Chapter 14 – Training Day

While Zhen continued cultivating and training his disciples, trying to discover a way to enhance their affinities...

On a mountain thousands of miles away, surrounded by rivers and waterfalls, with a vast and verdant forest, sat the Celestial Storm Sect, one of the seven great sects in this world.

"Elder, the Dragon Battle is approaching. Could you make a prediction?" asked Yun Xiuying, a disciple of the Celestial Storm Sect, who was at the fourth level of the Golden Core Realm. She was speaking to her master, one of the sect's elders and one of the world's great powers, Lei Fengyin.

"Little girl, even though I cultivate the Dao of Karma, nothing is perfect. My predictions aren't always accurate. But what would you like to know?"

"Master, I would like to know who will be my greatest challenge in the Dragon Battle."

"Very well then," the elder said as she closed her eyes and crossed her fingers to make the divination.

In this world, there are various types of cultivation, including the cultivation of the Dao of Karma. Cultivators who practiced the Dao of Karma were specialists in divination. They used the power of the Heavenly Dao to predict certain things, and depending on the cultivator's level, they could even foresee the future. However, if one tried to peek into the future of a cultivator superior to their realm, they would suffer a tremendous backlash. But Elder Lei Fengyin was not worried; after all, only juniors in the Golden Core Realm would participate in the Dragon Battle. Suddenly...

Cough, cough, cough — The elder stood up abruptly, startled, as she spat blood. Her meridians, her core, and even her soul had been injured. She was in complete shock, trembling.

"Elder, what happened?" Yun asked, rushing to help her master stand.

Cough "I don't know. This has only happened once before, and it wasn't nearly as severe," she replied, still coughing up blood.

"It happened before?"

"Yes, when I tried to predict someone who was in a higher realm than mine. But in this battle, it's supposed to be the younger generation. How is this possible?" She was still paralyzed and trembling.

"Master, what exactly did you see?" Yun asked, incredulous at the entire situation.

"I saw... the southern region, the territory of the Sky Sect. But... they weren't supposed to have a disciple at that level. Is that even possible?"

What the elder actually saw was not the disciple who would challenge Yun but the moment when Yue and Mei became Zhen's disciples. No one could dare to peek into their future or their destiny; just by encountering Zhen, their destinies had already changed. A mere cultivator of the Supreme Realm could not see through Zhen.

Meanwhile, in the Blue Sky Sect, a subtle aura hovered around the Sea Palace. It was like the waters of the ocean, floating above the palace. Someone was comprehending a new power of the Dao — it was Elder Xueyu. Thanks to Zhen's insights, just by being by his side and enjoying his Dao-infused food, she had managed to elevate her own power to a new level. Everyone was astonished to see the elder mastering such a dominant power. The entire palace trembled as Xueyu floated in a lotus position, surrounded by the aura of the Dao of the Sea. It was almost like a cocoon of water; she was comprehending the Eternal Tsunami, an advanced technique that channels the immense and relentless power of the seas. This power allows the user to summon and control vast bodies of water with the same destructive force as a tsunami, combined with the profound wisdom and serenity of the ocean. The technique is divided into several stages, each representing a different aspect of the sea.

Xueyu was still comprehending the first stage, the Rising Tide: The user can manipulate large quantities of water around them, creating overwhelming waves or ocean currents that can devastate everything in their path. This stage represents the growing and uncontrollable power of the tides.

Soon, Xueyu opened her eyes; they were a deep blue, the color of the sea. After a few minutes, her eyes returned to their natural color, and she emerged from her trance, astonished.

"What incredible and destructive power. Thanks to the master's help, I wonder what his cultivation level truly is," she marveled, questioning just how powerful Zhen really was. And as she thought of him...

Zhen awoke from his rest, feeling the gentle warmth of the first rays of the sun warming his face. The golden light filtered through the leaves of the trees, creating dancing patterns on the ground around him. He took a deep breath, letting the tranquility of the moment fill his chest. With a lazy smile, Zhen stood up, stretching his arms above his head as he looked around.

The voices of his disciples caught his attention. Mei Lianxue and Yue Ling were deeply focused on their training, their auras vibrating with energy. Zhen felt a silent pride bloom within him as he watched them. "They're working so hard," he thought, his eyes shining with satisfaction. The sight of the two, dedicated and determined, filled his heart with a quiet happiness.

An exciting idea crossed his mind. "I think I'll prepare something special for them today," Zhen decided, his expression lighting up with enthusiasm. Cooking for his disciples was a simple way to show his appreciation, and in a way, it was his method of contributing to their growth — even if it was just by ensuring they were well-fed and happy.

As he busied himself in the kitchen, the disciples continued their conversation.

"Yue, you were in the Golden Core Realm, weren't you?" Mei Lianxue asked, her voice tinged with slight concern.

Yue Ling nodded, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "Yes, but Master compressed my cultivation to purify it. I didn't fully understand what that means, but... I don't feel weaker. In fact, I feel even stronger."

Mei frowned, a feeling of doubt creeping into her mind. "Oh..." she murmured, looking at the ground. "My realm returned to the Mortal Realm, and it seems much harder to break through now." Her voice had a note of sadness, an insecurity she tried to hide. Mei was scared, fearing that her progress had regressed and that she was disappointing her master.

Yue noticed her companion's expression and, with a gentleness she didn't often show, placed a hand on Mei's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm sure Master did the same with you. It may be harder to advance now, but that just means that when you do break through, you'll be much stronger than before."

Mei looked at Yue, surprised by the supportive gesture. A shy smile appeared on her face. "Maybe Yue is right. Master would never do anything to harm us," she thought, feeling a little more at ease.

Meanwhile, Zhen returned with snacks for his disciples, noticing Mei's more serene expression. He didn't know what they had been talking about, but he could sense the change in the air, a subtle bond growing stronger between the two. "They're becoming stronger, together," he thought, handing out the snacks with a satisfied smile.