Fifth Stage Qi Condensation realm

"Mother, there is still something I don't understand, Dad also saved his aunt, right? Why didn't that defy Fate?"

"Your understanding of Fate is too low. You see Hao Ming's life was never in danger. Yes, she woke up earlier than supposed to, it was not enough to defy fate. If Yan wasn't present, then Lin Jian would have probably taken the poisoned Xue'er and Hao Ming to Xiao Clan for treatment. With Yan rushing to Clan, they would have met there and he wouldn't have separated from Xue'er at all. You see, since you tried to change their fate and unite them, it backfired and made them separate instead. Now, what you did was a mistake or not, only time would tell."

"But I personally think, it did more good than bad, if they didn't separate, it would have taken a long time for husband's plan to complete, now you made it quicker by pressuring Xue'er to improve faster," said the woman, "So, I don't think your Dad will blame you, but you will be punished once he gets here, ha-ha-ha"

The man shuddered at the word 'punishment'. He remembers the last time that happened, he never wants to experience it again.

…

Xue'er and Yun spoke for a long time that day. She felt as if she had gotten her best friend back. Sometime later Yi joined them as well. She was close to tears when Yun apologized and asked if she still wanted to be her friend. Yi had always been a kind girl. When she saw how Yun acted these days, she always felt bad for her. Now, she was more than happy for her.

"Miss, how about we go to the academy tomorrow?" asked Yi.

With Lin Jian's recommendation, Yi and Yun were both allowed to cultivate at Fallen Star Academy. Although they couldn't be compared to Xue'er, they were also considered as geniuses in this remote place. They were a couple of years older than Xue'er, Yi had just broken through to Qi Condensation realm and Yun was at Second stage of Qi Condensation realm.

But now, Yun with her sudden increase in cultivation had become a super genius seen once in a hundred years in Pure Mist Country. If she could break through to Qi Sea realm before the entrance exam for Pure Mist Academy, she could directly become a Core disciple. Even if she couldn't, unless nothing unexpected happens, she will become a Core disciple and represent Pure Mist Academy by the next entrance test of Vermillion Bird Academy. With just a bit of Qi from Xiao Yan, she turned from above average to a prodigy cultivator. Even Xue'er was jealous of her sometimes. She would have to struggle to become a Core disciple, but Yun would get it without much effort. Anyone would feel a bit jealous at this. But when she thought of the pain Yun had suffered these days, she felt it was a fair trade. There was no free lunch in this world.

"If anyone sees Yun's cultivation now, they would be so surprised," said Xue'er, "We can go, but Yun, don't let anyone find out about your level, it will become a hassle to explain it to them. If they think you have some treasure, it would bring unnecessary trouble."

"Ok"

…

Xue'er started cultivating again after sending Yun and Yi away. Having cleared some of the burdens in her heart, she found that the bottleneck to mid-level Qi Condensation loosening. She felt she should be able to breakthrough with little effort. Therefore, she began to put her all into it.

Time flowed, Xue'er was sitting in the same position for almost a day.

Next day when Yun and Yi came to get Xue'er to go visit Fallen Star Academy, they found her sitting cross-legged and meditating. Both were surprised because Xue'er had never put much effort to cultivate, just with her talent and a bit of effort, she had already made it to the Third stage Qi Condensation realm, had she put in more effort, god knows what her cultivation would have been.

'Fifth stage Qi Condensation realm!' gasped Yun and Yi together. Xue'er had broken through two cultivation levels in one night.

Xue'er slowly opened her eyes.

"Miss, what happened to you? I have never seen you cultivate like this, can't you take some rest? You were injured after all," asked Yi.

"Yi, you also have to put in a lot of effort from now on, or we will leave you far behind and you will never be able to catch up," said Yun "Miss, how did you manage to break through twice in one day?"

"You are one to ask, you broke through seven levels in a go, you freak!" Xue'er threw the pillow next to her at Yun with all her strength which she dodged nimbly.

"Miss, you have to try better than that," smiled Yun, "Seriously, how did do it?"

"Yesterday when I started cultivating it felt like a large weight had been lifted from that was weighing my heart and it suddenly felt easier to cultivate. I just went with the flow and broke through," said Xue'er with a smile.

"I remember reading about it in a book in Academy's library, that's called a Heart Demon, if you overcame it your cultivation speed would drastically increase for a short duration of time," said Yi. She loved reading and learning new things. If one asked among the three who is more knowledgeable, it would definitely be her.

"Yes, that is exactly how I felt," said Xue'er.

"I can't believe I am your Heart Demon!" said Yun with a sad face.

"No, Yun, t-that i-is …" she didn't know how to respond to that.

"Ha-ha, just joking Miss. If it is beneficial for you, I would be more than willing to become a Demon or a Devil. If it is for you, then its worth it," said Yun with a big smile.

"…" Xue'er felt really glad that her best friend was back. The events that happened recently had almost made them enemies, but now after everything passed, they felt closer than before as if their friendship had become firmer.

"The only downside is, I won't be able to break through again within the next couple of months, Yun, you are luckier in that aspect as well, even though Big brother Yan's Qi increased your cultivation rapidly, it didn't leave behind any side effects, in fact, it made your foundation sturdier than before," said Xue'er.

Unable to bear it any longer, "Okay, let's go to the Academy," said Yi. Perhaps because she felt a little jealous of them.

"Let's go!"

…

Even in a small city like Fallen Star City, there were still multiple dojos present. Commoners usually would go to these dojos set up by the major families to learn and cultivate. This was one of the main ways they used for bringing in new blood into their families. They would select some of the best candidates from here to be their guards and to fill in other positions in the family.

Apart from these dojos, there was the Fallen Star Academy. It was the only Academy in the city. It didn't belong to any power in the city. None of the major families, not even the City Lord's Palace had any control in their matters. Although in most cases they would try to listen to the City Lord, they didn't have to do it and if they rejected, the City Lord could nothing about it.

Pure Mist Royal family had made it mandatory to have an Academy in the city where any top talents from the city, be it commoner or noble, would be eligible to study there. Although any commoner would need a very high talent to join the Academy on scholarship, it still gives them a chance.

These Academies were run with combined efforts of Pure Mist Academy and the Royal family. The Royal family would take care of the expenses and Pure Mist Academy would provide them with qualified teachers.

The fees for attending the Academy was expensive for a commoner. So much that even if they worked for their entire life, they may not earn a year's fee.

Therefore, for commoners only through Merit Scholarship can they study here. There was one more option, they can hire oneself to a family and if their talent was satisfactory the family could provide for their fee and in return, they would be working for the family after they graduate.

Previously, Fallen Star City had three Major families, Lin, Ma, and Yang. After the recent attack on the Lin family, they either captured or killed everyone belonging to Ma and Yang families. Even Yang Ping and others who attacked Xue'er were brought back by Elder Song a few days after Xue'er and rest arrived.

Hence, almost ninety percent of dojos in the city were now owned by the Lin family. With this no one can stop the Lin family from becoming a behemoth in Fallen Star City, not even the City Lord could do that. Therefore, he had rushed to meet Lin Jian that day.

"Here we are!" said Xue'er looking at the Academy entrance.