52 Praise and an Unexpected Surprise

Elder Lei led Yun towards his side of the cavern before sitting down at a small table outside his cave and motioning her to do the same. He took out some small snacks and politely passed some over to Yun as well before speaking.

"You've done quite well for yourself with this round of cultivation. I'm impressed that it only took you a year to get through three low level God Stones, congratulations! Tell me, how far did your cultivation progress during this time?"

Yun took some snacks and munched on one while Elder Lei was asking her his question calmly.

"Master, thank you for your praise. This Yun made quite a bit of improvement during this closed door cultivation, rising to the fifth stage of Neidan Forging, completing the final piece of the first image of Solar Thunder Sutra, and reaching initial mastery of three battle skills. This Yun feels that she could continue to advance in this way through the remaining stones after a short break, Master."

Yun stood and gently bowed towards Elder Lei to show her thanks before he spoke again, "Oh, so much? You've really kept busy this time, were you too bored to cultivate without pause? Nevermind, it seems it was quite beneficial to you either way. How were your breakthroughs? Were there any problems or instabilities we should be worried about?"

"None Master, this Yun condensed energy to the limit and made a perfect breakthrough in each stage."

"Good, good! Now, tell me, which battle skills did you choose to take with you?"

Yun nodded and retrieved all six of the skills she had taken into the cultivation chamber with her, laying them out on the table for her Master to review.

"Oh, this is quite a lot, let me see here. . . Golden Fluttering Spear, quite a good skill to help improve in spears. Well chosen. . . Ah, Argent Flame Spear as well? Such a difficult technique, how far did you progress in it? Also the Undaunted Moon Slash, quite a powerful technique, and Solar Descending Orb? Also the Brazen Moon Flame, eh? Incredible choices. Ah and lastly there's also a movement technique, the Chromatic Aurora Steps. This is quite a rare technique, there are very few users of Lightning element on the Cradle who could take advantage of this skill."

"Thank you for your assessment Master, this Yun did not quite reach initial mastery in Argent Flame Spear, but did reach it in Golden Fluttering Spear, Brazen Moon Flame, and Chromatic Aurora Steps. The Argent Flame Spear feels very close to this stage as well, but this Yun feels that her energy control is just a little short of accomplishing this major step."

"I see, I see. . . " Elder Lei stroked his chin thoughtfully, "Disciple Yun, I think I may have a way for you to improve your energy control, but it is difficult and requires patience. Are you willing?"

"Master, this Yun would like to hear about this method, but perhaps not today. Tomorrow is this Yun's first decade birthday and Zhu Cai is preparing things for the event. This one should head back to finish cleaning up after her cultivation."

Elder Lei's eyes lit up at the mention of her first decade, "Your birthday is tomorrow? This is quite the cause for celebration. The first decade party is typically a large affair, but especially for someone as talented as you who has already reached the fifth stage of Neidan Forging, nearly the Large Success stage!"

Elder Lei seemed to get more excited the longer he spoke, and the small tendril of hair that grew down from his chin quivered constantly.

"Young Yun, tell me, who will be at your party? This old man wishes to attend and congratulate you as well."

"Master, this Yun does not have any friends other than Cai'er, so the party was more in name than fact. Zhu Cai and myself were going to celebrate this Yun's first decade quietly."

Elder Lei's chin quivered more than ever at this, "No no no, you must have a much larger celebration than that! I'll arrange everything, you'll celebrate here in the Elder's Cavern tomorrow at noon!"

At this moment Elder Lei scuttled off in a hurry while somehow simultaneously shooing Yun to go back to her quarters and prepare herself. Sighing at such a silly behavior, she stood and walked pensively to her quarters before knocking on the door to be let in by Zhu Cai.

When Zhu Cai finally opened the door nearly an incense stick of time later, Yun pushed her way into the room and plopped down heavily across a chair, "Cai'er, master is being weird. . ." She complained.

"Oh, how so Yun'er? Did something happen when you went to visit him?"

Zhu Cai seemed to be paying half attention to her while continuing to work on something else, presumably for tomorrow.

"Yes, first some other Elder tried to take me into his quarters in the guise of leading me to Elder Lei, but Master stopped him just in time, then after Master praised my progress he found out about my first decade birthday tomorrow and insisted on throwing a large celebration!"

"Oh ho, he did? When? Where?" Zhu Cai scuttled up, nearly the same way that Elder Lei scuttled away, and asked her excitedly, nearly bouncing on her toes awaiting the answer.

"Hmmm? He insisted it be tomorrow at noon in the Elder's Cavern. Why are you so excited Cai'er?"

Zhu Cai didn't even answer as she immediately scuttled at nearly three times the speed back into the kitchen and began frantically preparing ingredients for some mysterious thing again. With a heavy sigh of resignation Yun walked towards her own bed, grumbling.

"Everyone around me is absolutely insane, why can't my life be normal for once?"