told Li Shen about the Azure Dragon Blade technique…'

He sighed and continued watching the ripples spread across the sky. They eventually faded, and everything returned to normal. His mother went back inside, and the two of them made their way to the cultivation room beneath the villa.

They sat in the lotus position next to each other, and the array activated. Dazzling spiritual energy burst out, soaring through the room like a thick blue mist.

"There's more spiritual energy than usual…" Li Zian commented, confused as to the sudden abundance of spiritual energy.

"Right, I forgot to tell you. Father got someone to upgrade the spiritual array, so now we'll reach the Qi Condensing Realm even faster!"

Li Zian smiled and wondered just how many mighty figures existed inside the Li family.

They began to cultivate, their speed noticeably faster, and advanced closer and closer to the Qi Condensing Realm.