Chapter 27: Change in heart

Twenty days had passed, and much of Adrian's time had been spent in a cycle of cultivation, refining his body, and taking breaks to visit his friends. Each day had been similar to the ones before—he would spend hours guiding Qi through his meridians, pushing his body through the rigorous process of refinement, and then, when exhaustion set in, he would pause.

During these breaks, he had spent time with Liu Feng, Jiang Hao, and Wei Ren, keeping up with the minor happenings in the sect. Though they had not sensed Qi yet, their determination had not wavered. Adrian, on the other hand, had already reached his tenth refinement. His strength had grown immensely, and he could feel the difference in every movement. His strikes were sharper, his stamina greater, and his Qi control more precise.

At the end of his tenth refinement, Adrian sat in his room, feeling the power coursing through his body. He knew he was far stronger than before, but just how much?

He closed his eyes.

"Cosmo, tell me… where do I stand now?"

The ancient voice, always present, responded.

"You wish to compare yourself to the cultivators of this world?"

Adrian nodded. "Yeah. If I were to fight someone… what realm could I defeat?"

Cosmo's voice remained calm, with a hint of amusement.

"At this stage, you have far surpassed the norm for Ember Awakening disciples. A newly awakened disciple can crack wood with a punch or maybe dent stone. You, however, can reduce that same wood to splinters and shatter stone like glass."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "So, I'm beyond Ember Awakening?"

"Far beyond," Cosmo confirmed. "Flowing Veins cultivators circulate Qi through their bodies, reinforcing their flesh and bones. They can crack boulders with their strikes, move faster than the eye can track, and even outrun beasts. Their bodies become durable enough to withstand weapon strikes. A normal Ember Awakening disciple would be crushed by them."

Adrian smirked. "But not me."

"No," Cosmo agreed. "Not you. Your strength could break the bones of a Flowing Veins cultivator with a single hit. Their enhanced bodies would struggle against your raw power. Your speed is near their peak, and your endurance far surpasses theirs. However…"

Adrian waited, sensing something more. "But what?"

"Flowing Veins cultivators don't just enhance their bodies; they also gain the ability to heal internal injuries by circulating Qi. Your internal strength is formidable, but you cannot yet heal yourself using Qi. You have not reached that realm. Without that control, you remain vulnerable."

Adrian frowned. "So, I'm not at that level yet?"

"Correct," Cosmo affirmed. "But your physical strength could easily overwhelm a Flowing Veins cultivator. It's the Qi control that sets them apart from someone like you."

Adrian crossed his arms, processing the information. "So, I could beat a Flowing Veins cultivator, but against a Tempered Meridian cultivator, it'd be different?"

"Precisely," Cosmo said. "Tempered Meridian cultivators have complete mastery over their Qi circulation. They can shatter massive boulders with a palm strike, break metal with their bare hands, and endure sword strikes without flinching. In terms of raw strength, you could match their early stages. However, although you have mastery over Qi, you cannot yet apply it to techniques. For instance, you could not apply Qi to your palm strike to multiply the power or enhance the attack. Without that ability, you cannot fully utilize your potential in battle."

Adrian absorbed this information. He had made significant progress, but he was still far from true power. His path was long, and he could not be complacent.

With his latest refinement complete, he decided to check in on his friends.

As Adrian approached the usual gathering spot, he could see Liu Feng, Jiang Hao, and Wei Ren already in discussion. The moment he arrived, Liu Feng smirked.

"Still alive after all that training?"

Adrian smirked back. "Barely."

Jiang Hao leaned forward, lowering his voice. "You came at the right time. Something's happening in the sect."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Jiang Hao crossed his arms. "A core disciple has returned from outside the sect, and get this—he's as strong as an elder."

Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly.

"That's not all," Liu Feng added. "There are a few others, and all of them are said to be just as strong. Apparently, the sect master himself called them back."

Wei Ren, always the sharpest of the group, spoke calmly. "No one knows why, but the atmosphere in the sect feels… tense."

Adrian considered this carefully. The sect summoning back powerful disciples was not a minor matter. Something was happening behind the scenes.

Before they could dwell too much on this, Jiang Hao suddenly grinned and turned toward Liu Feng. "Enough about that. We have something else to celebrate!"

Adrian looked between them. "What?"

Jiang Hao clapped Liu Feng on the back. "Guess who finally sensed Qi?"

Adrian's eyes widened slightly before he smiled. "You did it?"

Liu Feng scratched his head sheepishly. "Yeah, took me long enough, huh?"

Jiang Hao laughed. "He's one of the few who have sensed Qi! After the first one sensed it a month ago, only three or four others have managed to follow. And now Liu Feng is among them."

Adrian nodded in approval. "That's a big step."

"We should celebrate, after all someone from our group has finally senses Qi" Jiang Hao declared. "And I say we do it properly—outside the sect!"

Liu Feng groaned. "Again with this?"

Wei Ren, however, frowned slightly. "That's not possible. Only inner disciples are allowed to leave the sect freely. How do you plan to do that?"

Jiang Hao smirked. "Don't worry. We'll use the oldest trick in the book—we'll take a mission outside the sect."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "A mission?"

Jiang Hao nodded. "Exactly. If we take an easy mission as a team or a mission to the same place, we'll have the perfect excuse to leave. And while we're outside, we can celebrate properly."

Liu Feng sighed. "You just want an excuse to eat better food."

"Of course," Jiang Hao said shamelessly. "I am getting bored from eating those pills and it's also a good chance for all of us to take a break."

Adrian thought for a moment. A mission outside the sect could be useful. It would give him a chance to observe the outside world while also gauging his current strength in a practical setting.

But if this had been before, he might have declined. Leaving the sect was risky, especially with the recent tensions and the strange movements of the higher-ups. Back then, he wouldn't have even considered it—staying out of trouble was the smarter choice.

Yet now, after spending time with these three, something had shifted. He had started seeing them as more than just fellow disciples; they were friends. And perhaps, just this once, it wouldn't hurt to go along with them.

Wei Ren eventually nodded. "If we're careful with the mission we pick, it should work."

Adrian exhaled lightly before speaking. "Then let's do it."

Jiang Hao grinned. "That's the spirit! Let's go see what's available."

With that, the group made their way toward the mission board, excitement brewing for the first time in weeks.

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