10th Rank Prerequisite

~~Several Months Later~~

~~The 9th Rank Tournament~~

"Not a bad use of time." Lei Jin said, appearing in the void nearby. "I can tell you've already improved quite a bit." He continued saying as he stretched. "Though I think you should stop doing solo matches. There is far more to be gained from this than what you are doing now. And you'll learn just how much of a difference it makes after you try team battles." He added, flying in close. 

"If that's the case then we will definitely give it a try." Azure Heart said. "By the way, I feel like I've reached the end of the 9th rank. Do you know why I can't seem to break through to the 10th rank?" She whispered. 

"Hmm, the simple answer is that you are not yet done with the 9th rank. The long answer is you haven't understood a fundamental element to becoming a 10th rank. I'll have Yang Kai share his experiences with you and the several others that seem to be around your level. If you can understand his explanation then you aren't far from breaking through. And if there is anything you don't understand after that I'll help you out." Lei Jin explained, as he clued in the few other 9th ranks that have reached the same point as Azure Heart. 

"If I'm not at the peak of the 9th rank then where am I?" Azure Heart asked, foolishly. Though it was fair since the only person who managed to pull it off was Yang Kai. 

"Yang Kai's breakthrough was abnormal. And I don't think he should have broken through when he did. If it wasn't for my intervention he would have failed. So if you look to him as the measure of strength, you'll forever be left in confusion." Lei Jin sighed, explaining the circumstances. "Mother-in-Law and others are indeed at the peak of the 9th rank. However, what mountain peak stops at the peak?" He said, posing the question that would give them the final push of understanding. They only need to understand the meaning behind it. 

"Every Mountain has a base, a slope, and a peak. But they also have a summit. The very highest tip of the peak. Right now, I have reached the bottom of the peak. But there is still so much left to go." Azure Heart muttered, gently holding her chin in thought. 

"After all, only the summit of the mountain could possibly hold up the sky. And even when one reaches the peak there is still refinement and fine tuning one can do to improve their strength." Yang kai said, now also arriving on the scene. 

"Is it possible for you to demonstrate the level of strength one must reach to be considered at the summit of the 9th rank?" Azure Heart asked Yang Kai. 

"Hmm, Brother Lei?" Yang Kai asked. "Will it be too much for them if they see that now?" He added. 

"No, rather I'd be grateful if you did show them. After all, If I did it… Well, a lot of problems would start happening around this area. The power I'm using to make this area is already significantly more than many times that of the 9th rank's summit." Lei Jin chuckled, nervously. 

"Good, then I'll show them." Yang Kai said. 

The 9th ranks stopped everything and paid close attention. An opportunity like this doesn't come often. All of them were eagerly waiting. No one said a word and just simply watched. Lei Jin gave a nod and Yang Kai began. 

The energy Yang Kai was excluding suddenly started falling. "Brother Lei, I think I will require your help. Suppressing any less than this is beyond my current abilities." Yang Kai said. 

Lei Jin's eyes glowed with a faint power. And Yang Kai's strength began suppressing even further. "I'll take it slow so you can learn from this too. After all, I won't always be able to do this for you." Lei Jin said. 

"Good, and right about there. Yes, this is right around the level of a 9th rank at the summit." Yang Kai said, sweating profusely. And breathing heavily. "As you can see, it's not a small difference." He added. 

"This! Jin'er! Is that really right? This is an insane amount of energy. Just… Oh, Yang Kai is also a Divine Dragon. His body is naturally much stronger than anyone in the same realm." Azure Heart said.

"This is indeed the level you must reach as a prerequisite to achieving the 10th rank. Some of the newer 9th ranks probably can't even sense the full majesty of this power. And that is fine. I don't expect everyone to reach this realm. And nor am I relying on this result. It's just… the preferred route I'd like my Human Race to take." Lei Jin explained. 

"I can sense, comprehend and understand this level. I don't think I'm that far away." Su Yan chimed in. 

"I believe I'm close as well. Hmm, it seems that it wasn't that big of a difference from my current level. But, just because it isn't that big of a difference, doesn't mean that it won't be difficult to reach." Azure Heart said. 

"Yeah, I think I probably should have advanced my cultivation a bit more before attempting to break through. Fortunately for me, Brother Lei and my wives came to my rescue. Otherwise I would no longer be of this world." Yang Kai said, returning to his unsuppressed strength. 

"Now then, everyone should use this time to do what they wish. The 5 years rest isn't over yet. There is something I want to spend some unbroken focus on. So I will only bar one thing. And that is no 9th rank is allowed to break through to the 10th rank until I or any of my 10 wives specifically states otherwise." Lei Jin said, and then vanished from sight again with a simple wave of his hand. 

"Doesn't Jin'er need to bar 8th to 9th as well?" A newer 9th rank asked. 

"There is no need for that. The fact my Husband didn't ban that action for now is because of his trust in Brother Yang. Besides that, my sisters and I are capable of manipulating a certain amount of Husband's power. Supporting an 8th rank to the 9th rank isn't beyond our combined capabilities." Qing Ning explained.