5 Understanding

Yong managed to learn how to read and write perfectly by his third year, so it was time for him to ask permission from his father to read books from his personal library.

Yong knocked on the door of his father's study, before hearing a come in. As he entered his father room he looked to find the familiar scene of his father going over some documents.

"father i wish to read some books from your library to expand my knowledge"Yong asked with respect as he couldn't trick him with his cutesy voice and expression like his mom, Yong had already noticed that although Long Chen loved both his sons he doted and took care of his brother more, even if he knew this he wasn't really resentful or anything after all his brother is the heir.

"Mhm... I heard your mother saying about teaching you how to read and write, you're quite talented in academics apparently." Said his father as he rose his head to look directly into Yong's eyes.

Yong almost flinched but didn't show it and kept his expression calm.

"I don't know about being talented but i learned everything thanks to mother's teachings!"

Long Chen kept eye contact for a while before he nodded and Accepted "Very well you can read from the house's library as you're too young to go to the clan's."

Joy flooded Yong's body before thanking his father and leaving the study, for tomorrow his quest for knowledge will start.

the next morning Yong borrowed some books and came back to his room and read them.this continued for three months as he covered a lot of basic knowledge about cultivators and the mundane.

He was able to learn that the Chu dynasty was one of the mortal kingdoms on the Azure continent the mortal kingdoms closest to it are the Light empire and the springs kingdom, but these are merely mortal kingdom and the true powers are the sects scattered through out the continent making their base in places apparently full of "Spiritual Qi".

Speaking of "Spiritual Qi" he fervently searched for information on cultivator and found that there are different ranks such as "Qi Condensation" and "Foundation Establishment", he also found out that in the mortal kingdoms only dwells those of the "Qi condensation".

As he researched deeper into cultivators he found out that Cultivators have different talents graded by different ranks but he wasn't able to find the exact ranks, as he was researching he remembered the test the Patriarch was talking about and found out that different sects will search for talents in the closest mortal kingdoms, there are three different sects called: "Heavenly sword sect" "True mystic sect" "Verdant sect".

Each with it's specialty, not only that some cultivators practice different occupation such as "Alchemists" "Blacksmiths" "Array Masters".

Yong was quite excited and terrified, firstly because of the unlimited prospects and secondly because of the fear of his talent being inadequate and being refused entry into the sect.

He read in the library for a whole year before finishing every book, it also happened that this is just a small collection of his father so it wasn't big.

As he was coming back to his room he hesitated for a second before going to his mother's room and knocking. After getting permission he came inside he found his mother sitting on a chair, she made a gesture and asked him to sit next to her.

"So, what brought you here little Yong? You've been cooped up in your room reading most of time save coming out to eat."Asked Zi Lan with a smile

"Mom these days I've been reading about cultivators and had some questions."

"Sure go ahead little Yong"Zi Lan now looked quite interested to know what this intelligent little boy wanted to ask.

"Are you and father Cultivators?"

Zi Lan know burst out laughing "HAHAHA,no... ah no, that's quite a laugh but no i'am not cultivator but your father is"

Yong was quite shocked after all he read that most cultivators would marry another one to keep bolster the talent of the next generation.

"Why?"

"Well little Yong, I'am the daughter of a merchant one day i found your injured father and nursed him back to health, then something just clicked between us and i knew he was the one, and apparently he felt the same about me."Zi Lan looked like she was remembering some good times as she had a small smile on her lips.

"then can you tell me what cultivation level is father?"

Zi Lan thought for a while before answering "Well from what your father told me he was at the seventh level of Qi Condensation."

Yong was quite shocked as he thought about the different ranks of cultivators and felt it was quiet low after all even tough he read about Qi condensation and Foundation Establishment, in his past life he read a lot novels and knew there was probably a lot more ranks such as "Core Formation" and probably higher worlds where such cultivators would seem like ants.

His mother mistook his look of shock and said "I know right he is only 35 years old and almost reached the patriarch ninth level, he might even one day reach the tenth level and the long clan's might increase after all the strongest cultivator and the protector of the chu royal family in only at the twelfth level."

Yong got even more shocked and tried to hide an ugly expression 'Wow the mortal kingdom's are trash or that the sect take every talented person from the kingdom, no matter i NEED to diffidently join a sect.'

Zi Lan kept bragging about her husband and Yong could only pretend to be starry eyed and shocked.

"Oh on the matter of cultivator it seems that during this year your father taught him the cultivation technique and he almost reached the first stage of Qi condensation."

This again shocked to no end as he finished the conversation and returned to his room only to scream in his pillow to hide the frustration he is feeling deep inside, it might seem like he's jealous of his brother, but he's not.

'Damn if my father's talent could only take him so far and my brother took him so long to almost reach the first level how low will be mine?!!!'