6 The First Trouble
Few months has passed since that incident with the goddess, Lu Yan still pondering what the jade hairpin can do. He never told that incident to anyone, as he knows no one will believe him anyway. Meet with a goddess and possess a magical jade hairpin is something that is only exist in some imaginary realm. It will only make someone take that jade hairpin from him, it is better to wait until he able to appraise it. If it truly some great magical item than he can boast his experience to others.
These few days hasn't been good to Lu Yan. While he always tries so hard to avoid trouble, in the end trouble still come looking for him. It is not a small one either, this trouble come from Yan Rui. He is one of the big shot a year earlier, just kind of like Liu Fang and Guo Feng in his time. This guy come from Yan family which is while not as big as the Liu family still is one of the richest family in Yin country. With both his talent and family background, this guy fit the type that should be avoided by all cost for Lu Yan. Yet he still tangled into trouble with him.
How is this happen is certainly unexpected for him. Around two weeks ago Yan Rui has just made a breakthrough into the 5th level of Body Refining Stage. His confidence grows to the peak and he choose to make a confession to Liu Fang. In which already become everyone secret that he has feelings for her. Yan Rui even already tangled into some conflict with Guo Feng because he thought that both of them have some special relationship. However, after having his face slapped and almost getting killed by Guo Feng more than once, their conflict is put on hold. For Guo Feng though it has escalated into a conflict with Yang Rui elder brother, Yan Hong. But let skip this complicated story as of now and back to Lu Yan's trouble, which is simpler but even more outrageous.
Liu Fang has refused Yan Rui feelings by simply said she already have someone else in her mind. According to Xiu Ling who is quite close to Liu Fang, she never actually says a name. However, a rumor come out of nowhere that this someone is Lu Yan. This is one thing that both of them never took seriously, but kept getting fanned out by nobody knows who. Lu Yan realized things are getting serious when Yan Rui openly challenge him into a duel. The challenge that has been ignored by him.
Lu Yan has asked Liu Fang to clear things out, only to be insulted by her. She calls him a coward, that he supposed to fight him one on one since no one will know the result are going to be. It is true is some circumstances higher level cultivation doesn't mean a better fighter. There is also luck that can come to play, but what is in it for him. Even if he wins, that will only make the enmity between them got worse. Yan Rui has a big family to support him, how can he fight a whole family alone. He has to be rational either he still on the 2nd level about to break out into the 3rd level. So, the difference in their cultivation base is more than twice his. Talking about fighting techniques, all he knows about it is the basic techniques from the sect. In which already learned by Yan Rui a year before he does, not to mention other secret skills that he got from his family. Saying about weapons and potions, he really has nothing to put him at the advantage of Yan Rui.
While he can't accept, he also knew that Yan Rui won't accept his refusal either. All he can do is to ignore it and runaway every time they might cross path. Lucky for him Yan Rui have never look for him in person. His cottage is far from him and said to be in a much better estate, it is bigger and have more facilities with it. So, coming to this area will only degraded himself, beside fight between sect members can only be held in the arena provided. Of course, outside the mountains nobody will take notice, but initiate a fight at a public area is the same of asking to be expelled from the sect.
While this rumor is the most important thing for Lu Yan right now, today a bigger rumor echoed in the Wing Sect. The first disciple of the sect Yan Zou, is going out from his secluded meditation. He has failed to break into the Soul Core Realm. He has hone for a secluded meditation for 5 years and end up in a failure. While this is so crushing for anyone that experience it, this actually happen quite a lot. In fact, a failure is much more likely to happen than a success one. As of now Wing Sect have 5 teachers which is at the peak of Qi Absorption Stage, each of them at least had an attempt to break into Soul Core Stage before. Yet all of them has failed, three of them more than once.
Yan Zou is still not that old yet, so if he wants it he might have a chance to try it again. However, he has to wait, next in line will be Han Fu and Feng Yan lei after him. If other talents rise within this time of period Yan Zou might have to wait for a few decades till his time come. He might be too old to try it at that time. The Wing Sect however only have resources to cultivate one disciple at a time to try breaking into the Soul Core Stage.
To break into another stage of cultivation is far harder than just to break into the next level at the same stage. Considering the higher your cultivation base is the harder it gets, getting into the Soul Core is definitely harder than break into the Qi Absorption. One can only knew how hard it is to make it, not to mention the amount and quality of the potions needed to.
Yan Zou is also come from the Yan family which is one of the richest family in the Yin Country. There are a few that asked "Why they not go all out to provide him with the resources, that will be enabled him to try another break through?" The answer is actually are simple, because they can't. There is one pill that is can't bought by any amount of money in this world. That pill called the Soul Coagulation Pill, which is one of the key ingredients for the break through. It also the reason as to why big and royal families has to send their children into these big sects. Because these kinds of pills are only can be acquired by them.
Each sect might have different type and name for these pills but they all share one common trait. The ingredients to make them can't be acquired here in earth, they have to be acquired at the heaven. Patriarchs of the sects are the only one that able to collect these ingredients. So, it can be said if the sect no longer has at least one Soul Core Stage cultivator, that sect will have to be disbanded by itself. At least it is no longer approved by the heaven.
Han Fu not enter the secluded meditation right away he and sect need to re-check their preparation to make sure their success. For Yan Zou even after going out of the secluded meditation, he still secludes himself. This failure gave a huge blow to the Yan family, giving Lu Yan a time to breath. Yan Rui won't make huge commotion at this time, but he still has to avoid that guy at any cost. Especially since his mood is definitely not good right now.
The most effective way to get away from him right now surely is to leave the sect for a while. Without any fare to travel Lu Yan has planned to take an errand to the outside. This will give him some contribution points, while able to get away from the trouble until it gets old. The catch is the sect will only send disciple from 3rd level of Body Refining to an outside errand. Lu Yan has been at the 2nd level for quite some time and decide to take a shot at it. As soon as the pills being distributed he goes into the secluded meditation.
This is a secluded meditation that supposed to be done few months earlier, Lu Yan get back into the same cliff and started his meditation. This time nothing strange happen, Lu Yan able to concentrate the way he wants to. Today he has to get it done, this gave him an extra motivation he never has before. A week later he felt a surge in his cultivation base. Surely it supposed to be only about to break from 30% into 31%, but every cultivation level break means something more. It is not something that can't be express by words. Lu Yan has finally made a breakthrough into the 3rd level of Body Refining Technique
Under normal circumstances Lu Yan won't be able to do it in such short time, he even takes a longer time to break into the 2nd level. Beside of the urge to run away from his problem, his mastery of Divine Wing Breathing Technique also plays a part in his breakthrough. Even though this time he knows next level are not going to be so easy. His seniors already told him that after reaching this level the potions effect will reduced, so his progress will be slower. Though the huge boulder is still going to be at the 5th level. Three years. Lu Yan gave a deadline for himself, three years after today he will reach the 5th level. After that he can leave this sect and start his dream of having a peaceful life.
As Lu Yan get back from his meditation, two pieces of huge rumor are circulating again. The first one said that some masters are pushing Feng Yanlei to be the next disciple to be promoted. Han Fu while at the peak of the Qi Absorption is not known for his fighting capabilities, which make him less popular. Beside Feng Yanlei age which is still at the mid-twenties make her considered as a true genius among the candidates. Her reaching the Soul Core might break the record of the youngest person to ever do it, at least from at this Southern Continent it is still unheard of. This can rise Wing Sect reputation among the other sects. Her waiting for Han Fu is considering a waste of her talent. Han Fu is a calm water that not going to make any big impact for the sect, even if he going to ascend to the heaven.
Lu Yan hate this type of politics. Just let Han Fu take his rightful place, he is the senior after all. Beside if Feng Yanlei is chosen, she will be going to secluded meditation for years. After that she will ascend to the heaven for good, to practice her cultivation further. If that happen, how Lu Yan will be able to see her again.
The second big rumor is that there is going to be openings to become an inner sect member. The tests will be held for any outer sect disciples feel worthy to be promoted. While everyone can make an entry only those at the 5th level Body Refining are actually having a chance to pass the test. Liu Fang, Guo Feng and Yan Rui surely going to take a shot at this test. For Lu Yan the only good thing come out from that test is Yan Rui will be busy to prepare for it. May be if all three of them finally get past this test, they will make a new series of drama. Hopefully his name will be crossed out from the drama he's been dragged in right now.
While the date is still unknown its hype is already built up. Every outer sect disciple that already reach the 5th level of Body Refining Technique starts to seclude themselves from the outside world. All sorts of preparations are made from practicing their own cultivation and fighting skills. Getting new weapon and potions. Into searching for any leaks about the upcoming tests. While prepared for this test, they obviously are not going to take any mission. Especially those that need them to go out of the sect for a time being.
Lu Yan easily secure a mission for his own. The mission he takes is to escort a lady that going to be married into a son of some noble family. This supposed to be a simple one. The groom family that ask for their help definitely have their own warriors to protect the bride to be. Besides Lu Yan is only supposed to follow a senior inner sect member in this mission. Just like when Cao Fan escorted them to the sect.
Mo Jia is leader of their small party of four, the only inner sect member at the 7th level of Body Refining. Outside of the sect it is rare to see people with more than 5th level of Body Refining. His cultivation stage at this point is enough to stop any bandits to even get close to them. In this mission all four of them also acquired horses to speed up their journey. From Lu Yan prediction are they will need around 3 days to go into the bride's hometown. Seven days to escort her into the grooms and 6 days to get back here at the sect. This because of the horse that specially bred by the Wing Sect can travel faster than ordinary horse. They also need less rest than them. Though when escorting the bride, they have to match their speed with her party so it will take longer time.
This kind of thing is not bothering him at all, if it can take longer it will be even better. It already more than a year since he leaves the sect. After a tense secluded meditation, this mission will be used as a vacation for Lu Yan. Taking a stroll in horseback and going into the place where his cultivation level at the 3th Body Refining can get him some respect. For once he is not going to be an inferior at a community.
